Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Logos[]

1st Logo (September 23, 1976-April 15, 1981, 1982)[]

Just in-credit text saying: "A STEPHEN J. CANNELL PRODUCTION". A copyright stamp is sometimes seen below in the early 1980s.

2nd Logo (March 18, 1981-April 18, 1999, 2004, October 11, 2010)[]

We start off with Stephen J. Cannell typing on an IBM Selectric typewriter in an office/study area surrounded by bookshelves and awards. The camera pans clockwise from his face to his back. Once the camera is completely towards Cannell's back, he grabs the paper from the typewriter and throws it up into the air. The scene fades to a black background where the paper becomes animated, floating downwards towards a stack of papers scooping up the top papers by forming the letter "C". The text "Stephen J. Cannell Productions", "Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Inc.", "A Stephen J. Cannell Production", and "Cannell Entertainment, Inc." is formed above. And depending on the logo, here is the list of outfits worn by Cannell:

1981[]

In 1981, Stephen J. Cannell wore a dark colored sweater with white collar shirt, plus he is smoking his pipe; this is the first of two logos to feature Cannell smoking his pipe. This was seen on The Greatest American Hero (1981-1983), and Season 1 (1983), and early Season 2 (1983-1984) episodes of The A-Team.

1983[]

In 1983, his office changed again, Stephen J. Cannell wears a blue jean jacket and white flannel shirt over a black turtleneck, plus he is smoking his pipe, this was seen on later episodes of Season 2 (1983-1984) of The A-Team beginning with the episode "The Maltese Cow". NOTE: This is the last logo to feature Stephen J. Cannell smoking his pipe while typing on the typewriter, before Cannell quits smoking when the pipe was dropped in 1984.

1984[]

In 1984, Stephen J. Cannell's office changed again, and the pipe was gone. Cannell now wears a black jacket and dark colored sweater over white collar shirt; he couldn't smoke his pipe anymore while typing on the typewriter. This was seen on early Season 3 (1984-1985) episodes of The A-Team. NOTE: This is the first logo not to feature Cannell smoking his pipe while typing on the typewriter, because Stephen J. Cannell couldn't smoke anymore.

1985[]

In 1985, Stephen J. Cannell's office changed again, and the awards were added to the office. Cannell now wears a white and gray striped flannel shirt; this was seen on later episodes of Season 3 (1984-1985), and the last two seasons of The A-Team, such as Season 4 (1985-1986), and Season 5 (1986-1987).

1987[]

In 1987, Stephen J. Cannell changed his office again, wearing a casual black and white vest.

1989[]

In 1989, Stephen J. Cannell's office changed again, wearing a red polo shirt with the collar up.

1996[]

In 1996, Cannell's office changed again, Stephen J. Cannell now wears a black polo shirt.

2004[]

Cannell 2000 — Cannell sporting a black jacket with a black turtleneck.

In 2004, his office changed again, and Stephen J. Cannell wore a black jacket with a black turtleneck.

Variants:[]

In the early years, Cannell types at the typewriter from the front and the camera does not pan clockwise, he throws the paper up into the air, and the animation sequence continues as normal. Also, they were no awards in the office, and Cannell smokes his pipe while typing on the typewriter.
Occasionally, after we see Cannell toss the paper, the animation cuts awkwardly to the black screen. The 20th Century Fox Television ID, Cannell's parent company would follow. This was seen on some episodes of Silk Stalkings and Renegade in the early 1990s.
Same as above, except Cannell gently tosses the paper instead.
Of course, this logo was updated often, the main difference is with Cannell wearing different clothes, possibly 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 above.
On seasons 4-5 of Renegade, the text above the finished logo says "Renegade IV Enterprises", but the live action sequence is intact.
From 1991-1993, the company was referred to as "Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Inc."
From 1991-1996 on the 1989 variant, after Cannell takes out his paper from his typewriter, the logo would cross-fade to a black background with the text "Cannell Entertainment Inc.", and for syndication "Distributed By Cannell Entertainment Inc." in a Gill Sans font, with a small "Distributed By" above the company name.
There is a sped-up version of the 1985 and 1987 versions of this logo where the camera moves fast for the two short 1987 logo themes, which were used on early to later season two episodes of 21 Jump Street starting with the episode "Besieged: Part 2".
There is also a short version that only features the last half of the animation of the logo. Used on The Commish and the 1994 TV movie A Place for Annie.
On early episodes and the pilot of Caesar's Challenge, the logo appears as an in-credit logo.
On the Riptide season 3 episode "Home for Christmas", there is a still variant, bypassing the usual animation playing in this logo.
On a RTL9 airing of Hardcastle and McCormick S3 episode "A Chip Off the Ol' Mit", the credits were time compressed, speeding up the logo in the process. Also, the closing music played over it.
Cannell Tribute: On the Castle episode "Punked", the 2004 logo is shown. While Cannell is typing, the text "STEPHEN J. CANNELL" fades in above and below the text "COLLEAGUE, MENTOR, FRIEND." fades in. As Cannell tosses the paper in the air, the logo fades to the black background as the paper falls. The text in the center "WE'LL MISS YOU, PAL." fades in as the animated paper continues to fall.

3rd Logo (1991-January 14, 1994)[]

On a boysenberry-colored marble background, we see a 3D "silvery" version of the "C" from which we zoom out, along with the 3D text "THE CANNELL STUDIOS" in Times New Roman font tilted at a 90-degree angle, then does a 90-degree turn to face us while the "C" takes its position below the Cannell text. Once the text and the "C" go into their above and below positions, respectively, the "C" quickly flashes, turning everything into 2D. A copyright notice for Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Inc. fades in below the logo after the animation is all done.

Music/Sounds[]

1st Logo (September 23, 1976-April 15, 1981, 1982): The end theme of the show.

2nd Logo March 18, 1981-April 18, 1999, 2004, October 11, 2010): A dramatic tune (written and composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter) is played while Cannell types, which contains string-like instruments, French horns, tubular bells and pounding synthesizers. The tone is more soothing when Cannell throws the paper, reaching a climax with a flute or a trumpet. When the "C" forms, ominous horns and flutes played along with the pounding synthesizers used while Cannell types. A guitar plays a four note tune. For the in-credit logo and the TV movie Highway Heartbreaker, it's the end-title theme. On the TV movie A Place for Annie, it's silent.

Music/Sounds Variants[]

November 4, 1981-January 13, 1982: There is a very rare music variant that appeared starting with The Greatest American Hero season 2 episode "The Two-Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Fastball", which contains a xylophone, violins, and a very different four-note guitar ending theme, which sounds similar to the show's theme song.
November 25, 1981-February 8, 1983: A dramatic three-note horn fanfare plays first, followed by a rousing orchestra and six notes played by a guitar.
1983-September 27, 1987: A rearranged version of the 1981 theme, but sounds much more dramatic, which contains violins playing while the familiar six-note theme plays. Last used on the 21 Jump Street season 2 episode "Besieged: Part 1".
January 4, 1985-September 24, 1987: A combination of the first half of the November 1981 Cannell logo theme from The Greatest American Hero from season 2 and the much dramatic second half of the original 1981 logo theme. It was first used on the Hunter season 1 episode "The Shooter" and last used on the Wiseguy season 1 episode "New Blood".
September 24, 1987-October 20, 1990, 2004, October 11, 2010: A Malibu-style guitar plays the four note tune, which was first used on the Hunter season 4 episode "Not Just Another John Doe". A short edited version of this exists of this logo theme having the first three notes, followed by the fourth dramatic note and the remaining 6 note theme. 21 Jump Street continued to use this theme until 1990.
October 3-17, 1987, October 26, 1988-April 18, 1999: Another variant using a piano, guitar, bells, and orchestration playing at the same time, with a flute sound before the rousing music plays, and later a guitar playing the last notes of the theme. It was used as early as the Hunter season 4 episodes "Playing God" and "The Jade Woman". There was a short version of this back on October 18, 1987 on the 21 Jump Street season 2 episode "After School Special", and another featuring the last half of this theme on Profit. On the first season of Renegade, the orchestration is excluded.

3rd Logo (1991-January 14, 1994): A dramatic synthesizer tune.

Scare Factor[]

1st Logo (September 23, 1976-April 15, 1981, 1982): None.

2nd Logo March 18, 1981-April 18, 1999, 2004, October 11, 2010): Depends.

Original: Minimal to low for the original variant. Stephen tossing the paper and the dramatic music can startle people.
Other Variants: None to minimal. The music is a lot tamer, but the paper being tossed may still put some off.
Cannell Tribute: None, it's a nice tribute to Stephen J. Cannell, especially after his death in 2010. It can also be upsetting to some.

Overall, it's very easily memorable, and a favourite to a lot of people.

3rd Logo (1991-January 14, 1994): Low. The zooming out and synth music may startle some people.