Series synopsis
Taxi is an American action & adventure crime drama television series that premiered on ABC on September 12, 1978. It ended on June 15, 1983. It was created by Stan Daniels, Ed. Weinberger, James L. Brooks, David Davis. It stars Judd Hirsch, Jeff Conaway, Danny DeVito and Marilu Henner.
Louie De Palma is a cantankerous, acerbic taxi dispatcher in New York City. He tries to maintain order over a collection of varied and strange characters who drive for him. As he bullies and insults them from the safety of his “cage,” they form a special bond among themselves, becoming friends and supporting each other through the inevitable trials and tribulations of life.
Premise
Louie De Palma is a cantankerous, acerbic taxi dispatcher in New York City. He tries to maintain order over a collection of varied and strange characters who drive for him. As he bullies and insults them from the safety of his “cage,” they form a special bond among themselves, becoming friends and supporting each other through the inevitable trials and tribulations of life.
Premise: It's off the laugh meter!
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Judd Hirsch as Alex Reiger
- Jeff Conaway as Bobby Wheeler
- Danny DeVito as Louie De Palma
- Marilu Henner as Elaine O'Connor-Nardo
- Tony Danza as Tony Banta
- Andy Kaufman as Latka Gravas
- Randall Carver as John Burns
- Christopher Lloyd as Reverend Jim 'Iggy' Ignatowski
Supporting cast
- Carol Kane as Simka Gravas
- Colleen Riley as Muffie
- Ruth Gordon as Dee Wilcox
- Suzanne Kent as Angela Matusa
- Dwight Woody as Opponent
- Carlos Palomino as Welterweight Champion of the World Carlos Palomino
- Talia Balsam as Cathy Consuelos
- Ron Rich as Attendant
- John Lehne as Hamlet's Owner
- J. Alan Thomas as Jeff Bennett
- Taurean Blacque as Policeman
- Robert Phalen as Tom Jeffries
Guest cast
- Christopher Lloyd as Reverend Jim 'Iggy' Ignatowski
- Carol Kane as Simka Gravas
- Colleen Riley as Muffie
- Ruth Gordon as Dee Wilcox
- Suzanne Kent as Angela Matusa
- Dwight Woody as Opponent
- Carlos Palomino as Welterweight Champion of the World Carlos Palomino
- Talia Balsam as Cathy Consuelos
- Ron Rich as Attendant
- John Lehne as Hamlet's Owner
- J. Alan Thomas as Jeff Bennett
- Taurean Blacque as Policeman
Episodes
This series spans 6 seasons with 117 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 3 | February 16, 2023 | April 21, 2023 |
| Season 1 | 22 | September 12, 1978 | May 15, 1979 |
| Season 2 | 24 | September 11, 1979 | May 13, 1980 |
| Season 3 | 20 | November 19, 1980 | May 21, 1981 |
| Season 4 | 24 | October 8, 1981 | May 6, 1982 |
| Season 5 | 24 | September 30, 1982 | June 15, 1983 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | February 16, 2023 |
| 2 | Episode 2 | March 4, 2023 |
| 3 | Episode 3 | April 21, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Like Father, Like Daughter The cabbies volunteer to drive Alex to Miami to meet the daughter he hasn't seen in 15 years. |
September 12, 1978 |
| 2 |
One-Punch Banta Tony is ecstatic when a lucky punch of his brings a boxing champion to his knees. |
September 19, 1978 |
| 3 |
Blind Date Alex finds himself inexplicably attracted to an overweight and abrasive blind date. |
September 26, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Louie and the Nice Girl Louie takes out a female vending-machine mechanic--and then brags about their sexual adventures. |
September 11, 1979 |
| 2 |
Honor Thy Father The cabbies are disturbed by Alex's nonchalance when confronted with the news of his father's heart attack. |
September 18, 1979 |
| 3 |
Reverend Jim: A Space Odyssey The drivers try to make a cabbie out of a refugee from the '60s who hasn't quite put his life together. |
September 25, 1979 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Louie's Rival Louie and Zena are running into trouble in their relationship, and Zena dumps him after confessing that she's been dating Dwight, a bartender at Mario's. A depressed Louie tells Alex about it over drinks at Mario's, and when they suspect that Dwight is working the bar, Alex goes up to talk to him. Dwight then tells him that he's breaking up with Zena for getting serious too quickly. Alex shares the news with Louie, who sees an opportunity to get Zena back on the rebound. Zena initially rejects him, but after Louie gives a heartfelt speech about what Zena means to him, she takes him back, despite her better intentions. |
November 19, 1980 |
| 2 |
Tony's Sister and Jim Tony's sister, Monica, has returned to New York after her divorce, and Tony has set her up on a date with Alex, with hopes that they will fall in love. However, while Monica waits for Alex in the garage, she gets to talking to Jim and they hit it off famously. They begin dating, but Tony is not supportive of the relationship and asks Jim not to see her anymore. However, Tony catches Jim at Monica's apartment when he stops by for a visit. Tony is angered that they are seeing each other despite his objections and is ready to toss Jim out (literally), when Monica tells him off about his immaturity and trying to control her life. Tony then sees the light, apologizes, and seems resigned to the new relationship. |
November 26, 1980 |
| 3 |
Fathers of the Bride Alex learns through a wedding notice in the newspaper that his daughter is getting married in New York. Alex is very upset that he hasn't been invited and calls his ex-wife, whose secretary explains that he was specifically not invited. Alex crashes the reception anyway, bringing Elaine with him. Cathy, his daughter, is thrilled to see him and asks why he didn't respond to her invitation. Alex gets angry again and tells off his ex-wife, insulting her weight in the process. Alex eventually feels guilty that he insulted his ex-wife and he pulls her aside and apologizes. They then start to reminisce and soon find that they are still somewhat attracted to each other. When they are about to kiss, Cathy finds them and lets them know how happy she is to see them together and asks them to hug. They do, and everyone is on good terms at the end. |
December 3, 1980 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Jim the Psychic Jim announces he has psychic dreams and unfortunately, he has had one about Alex, culminating in his death. The gang becomes increasingly worried about Alex, when one by one, all of the events Jim dreamed about start coming true. However, Alex continues to reject Jim's superstitions. Louie becomes so worried about Alex, he comes to Alex's apartment to take him somewhere (so the final part of Jim's dream doesn't come true, since he is to meet his doom that evening at home), but possibly to spite Louie, Alex decides to stay and tempt fate. In the end, it turns out that the doom Jim dreamed about was a girl scout knocking at Alex's door, instead of his death, but when Louie leaves, Alex actually appears very relieved that Jim's premonition was wrong. |
October 8, 1981 |
| 2 |
Vienna Waits Alex and Elaine decide to take a vacation together through Europe. However, Alex feels it necessary to tell Elaine in no uncertain terms that they are going together as platonic friends, so there's no resentment if he meets and wants to spend time with any other ladies on vacation. Elaine agrees to this and they decide to do things mostly separately during the days, but to meet up once a day to write post cards together. During the trip, it turns out that Elaine is getting all the action, while Alex is lonely and unhappy. The last night, however, Elaine takes pity on Alex (more or less) and propositions him, suggesting that their friendship is strong enough to endure one night of ""love."" They then go off together... |
October 18, 1981 |
| 3 |
Mr. Personalities Latka begins exhibiting multiple personalities again: not only Vic Ferrari, but also a cowboy, and best of all, he becomes Alex! Elaine refers Latka to her psychiatrist, but meanwhile Latka is becoming even more ""Alex""-like than Alex himself: he is a better cab driver and gives better advice to the gang. Alex decides he'd better sit in on a psychiatric session with Latka and Latka/Alex is about to reveal the answer to all of Alex's problems (somehow he has figured out the secret to Alex in the midst of subconsciously becoming him), when he becomes Latka again. This leaves Alex extremely frustrated and after Latka leaves, Alex sticks around to talk to the psychiatrist further. |
October 22, 1981 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Love Un-American Style Newlyweds Latka & Samka throw a Shloogel, one of their religion's traditions. The shloogel is, in effect, a party at Mario's where they set all the gang up on blind dates. Tony is set up with Vicki, an abrasive brunette and immediately starts arguing with her. Elaine is set up with mousy Arnie, who has low self esteem. Jim is set up with actress, Marcia Wallace, who played Carol on his favorite show, Bob Newhart. Louie is set up with Judy, a pretty blind woman. Alex is set up with Susan, who seems to be his dream woman and he seems to be falling for her immediately. Despite the fact that none of the other matches seem perfect, all of them show promise by the end of the evening. |
September 30, 1982 |
| 2 |
Jim's Inheritance When Jim's father passes away and leaves him a substantial inheritance, Jim's siblings sue to have Jim declared incompetent and his inheritance placed in an account that the brother will have control of. In court, Louie and Alex speak in Jim's behalf, but to no avail. Jim later feels better when he plays a tape of ""You Are the Sunshine of My Life"" that his father left for him. |
October 7, 1982 |
| 3 |
Alex Goes off the Wagon In this episode, we learn that Alex can be a compulsive gambler. Alex even scares Louie off with his compulsion, but Jim talks some sense into Alex at the end (after having bankrolled him initially). |
October 14, 1982 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 12, 1978 |
| Last aired | June 15, 1983 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |