Michael Jacobs Productions

Background

This is the production company of television creator, writer and producer Michael Jacobs, whose work has appeared on Broadway, Off Broadway, television and film. The company was founded in 1978, but had no logo until nearly a decade later. Previously, Jacobs had a development deal with TriStar Pictures for a development of a comedy project on NBC, a pact that lasted up until 1989, when the company had reached a film and television producing deal with The Walt Disney Company.

Contents

1st Logo (September 20, 1987-September 28, 1991)	2nd Logo (April 26-May 24, 1991)	3rd Logo (September 18-October 16, 1991)	4th Logo (October 2, 1991-January 20, 2017)

1st Logo (September 20, 1987-September 28, 1991)

Logo: On a blue gradient background, we see the letters "MJP" in a Gothic-like font. Then, Michael Jacobs' signature writes to the right of the name. After that, the word "PRODUCTIONS" appears below. The background suddenly changes as the signature writes itself.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Music/Sounds: A nine-note jazzy theme composed by Max Carl.

Music/Sounds Variants:

On Singer & Sons, the first episode of The Torkelsons, and the pilot to My Two Dads, the end theme plays over it.
On episodes 2 and 3 of My Two Dads, the last few notes of the show's theme song are heard.
On episodes 4-12 of My Two Dads, it's a four-note flute theme, based on the show's theme song.
There is also a high-toned version of the jazzy theme, as well as a rearranged version.
A silent version also exists.
On episode 2 of The Torkelsons, a eight-note theme is used.

Availability:

Seen on My Two Dads and the short-lived show Singer & Sons.
It is also intact on the DVDs of the former program.
Also seen on the first two episodes of the short-lived show The Torkelsons.
It might have also been seen on season 1 of "Dinosaurs" during its original airing on ABC.

2nd Logo (April 26-May 24, 1991)

Logo: On a gray marble background, we see the words "Michael Jacobs" in a script font with "PRODUCTIONS" in a tall font below it.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on the first season of Dinosaurs during reruns and international releases.

3rd Logo (September 18-October 16, 1991)

Logo: On a blue-black gradient paper background, we see "Michael Jacobs" in a written font, with a pencil reading "Productions" on it, going through the hook of the "J". There are doodles of a person smoking a pipe, a 3D object, and script-like text reading "Act ONE FADE IN" and "A FAMILY, A kitchen table, Something happens...". The text "CALL PATTI" is seen stacked outside of the paper. Then, the word "help!" writes itself in the bottom-right corner.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.

Availability:

Seen on season 2 episodes 1, 2 and 5 of Dinosaurs.
It wasn't used on the remainder of the season two episodes and has the next logo instead.

4th Logo (October 2, 1991-January 20, 2017)

Logo: On a gray gradient background, we see the text "Michael Jacobs PRODUCTIONS", with a red line sandwiched between the words. The entire name shines, making it brighter.

Variants:

On earlier usages of the logo, it's still.
Starting with Girl Meets World, the logo was remastered for high-definition. It is slightly lighter than the original version, with the drop shadows being less noticeable.

Technique: 2D shining effects.

Music/Sounds: A calm nine-note guitar theme with strings (which trails off into the It's a Laugh Productions logo on Girl Meets World). ABC airings used a generic theme starting in 1998.

Music/Sounds Variant:

On some shows, the closing theme plays over.
On one episode of Dinosaurs, a six-note theme plays.
On the Girl Meets World episode "Girl Meets World of Terror", the theme is slightly sped up and in a Halloween-eerie style.
On the Girl Meets World episode "Girl Meets the New World", the entire theme is replaced with Dewey, a character from earlier in the episode singing the riff acapella with "doy"s (how he pronounced his own name).
In some cases, it's silent.

Availability: Common.

First seen on Dinosaurs starting with season 2, episode 3, and also appears on Boy Meets World, The Torkelsons starting with episode 3 (which was retitled Almost Home in its second season), Misery Loves Company, Maybe This Time, You Wish, Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane (which was retitled Zoe... for its second season), and Lost at Home.
This was also revived on Girl Meets World, a sequel series to Boy Meets World which aired on Disney Channel from 2014-2017.