Genesis Entertainment
Written and Compiled by
Nicholas Aczel and Sean Beard
1st
logo
(1982-1990)
Background: Genesis
Entertainment was founded by Nashville-based television producer Al Gannaway.
The byline “A Division of Gannaway Productions, Inc.” was seen on the 1st
logo until 1988, when Genesis became independent.
Nickname: "The Cloudburst”
Logo: On a shady purple background, we see a
shady blue card with a logo on it flipping toward the screen. The logo is a
dark blue cloud with a sunburst popping out of its top, surrounded by four
“still” sparkles and a “pop-up” shadow effect. Below the sunburst on the cloud
is the words “GENESIS ENTERTAINMENT” in an old-style font.
SFX: Apart from the “flipping” effect, it’s a
still logo.
Cheesy Factor: The “flipping” is totally 80s, the
cloudburst appears as an unrealistic model (probably early computer graphics)
and the sparkles look like Christmas lights.
Music: Plays over the end theme.
Availability: Pretty much gone, last seen on “The
Judge,” “Highway to Heaven,” and 1980s episodes of “Divorce Court.” Given the
surprise 2nd logo preservation, chances are this logo will remain
intact if the shows are rerun in the future.
Scare Factor: Median, the graphics and flipping effect
are tacky, and combined with the dramatic end themes of certain shows, some may
be startled by it. But even this logo is pretty harmless compared to what
followed…
2nd logo
(1990-1995)
Nickname: "G in Space,” “G from Hell”
Logo: On a space background, we see legions of
shooting stars. From the right a giant “G” (looking as if carved from a block
of ice) zooms out, turning at an angle towards the screen. As shooting stars
fly by the “G,” it sparkles, and turns into a TV-tube ice shape with the “G”
appearing as a cutout with streaks flying from it. Below the “G” tube, a bunch
of sparkles form the words
GENESIS
E N T E R T A I N M E N T
USA Today: In 1990, Genesis was sold to Gannett
Corporation (publishers of the newspaper USA Today). A variant with the byline “A
Division of the Garrett Corporation” appeared on the short-lived series “USA
Today on TV.” Gannett spun it off after the show’s failure, again making it
independent until 1994…
A Brave New World: When Genesis Entertainment merged with
New World Pictures in 1994, the byline “A Division of New World Entertainment”
was seen below the logo. This variant appeared on 1994-95 episodes of “Real
Stories of the Highway Patrol” and “Marvel Action Hour.”
SFX: The shooting stars, the sparkle effects, the zooming “G.”
Cheesy Factor: Primitive early CGI effects, and the
synthesizer soundtrack is unmusical to the point of evil.
Music: A droning 80s synthesizer score.
Availability: Extremely Rare, last appeared on “Top
Cops” in syndication and 1993-95 episodes of “Real Stories of the Highway
Patrol.” Survives on AMC’s prints of “Tales From The Crypt,” followed by the 20th
Television logo.
Scare Factor: High, the eerie music, the scary “G,”
and the sparkle effects make this a logo to watch with the lights ON.
3rd logo
(1995-1997)
Then in 1995, a
clean cut logo for the New World/Genesis merge appeared, but as a variant of
the New World Television logo. Alas, the logo was to be Genesis’ last, as the New
World Pictures buyout by News Corporation in 1997 effectively put an end to
both companies.
Nickname: “CGI Sphere,” “New World/Genesis
Distribution”
Logo: With a shooting star effect we see a
blurred red-orange sphere that clears up to create a small reddish-orange
abstract globe and below that is text reading “New World/Genesis Distribution.”
SFX: The fireworks, the sphere clearing up.
Music: A synthesizer sounder that ends with a series of non-musical
noises resembling a seagull.
Availability: Extinct, as it was only seen on 1995-96 episodes of “Marvel
Action Hour.” The New World Entertainment variant of this logo was much more
common, replacing the Genesis logo altogether on 1995-97 episodes of “Real
Stories of the Highway Patrol.”
Scare Factor: Median, the shooting star/fireworks EFX animation can
startle many viewers.