The Ghost Writer (1990) (Anthony Perkins pilot)

This was a pilot with Anthony Perkins that aired on Fox back in 1990. It was cheesy and campy and just plain great. It's a shame it wasn't picked up, it could have been a new Addams Family.

[@miscellaneouspublication15]

I just added the broadcast version to my channel. Compare and enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHybfXeXibxogZY

[@CompoundNihilist]

A podcast claimed Anthony Perkins was "cast" in this part, but according to a biography, Perkins became a fan of Alan Spencer thanks to "Sledge Hammer!" that featured a parody of Norman Bates as a coroner, and requested that Spencer create a live audience sitcom for him so he wouldn't have to travel and could stay close to home and his family. Perkins already had some health issues, so the light schedule of a sitcom could have made his remaining years more pleasant. Spencer spoke well of Perkins as an artist and human being.

[@orchidz5426]

Thank you for uploading this

[@jubalcalif9100]

This is bizarre.....odd....weird....but oh so strangely compelling. I can understand the network not picking it up to be series. It would work ok as a one-off skit on a show like SNLor a stand alone TV movie, but it's really just a one note schtick. Tony Perkins seems to be sleepwalking thru his role. But I can understand him wanting to do a series so he could be home more with his wife & two young sons. For that reason I'm sorry it didn't work out for Mr Perkins. Sad that within two years Tony would be gone. Thank you very much for sharing this bodacious blast from the past ! CHEERS !

[@rodolfotheodoro1865]

I am from Brazil and I had the VHS of Psycho, Psycho 2, Psycho 3 and Psycho 4!!! Anthony Perkins was a fantastic actor!!

[@soulheaven1964]

Get them on blu ray

[@ManCave1972]

I love finding oddities like this. The script is proper broad, and at times inappropriate, but hats off to Perkins for giving it his all, he must’ve had doubts. It’s a tricky premise, part Addams Family, part Brady Bunch. Hard to see where it would have gone. When I saw the title I thought Perkins was going to play the Ghost of a horror writer who inspires a struggling new author in the house, which actually might have been more appealing than this. Very grateful for the upload 🙌

[@langa2637]

I would've loved to see this show!

[@richswiatocha6564]

I remember watching this! I was very disappointed that it wasn't picked up. Thank you for sharing!!

[@bigwillietheb]

it was so funny to see Anthony Perkins in a sitcom

[@bigwillietheb]

if the show had been picked up it would have been on 2 seasons cause he died in 1992

[@soulheaven1964]

@@bigwillietheb today is his anniversary

[@KornerGFX]

I would've watched this

[@soulheaven1964]

Me 2

[@Spikenector]

I knew this existed! Just like the Peanut Butter Solution! Saw this on the Fox Network back in the Summer of 1990!

[@paulkitt5599]

Wow I heard that perkins made a pilot but I never thought I would see it unfortunately perkins looks slightly ill at ease in a sitcom which isn't sure if it is comedy or horror

[@eloquentwithrage]

Sadly, Perkins died in 1992, so the show might not have lasted too long as it is.

[@CompoundNihilist]

Anthony Perkins came to Alan Spencer and asked him to create a live audience sitcom for him so he could stay close to his family, knowing he had encroaching health issues.

[@soulheaven1964]

Only one episode

[@maximusprime3459]

Ick, its that odd little fellow Joshua Miller...

[@soulheaven1964]

I’d this on dvd this show

[@soulheaven1964]

Can you upload his movies?

[@lukejohnson3048]

Would someone please explain the joke at 13:00? I don't get it.

[@VincentGrimmly]

back in the 1980s, you could call phone sex hotlines for a dollar or two a minute. They were usually something like 976-HOTT

[@soulheaven1964]

Was there only two episodes of the show?

[@VincentGrimmly]

Just one pilot episode

[@soulheaven1964]

@@VincentGrimmly damn

[@sarcasticallyrearranged]

Was this the only episode that aired?

[@VincentGrimmly]

It was. The pilot aired only once. I don't believe any other episodes were filmed

[@allenmcfarlinmcfarlin8440]

I remember the commercial for this.RIP Anthony

[@allenmcfarlinmcfarlin8440]

The son was in Near Dark ,Teenage witch,class of 1999,

[@soulheaven1964]

@@VincentGrimmly but at the end of this episode it says 1990 to 1992

[@VincentGrimmly]

@@soulheaven1964 From IMDB: "This was one of several Fox TV pilots that wasn't picked up as a series and subsequently "burned off" during the summer of 1990. Each pilot aired only once, on a Wednesday night at 9:30 pm, over a six-week period from July 25 to August 29. This one aired August 15."