Hangin' In is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on CBC from 1981 to 1987. It aired briefly on Nickelodeon and in syndication in the United States."Hangin' In debuting in U.S.", Toronto Star, April 1, 1986.
Synopsis The show starred Lally Cadeau as Kate Brown, the attractive and charismatic director of a youth drop-in centre in Toronto, and blended both comedy and drama in its portrayal of genuine teen counselling problems."CBC sitcom Hangin' In deals with the issues that concern teenagers in an entertaining way", Toronto Star, November 1, 1986. David Eisner starred as Michael DiFalco, a young, affable staff counsellor, and Ruth Springford appeared as Doris Webster, the centre's receptionist. Many young Canadian actors, including Eric McCormack, Keanu Reeves, Jessica Steen and Mark Humphrey, made guest appearances as teenaged clients of the youth centre.
During the show's final season, Cadeau was replaced for the final five episodes by Fiona Reid as Maggie."CBC show hangin' in with Reid". Toronto Star, October 6, 1986. This change was planned, as the producers were setting up a new spin-off series to star Reid as the director of a halfway house for young offenders. However, the new series was not picked up.
Episodes Season 1: 1981
Season 2: 1982
Season 3: 1982–83
Season 4: 1983–84
Season 5: 1984–85
Season 6: 1985–86
Season 7: 1986–87
Production The show was created by the same production team, led by executive producer Jack Humphrey, with Anna Sandor and Joseph Partington, behind one of the most successful Canadian sitcoms in television history, King of Kensington,"New CBC series no heir apparent". The Globe and Mail, January 7, 1981. which had itself evolved in its late episodes toward a similar concept and setting.
The series premiered on January 7, 1981, the day after the final episode of the dramatic miniseries You've Come a Long Way, Katie, which also starred Cadeau.Bill MacVicar, "The fast way to the bottom–and the top: Lally Cadeau's four-night debut is the video version of being shot from a cannon". Maclean's, January 5, 1981. Writing for Maclean's, Bill MacVicar likened the streak of Cadeau's roles in two different series airing on four consecutive nights to "the video equivalent of being shot from a cannon or, at least, making a premiere entrance on a red carpet, with klieg lights and a ravenous crowd of autograph seekers".
References
External links
Hangin' In Episode Guide at TV Archive Site