Editing Taxi (TV series)

{{Short description|American television sitcom (1978–1983)}}
{{about|the 1978 American TV sitcom|the BBC series starring Sid James|Taxi! (British TV series)|other|Taxi (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Taxi title screen.jpg
| genre                = [[Sitcom]]
| creator              = {{Plainlist|
* [[James L. Brooks]]
* [[Stan Daniels]]
* [[David Davis (TV producer)|David Davis]]
* [[Ed. Weinberger]]
}}
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Judd Hirsch]]
* [[Jeff Conaway]]
* [[Danny DeVito]]
* [[Marilu Henner]]
* [[Tony Danza]]
* [[Randall Carver]]
* [[Andy Kaufman]]
* [[Christopher Lloyd]]
* [[Carol Kane]]
}}
| director             = {{Plainlist|
*[[James Burrows]] (seasons 1–4)
*Various (seasons 2–5)
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]]
| open_theme           = "Angela"
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 5
| num_episodes         = 114
| list_episodes        = List of Taxi episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plain list|
*James L. Brooks
*Stan Daniels
*Ed. Weinberger
*David Davis
}}
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
*[[Richard Sakai]]
*[[Howard Gewirtz]]
*Ian Praiser
}}
| location             = Stage 23, [[Paramount Studios]], [[Hollywood, California]]
| camera               = [[Multiple-camera setup|Multiple-camera]]
| runtime              = 24 minutes
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[John Charles Walters Company|John Charles Walters Productions]]
* [[Paramount Television (original)|Paramount Television]]
}}
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] 
| network2             = [[NBC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1978|9|12}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1982|05|06}}
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|1982|09|30}}
| last_aired2          = {{End date|1983|6|15}}
}}
'''''Taxi''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] that originally aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from September 12, 1978, to May 6, 1982, and on [[NBC]] from September 30, 1982, to June 15, 1983. It focuses on the everyday lives of a handful of [[New York City]] [[taxicab|taxi]] drivers and their abusive [[dispatcher]]. For most of the run of the show, the [[ensemble cast]] consisted of taxi drivers Alex Reiger ([[Judd Hirsch]]), Bobby Wheeler ([[Jeff Conaway]]), Elaine Nardo ([[Marilu Henner]]), Tony Banta ([[Tony Danza]]), and "Reverend" Jim Ignatowski ([[Christopher Lloyd]]), along with dispatcher Louie De Palma ([[Danny DeVito]]) and mechanic Latka Gravas ([[Andy Kaufman]]). ''Taxi'' was produced by the [[John Charles Walters Company]], in association with [[Paramount Television (original)|Paramount Network Television]], and was created by [[James L. Brooks]], [[Stan Daniels]], [[David Davis (TV producer)|David Davis]], and [[Ed. Weinberger]], all of whom were brought on board after working on ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' (which ended in 1977).

The show was a critical and commercial success and is widely regarded as one of the [[List of television shows considered the best|greatest television shows of all time]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time|date=December 23, 2013|access-date=October 19, 2015|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119171109/http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time/the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air/|title=The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time|publisher=Variety|date=December 20, 2023}}</ref> It was nominated for 34 [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] and won 18, including wins in three consecutive years for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series|Outstanding Comedy Series]]. It has remained in [[syndicated television|syndicated]] [[rerun]]s ever since the series ended.

==Premise and themes==
The show focuses on the employees who work the night shift at the fictional Sunshine Cab Company, and its principal setting is the company's fleet garage in [[Manhattan]]. Among the drivers, only Alex Reiger, who is disillusioned with life, considers cab driving his profession. The others view it as a temporary/part time/side job.

Elaine Nardo is a single mother working as a receptionist at an art gallery. Tony Banta is a boxer with a losing record. Bobby Wheeler is a struggling actor. John Burns (written out of the show after the first season) is working his way through college. All take pity on "Reverend Jim" Ignatowski, an aging hippie minister who is burnt out from drugs, so they help him become a cabbie. The characters also include Latka Gravas, their innocent, wide-eyed mechanic from an unnamed foreign country, and Louie De Palma, the despotic dispatcher.

A number of episodes involve a character having an opportunity to realize their dream to move up in the world, only to see it yanked away. Otherwise, the cabbies deal on a daily basis with their unsatisfying lives and with Louie's abusive behavior and contempt (despite being a former cab driver himself). Louie's assistant, Jeff Bennett, is rarely heard from at first, but his role increased in later seasons.

Despite the humor of the show, ''Taxi'' often tackles such dramatic life issues as [[presenteeism]], [[victimization]], [[adultery]], pre-marital [[pregnancy]], [[addiction|drug addiction]], [[single parent]]hood, [[Visual Impairment|blindness]], [[obesity]], [[dissociative identity disorder]], [[animal abuse]], [[homosexuality]], [[racism]], teenage [[Runaway child|runaways]], [[divorce]], [[nuclear war]], [[sexual harassment]], [[PMDD|premenstrual mood disorders]], [[Problem gambling|gambling addiction]], and [[grief]].<!-- What was then known as PMS is now known as PMDD; "PMS" has become the name of something much more common and less traumatic. -->

== Cast and characters ==
===Main===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="white-space:nowrap;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Character
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Actor
! scope="col" colspan="11" | Seasons
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;" | 1
! scope="col" style="width:3em;" | 2
! scope="col" style="width:3em;" | 3
! scope="col" style="width:3em;" | 4
! scope="col" style="width:3em;" | 5
|-
| scope="row" | Alex Reiger
| [[Judd Hirsch]]
| colspan="5" {{CMain}}
|-
| scope="row" | Bobby Wheeler
| [[Jeff Conaway]]
| colspan="3" {{CMain}}
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring}}{{efn|Conaway is credited alongside the main cast for two episodes, which were held over from season 3, and makes one further appearance credited as a special guest star.}}
| colspan="1" |
|-
| scope="row" | Louie De Palma 
| [[Danny DeVito]]
| colspan="5" {{CMain}}
|-
| scope="row" | Elaine O'Connor Nardo
| [[Marilu Henner]]
| colspan="5" {{CMain}}
|-
| scope="row" | Anthony Mark "Tony" Banta
| [[Tony Danza]]
| colspan="5" {{CMain}}
|-
| scope="row" | [[Latka Gravas]]
| [[Andy Kaufman]]
| colspan="5" {{CMain}}
|-
| scope="row" | John Burns
| [[Randall Carver]]
| colspan="1" {{CMain}}
| colspan="4" |
|-
| scope="row" | [[Jim Ignatowski|Reverend Jim "Iggy" Ignatowski]]
| [[Christopher Lloyd]]
| colspan="1" {{CGuest}}
| colspan="4" {{CMain}}
|-
| scope="row" | Simka Gravas
| [[Carol Kane]]
| colspan="1" |
| colspan="1" {{CGuest}}
| colspan="1" |
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring}}
| colspan="1" {{CMain}}
|-
|}
{{reflist|group=N}}
{{notelist}}

[[File:Taxi cast ABC first season.jpg|thumb|upright=1.14|Cast of the debut season ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], 1978–79). From left to right: (back) Marilu Henner, Judd Hirsch; (front) Andy Kaufman, Jeff Conaway, Randall Carver, Danny DeVito, Tony Danza]]
[[File:Taxi NBC cast final season.jpg|upright|thumb|Cast of the final season ([[NBC]], 1982–83). From left to right: (back) Kaufman, Carol Kane, DeVito, Hirsch; (front) Danza, Henner, Christopher Lloyd]]

* Alex Reiger ([[Judd Hirsch]])&nbsp;– Alex is the main [[protagonist]] in the sitcom, the compassionate, level-headed core of the show; the one everyone else turns to for advice. At one point, he reveals his [[anxiety]] with this unwanted burden. He once worked in an office, with a good chance of advancement, but lost this job owing to his refusal to follow the company line. He was married to Phyllis Bornstein ([[Louise Lasser]]), and when she [[divorce]]d him because of his lack of ambition she sought sole custody of their baby daughter, Cathy ([[Talia Balsam]]). He gave in rather than fight it. He is estranged from his [[lothario]] father, Joe ([[Jack Gilford]]), but has a closer relationship with his sister, Charlotte ([[Joan Hackett]]). Alex is a recovered [[Problem gambling|compulsive gambler]], although he relapses in one episode. A [[deadpan]] [[Cynicism (contemporary)|cynic]], he has resigned himself to driving a cab for the rest of his life. 
* Robert L. "Bobby" Wheeler ([[Jeff Conaway]]) (1978–1981, recurring 1981–1982)&nbsp;– Bobby is a vain, struggling actor who is Louie's favorite target for scorn and abuse. [[Robin Williams]] was considered for the role, but he was already committed to ''[[Mork & Mindy]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2011 |title=The Lost Roles of Robin Williams |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/03/the-lost-roles-of-robin-williams.html |access-date=17 July 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719042542/https://www.vulture.com/amp/2011/03/the-lost-roles-of-robin-williams.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Success as an actor eludes Bobby. He is signed by a famous manager, but it turns out she only wants him as a lover, not a client. Later he is cast in the pilot for a soap opera, but his part is recast when the series goes into production. Conaway left the show at the beginning of season 4, returning for a guest appearance in which his character leaves the taxi company for good. Writer [[Sam Simon]] explained later that when Conaway was absent for an episode, his dialogue was successfully reassigned to other cast members, which made the producers realize that he was expendable.<ref name="marksfriggin">{{cite web|url=http://www.marksfriggin.com/news08/2-4.htm#thu|title=MarksFriggin.com - Stern Show News - Archive|publisher=marksfriggin.com|access-date=2014-11-15|archive-date=2011-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303222916/http://www.marksfriggin.com/news08/2-4.htm#thu|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Louie De Palma ([[Danny DeVito]])&nbsp;– Louie is the main [[antagonist]] of the sitcom. The head dispatcher of the Sunshine Cab Company and supervisor to the cab drivers, Louie spends his time holding court inside the caged-in dispatch office at the garage, arguing with, belittling and bullying the drivers. He not only lacks morals, he is openly proud of his misdemeanors and outright crimes. Louie will do anything to benefit himself, from taking advantage of a drunken friend of his [[On-again, off-again relationship|on-again, off-again girlfriend]] Zena Sherman (played by DeVito's real-life wife [[Rhea Perlman]]), to gambling with a young boy, to stealing from the company, to spying on Elaine while she is changing. He lives with his mother (DeVito's real mother, Julia, in two episodes). On some occasions he helps his workers, as in the episode in which a cruel hairstylist (played by [[Ted Danson]]) gives Elaine a garish makeover just before a very important event, it is Louie who bolsters her confidence to confront him. Louie is very superstitious, in one episode exhibiting great concern when Jim has a premonition that Alex is going to die later that night. In 1999, ''[[TV Guide]]'' ranked De Palma first on its list of the 50 greatest TV characters of all time.<ref>{{cite news | title = Danny Devito: Biography | work = [[TV Guide]] | url = http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/danny-devito/bio/146104 | access-date = 2008-10-03 | archive-date = 2009-02-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090216222535/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/danny-devito/bio/146104 | url-status = live }}</ref> DeVito told ''[[AARP: The Magazine]]'' he won the role after asking the creators in his audition “Who wrote this shit?” then throwing the script on the table. “They fell on the floor,” recalled DeVito. “Louie walked into their lives.”<ref name=AARP>{{cite magazine|last=Rosen|first=Lisa|title= Danny DeVito: 'You Gotta Tamp Me Down in the Joy Department!'|url=https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/members-only-access/info-2024/danny-devito-what-i-know-now.html |magazine=[[AARP: The Magazine]]|date=December 2024 – January 2025}}</ref>
* Elaine O'Connor Nardo ([[Marilu Henner]])&nbsp;– Elaine is a divorced mother of two, struggling to cope while trying to realize her ambitions in the field of fine art. Elaine works as a part time cab driver as a moonlighting job while she works as a receptionist in an art gallery. Also Louie's object of lust, she is attracted to characters played by actors ranging from [[Tom Selleck]] to [[Wallace Shawn]]. The last name for the character was taken from Patricia Nardo, a scriptwriter, former secretary, and close friend of ''Taxi'' co-creator James L. Brooks.<ref>''Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And all the Brilliant Minds Who Made The Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic'' by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, pg 242</ref>
* Anthony Mark "Tony" Banta ([[Tony Danza]])&nbsp;– The kind-hearted, slow-witted Vietnam veteran and [[Boxing|boxer]] has little success in the sport (in one episode Banta gives his record as 8 wins, 24 losses and he has been knocked out 14 times). In fact, Louie makes a lot of money betting against him (when Banta makes a conscious decision to throw a fight, Louie decides to bet ''on'' Banta because the only way Banta can remain a loser in such a situation is to ''win''). Finally, the boxing commission takes away his license because he has been knocked out one too many times.Tony got his boxing license reinstated. In the final season, Tony is introduced to new girlfriend Vicki ([[Anne De Salvo]]) by Simka. He and Vicki have a falling out after she becomes pregnant by him, but reconcile and get married. The last name for the character was taken from Gloria Banta, a scriptwriter and close friend of ''Taxi'' co-creator James L. Brooks.<ref>''Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And all the Brilliant Minds Who Made Them'' by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, pg 242</ref>
* Reverend [[Jim Ignatowski]] ([[Christopher Lloyd]]) (guest star 1978, main cast 1979–1983)&nbsp;– A washed-up figure of the 1960s, Jim lives in a world of his own. He was once a diligent, mature student at [[Harvard University]], with an extremely [[wealth]]y father ([[Victor Buono]]), but one bite of a drug-laden brownie was enough to get him hooked and send him into a downward spiral. His real last name had been Caldwell; he changed it to Ignatowski, thinking that the backward pronunciation of that name was "Star Child". In a particularly memorable episode, “Reverend Jim: A Space Odyssey”, the cabbies help him pass a written exam to become one of them. He occasionally exhibits unexpected talents, such as the ability to play the piano masterfully (much to his own surprise). ''[[TV Guide]]'' placed Ignatowski 32nd on its list of the 50 greatest TV characters.
* [[Latka Gravas]] ([[Andy Kaufman]])&nbsp;– Latka is an immigrant from a strange foreign land, often speaking in his foreign tongue (actually gibberish, often with invented phrases such as "ibi da" or "nik nik"), but when speaking English he speaks with a very heavy accent. He works as a mechanic, fixing the taxis. Latka was an adaptation of Kaufman's "Foreign Man" character, which he originated in his stage act. In this act, "Foreign Man" claimed to be from the fictional island of Caspiar in the Caspian Sea. Kaufman, feeling that he had lost creative control over the character he had created, eventually grew tired of the gag, leading the writers to give Latka multiple personality disorder. This allowed Kaufman to play other characters, the most frequent being a repellent, smooth-talking lounge-lizard persona calling himself Vic Ferrari. In one episode, Latka becomes Alex, with profound insights into "his" life. Just as he is about to reveal to the real Alex the perfect solution for all his problems, he reverts to Latka.
* Simka Dahblitz-Gravas ([[Carol Kane]]) (recurring 1980–1982, starring 1982–1983)&nbsp;– She is from the same country as Latka. They belong to different ethnic groups which traditionally detest each other, but they fall in love and eventually marry. She is much more assertive than her husband, often standing up to Louie on his behalf. 
* John Burns ([[Randall Carver]]) (1978–1979)&nbsp;– The naive young man works as a cabbie to pay for college, where he is working towards a degree in [[forestry]]. According to Carver, "the characters of John Burns and Tony Banta were too similar... some of the lines were almost interchangeable",<ref>Jeff Sorensen, ''The Taxi Book'', St. Martin's Press, 1987, p. 39.</ref> so he was dropped after the first season without explanation. The premiere episode, "Like Father, Like Daughter", established that John started working for the cab company after he was a passenger in Alex's cab. John did not have change, so he had to ride with Alex to the garage to pay him. Once there, he started hanging around and eventually applied for a job. In the episode "The Great Line", he spontaneously marries a complete stranger named Suzanne.

===Recurring===

* Jeff Bennett (J. Alan Thomas), Sunshine Cab's assistant dispatcher, he shares the "cage" with Louie but rarely speaks or interacts with the other characters. A quiet African-American man with an afro, Jeff appears throughout the show's run, initially as a bit part player and/or background performer. As the series progressed, Jeff gradually became more of a featured supporting player; his evolution culminated in a storyline in the season 5 episode "Crime and Punishment", in which Louie falsely accuses Jeff of stealing car parts from the company and selling them on the black market—a crime which Louie himself committed. Thomas appeared as himself in the 1999 film ''[[Man on the Moon (film)|Man on the Moon]]''.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=John Willis' Screen World|author1=Willis, J.|author2=Monush, B.|date=2000|volume=51|publisher=Applause Books|isbn=9781557834317|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ab0zAQAAIAAJ|access-date=2014-11-15}}</ref>
* Tommy Jeffries (T.J. Castronova), the bartender and waiter at Mario's, the restaurant where the group often hangs out. Tommy is pretty friendly with the whole gang, taking an interest in their personal lives.
* Joe Reiger ([[Jack Gilford]]) (1979–1981), Alex's father, from whom he is estranged. In his first appearance, he suffers a heart attack and Alex is convinced by his sister Charlotte ([[Joan Hackett]]) to visit him in the hospital. Alex and Joe had not spoken in 30 years, and Alex mistakes another patient for Joe.
* Zena Sherman ([[Rhea Perlman]]) (1979–1982). She has a romantic relationship with Louie (played by Perlman's real-life husband DeVito), but marries someone else after they break up.
* Greta Gravas ([[Susan Kellermann]]) (1979–1982), Latka's mother. She has a short fling with Alex, which causes friction with Latka.
* Phyllis Bornstein-Consuelos ([[Louise Lasser]]) (1980–1982), Alex's ex-wife, with whom he had a daughter. Phyllis became fed up with his lack of ambition and remarried, but they remain strongly attracted to each other. She once goes out on a date with Louie, just to irritate Alex.
* Cathy ([[Talia Balsam]]) (1978–1980), Phyllis and Alex's daughter. In the first episode of the series, Alex finds out that Cathy, who was a baby when he and Phyllis divorced, is making a stopover in Miami on her way to attend college in Portugal. He drives to Miami to meet her for the first time since then. In a later episode, he attends Cathy's wedding.
* Brian Sims (Marc Anthony Danza). In his first appearance, Tony fights a former boxing champ whose best days are behind him. He becomes troubled when he realizes that the champ is dedicating the fight to wheelchair user Brian (played by Danza's real-life son<ref name="Picou-20220813">{{cite web |last1=Picou |first1=Sabrina |title=Tony Danza's Kids: Everything To Know About 'Who's The Boss?' Star's 4 Children |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/tony-danza-kids-4816909/ |website=[[Hollywood Life]] |access-date=March 20, 2023 |date=August 13, 2022 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320002352/https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/tony-danza-kids-4816909/ |url-status=live }}</ref>). In a next-season episode, Tony seeks to adopt him.

===Guests===
<!--do not add too many guest stars; use present tense for fiction per MOS:FICTION -->
Among the many guest stars, [[Ruth Gordon]] won an [[Emmy Award]] for her guest portrayal of Dee Wilcox in "Sugar Mama" (1979), and [[Eileen Brennan]] was nominated for an Emmy for her guest portrayal of Mrs. McKenzie in "Thy Boss's Wife" (1981).

[[Richard Minchenberg]] guest starred in Season 3 episode 1.  The episode is titled "Louie's Rival."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0718510/ | title=Louie's Rival | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>[[Rhea Perlman]] guest starred as Zena Sherman.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077089/characters/nm0674231 | title=Taxi (TV Series 1978–1983) - Rhea Perlman as Zena Sherman, John's Girlfriend - IMDb | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

Some played themselves: actresses [[Marcia Wallace]] and [[Penny Marshall]], psychologist Dr. [[Joyce Brothers]], cookie entrepreneur [[Wally Amos|Wally "Famous" Amos]], newscasters [[Edwin Newman]] and [[Eric Sevareid]] (the latter in a fantasy sequence), and ring announcer [[Jimmy Lennon]]. WBC world welterweight boxing champion [[Carlos Palomino]] appeared in the first-season episode "One-Punch Banta" as himself. Palomino accidentally punched Danza in the face during a brief fight scene. Martial artist and professional wrestler [[Gene LeBell]] played himself in multiple episodes as the referee for Banta's boxing matches.

[[George Wendt]] and [[Ted Danson]], who appeared in separate episodes, went on to star in primary ''Taxi'' director Jim Burrows' next series, ''[[Cheers]]'', as did recurring ''Taxi'' performer [[Rhea Perlman]]. [[Tom Selleck]] and [[Mandy Patinkin]] had memorable guest appearances, each as one of the memorable fares of Cab 804 (in "Memories of Cab 804: Part 2"), while [[Tom Hanks]] portrayed Reverend Jim's college roommate in the flashback episode "The Road Not Taken, Part 1".  [[Allan Arbus]], who portrayed [[United States Army|US Army]] [[psychiatrist]] [[Dr. Sidney Freedman]] in ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'', played his manager in the episode.  Football player-turned-actor [[Bubba Smith]] appeared in one episode. In the episode "Jim Joins the Network", [[Martin Short]] played a failing TV network executive who takes advantage of Jim's exceptional ability to schedule shows for his own career advancement.

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Taxi episodes}}
{{:List of Taxi episodes}}

==Awards and nominations==
''Taxi'' is one of television's most lauded shows. During its run, the sitcom was nominated for 31 [[Emmy Awards]] and won 18, including three for Outstanding Comedy Series. It was also nominated for 25 [[Golden Globes]], with four wins (three for Best TV Series&nbsp;– Musical/Comedy). In 1979, it received the [[Humanitas Prize]] in the 30 minute category. It was also ranked 48th in [[TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time]]. In 1997, two of the show's episodes, "Latka the Playboy" and "Reverend Jim: A Space Odyssey" were respectively ranked #19 and #63 on [[TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=1997 |title=Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time |journal=[[TV Guide]] |issue=June 28 – July 4 }}</ref> In 2013, the series was ranked #35 on TV Guide's 60 Best Series of All Time<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time|date=December 23, 2013|access-date=October 19, 2015|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119171109/http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|url-status=live}}</ref> and #19 by the [[Writers Guild of America]] on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013}}</ref> In 2023, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' ranked ''Taxi'' #75 on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/lists/greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time/the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air/|title=The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time|publisher=Variety|date=December 20, 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Primetime Emmy Awards
|-
! Year !! Category !! Nominee(s) !! Episode !! Result
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[31st Primetime Emmy Awards|1979]] || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series|Outstanding Comedy Series]] || [[James L. Brooks]], [[Glen and Les Charles|Glen Charles, Les Charles]], [[Stan Daniels]], [[David Davis (TV producer)|David Davis]] and [[Ed. Weinberger]] || || {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]] || [[Judd Hirsch]] || || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]] || [[Ruth Gordon]] || "Sugar Mama" || {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series]] || [[Danny DeVito]] || || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series|Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series]] || [[Michael J. Leeson]] || "Blind Date" || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Film Editing for a Series || M. Pam Blumenthal || "Paper Marriage" || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[32nd Primetime Emmy Awards|1980]] || Outstanding Comedy Series || James L. Brooks, Glen Charles, Les Charles, Stan Daniels and Ed. Weinberger || || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series || Judd Hirsch || || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series|Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series]] || [[James Burrows]] || "Louie and the Nice Girl" || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series || Glen Charles and Les Charles || "Honor Thy Father" || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for a Series || M. Pam Blumenthal || "Louie and the Nice Girl" || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="9"|[[33rd Primetime Emmy Awards|1981]] || Outstanding Comedy Series || James L. Brooks, Glen Charles, Les Charles, Stan Daniels and Ed. Weinberger || || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series || Judd Hirsch || || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series || [[Eileen Brennan]] || "Thy Boss' Wife" || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series || Danny DeVito || || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series || James Burrows || "Elaine's Strange Triangle" || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series || Glen Charles and Les Charles || "Going Home" || {{nom}}
|-
| Michael J. Leeson || "Tony's Sister and Jim" || {{won}}
|-
| [[David Lloyd (writer)|David Lloyd]] || "Elaine's Strange Triangle" || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for a Series || M. Pam Blumenthal and Jack Michon || "Elaine's Strange Triangle" || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="8"|[[34th Primetime Emmy Awards|1982]] || Outstanding Comedy Series || James L. Brooks, Glen Charles, Les Charles, Stan Daniels, [[Ken Estin]], [[Howard Gewirtz]], Ian Praiser, [[Richard Sakai]] and Ed. Weinberger || || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series || Judd Hirsch || || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series || [[Carol Kane]] || "Simka Returns" || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series || Danny DeVito || || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Christopher Lloyd]] || || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series || James Burrows || "Jim the Psychic" || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series || [[Barry Kemp (TV producer)|Barry Kemp]] (teleplay) and Holly Holmberg Brooks (story) || "Jim the Psychic" || {{nom}}
|-
| Ken Estin || "Elegant Iggy" || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[35th Primetime Emmy Awards|1983]] || Outstanding Comedy Series || James L. Brooks, Glen Charles, Les Charles, Stan Daniels, Ken Estin, Howard Gewirtz, Ian Praiser, Richard Sakai and Ed. Weinberger || || {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series || Judd Hirsch || || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series || Danny DeVito || || {{nom}}
|-
| Christopher Lloyd || || {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series]] || Carol Kane || || {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series || Ken Estin || "Jim's Inheritance" || {{nom}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Golden Globe Awards
|-
! Year !! Category !! Nominee !! Result
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[36th Golden Globe Awards|1979]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy|Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy]] || ''Taxi'' || {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy|Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy]] || Judd Hirsch || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television]] || [[Jeff Conaway]] || {{nom}}
|-
|  Danny DeVito || {{nom}}
|-
|  [[Andy Kaufman]] || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television]] || [[Marilu Henner]] || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6"|[[37th Golden Globe Awards|1980]] || Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy || ''Taxi'' || {{won}}{{efn|Tied with ''[[Alice (American TV series)|Alice]]''}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy || Judd Hirsch || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television || Jeff Conaway || {{nom}}
|-
|  Danny DeVito || {{won}}{{efn|Tied with [[Vic Tayback]] from ''Alice''}}
|-
| [[Tony Danza]] || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television || Marilu Henner || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[38th Golden Globe Awards|1981]] || Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy || ''Taxi'' || {{won}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy || Judd Hirsch || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television || Danny DeVito || {{nom}}
|-
| Andy Kaufman || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television || Marilu Henner || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[39th Golden Globe Awards|1982]] || Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy || ''Taxi'' || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy || Judd Hirsch || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television || Danny DeVito || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television || Marilu Henner || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[40th Golden Globe Awards|1983]] || Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy || ''Taxi'' || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy || Judd Hirsch || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television || Marilu Henner || {{nom}}
|-
| Carol Kane || {{nom}}
|-
| [[41st Golden Globe Awards|1984]] || Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy || ''Taxi'' || {{nom}}
|}
{{notelist}}

==Production==
''Taxi'' was inspired by the [[non-fiction]] article "Night-Shifting for the Hip Fleet" by Mark Jacobson, which appeared in the September 22, 1975, issue of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/news/features/50177|title=Night-Shifting for the Hip Fleet|first=Mark|last=Jacobson|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=September 22, 1975|access-date=November 6, 2010|archive-date=January 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117013315/http://nymag.com/news/features/50177/|url-status=live}}</ref> This article helped suggest the idea for the show to [[James L. Brooks]] and [[David Davis (TV producer)|David Davis]], though nothing from the article was used directly.<ref>Jeff Sorensen, ''The Taxi Book'', St. Martin's Press, 1987, p. 3.</ref>  The article was a profile of several drivers who worked the night shift for a New York cab company.

The series was produced on Stage 23 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California, from July 5, 1978, to February 18, 1983.

When the series was cancelled by ABC, it seemed for a time that the [[Pay television|premium]] [[cable television]] network [[HBO]] would pick up the series. When it did not, the series was picked up by NBC, which at first kept it on at its ABC time slot of [[Must See TV|Thursday]] 9:30 p.m  following the first season of ''[[Cheers]]''. An NBC promo for ''Taxi''{{'}}s move to the network featured Danny DeVito in character as Louie saying "Same time, better station!"<ref>{{cite book|title=[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present]]|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=0-345-45542-8|pages=1174}}</ref>

The taxicabs shown in the show are [[Checker Marathon|Checker]] A11s.

==Opening and closing sequence==
The opening titles show a Checker cab driving east across the [[Queensboro Bridge]]. The footage originally was intended as a "bridge" between scenes and is only about fifteen seconds long; parts of it are repeated to fill the opening. Driving the vehicle is cast member Tony Danza.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/69425/15-behind-scenes-facts-about-taxi|title=15 Behind-the-Scenes Facts About Taxi|date=12 September 2018|access-date=9 February 2020|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401222257/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/69425/15-behind-scenes-facts-about-taxi|url-status=live}}</ref> The closing version consisted of Cab 804, the drivers' favorite cab ("Memories of Cab 804"), driving into the night.

===Theme music===
[[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]] wrote the opening theme, "Angela", which had been intended for a sequence in episode #3 ("Blind Date"). The producers liked this slower, more melancholic tune better than the up-tempo opening theme they had originally chosen ("Touchdown"), and were able to make the switch before the first episode aired. Both songs are on James's 1978 album, ''[[Touchdown (Bob James album)|Touchdown]]''.

It uses the "[[Sunny (Bobby Hebb song)#Chord progression's legacy|Sunny]]" [[chord progression]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cleary |first=Tom |date=2019-11-26 |title=A history of the chord progression from Bobby Hebb's 'Sunny', and an original tune based on it ('Eye On The Sky') |url=https://blog.uvm.edu/tgcleary/2019/11/26/a-history-of-bobby-hebbs-sunny-and-its-chord-progression-and-an-original-tune-based-on-it-eye-on-the-sky/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115183946/https://blog.uvm.edu/tgcleary/2019/11/26/a-history-of-bobby-hebbs-sunny-and-its-chord-progression-and-an-original-tune-based-on-it-eye-on-the-sky/ |archive-date=2024-01-15 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=BirdFeed |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1983, James released ''The Genie'', an LP containing much of the incidental music he had written for ''Taxi'' during its run.

==Syndication==
Reruns of ''Taxi'' began airing in syndication in 1983 on 64 television stations immediately after NBC's cancelation; It has been airing in syndication since. The program also aired on [[Nick at Nite]] from 1994 to 2001. ''Taxi'' previously aired reruns Sunday nights on [[MeTV]] as part of their "Last Laughs" block. [[Hulu]], [[Pluto TV]] and [[Amazon Prime Video]] have all five seasons; however, as of February 2023, only [[Paramount+]] has every episode, including some available with original music for the first time outside of the original and syndicated runs.
In the UK, ''Taxi'' aired on [[BBC One|BBC1]] with repeats airing on [[Comedy Central Extra|Paramount Comedy 2]] and [[CBS Drama]]. As of 2020, the series has been airing weeknights on Decades (later rebranded as [[Catchy Comedy]]) as part of its “Smartcoms Across The Decades” block (later re-named as the "Smart and Catchy Sitcoms" block). ''Taxi'' has also aired on Decades (now Catchy Comedy) as part of their weekend binges called "The Decades Binge" (later renamed to "The Catchy Binge" when it was rebranded to Catchy Comedy), with its most recent binge on April 13, 2025.

==Cast reunions==
Danny DeVito hosted an episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (on [[NBC]]) soon after ''Taxi'' was canceled after the fourth season. During the opening monologue, DeVito read a letter supposedly from his mother asking God to forgive ABC for cancelling the show, adding that "but I'll understand if you don't." A filmed bit had him driving around New York looking morose until inspiration strikes, and he blows up the ABC building. In addition, the ''Taxi'' cast members were given an opportunity for [[Closure (psychology)|closure]], which up to that point had been denied for them due to the abrupt cancellation. The actors took their "final" bows during DeVito's opening monologue, only to have NBC (which aired ''SNL'') pick up the show.

More than 15 years later, most of the cast returned to play their younger-selves and briefly re-enact scenes for the Kaufman [[biopic]] ''[[Man on the Moon (film)|Man on the Moon]]''. Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner, Jeff Conaway, Carol Kane, Randall Carver, J. Alan Thomas and Christopher Lloyd all reprised their roles. The only two living members of the principal cast who did not were Danny DeVito, who produced and co-starred in the film as Kaufman's manager George Shapiro, and Tony Danza, who at the time of filming was performing in ''[[A View from the Bridge]]'' on Broadway.<ref>{{cite web|title="Man On The Moon" shoot starts|date=8 August 1998|url=http://www.jimcarreyonline.com/recent/news.php?id=45|access-date=29 January 2015|archive-date=29 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129074122/http://www.jimcarreyonline.com/recent/news.php?id=45|url-status=live}}</ref>

Several of the cast members (along with cast members from other Judd Hirsch and [[Bob Newhart]] vehicles) reunited in different roles for an episode of the Judd Hirsch/Bob Newhart series ''[[George & Leo]]''.

In January 2009, Danny DeVito mentioned wanting to make a ''Taxi'' reunion movie.<ref>{{cite news| title = Danny Devito—Devito Calls For Taxi Movie| publisher = [[Contactmusic.com]]| url = http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/devito-calls-for-taxi-movie_1093300| access-date = 2010-02-26| archive-date = 2010-12-22| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101222001808/http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/devito-calls-for-taxi-movie_1093300| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Danny DeVito Calls For 'Taxi' Movie| publisher = Starpulse Entertainment News| url = http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/01/30/danny_devito_calls_for_taxi_movie| access-date = 2010-02-26| archive-date = 2009-12-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091227044225/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/01/30/danny_devito_calls_for_taxi_movie| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = A 'Taxi' Reunion?| publisher = [[Extra (American TV program)|Extra]]| url = http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2009/01/a_taxi_reunion.php| access-date = 2010-02-26| archive-date = 2010-08-14| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100814151019/http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2009/01/a_taxi_reunion.php| url-status = live}}</ref>

==Home media==
All five seasons of ''Taxi'' have been released from [[Paramount Home Entertainment]]. The first three seasons of ''Taxi'' were released on DVD in Region 1 between 2004 and 2005. It took almost four years until Paramount released ''The Fourth Season'' on September 22, 2009, and ''The (Fifth &) Final Season'' on December 22, 2009 (the last two seasons were released through [[CBS Home Entertainment]]). As of October 2014, all seasons have been released in Germany ([[DVD region code|Region 2]]).

On November 11, 2014, [[CBS Home Entertainment]] released ''Taxi- The Complete Series'' on DVD in Region 1. All 114 episodes are featured on a 17-disc collection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Taxi-The-Complete-Series/20202|title=Taxi DVD news: Announcement for Taxi - The Complete Series - TVShowsOnDVD.com|website=www.tvshowsondvd.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826231156/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Taxi-The-Complete-Series/20202|archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"|DVD Name !! rowspan="2"|Ep # !! colspan="2"|Release dates
|-
! Region 1 !! Region 2
|-
|The Complete First Season || align="center" |22 || October 12, 2004 || April 28, 2008
|-
|The Complete Second Season || align="center" |24 || February 1, 2005 || February 9, 2009
|-
|The Complete Third Season || align="center" |20 || September 13, 2005 || {{TBA}}{{contradictory inline|date=July 2018}}
|-
|The Fourth Season || align="center" |24 || September 22, 2009 || {{TBA}}{{contradictory inline|date=July 2018}}
|-
|The (Fifth &) Final Season || align="center" |24 || December 22, 2009 || {{TBA}}{{contradictory inline|date=July 2018}}
|-
|The Complete Series || align="center" |114 || November 11, 2014 || May 30, 2016
|}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
* Lovece, Frank, with Franco, Jules. ''Hailing Taxi: The Official Book of the Show''. New York: Prentice Hall, 1988. Reissued  as ''Taxi: The Official Fan's Guide''. New York: Citadel, 1996. {{ISBN|0-8065-1801-4}}. SBN-13: {{not a typo|978-0806518015}}.

== External links ==
{{wikiquote|Taxi}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0077089|title=Taxi}}
* {{TV Guide show|100431|Taxi}}
* [http://www.museum.tv/eotv/taxi.htm Encyclopedia of Television]
* {{cite news| url = http://nymag.com/news/features/50177/ |title= Night-Shifting for the Hip Fleet| first= Mark |last=Jacobson |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date= September 22, 1975 |access-date=2014-11-16 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140813022613/http://nymag.com/news/features/50177/| archive-date=2014-08-13|url-status=live}}

{{Taxi sitcom}}
{{James Brooks}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Taxi''
|list =
{{EmmyAward ComedySeries}}
{{GoldenGlobeTVComedy}}
}}

[[Category:Taxi (TV series)| ]]
[[Category:1978 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1983 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1970s American multi-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:1970s American workplace comedy television series]]
[[Category:1980s American multi-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:1980s American workplace comedy television series]]
[[Category:American television series revived after cancellation]]
[[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Series Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Works about taxi drivers]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series winners]]
[[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Television series created by Ed. Weinberger]]
[[Category:Television series created by James L. Brooks]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Manhattan]]
[[Category:NBC sitcoms]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company sitcoms]]