Buffalo Bill (June 1, 1983)

This critically-lauded and Emmy nominated NBC TV series featured the misadventures of "Buffalo" Bill Bittenger, (Dabney Coleman), the crude, egotistical host of a local talk show on fictional WBFL-TV in Buffalo, NY. Bill's ways and attitude often clashed with coworkers, family, and the friends who could stand him. More often than not Bill would receive his comeuppance by the end of each episode.
The series cast included Max Wright, Joanna Cassidy, Geena Davis, John Fielder, Charles Robinson, and Meshach Taylor.
Two seasons aired on NBC in the summer of 1983 and the 1983-84 season for a total of 26 episodes. Despite accolades, the series and its purposely unlikeable main character couldn't seem to find an audience.
In the Pilot episode, Bill makes a play for a position on "60 Minutes", which was recently vacated by his late friend Pete.
This episode does contain language that may offend some viewers.

[@mrmortimer710]

Rest In Paradise Dabney Coleman. Thank you for your time in television and films. Love #BuffaloBill

[@SeriousDragonify]

Oh god, bots are coming... Pretending they "cared" for the guy. Very disrespectful and yt should ban all bots.

[@nancygossett]

I loved this show. It should have been a hit.

[@MrSirlulzalot]

FR!❤

[@lauriegelman4328]

It was too far ahead of its time.

[@d33j4ybf]

Unequivocally...

[@ctsphang]

Rest in peace, Dabney Coleman 🌸

[@jameschalker9264]

RIP Dabney. As an aside, the laugh track really steps on the comedy.

[@rickyrydell]

100%

[@colinwilliams553]

God,I remember this show from the eighties.Dabney played a daytime talk show host named Bill.this is a great way to remember DABNEY COLEMAN R.I.P Dabney,and thanks for the laughs.

[@cookingwithtabitha]

1:42 Hey it's the Professor!

[@dreamquesttv]

Coleman supposedly auditioned for the role of The Professor.

[@peternighswander9629]

Not sure why this show did not succeed. It’s actually very good

[@davidscott3820]

I think people started going back to the movies then and tv ratings went down all over.😊

[@timothykozlowski3346]

Always nice to see someone from Gilligan's Island

[@thepaulusmaximus]

I am looking for someone who makes me feel like the saxophone flourishes in an early 80's sitcom theme song.

[@TheFoolishNutter]

I'd adore seeing this without a laugh track. It's like a precursor to Sorkin's Sports Night; it just doesn't need it.

[@trevordouglas9080]

Thankyou! Russell Johnson doing a fine job as well.

[@paulkitt2376]

Great stuff perfectly suited to dabney Coleman personality.

[@oldcarsstronghearts]

Oh. My. Goodness. A couple days ago, I was reading up on "ALF" & discovered a few nods to this series. I started reading about "Buffalo Bill" & thought it might be fun to see at least 1 episode, considering I remember several of the cast members from other shows-movies ... & here it is. Thank you! I love following actors' careers & seeing them in different roles-casts. My closest-ever friend (who died 03/15/2022) often said the "universe is unfolding as it should" & pointed out synchronicities. The timing of all of this ... just recently subscribing to your channel, reading about "ALF" & "Buffalo Bill", & now this episode being posted ... qualifies, I'd say. I'm intrigued: since this was on NBC, I am surprised they "allowed" the CBS & "60 Minutes" references.

[@johnpjones182]

Dabney Coleman doing what he does best! I loved this show back in the day & it's still great!

[@djr6876]

I always enjoyed Dabney, I didn’t realize he had recently passed away. A long successful career.

[@beajoh]

Rest easily, Dabney.

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

Another "WOW" for the cast! This show has everyone! Even Piglet!! 😆 It's amazing that i've never known of this show until today.

[@evanescapades2513]

So many big stars on here! First time watching this…

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

Thank you for posting this. I remember this show very well and its amazing how many people we know from later shows got their start on this one or at least had it on their resumes! What amazes me though is how it pretty much has disappeared from collective memory. For 40 years I don't believe I have ever heard it referenced or seen it on streaming or syndication. Its like it didn't happen. But here is proof that it did and that it really was just as well written and funny as some of us remember!

[@beachbum6460]

I remember the promo for this show. I only saw it one time. The promo was the narrator saying 'We asked people if they'd rather watch a rerun of Tales of the Gold Monkey OR get a pie in the face'. Everybody chose to get pied and in the end they said they wished they knew about Buffalo Bill.

[@josephososkie3029]

grad school and working midnights in 1983. Never knew. looks fun,

[@chandlervatavuk9513]

Love this show

[@chriswahl4139]

I was brought here by itwasathingontv, also I recall a and e airing reruns in the mid to late 80s

[@Lunchladydoyle]

This was such a great show. I was ticked when it got cancelled.

[@StoneyRerootkit]

😮Seems Like A Ripoff Of The Morton Downey Jr. Show🐸🐷🐍🐾🐣🐽🐌🐙🐓

[@myrnalaboy2840]

R.I.P. Dabney Coleman

[@MediaWest]

the pilot was very different when they retooled it. this was an industry insider project. i remember it in 82.

[@TraitofSiNN727]

RiP my childhood 80s icon Dabney Coleman.

[@robertnycguyraisedonrecord7587]

RIP to the great Dabney. I remember watching the Summer run of Buffalo Bill in 1983. I rather enjoy the series.

[@elldre3]

Joanna Cassidy was simply wonderful in this show.

[@jimklipper6022]

I almost did not recognize her with the darker hair.

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

The professor!!

[@KrakenMan5853]

Features Craig Littler who was Jason of Star Command and the Gorton's Fisherman.

[@jnadle1]

That sax player for the theme music might have been Ernie Watts.

[@petebondurant58]

He was a great good guy...and an even greater bad guy! RIP, Dabney!

[@rusher324]

The first guest is the professor

[@JoeFLash41]

R I P Dabney Coleman.

[@TheChristianAspie892]

The laugh track is perfect.

[@cs292]

I was watching ALF today and was wondering where I saw Max Wright before…weird.

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

WOW! That got ugly in less than three minutes. i was not expecting that.

[@alexcamacho4880]

My god. Is that professor Roy Hinkley?

[@Filmation77]

See ya down the Road Dabney Coleman ❤❤❤

[@llama40204]

These are great but how come some episodes are missing?

[@mysterxyz]

Decent quality for a show of that era. Thanks

[@tonybino01]

RIP.

[@cellytron]

Hey, isn’t that the Night Court font?!

[@lakebay972]

Yes, it's called Mistral

[@libertubey2199]

​@lakebay972 Which is ironic because Night Court moved into Buffalo Bill's Thursday Night spot after it was cancelled, and Charles Robinson went to that show to play Mac.

[@75aces97]

Dabney Coleman played such perfect heels, 😄 but he was about 15 or 20 years too early. American tv audiences probably weren’t ready for unlikable roguish lead characters. I thought it was in the pilot, but it’s been so long so I likely remember it wrong, but there was a scene in his apartment that showed Bill is a fraud even within the privacy of his own home. It was so perfect and hilarious. 🤣

[@Jennifer_Lewis_Beach_Living]

I agree. If this show came out in 2003, this show would have been a smash hit. This show was really good. They should have ditched the laugh track.

[@nightowlchad]

I vaguely remember

[@MrEab2010]

this passed for edgy comedy back in '83.

[@browsertab]

Ahhh the fake laughs kill it. Is there a version with these removed?

[@garyfrancis6193]

Never heard of it.

[@burpreynolds3250]

I don’t remember Dabney Coleman being in this.

[@robertf976]

Laugh track is why this lasted one season. What idiot thought that was a good idea?

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Ruined by a phony laugh-track.