Editing Kids Incorporated (section)

==Production and broadcast history==
The original pilot for the show was produced in 1983 and shopped to several networks by creators [[Thomas W. Lynch]] and Gary Biller.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-24-ca-lynch24-story.html |title=Enthusiasm that is almost like a kid's |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date= December 24, 2006|access-date= March 3, 2011 |first=Kate |last=Aurthur}}</ref>

The show was not picked up by a major network, but, distributed by [[MGM Television|MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Television]], began a [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] run on September 1, 1984. The original four cast members, [[Stacy Ferguson]], [[Martika|Marta Marrero]], [[Renee Sands]], and Jerry Sharell, were joined by [[Rahsaan Patterson]] and a company of five backup dancers. Sharell left after the first season, in part over unhappiness with the show's often bizarre and outlandish storylines.

As with most syndicated productions its scheduling was based on local stations rather than being offered universally at one time across the country. Some stations aired it on a weekday near prime time, while others had it as a weekend-only offering that could air as early as 6:30 a.m. Due to its overall unsettled schedule, ratings were never truly steady, and the show was cancelled on December 26, 1985. Reruns aired on [[Christian Broadcasting Network|CBN]] (now [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]]) from 1985 to 1986.

It was due to the positive ratings from the CBN reruns that in summer 1986, the show was given a second chance when the Disney Channel acquired the rights to it. It resumed production with the same cast (minus Sharell), and new episodes began airing on November 3, 1986. Disney's buyout package also included the entire syndicated run, and as Disney Channel has never carried traditional commercial breaks, the episodes were re-edited to remove any advertising-related continuity to become continuous episodes, which was also advantageous to later home video releases. Its main timeslot on the Disney Channel was 5 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|ET]]/4 p.m. [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CT]]/2 p.m. [[Pacific Time Zone|PT]]; though still somewhat disadvantageous, the program now had a steady timeslot, along with little to no ratings pressure, as Disney Channel was then offered as a [[pay television|premium cable service]] which paid little attention to program ratings.

After the sixth season (1989) was filmed, the show was put on hiatus for a year, during which time most of the cast moved on to other projects or aged out of the program. The only two who were invited to return in 1991 when it resumed production were Kenny Ford and [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]].

Budget cuts and the expiration of Disney's output agreement with MGM prompted another hiatus in 1993, leading to the show's end, after Season 9's ten episodes completed production. The last episode aired on January 9, 1994. The show continued to be shown in reruns on the Disney Channel until May 30, 1996, and remains the network's longest-running program.

Originally taped at [[Sunset Las Palmas Studios|Hollywood Center Studios]], later seasons were produced at [[Sunset Gower Studios]].

===Producers===
Throughout its history, other producers and production companies were associated with the show, including
[[K-tel]] Entertainment, Lynch-Biller Productions (later Lynch Entertainment; now The Tom Lynch Company), RHI Entertainment, and [[MGM Television]] (a.k.a. MGM-Pathé). [[Hal Roach Studios]]/[[Qintex]], the studio responsible for the [[Our Gang|''Our Gang'' (Little Rascals)]] [[short films]] series of the 1930s, was also involved with it.  (Qintex was also responsible for the distribution of 1989 [[roller derby]] series ''[[RollerGames]]''.)

The show essentially launched the careers of creators and producers Gary Biller and [[Thomas W. Lynch]], who would go on to create ''[[The Secret World of Alex Mack]]'' and ''[[Romeo!]]'' (for [[Nickelodeon]]) among many other shows, leading the ''[[New York Times]]'' to call him "the [[David E. Kelley]] of 'tween TV". Prior to it, Lynch and Biller created and produced a long-running music video series for [[TBS (TV network)|TBS]], ''[[Night Tracks]]''.