Roundhouse (TV series)

Roundhouse is an American television series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1992 through 1996.

Background

Roundhouse debuted as a part of the original SNICK lineup on Nickelodeon in 1992 and continued airing on the network through the end of 1996.

Buddy Sheffield, a former writer for In Living Color, and Rita Sheffield Hester created and produced the series. Recording artist Benny Hester was the music producer as well as co-producer of the series. They titled the show in reference to the roundhouses used by railroad companies to turn trains around and get them on the right track. This was in line with the show's theme song, in which the characters stated "we can go anywhere from here". In addition, the stage for the show mirrored the interior of a roundhouse.

Episode format

Each episode revolved around the Anyfamily and their problems in daily life. The half-hour show, taped in front of a visible live audience, was broken up into sketches, dance sequences, and musical performances by both cast members and the house band. After everything is resolved story-wise, a cast member would say the words "Reprise the Theme Song and Roll the Credits", the cast then sang the theme song a cappella with a dance to close the show off. All music used on the show was written specifically for Roundhouse. Crystal Lewis and Shawn Daywalt were the principal vocalists for many of the songs in the first season. After Lewis left the series to pursue a career in Christian contemporary music, she was replaced by Lisa Vale, who left the series after Season 2 due to her pregnancy at the time and was replaced by Amy Ehrlich and Jennifer Cihi for Season 3. Natasha Pearce became the series principal vocalist in Season 4, but Vale returned for the fourth season as well.