Judd Hirsch wanted Taxi fans to step up after the series was put on hold by NBC
Taxi (1978) was one of the most beloved series of its time among fans but held a real rocky relationship with networks like ABC and NBC for most of its five-season run.
On paper, Taxi had everything it needed to succeed, but in reality, the series had many ups and downs with networks, time slot changes, and the challenge of keeping up with a rapidly changing audience.
Judd Hirsch, best known for his role as Alex Reiger in the series, was considered the heart and soul of the Sunshine Cab Company.
His character served as the moral compass, often shedding light on the issues the famous cab company faced. This wasn’t so different from how Hirsch was behind the scenes and on set.
According to a 1983 interview with Asbury Park Press, Hirsch spoke highly of the series but was desperately trying to understand why Taxi kept getting the short end of the stick with so many networks.
Despite its success, Taxi faced some struggles along the way. The series hit several bumps in the road before finding success. Many believed that Taxi was too niche— not everyone was interested in a show about a group of New York cabbies who spent more time avoiding work than actually doing it.
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After being dropped by ABC after four seasons, it moved to NBC. However, after ranking 63rd out of 80 primetime series, it was replaced by another sitcom.
"We kept on a straight course, just as we have from the beginning," Hirsch said. "Taxi did not need to be hyped with additional characters, situations, sets, or writers... Our great strength has been that it is one of the best shows written on television."
However, even good writing wasn't enough to sustain the series. At the time of this interview, Hirsch wasn't sure what the future of Taxi would be, but he wished that Taxi fans would start stepping up for the show.
He believed Taxi fans could save it from cancellation—they just needed to show up.
"I feel as if we're playing undefeated football and nobody's in the stands," Hirsch said. "Where are all the people?"
According to a 1981 interview with The Palm Beach Post, Hirsch said there was one big saving grace for his hit series: Reverend Jim Ignatowski, as played by Christopher Lloyd.
Even among the weirdest taxi drivers, Lloyd's character remained the strangest of them all. His role not only boosted the ratings but also helped save the show for a second time on NBC.
"We've got a lot of people who really love to write for Chris Lloyd, and everybody on the show truly loves to play those episodes," Hirsch said. "In fact, if you polled the members of the cast they'd all say they can't wait for the next Chris Lloyd episode."
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