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			{{short description\|American anthology television series (1982–1987)}}
			{{Refimprove\|date=March 2024}}
	{{Infobox television		{{Infobox television
	\| ~~show_name~~ = Faerie Tale Theatre		\| alt_name = ''Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre''
			\| image = FaerieTaleTheatreBoxSet.jpg
	\| show_name_2 = Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre
			\| caption = The 6-DVD Starmaker II box set cover
	\| image = FaerieTaleTheatreBoxSet.jpg
			\| genre = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]
	\| caption = The 6-DVD box set cover by former distributor Starmaker II.
			\| runtime = 39–58 minutes
	\| genre = ]
			\| creator = ]
	\| runtime = 50 min.
	\| ~~creator~~ = ]		\| presenter = Shelley Duvall
			\| executive_producer = Shelley Duvall for ], Lion's Gate Films and Platypus Productions<br />]
	\| presenter = ]
			\| starring = ''see ]''
	\| executive_producer = ] for ], ] and Platypus Productions
			\| country = United States
	\| starring = Various
			\| language = English
	\| country = United States
			\| num_seasons = 6
	\| language = English
			\| network = ]
	\| num_seasons = 6
			\| company = {{Plainlist\|
	\| network = ]
			* ]
	\| first_aired =September 11, 1982
			* Lion's Gate Films
	\| last_aired =November 14, 1987
			* Platypus Productions
	\| num_episodes = 27
	\| list_episodes = List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes
	\| followed_by= '']''<br>'']''
	\| related = '']''<br>'']''
	}}		}}
			\| first_aired = {{start date\|1982\|9\|11}}
			\| last_aired = {{end date\|1987\|11\|14}}
			\| num_episodes = 27
			\| list_episodes = List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes
			\| related = '']''<br/>'']''<br/>'']''
			}}
			'''''Faerie Tale Theatre''''' (also known as '''''Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre''''') is an American award-winning ] ] ] ] created and presented by actress ]. The series originally ran on ] from September 11, ], until November 14, 1987 before being sold internationally. Twenty-five of the series' 27 episodes are each a retelling of a classic ], particularly one written by ], ], or ]. Episode 18 is based on the poem "]". The 27th and final episode is a reunion special of cast and crew, titled "Grimm Party", in which, in fairy tale style, they attend a gala in fancy dress.

			The series, as a live-action adaptation, was notable for featuring a number of Hollywood actors and famous celebrities portraying the costumed characters, and also utilized filming by well-known directors.
	'''''Faerie Tale Theatre''''' (also known as '''''Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre''''') is an American ] ] ], consisting of 27 episodes, retelling 25 ]s, particularly tales by ] and ] plus the poem "]" and a special episode called "The Grimm's Party", showcasing the series cast and crew, that originally aired on ] from September 11, 1982 until November 14, 1987. ], who created the series served as host and ] of the program alongside ] and ], and occasionally starred in and narrated episodes. This was one of the first examples of cable original programming, alongside ]'s '']''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/06/arts/showtime-challenges-rivals.html\|title=Showtime Challenges Rivals\|first=\|last=Sandra Salmans\|date=6 February 1984\|publisher=\|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

	~~The~~ ~~series~~ was followed by ~~two~~ other, ~~albeit~~ ~~less~~ ~~successful~~ ~~shorter~~ ~~anthology~~ ~~series~~ '']'' ~~(9 episodes)~~ which ~~followed~~ ~~the~~ ~~same~~ ~~format~~ as ~~''Faerie~~ ~~Tale~~ ~~Theatre''~~ ~~and~~ ~~focused~~ on ~~classic American~~ ] ~~and third series~~ '']'' (4 episodes, ~~originally~~ ~~planned~~ as 6).		''Faerie Tale Theatre'' was followed by three other short anthology series also produced by Duvall, including '']'', which follows a theme similar to the latter, with a focus on ], '']'' (4 produced of the intended 6 episodes), aimed at an older audience, and '']'' (12 episodes).

			==Series background==
	==Background==
			Actress ], who conceived the series, served as ] and host alongside associate producers Bridget Terry and ]. Duvall also starred in three episodes, portraying various characters, and was a featured narrator of three episodes, as well as providing the voice of the animatronic ], in the episode of the same title.
	Shelley Duvall began conception of ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' while filming the live-action film '']'' in Malta. She reportedly asked her co-star, ], his opinion on "]", a fairy tale she was reading during production.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Suskin \|first=Steven \|title=THE DVD SHELF: "Mad Men" Season One, and Duvall's "Faerie Tale Theatre" \|publisher=Playbill.com \|date=2008-09-07 \|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120999.html/pg2 \|accessdate=2008-09-08 \|deadurl=yes \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910010333/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120999.html/pg2 \|archivedate=2008-09-10 \|df= }}</ref> Williams thought it was funny and would later star in the namesake pilot episode of the series, written, narrated and directed by ]'s ].
	Many of the episodes produced by Fred Fuchs in association with Duvall, were written by Rod Ash, Mark Curtiss, ] and ]. Episodes opened with Duvall introducing herself and giving a brief synopsis of the fairy tale that would follow. Each episode featured live-action adaptations, with celebrities from the performance world in costume. Duvall herself would feature in 3 episodes and serve as narrator in three others.

			Every episode begins with Duvall introducing herself and giving a brief synopsis of the night's fairy-tale episode that would follow.
	==Production==

			The series followed a style similar to an earlier fairy-tale anthology series, called '']'', broadcast between 1958 and 1961, in which ] serves as narrator, with this series also featuring numerous celebrities portraying the costumed characters.

			The series was one of the first examples of original cable programming, alongside ]'s '']''.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/02/06/arts/showtime-challenges-rivals.html\|title=Showtime Challenges Rivals\|last=Sandra Salmans\|work=The New York Times \|date=6 February 1984\|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

			==Production==
			Duvall began the conception of ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' while she was filming the live-action 1980 film, '']'', in Malta. She reportedly asked her co-star, ], for his opinion on "]", a fairy tale that she was reading during production.<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Suskin \|first=Steven \|title=THE DVD SHELF: "Mad Men" Season One, and Duvall's "Faerie Tale Theatre" \|publisher=Playbill.com \|date=2008-09-07 \|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120999.html/pg2 \|access-date=2008-09-08 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910010333/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120999.html/pg2 \|archive-date=2008-09-10}}</ref> Williams thought that it was funny, and would later star in the namesake pilot episode of the series that was written, narrated and directed by ]'s ] (who would appear in the episode "The Pied Piper of Hamelin").

			Many of the episodes were produced by Fred Fuchs, in association with Duvall, with the screenplays written by Rod Ash, Mark Curtiss, ] and ]. All of the episodes were produced and shot from 1982 to 1985, and videotaped mostly at the ] in ], California.

			Episodes were directed by ], ], ], and ], as well as other famous ] directors.

			==Episodes==
	{{Main\|List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes}}		{{Main\|List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes}}
			{{:List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes}}

	==Artwork==		==Artwork==
	Many episodes feature backdrops and settings inspired by specific artists and children's book illustrators,<ref>{{cite ~~journal~~\|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,954020,00.html\|title=Video: Cinderella Puts On a Show\|~~work~~=Time\|date=July 25, 1983\|author=Stengel, Richard and Denise Worrell}}</ref> including ] ("The Frog Prince"), ] ("Goldilocks and the Three Bears"), ] ("Hansel and Gretel"), ] ("The Nightingale"), ] and ] ("The Princess and the Pea") ] ("Rapunzel"), ] ("Rumpelstiltskin", "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"), ] ("Sleeping Beauty"), ] and ] ("The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers"), ] ("Little Red Riding Hood"), and ] ("Thumbelina"), as well as filmmakers, such as ] ("Beauty and the Beast").		Many episodes feature backdrops and settings inspired by specific artists and children's book illustrators.<ref>{{cite magazine\|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,954020,00.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222005137/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,954020,00.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=December 22, 2008\|title=Video: Cinderella Puts On a Show\|magazine=Time\|date=July 25, 1983\|author=Stengel, Richard and Denise Worrell}}</ref>

			{\|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
			! scope="col" \| Artist
			! scope="col" \| Production
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| The Frog Prince
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| Goldilocks and the Three Bears
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| Hansel and Gretel
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| The Nightingale
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ] and ]
			\| The Princess and the Pea
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| Rapunzel
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| Sleeping Beauty
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ] and ]
			\| The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| Little Red Riding Hood
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| ]
			\| Thumbelina
			\|-
			\|]
			\|The Princess and the Pea
			\|-
			! scope="row" \| filmmakers, such as ]
			\| Beauty and the Beast
			\|}

	==Home media==		==Home media==
	''Faerie Tale Theatre'' was released on ], ], ] and ] in the 1980s through ~~mid~~ 1990s, initially by CBS/FOX Video, followed by ] (an extended label under CBS/FOX), and ~~later Razz Ma Tazz~~ Entertainment/].		''Faerie Tale Theatre'' was released on ], ], ] and ] in the 1980s through the mid-1990s, initially by ] (which was also in Australia), followed by ] (an extended label under CBS/FOX) and ]/]. In the UK, it was released by ].

	Starmaker II held the rights to the series from 2004 to 2006, and at first released 26 episodes as individual ~~DVDs~~.<ref>{{cite journal\|title=Old Family Treasures Unearthed On DVD \|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2004/10/28/2004-10-28_old_family_treasures_unearth.html \|date=October 28, 2004 \|~~work~~=New York Daily News \|author=Bianculli, David }}{{dead link\|date=December 2016 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This was followed by a double-sided 4-disc box set and ~~then~~ a 6-disc box set, each version containing the same 26 episodes. The "Greatest Moments" episode was not included in this release.		Starmaker II held the rights to the series from 2004 to 2006, and at first, released 26 episodes as individual ]s.<ref>{{cite journal\|title=Old Family Treasures Unearthed On DVD \|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2004/10/28/2004-10-28_old_family_treasures_unearth.html \|date=October 28, 2004 \|journal=New York Daily News \|author=Bianculli, David}}{{dead link\|date=December 2016 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> This was followed by a double-sided 4-disc box set and a 6-disc box set, each version containing the same 26 episodes. The "Greatest Moments" episode was not included in this release.

	After 2006, ] held the series' distribution rights, and in November 2006 licensed the rights worldwide (excluding DVDs in North America) to the British company 3DD Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=3DD Takes On New Properties from U.S. Companies\|work=World Screen\|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=3dd110306.htm\|date=November 3, 2006\|~~archiveurl~~=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219182009/http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=3dd110306.htm\|~~archivedate~~=December 19, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|title=International Market: 3DD Entertainment\|work=Cynopsis: Multi-Cultural & International Edition\|url=http://www.cynopsis.com/content/view/927/53/\|archive-url=https://archive.is/20080601131451/http://www.cynopsis.com/content/view/927/53/\|~~dead-~~url=~~yes~~\|archive-date=June 1, 2008\|date=November 6, 2006}}</ref> A ~~new~~ remastered 7-disc box set, including the lost "Greatest Moments" episode, was released by Koch Vision on September 2, 2008.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.com/Shelley-Duvalls-Faerie-Tale-Theatre/dp/B001AZIRV8/~~\|publisher=Amazon.com~~\|title=Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection (2008)}} ASIN: B001AZIRV8</ref> In 2009, Koch Vision released the episodes by theme on six DVD compilations: ''Tales from the Brothers Grimm'' ("Hansel and Gretel", "Rapunzel", "Rumpelstiltskin", and "Little Red Riding Hood"), ''Funny Tales'' ("The Tale of The Frog Prince", "Pinocchio", "The Three Little Pigs" and "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed"), ''Tales from Hans Christian Andersen'' ("The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Nightingale", "The Snow Queen" and "Thumbelina"), ''Princess Tales'' ("Cinderella", "The Little Mermaid", "The Dancing Princesses" and "The Princess and the Pea"), ''Magical Tales'' ("Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp", "Beauty and the Beast", "Puss in Boots" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs") and ''Bedtime Tales'' ("Jack and the Beanstalk", "Sleeping Beauty", "Rip Van Winkle" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears")..<ref> kochvision.com</ref>		After 2006, ] held the series' distribution rights, and in November 2006, licensed the rights worldwide (excluding DVDs in North America) to the British company, 3DD Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=3DD Takes On New Properties from U.S. Companies\|work=World Screen\|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=3dd110306.htm\|date=November 3, 2006\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219182009/http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=3dd110306.htm\|archive-date=December 19, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|title=International Market: 3DD Entertainment\|work=Cynopsis: Multi-Cultural & International Edition\|url=http://www.cynopsis.com/content/view/927/53/\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080601131451/http://www.cynopsis.com/content/view/927/53/\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=June 1, 2008\|date=November 6, 2006}}</ref> A remastered 7-disc box set, including the lost "Greatest Moments" episode, was released by Koch Vision in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.com/Shelley-Duvalls-Faerie-Tale-Theatre/dp/B001AZIRV8/\|title=Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection (2008)\|website=Amazon \|date=2 September 2008}} ASIN: B001AZIRV8</ref> In 2009, Koch Vision released the episodes by theme on six DVD compilations: ''Tales from the Brothers Grimm'' ("Hansel and Gretel", "Rapunzel", "Rumpelstiltskin" and "Little Red Riding Hood"), ''Funny Tales'' ("The Tale of The Frog Prince", "Pinocchio", "The Three Little Pigs" and "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed"), ''Tales from Hans Christian Andersen'' ("The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Nightingale", "The Snow Queen" and "Thumbelina"), ''Princess Tales'' ("Cinderella", "The Little Mermaid", "The Dancing Princesses" and "The Princess and the Pea"), ''Magical Tales'' ("Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp", "Beauty and the Beast", "Puss in Boots" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs") and ''Bedtime Tales'' ("Jack and the Beanstalk", "Sleeping Beauty", "Rip Van Winkle" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears").<ref> kochvision.com</ref>

	When released on DVD by Starmaker II and Koch Vision, the following scenes were cut from the series:~~{{Citation needed\|date=September 2010}}~~		When released on DVD by Starmaker II and Koch Vision, the following scenes were cut from the series:

	*"Goldilocks and the Three Bears": Papa Bear and Mama Bear trying to fix Cubby Bear's chair; the ] scene is shortened.		* "Goldilocks and the Three Bears": Papa Bear and Mama Bear trying to fix Cubby Bear's chair; the ] scene is shortened.
	*"The Pied Piper of Hamelin": Julius Caesar Rat's monologue.		* "The Pied Piper of Hamelin": Julius Caesar Rat's monologue.
	*"Rumpelstiltskin": the Miller's daughter singing with the animals in the forest (this scene was also unavailable on the VHS releases)~~{{citation needed\|date=August 2018}}~~		* "Rumpelstiltskin": the Miller's daughter singing with the animals in the forest (this scene was also unavailable on the VHS releases).

	==Awards==		==Awards==
			{\|class="wikitable"
	''Faerie Tale Theatre'' won a ], a ] and a Golden CableACE Award. It later aired as edited re-runs on the ]<ref>{{cite journal\|title=Cable Viewers Suffer Unkindest Cuts Of All \|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/cable-viewers-suffer-unkindest-cuts-article-1.701469 \|date=September 26, 1995 \|work=New York Daily News \|author=Bianculli, David }}</ref> as well as in syndication on various television stations,<ref>{{cite journal\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/06/arts/television-shelley-duvall-tries-scaring-up-a-new-audience.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all\|title=TELEVISION; Shelley Duvall Tries Scaring Up A New Audience\|author=Nanwalt, Sasha\|work=The New York Times\|date=August 6, 1989}}</ref> including ]<ref>{{cite journal\|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PBPB&p_theme=pbpb&p\|title='BEDTIME STORIES' A FINE SHOW FOR KIDS\|work=Palm Beach Post\|author=Lomartire, Paul\|date=April 21, 1992}}</ref><ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918030105/http://www.klru.org/schedule/SearchByTitles.php?Letter=F \|date=2012-09-18 }} klru.org</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329062045/http://www.booktelevision.com/Schedule.aspx\|publisher=]\|title=Program Schedule\|date=March 29, 2007\|url=http://www.booktelevision.com/Schedule.aspx\|archivedate=March 29, 2007}}</ref>
			! Award
			! Result
			\|-
			\| ]
			\| {{won}}
			\|-
			\| ]
			\| {{won}}
			\|-
			\| Golden CableACE Award
			\| {{won}}
			\|}

			==Local and international broadcast==
			In the United States, the series was originally broadcast on ] from 1982 and 1987, and re-aired on the ] from 1994 to 1996.<ref>{{cite journal\|title=Cable Viewers Suffer Unkindest Cuts Of All \|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/cable-viewers-suffer-unkindest-cuts-article-1.701469 \|date=September 26, 1995 \|journal=New York Daily News \|author=Bianculli, David}}</ref> It was also broadcast in syndication on various television channels,<ref>{{cite journal\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/06/arts/television-shelley-duvall-tries-scaring-up-a-new-audience.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all\|title=TELEVISION; Shelley Duvall Tries Scaring Up A New Audience\|author=Nanwalt, Sasha\|journal=The New York Times\|date=August 6, 1989}}</ref> including ]<ref>{{cite journal\|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PBPB&p_theme=pbpb&p\|title='BEDTIME STORIES' A FINE SHOW FOR KIDS\|journal=Palm Beach Post\|author=Lomartire, Paul\|date=April 21, 1992}}</ref><ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918030105/http://www.klru.org/schedule/SearchByTitles.php?Letter=F \|date=2012-09-18}} klru.org</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329062045/http://www.booktelevision.com/Schedule.aspx\|publisher=]\|title=Program Schedule\|date=March 29, 2007\|url=http://www.booktelevision.com/Schedule.aspx\|archive-date=March 29, 2007}}</ref>

			* In ], the series aired on ] every weekend in 1990, and mornings in 1991 and 1992, under the title ''Nel regno delle fiable'', translated to "In the Kingdom of Fairy Tales".
			* In ] on ].
			* In ], it aired on ] every Saturday.
			* In ] on ].
			* In ] on ].
			* In ] on ].
			* In ] on ].
			* In the ] on an unnamed Philippine network.
			* In ] on ].
			* In ] on ].
			* In Turkey on ].

	==See also==		==See also==
	*'']''		* '']''
	*'']''		* '']''
			* '']''
	*'']''
	*'']''		* '']''
	*'']

	== References ==		== References ==
Line 63:		Line 153:
	== External links ==		== External links ==
	* {{IMDb title\|id=0199214}}		* {{IMDb title\|id=0199214}}
	* {{tv.com show\|shelly-duvalls-faerie-tale-theatre\|Faerie Tale Theatre}}
	* {{epguides\|id=FaerieTaleTheatre}}		* {{epguides\|id=FaerieTaleTheatre}}

	{{Showtime Network programming}}		{{Showtime Network programming}}
			{{Shelley Duvall}}
	{{TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming}}		{{TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming}}

	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
			]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 15:27, 13 December 2024

American anthology television series (1982–1987)

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Faerie Tale Theatre
The 6-DVD Starmaker II box set cover
Also known as	Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre
Genre	Anthology Fairytale fantasy Adventure Drama
Created by	Shelley Duvall
Presented by	Shelley Duvall
Starring	see below
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	27 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Shelley Duvall for Gaylord Production Company, Lion's Gate Films and Platypus Productions Fred Fuchs
Running time	39–58 minutes
Production companies	Gaylord Production Company Lion's Gate Films Platypus Productions
Original release
Network	Showtime
Release	September 11, 1982 (1982-09-11) – November 14, 1987 (1987-11-14)
Related
Tall Tales & Legends Nightmare Classics Bedtime Stories

Faerie Tale Theatre (also known as Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre) is an American award-winning live-action fairytale fantasy drama anthology television series created and presented by actress Shelley Duvall. The series originally ran on Showtime from September 11, 1982, until November 14, 1987 before being sold internationally. Twenty-five of the series' 27 episodes are each a retelling of a classic fairy tale, particularly one written by The Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, or Hans Christian Andersen. Episode 18 is based on the poem "The Pied Piper of Hamelin". The 27th and final episode is a reunion special of cast and crew, titled "Grimm Party", in which, in fairy tale style, they attend a gala in fancy dress.

The series, as a live-action adaptation, was notable for featuring a number of Hollywood actors and famous celebrities portraying the costumed characters, and also utilized filming by well-known directors.

Faerie Tale Theatre was followed by three other short anthology series also produced by Duvall, including Tall Tales and Legends, which follows a theme similar to the latter, with a focus on American folklore, Nightmare Classics (4 produced of the intended 6 episodes), aimed at an older audience, and Bedtime Stories (12 episodes).

Series background

Actress Shelley Duvall, who conceived the series, served as executive producer and host alongside associate producers Bridget Terry and Fred Fuchs. Duvall also starred in three episodes, portraying various characters, and was a featured narrator of three episodes, as well as providing the voice of the animatronic Nightingale, in the episode of the same title.

Every episode begins with Duvall introducing herself and giving a brief synopsis of the night's fairy-tale episode that would follow.

The series followed a style similar to an earlier fairy-tale anthology series, called Shirley Temple's Storybook, broadcast between 1958 and 1961, in which Shirley Temple serves as narrator, with this series also featuring numerous celebrities portraying the costumed characters.

The series was one of the first examples of original cable programming, alongside HBO's Fraggle Rock.

Production

Duvall began the conception of Faerie Tale Theatre while she was filming the live-action 1980 film, Popeye, in Malta. She reportedly asked her co-star, Robin Williams, for his opinion on "The Frog Prince", a fairy tale that she was reading during production. Williams thought that it was funny, and would later star in the namesake pilot episode of the series that was written, narrated and directed by Monty Python's Eric Idle (who would appear in the episode "The Pied Piper of Hamelin").

Many of the episodes were produced by Fred Fuchs, in association with Duvall, with the screenplays written by Rod Ash, Mark Curtiss, Maryedith Burrell and Robert C. Jones. All of the episodes were produced and shot from 1982 to 1985, and videotaped mostly at the ABC Television Studios in Burbank, California.

Episodes were directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Ivan Passer, Emile Ardolino, and Tim Burton, as well as other famous Hollywood directors.

Episodes

Main article: List of Faerie Tale Theatre episodes

Season	Episodes	Originally released
Season	Episodes	First released	Last released
1	2	September 11, 1982 (1982-09-11)	October 16, 1982 (1982-10-16)
2	6	February 5, 1983 (1983-02-05)	December 5, 1983 (1983-12-05)
3	7	January 9, 1984 (1984-01-09)	September 17, 1984 (1984-09-17)
4	7	February 12, 1985 (1985-02-12)	October 5, 1985 (1985-10-05)
5	2	July 14, 1986 (1986-07-14)	August 11, 1986 (1986-08-11)
6	3	March 23, 1987 (1987-03-23)	November 14, 1987 (1987-11-14)

Artwork

Many episodes feature backdrops and settings inspired by specific artists and children's book illustrators.

Artist	Production
Maxfield Parrish	The Frog Prince
Norman Rockwell	Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Arthur Rackham	Hansel and Gretel
Edmund Dulac	The Nightingale
Aubrey Beardsley and Harry Clarke	The Princess and the Pea
Gustav Klimt	Rapunzel
N. C. Wyeth	Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Kay Nielsen	Sleeping Beauty
Brueghel and Dürer	The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
Jennie Harbour	Little Red Riding Hood
George Cruikshank	Thumbelina
Aubrey Beardsley	The Princess and the Pea
filmmakers, such as Jean Cocteau	Beauty and the Beast

Home media

Faerie Tale Theatre was released on VHS, Betamax, CED and Laserdisc in the 1980s through the mid-1990s, initially by CBS/FOX Video (which was also in Australia), followed by Playhouse Video (an extended label under CBS/FOX) and Razzmatazz Entertainment/Cabin Fever Entertainment. In the UK, it was released by MGM-UA Home Video.

Starmaker II held the rights to the series from 2004 to 2006, and at first, released 26 episodes as individual DVDs. This was followed by a double-sided 4-disc box set and a 6-disc box set, each version containing the same 26 episodes. The "Greatest Moments" episode was not included in this release.

After 2006, Koch Vision held the series' distribution rights, and in November 2006, licensed the rights worldwide (excluding DVDs in North America) to the British company, 3DD Entertainment. A remastered 7-disc box set, including the lost "Greatest Moments" episode, was released by Koch Vision in September 2008. In 2009, Koch Vision released the episodes by theme on six DVD compilations: Tales from the Brothers Grimm ("Hansel and Gretel", "Rapunzel", "Rumpelstiltskin" and "Little Red Riding Hood"), Funny Tales ("The Tale of The Frog Prince", "Pinocchio", "The Three Little Pigs" and "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed"), Tales from Hans Christian Andersen ("The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Nightingale", "The Snow Queen" and "Thumbelina"), Princess Tales ("Cinderella", "The Little Mermaid", "The Dancing Princesses" and "The Princess and the Pea"), Magical Tales ("Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp", "Beauty and the Beast", "Puss in Boots" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs") and Bedtime Tales ("Jack and the Beanstalk", "Sleeping Beauty", "Rip Van Winkle" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears").

When released on DVD by Starmaker II and Koch Vision, the following scenes were cut from the series:

"Goldilocks and the Three Bears": Papa Bear and Mama Bear trying to fix Cubby Bear's chair; the Charades scene is shortened.
"The Pied Piper of Hamelin": Julius Caesar Rat's monologue.
"Rumpelstiltskin": the Miller's daughter singing with the animals in the forest (this scene was also unavailable on the VHS releases).

Awards

Award	Result
Peabody Award	Won
TCA Award	Won
Golden CableACE Award	Won

Local and international broadcast

In the United States, the series was originally broadcast on Showtime from 1982 and 1987, and re-aired on the Disney Channel from 1994 to 1996. It was also broadcast in syndication on various television channels, including PBS and BookTelevision.

In Italy, the series aired on Rai 1 every weekend in 1990, and mornings in 1991 and 1992, under the title Nel regno delle fiable, translated to "In the Kingdom of Fairy Tales".
In Brazil on TV Cultura.
In Hong Kong, it aired on ATV World every Saturday.
In Mexico on Canal 5.
In India on DD National.
In Malaysia on TV2.
In Bulgaria on BNT 2.
In the Philippines on an unnamed Philippine network.
In Bangladesh on Bangladesh Television.
In Sri Lanka on Rupavahini.
In Turkey on TRT1.

References

Sandra Salmans (6 February 1984). "Showtime Challenges Rivals". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
Suskin, Steven (2008-09-07). "THE DVD SHELF: "Mad Men" Season One, and Duvall's "Faerie Tale Theatre"". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-10. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
Stengel, Richard and Denise Worrell (July 25, 1983). "Video: Cinderella Puts On a Show". Time. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008.
Bianculli, David (October 28, 2004). "Old Family Treasures Unearthed On DVD". New York Daily News.
"3DD Takes On New Properties from U.S. Companies". World Screen. November 3, 2006. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007.
"International Market: 3DD Entertainment". Cynopsis: Multi-Cultural & International Edition. November 6, 2006. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008.
"Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Collection (2008)". Amazon. 2 September 2008. ASIN: B001AZIRV8
Catalog kochvision.com
Bianculli, David (September 26, 1995). "Cable Viewers Suffer Unkindest Cuts Of All". New York Daily News.
Nanwalt, Sasha (August 6, 1989). "TELEVISION; Shelley Duvall Tries Scaring Up A New Audience". The New York Times.
Lomartire, Paul (April 21, 1992). "'BEDTIME STORIES' A FINE SHOW FOR KIDS". Palm Beach Post.
KLRU TV Schedule – Search By Title: List of KLRU programs Archived 2012-09-18 at the Wayback Machine klru.org
"Program Schedule". BookTelevision. March 29, 2007. Archived from the original on March 29, 2007.

External links

Paramount+ with Showtime original programming

Current and upcoming

Current	The Chi (since 2018) The Curse (since 2023) Couples Therapy (since 2019) Dreaming Whilst Black (since 2023) Super Pumped (since 2022) Yellowjackets (since 2021) The Agency (since 2024) Dexter: Original Sin (since 2024)
Upcoming	The Associate (TBA)

Former

1980s debuts	33 Brompton Place (1982) Bizarre (1980–85) Brothers (1984–89) Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–87) It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986–90) Nightmare Classics (1989) The Paper Chase (1983–86) Showtime Championship Boxing (1986–2023) Super Dave (1987–94) Tall Tales & Legends (1985–87) Thunderbirds 2086 (1983) Video Concert Hall (1980–84)
1990s debuts	American Heroes and Legends (1992–93) Beggars and Choosers (1999–2000) Beverly Hills Bordello (1996–98) A Bunch of Munsch (1991–92) The Busy World of Richard Scarry (1994–97) Chris Cross (1994–95) Dead Man's Gun (1997–99) The Hoop Life (1999–2000) Linc's (1998–2000) The Outer Limits (1995–2000) OWL/TV (1992–97) Picture Windows (1994) Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996–99) Ready or Not (1993–95) Red Shoe Diaries (1992–99) Rude Awakening (1998–2001) Stargate SG-1 (1997–2002) Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998) Total Recall 2070 (1999) Women: Stories of Passion (1996–99)
2000s debuts	American Candidate (2004) Barbershop: The Series (2005) Big Brother: After Dark (2007–12) Body Language (2008–10) Brotherhood (2006–08) Californication (2007–14) The Chris Isaak Show (2001–04) Dead Like Me (2003–04) Deeper Throat (2009) Dexter (2006–13) Elite Xtreme Combat (2007–08) Family Business (2003–06) Fat Actress (2005) Free for All (2003) Going to California (2001–02) Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League (2009) Huff (2004–06) Inside the NFL (2008–21) Jeremiah (2002–04) Kama Sutra (2000) The L Word (2004–09) Lady Chatterley's Stories (2000–01) Leap Years (2001–02) Lock 'n Load (2009) Masters of Horror (2005–07) Meadowlands (2007) Nurse Jackie (2009–15) Odyssey 5 (2002) Out of Order (2003) Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003–10) Queer as Folk (2000–05) Queer Duck (2002–04) Resurrection Blvd. (2000–02) Street Time (2002–03) Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2008–11) ShoMMA (2009–12) ShoXC (2007–08) Sleeper Cell (2005–06) Soul Food (2000–04) Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (2008–10) The Tudors (2007–10) The Underground (2006) This American Life (2007–09) United States of Tara (2009–11) Weeds (2005–12)
2010s debuts	60 Minutes Sports (2013–17) The Affair (2014–19) Beach Heat: Miami (2010–12) The Big C (2010–13) Billions (2016–23) Black Monday (2019–21) The Borgias (2011–13) City on a Hill (2019–22) The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth (2016–23) Dark Net (2016–17) Dave's Old Porn (2011–12) Desus & Mero (2019–22) Dice (2016–17) Escape at Dannemora (2018) Episodes (2011–17) The Fourth Estate (2018) The Franchise (2011–12) Gigolos (2011–16) The Green Room with Paul Provenza (2010–11) Guerrilla (2017) Happyish (2015) Homeland (2011–20) House of Lies (2012–16) I'm Dying Up Here (2017–18) Inside Comedy (2012–15) Inside NASCAR (2010–12) Just Another Immigrant (2018) Kidding (2018–20) The L Word: Generation Q (2019–23) La La Land (2010) Look: The Series (2010) The Loudest Voice (2019) Masters of Sex (2013–16) On Becoming a God in Central Florida (2019) Our Cartoon President (2018–20) Patrick Melrose (2018) Penny Dreadful (2014–16) Polyamory: Married & Dating (2012–13) Ray Donovan (2013–20) The Real L Word (2010–12) Roadies (2016) Shameless (2011–21) Shangri-La (2019) SMILF (2017–19) Submission (2016) Time of Death (2013) Twin Peaks (2017) Web Therapy (2011–15) White Famous (2017) Who Is America? (2018) Work in Progress (2019–21) Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men (2019) Years of Living Dangerously (2014)
2020s debuts	A Gentleman in Moscow (2024) American Gigolo (2022) American Rust (2021) Bellator MMA (2021–23) The Comey Rule (2020) Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court (2023) Dexter: New Blood (2021–22) Everything's Gonna Be All White (2022) Fellow Travelers (2023) The First Lady (2022) Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021–22) George & Tammy (2022–23) Ghosts of Beirut (2023) The Good Lord Bird (2020) Gossip (2021) I Love That for You (2022) Let the Right One In (2022) The Lincoln Project (2022) Love Fraud (2020) The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022) Moonbase 8 (2020) Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020) Vice (2020–23) Waco: The Aftermath (2023) The Woman in the Wall (2024) Your Honor (2020–23) Ziwe (2021–22)

See also: Paramount+; Showtime (OTT)

v t e Showtime series by Shelley Duvall
Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–87) Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales & Legends (1985–87) Shelley Duvall's Nightmare Classics (1989) Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992–93) Shelley Duvall Presents Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (1994)

v t e TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming
Youth Programming 1985–2022	Faerie Tale Theatre (1985) WonderWorks (1986) Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1987) Degrassi Junior High (1988) The Jim Henson Hour (1989) Jim Henson (1990) War in the Gulf: Questions & Answers with Peter Jennings (1991) Peggy Charren – Action for Children's Television (1992) Nick News (1993) Nick News (1994) Nick News (1995) Wishbone (1996) Bill Nye the Science Guy / Wishbone (1997) Blue’s Clues (1998) Blue’s Clues (1999) Between the Lions (2000) Between the Lions / Sesame Street (2001) SpongeBob SquarePants (2002) Reading Rainbow (2003) Nick News (2004) Degrassi: The Next Generation (2005) High School Musical (2006) Kyle XY (2007) WordGirl (2008) Yo Gabba Gabba! (2009) Yo Gabba Gabba! (2010) Sesame Street (2011) Switched at Birth (2012) Bunheads (2013) The Fosters (2014) The Fosters (2015) Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (2016) Speechless (2017) Sesame Street (2018) Arthur (2019) Molly of Denali (2020) The Baby-Sitters Club (2021) The Baby-Sitters Club (2022)
Family Programming 2023–present	Ms. Marvel (2023) Doctor Who (2024)
Children's Programming 2023–present	Bluey (2023) Bluey (2024)

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