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| BEHIND-THE-SCENES: After the success of Nightmare 3, and in anticipation of the success of Nightmare 4, Newline's president Robert Shaye set out to get into television using their most successful franchise character. The idea of turning a slasher series that thrives on sex and violence into a weekly broadcast TV show would strike many as laughable. The people at Newline knew that a show about Freddy that was like the movies would not work, if for no other reason than the story is too limited (introduce characters, Freddy kills characters, a few characters survive). They came up with the idea of doing an anthology show, like The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone with Freddy as the host. Robert Shaye & TV producer Scott A. Stone served as executive producers. One difference between this and most other anthology shows is the fact that all of the episodes take place in the town of Springwood, which means no eps set in the future or in alternate worlds as was frequently done on The Twilight Zone. Also since it is Freddy nightmares have to play a part in each story. Each episode was devided into a two act structure. The stories from each act were connected, but different enough that either one could stand alone as its own story. This was done so that each hour long episode could be devided into 2 separate half hour shows. For most of the shows Freddy's part was limited to "bumper" sequences. He would introduce the episode, than pop up at the half way point between the two acts and make some wise-ass comments, than at the end he would pop up again with some more one-liners. An advantage to this approach was that Robert Englund did not have to commit a large amount of time to the show. He could shoot the "bumpers" for several episodes at once, and in a short period of time. Only a few of the shows directly involved Freddy. In the rest of them he only appeared in the "bumper" segments. All of those non-Freddy episodes still featured bad dreams prominently, dreams that were supposed to come from Freddy, even if he was not in them. The series was not distributed by a TV network (i.e. ABC, NBC, FOX); it was first-run syndication, which means that Warner Bros Television Distribution set up the deals directly with local TV stations to air the show. This kept it out of "prime time" (the most watched period between 8:00PM & 11:00PM). Because of its dark nature most stations put it on in late night time slots, which get lower ratings than daytime slots. Lower ratings mean commercials are sold for cheaper rates, which mean less money for the people who made the show. It premiered on October 9, 1989, just 2 months after Nightmare 4 came out in theaters. The episode was called No More Mr. Nice Guy and it is about Freddy getting killed by a lynch mob, and becoming a dream killer. That episode was directed by Tobe Hopper of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame. Reactions to the show can be described at best as mixed. For one thing the show was very low budget, and it shows. The episodes were shot on video (most weekly shows are shot on film and transferred to video because filmed images have a better look to them). This video image and cheap sets give it the look and of a daytime soap opera. The acting, writing, and direction was about as subtle as a brick through a glass window, which can be good or bad depending of the situation, and how well it is handled. Fans of the original more quiet mysterious Freddy did not like the new wise-cracking Freddy of the series and of the later sequels. On the plus side, since horror is not a common genre to see on TV several horror film directors including Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ) Dwight H. Little (Halloween 4), Tom McLoughlin (Friday the 13th part VI) helmed episodes. Freddy himself Robert Englund directed 2 episodes Cabin Fever and Monkey Dreams. Also, directors Mick Garris (Stephen King's The Stand) & William Malone (The House on Haunted Hill) got their starts directing for this show. Writer/producer/director Gilbert Adler and writer/producer A.L. Katz got their start working on this show and went on to great acclaim with another anthology series, HBO's Tales From the Crypt. |
| Freddy�s Nightmares was a television series spawned from the hit Nightmare on Elm Street movie series. The Freddy�s Nightmares series premiered on October 9, 1988; and starred none other than the man himself, Robert Englund. The pilot episode was entitled �No More Mr. Nice Guy,� and was directed by another big name in horror, Tobe Hooper. It all begins as Freddy goes on the trial of his life. But the arresting officer, whose beautify twin daughters live in terror of Freddy, forgot to real the accused his rights. Before you can say �you have the right to remain silent,� Freddy�s free... and everybody�s screaming. And bent on terminating Freddy permanently. But as fright fans know, Freddy�s going to have the last laugh-if not on this side of the grave. The Springwood neighbors think their problems are over-until Freddy returns in their dreams. After that. Freddy�s Nightmares ran for two seasons, and with a total of 44 episodes, was cancelled on February 9, 1990. Ever since its cancellation, there have been absolutely NO reruns of this wonderful series on television. |
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| MYTHOS INFORMATION: It does not take place in the same universe as the Nightmare films. Only the Kruger character and the name Springwood are used. In the first episode, the story of Freddy's execution by angry parents is shown but it does not match the back-story of the movies. Nancy's parents are nowhere to be found. Also it seems to take place in the presant day (late 80s) instead of late 60s early 70s. Freddy is killed when they pour gas all over him, but don't burn down the whole place as in the movies. Another episode has Freddy terrorising his class reunion (class of 1970) which would make him younger than in the movies. |
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| Original Episode # Air Date Episode Title 1st Season 1988 1- 1 9 Oct 88 No More Mr. Nice Guy 1- 2 16 Oct 88 It's a Miserable Life 1- 3 23 Oct 88 Killer Instinct 1- 4 30 Oct 88 Freddy's Tricks and Treats 1- 5 6 Nov 88 Judy Miller, Come On Down 1- 6 13 Nov 88 Saturday Night Special 1- 7 20 Nov 88 Sister's Keeper 1- 8 27 Nov 88 Mother's Day 1- 9 11 Dec 88 Rebel Without a Car 1-10 18 Dec 88 The Bride Wore Red 1-11 8 Jan 89 Do Dreams Bleed 1-12 15 Jan 89 The End of the World 1-13 29 Jan 89 Deadline 1-14 5 Feb 89 Black Tickets 1-15 12 Feb 89 School Daze 1-16 19 Feb 89 Cabin Fever 1-17 26 Feb 89 Love Stinks 1-18 12 Mar 89 The Art of Death 1-19 7 May 89 Missing Persons 1-20 14 May 89 The Light At the End of the Tunnel 1-21 21 May 89 Identity Crisis 1-22 28 May 89 Safe Sex 2nd Season 1989 2- 1 8 Oct 89 Dream Come True 2- 2 15 Oct 89 Heartbreak Hotel 2- 3 22 Oct 89 Welcome to Springwood 2- 4 29 Oct 89 Photo Finish 2- 5 5 Nov 89 Memory Overload 2- 6 12 Nov 89 Lucky Stiff 2- 7 19 Nov 89 Silence is Golden 2- 8 26 Nov 89 Bloodlines 2- 9 3 Dec 89 Monkey Dreams 2-10 10 Dec 89 Do You Know Where Your Kids Are? 2-11 17 Dec 89 Dreams That Kill 2-12 24 Dec 89 It's My Party and You'll Die If I Want You To 2-13 7 Jan 90 What You Don't Know Can Kill You 2-14 14 Jan 90 Easy Come, Easy Go 2-15 21 Jan 90 Prime Cut 2-16 28 Jan 90 Interior Loft 2-17 4 Feb 90 Interior Loft-Later 2-18 11 Feb 90 Funhouse 2-19 18 Feb 90 A Family Affair 2-20 25 Feb 90 Dust To Dust 2-21 4 Mar 90 Prisoner of Love 2-22 11 Mar 90 Life Sentence |