Compiled by Jeffrey Gray
Logo captures by V of Doom
Editions by V of Doom


Background: This production company started in 1982 with A-Team being one of the first shows in the roster. Cannell was and still is an author and a producer for most shows. I will not go very much into detail about the animation because the animation in all of his logos are the same, but I will break down the description of each one and will being squeezed into one article. Actually, this company is still alive, but mainly for Cannell's work as a novelist. The logo has not been used on an original show since 1999, when Silk Stalkings ended its long run on the USA Network. There is still possibilities that the logo will be used on an original project in the future, namely a movie version of Hunter or The A-Team. Actually, all Cannell library (except for The A-Team owned by NBC Universal, Inc., Riptide owned by Sony Pictures Television and Hunter distributed by Sony Pictures Television (both by way of TeleVentures) and MGM International Television Distribution (global rights through NBC Universal) is owned mainly by News Corporation.


1st Logo
(1982-1999)

Nicknames: "Guy on Typewriter", "Cannell", "The Angry Typewriter Man!"

Logo: A live-action man (Mr. Stephen J. Cannell himself) with a pompadour and a beard is typing at a typewriter in an office/study area with bookshelves and awards galore. The camera then pans clockwise from his face to his back. Once the camera is towards Cannell's back, he throws the paper he is typing on over his head. The paper becomes animated on a black background, and floats downwards towards a stack of animated papers below. The paper "scoops" up the top papers in the stack and forms a "C". The text "Stephen J. Cannell Productions" or "A Stephen J. Cannell Production" is formed above.

Variants:

• In the early years, we just see Stephen typing at the typewriter from the front, he throws the paper up into the air, and the animation sequence continues as usual.
• Occasionally, after Mr. Cannell throws the paper, we bypass the animation and turn to a black static screen that says "Produced by (or "Distributed by") Cannell Entertainment Inc." The 20th Century Fox ID (Cannell's parent company) would follow. This was seen on some episodes of Silk Stalkings (era unknown).
• Of course, this logo was updated often, the main difference is with Mr. Cannell wearing different clothes, possibly new awards in the office added as well, and even different offices were used. The concept was always the same, as well as the animation. A list of outfits can be seen below.
• On some (maybe all) episodes of Renegade, the text above the finished logo says "Renegade IV Productions", the live action sequence is intact.

Outfit List: Here is a list of outfits worn by Mr. Cannell over the years:

• 1982: Steve has a dark colored sweater with white collar shirt, plus he is smoking his pipe
• 1983: Steve has a blue jacket and white flannel shirt over a black turtleneck, plus he is smoking his pipe
• 1984: Steve has a black jacket and dark colored sweater over white collar shirt
• 1985: Steve in white striped flannel shirt
• 1987: Steve in casual black-and-white vest
• 1989: Steve in red polo shirt (with the collar up)
• 1996-1999: Steve in black shirt. Can be seen on the 6th, 7th, and final season of Silk Stalkings, and the 2nd half of the Renegade final season.
  

FX/Cheesy Factor: The animation used to "turn" the "real" paper into an animated one can be tacky to some, although it is a great transition.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic tune is played while Cannell types, which contains string-like instruments and pounding synthesizers. The tone is more soothing when Cannell throws the paper, reaching a climax with a wind instrument (probably a flute). When the "C" forms, a Malibu-style guitar is played. In the logo's early days, ominous horns and flutes played along with the pounding synthesizers while Cannell types.

Availability: Still saved on Cannell's shows when reran, especially "The A-Team" when Sleuth reran it (it has since been pulled from the schedule, due to its new "grittier" direction). Also seen on the reruns of Hunter and DVD releases of 21 Jump Street, Riptide, Hunter, and Silk Stalkings.

Scare Factor: Low to medium; the music is quite dramatic, the animation looks a little creepy to some, and Mr. Cannell himself doesn't look like the nicest guy in the world here.



2nd Logo
(1993-1994)

Nickname: "3D Cannell"

Logo: Against a brown marble background, we see a 3D "silvery" version of the "C" zooming out, along with "Stephen J. Cannell" and "Productions", stacked over the "C", and in Times New Roman font. The logo shines at the end.

FX: The "C" zooming out.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic synthesizer tune.

Availability: Extinct. Only known to be seen on later Caesar's Challenge episodes on NBC. (UPDATE: If you live in Canada, and you have Game TV, you should be able to spot this logo, as Caesar's Challenge is airing in reruns there)

Scare Factor: Low; the pace of the logo and the music could unnerve more than a few.