Memorable TV

US TV - EARLY EDITION to ELLIS ISLAND

EARLY EDITION

Columbia/3 Characters/ Angelica / x60m-e / 1997-2000

Creators: Patrick O'Pace, Vik Rubenfield, Ian Abrahams / Executive Producers:Lillah McCarthy, Dean Hargrove, Bob Brush 

Fantasy drama series. Gary Hobson sets about doing good deeds when each day he mysteriously receives a copy of tomorrows newspaper, this enables him to prevent disasters etc.

With:- KYLE CHANDLER as Gary Hobson / FISHER STEVENS as Chuck / SHANESIA DAVIS-WILLIAMS as Marissa / KIRSTY SWANSON as Erica Paget (Season 3) / MYLES JEFFREY as Henry Paget (Season 3) / LUIS ANTONIO RAMOS as Miguel (Season 4)

Paramount / x60m-e / 1997-continuing

Creator: Gene Roddenberry / Executive Producer: David Kirschner 

Scifi drama series. An advanced alien race lands on Earth and begins doing good, but an Earth resistance movement springs up suspecting the motives of the alien race, The Taelons.

With:- ANDREW JACKSON as President Daniel Thompson / DAVID HEMBLEN as Jonathan Doors / ROBERT LEESHOCK as Liam Kincaid / ANITA LA SELVA as Zo'er / MAJEL BARRETT RODDENBERRY as Dr Julianne Belman / VON FLORES as Ronald Sandoval / RICHARD CHEVOLLEAU as Auger / LISA HOWARD as Capt Lili Marquette / LENI PARKER as Da'an / JAYNE HETTMEYER as Renee Palmer (Season 3-) / MELINDA DAINES as J. Street (Season 4-)

Universal/Amblin / 1x120m-e 20x60m-e / 1994

Creator/Executive Producer: Billy Ray / Executive Producers: Michael Duggan, Carol Flint, Mark Levin / Music: David Bergeaud 

Scifi drama series. In the future a group of colonists try to start a new life on another planet but find their attempts fraught with difficulties.

With:- DEBORAH FARENTINO as Devon Adair / CLANCY BROWN as John Danziger / SULLIVAN WALKER as Yale / JESSICA STEEN asJulia Stern M.D / REBECCA GAYHEART as Bess Martin / JOHN GEGENHUBER as Morgan Martin / J. MADISON WRIGHT as True Danziger / ANTONIO SABATO JR as Alonzo Solace / JOEY ZIMMERMAN as Ulysses Adair

CBS/United Artists/ Talent Associates / 26x60m-e /  1963  black and white

Drama series. Stories of a social worker.

With:- GEORGE C. SCOTT / ELIZABETH WILSON

NBC/Viacom / 22x30m-e / 1986-87

Creator/Producer: Hugh Wilson 

Sitcom. When her wealthy husband dies former showgirl L.K. McGuire invites her slobby Uncle Billy and his black best friend Ricardo to live in her mansion, much to the distress of her husband's sister and her husband who also live in the mansion.

L.K. McGuire...................................... LONI ANDERSON

Bully Stevenson................................. JACK ELAM

Ricardo Williams................................ LEE WEAVER

Eleanor Standard ................................DANA IVEY

Quentin Standard................................ JAMES CROMWELL

ED

x60m-e / 2001

Comedy drama series. New York based lawyer Ed Stevens is fired from his job and (after catching his wife cheating on him) decides to return to his home town, Stuckeyville where he opens up a combined bowling alley and law practice, the ally is called Stuckey Bowl and the staff included Phil, the slightly daffy Shirley and Kenny. Much of the focus of the series though is Ed's hesitant re-entry into the world of dating.

With:- TOM CAVANAUGH as Ed Stevens / MICHAEL IAN BLACK as Phil / RACHEL CRONIN as Shirley / MIKE STARR as Kenny / JUSTIN LONG as Warren / JULIE BOWEN as Carol

THE EDGE OF NIGHT

Creator: Irving Vendig / Executive Producer: Erwin Nicholson (1966-84) / Announcers: Bob Dixon (1956-57), Harry Kramer (1957-72), Hal Simms (1972-84) / Music: Paul Taubman (1956-76), Elliot Lawrence Productions (1976-84)

The Edge of Night was a a long running strange hybrid of a daytime soap and mystery series concerning itself with the lives of the residents of the town of Monticello. During the CBS and early ABC years, EDGE used the Cincinnati, Ohio skyline in its title visuals but In 1981, they switched to the LA skyline.  In 1983, the final year, the skyline was eliminated completely.  From 1956-1981, for the closing credits, EDGE used the typical fade off title and run the crawl.  In 81, the title remained in place as they used a half screen crawl.  This was used until the next to last episode.  On the last episode, they used the original Cortner/Barranco theme over a full screen crawl.  Also, in 1983, the opening and closing background was different.  The closing used a beach at sunset, while the opening used a rust colored background. EDGE moved from CBS to ABC because CBS wanted to expand ATWT to 60 minutes. CBS needed an extra 30 minutes. Local affiliates were far from happy and protested about giving up their local air time.  Proctor and Gamble (the shows sponsers) had a policy that their shows could not air opposite each other. (One of CBS's proposals would have put EDGE against the last half of ANOTHER WORLD).  P&G proposed moving EDGE to ABC.  ABC was contractually bound to their schedule and a move in Sept 75 (CBS's original expansion of ATWT) would have put EDGE off the air for about two months. CBS moved the expansion of ATWT until DEC 75, making EDGE the first soap to change networks.  Many ABC affiliated did not carry EDGE.  Contrary to popular belief, ABC did not cancel EDGE.  P&G withdrew sponsorship because EDGE was airing on only 102 stations and was losing money.  ABC apparently wanted to keep EDGE on the air.  EDGE was the only Proctor and Gamble soap to air on ABC.  Like The Guiding Light, EDGE also dropped 'THE' from the title. This happened in 1983.

With:- CONRAD BAIN as Dr Charles Weldon (1970) / WILLIAM PRINCE as Senator Benjamin Travis(1968-69) / KEN BRUCE MARTIN as Dr Charles Weldon (1971) / MARIANN AALDA as Did Bannister Stoner (1981-84) / POLLY ADAMS as Carol Barclay R.N. (1977-78) / BILLIE ALLEN as Ada Chandler (1973-75) / TEAL AMES as Sarah Lane Kerr (1956-61) / EVALYN BARON as Louise / JACKSON BECK as Willie Saffire / JOHN BEDFORD LLOYD as Walter Gantz / SARAH BURTON as Cora Lane (1956-57) / JOSEPH CAMPANELLA as Leo Magagnoli (1962) / DIXIE CARTER as Brandeis 'Brandy' Henderson (1974-76) / JOY CLAUSSEN as Corky / KATHLEEN CODY as Laurie Ann Karr Lamont Dallas (1965-67) / FORREST COMPTON as D.A. Mike Karr (1972-84) / PATRICIA CONWELL as Tracy Dallas Micilli (1974-77) / TONY CRAIG as Draper Scott (1975-81) / LOU CRISCUOLO as Danny Micelli (1973-77) / JOEL CROTHERS as Dr Miles Cavanaugh (1977-84) / HERB DAVIS as Lt Luke Chandler (1973-78) / DANA ELCAR as Clinton Wheeler / ALAN FEINSTEIN as Dr Jim Field (1969-74) / FRANCES FISHER as Detective Deborah 'Red' Saxon (1976-81) / MARTHA GALPHIN as Roxanne Carey (1968-69) / BETTY GARDE as Mattie Lane Grimsley (1956) / JOHN GIBSON as Joe Pollock (1962-71) / PRISCILLA GILLETTE as Sybil Gordon (1957-58) / ALBERTA GRANT as Liz Hillyer Prentiss Field (1966-74) / WALTER GREAZA as Winston Grimsley (1956-73) / DON HASTINGS as Jack Lane (1956-60) / LISA HOWARD as Louise Grimsley Capice (1956-61) / LELA IVEY as Mitzi Martin (1981-84) / TERI KEANE as Martha Spears Marceau (1964-75) / MANDEL KRAMER as Police Chief Bill Marceau (1959-79) / JOHN LAGIOIA as Johnny Dallas (1973-77) / JOHN LARKIN as D.A. Mike Karr (1956-61) / LUCY MARTIN as Tiffnay Whitney Douglas (1971-76) / BARRY NEWMAN as John Barnes (1964-65) / NANCY PINKERTON as Beth Anderson Barnes (1963-67) / HUGH REILLY as Simon Jessup (1971-73) / BROOKS ROGERS as Dr Hugh Lacey (1976-83) / MARK RYDELL as Walt Johnson (1956) / FRAN SHARON as Elaine 'Cookie' Pollock Thomas Christopher (1962-72) / MAXINE STUART as Grace O' Keefe (1956) / JENNIFER TAYLOR as Detective Chris Egan Gantz (1983-84) / TED TINLING as Vic Lamont (1969-75) / ERNIE TOWNSEND as Cliff Nelson (1978-84) / JERRY ZAKS as Louis Van Dine (1983-84)  

CBS / x60m-e /  1948-71

Entertainment. Long running Sunday night at O'Clock variety series hosted by Ed Sullivan, everybody who was anybody appeared on the show at some stage in their career, from Elvis to the Beatles, from Irving Berlin to Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Orson Welles, Albert Schweitzer, Morecambe and Wise, Brigitte Bardot, Cole Porter, Fidel Castro and Peg Leg Bates the one legged dancer who appeared over a dozen times. Sullivan had a reputation for slip ups and malapropisms calling Terry-Thomas Tommy Tucker and once asking a paraplegic in the studio audience to stand up and take a bow. 

NBC/Screen Gems / 15x30m-e /  1958   black and white

Sitcom. Stories of an elderly judge and his grand-daughters.

With:- ED WYNN / HERB VIGRAN / CLARENCE STRAIGHT

CBS / x15m-e /  1951 black and white

Book:Betty McDonald 

Sitcom. Misadventures of the owners of a chicken farm.

With:- PATRICIA KIRKLAND / FRANK CRAVEN / GRADY SUTTON

Lorimar / x60m-e / 1977-81

Creator: William Bluin / Book:Thomas Braden / Producers: Robert L. Jacks, Greg Strangis 

Sitcom. Tom Bradford, a widower with eight kids, tries to find himself a wife. Led by Dick Van Patten, the Waltons-like Eight is Enough was the story of newspaper columnist Tom Bradford, his wife Joan (Diana Hyland) and their eight children initially aged 8 to 23. Following the death of Hyland after a handful of episodes, the then widowed Tom eventually married the much younger Abby (Betty Buckley), son Tommy's (Willie Aames) tutor, in season two. Reaching its zenith at #11 overall in the 1978-79 season (with a 24.8 rating), Eight is Enough met its maker after four-and-a half seasons in 1981. Sadly, actress Lani O'Grady, who played grating older daughter Mary passed away last fall. One temporary cast member who went on to bigger and better things was Star Wars actor Mark Hamill who played oldest son David in the pilot of Eight is Enough. Ditto for Ralph "The Karate Kid" Macchio" who joined the cast in the final season as Abby's troubled nephew Jeremy.

DICK VAN PATTEN as Tom Bradford / DIANA HYLAND Joan Bradford / BETTY BUCKLEY as Sandra Sue 'Abby' Abbott / GRANT GOODEVE as David Bradford / BRIAN PATRICK CLARKE as Merle 'The Pearl' Stockwell/ HENDERSON FORSYTHE as Big BUd / LANI O'GRADY as Mary Bardford / DIANNE KAY as Nancy Bradford / LAURIE WALTERS as JoannieBradford / JAMES KAREN as Eliot Randolph / SUSAN RICHARDSON as Susan Bradford / WILLIE AAMES as Tommy Bradford / JOAN PRATHER as Janet McArthur / ADAM RICH as Nicholas Bradford / CONNIE NEEDHAM as  Elizabeth Bradford

8 SIMPLE RULES See Separate entry. 

NBC/Hubbell Robinson / 30x60m-e /  1961

Creator: Ed McBain 

Crime drama series. Cases of the cops of the New York police precinct of the title.

With:- ROBERT LANSING / NORMAN FELL / GREGORY WALCOTT / RON HARPER / GENA ROWLANDS

EISCHIED

NBC / 1x180m-e 13x60m-e / 1979-80

Crime drama series. Cases of tough NYPD Chief of Detectives Earl Eiscied who was not afraid to break the rules to get the result he wanted. Eischied is pronounced Eye-Shyed.

With:- JOE DON BAKER as Earl Eischied / ALAN OPPENHEIMER as Captain Finnerty / ALAN FUDGE as Deputy Commissioner Kimborough / EDDIE EGAN as Chief Inspector Ed Parks / SUZANNE LEDERER as Carol Wright / VINCENT BUFANO as Rick Alessi / JOE CIRILLO as Detective Malfitano

CBS-MTM / 13x30m-e / 1988  14 March - 20 June

Creator: Allan Burns / Executive Producers: Allan Burns, Dan Wilcox 

Sitcom. Attorney Barnett 'Bud' Lutz Jr sets up in business as Eisenhower and Lutz in Palm Springs, California. (There was no Eisenhower, Lutz adding the name to make his firm seem more important and established).

With:- SCOTT BAKULA as Barnett 'Bud' Lutz Jr / PATRICIA RICHARDSON as Kay Dunne / HENDERSON FORSYTHE as Barnett 'Big Bud' Lutz / ROSE PORTILLO as Millie Zamora / LEO GETER as Dwayne Spitter / SANDRA DICKINSON as Patsy Warner

Showtime/Brooklyn / 1x70m-e / 1986 7 October

Writer: Elayne Boosler / Producers: Elayne Boosler, Steve Gerbson / Director: Steve Gerbson 

Comedy. One off stand up special starring New Yorker Elayne Boosler. See also below for Elayne Boosler - Broadway Baby. 

Showtime/Brooklyn / 1x70m-e / 1992  11 September

Writer: Elayne Boosler / Producer/Director: Steve Gerber 

Comedy. Stand up special starring Elayne Boosler, recorded at the Ritz Theater, Broadway. See also above for Elayne Boosler, Party of One.

NBC/MGM/Arena / 62x60m-e /  1962-63 black and white

Drama series. Cases of a psychiatrist.

With:- WENDELL COREY / RALPH BELLAMY / JACK GING

ELLEN

ABC/Black-Marlens Co./ Touchstone / 1x60m-e 100+x30m-e / 1994-

Creators: Neal Marlens, Carol Black, David Rosenthal / Producers: David Rosenthal, Mark Grossan 

Sitcom. Stories of 'single' career girl Ellen Morgan in Los Angeles. Season one known as These Friends of Mine and Ellen worked in a bookstore called Buy the Book. From season II the show was retitled Ellen and Ellen was now the owner of the book store. Season one episodes repeated as Ellen and known as Ellen overseas. In a special hour long episode broadcast 30 April 1997, Ellen Morgan came out as a lesbian (as is DeGeneres in real life).

Ellen Morgan....................................... ELLEN DE GENERES

Holly(94)............................................. HOLLY FULGER

Anita(94)............................................. MAGGIE WHEELER

Adam Greene(94-95)............................ AYRE GROSS

Joe Farrell........................................... DAVID ANTHONY HIGGINS

Paige Clark......................................... JOELY FISHER

Audrey Penney................................... CLEA LEWIS

Spence Kovak ................................... JEREMY PIVEN

Norvin/Arrow / 32x30m-e /  1954 black and white

Crime drama series. Cases of a well to detective who specialized in seemingly impossible to crack cases. This series is also known as Mystery is My Business. This was a syndicated version of a series that had been done before in 1952 as The Adventures of Ellery Queen and in 1958 as The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen. see also below.

With:- HUGH MARLOWE as Ellery Queen

NBC/Universal/Fairmont-Foxcroft / 1x120m-e 22x60m-e 1975-76

Creator/Executive Producers: Richard Levinson, William Link  / Music: Elmer Bernstein, Hal Mooney / Characters: Frederic Dannay, Manfred Bennington Lee 

Period crime drama series. At the end of the 1940's crime writer Ellery Queen often, thanks to his Police Inspector father Richard Queen, finds gimself drawn into the solving of murders. This version added a kind of interactive element with Queen asking viewers just before the dénouement of each show if they knew who the killer was. There were previous versions called The Adventures of Ellery Queen, Ellery Queen (see above) and The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen. 

With:- JIM HUTTON as Ellery Queen / JOHN HILLERMAN as Simon Brimmer / DAVID WAYNE as Inspector Richard Queen / TOM REESE as Sgt Velie / KEN SWOFFORD as Frank Flanigan

ELLIS ISLAND

3x120m-e / 1987

Novel: Fred Mustard Stewart / Director: Jerry London

Period drama serial. In 1907 a ship full of immigrants head for a new life in America via the immigration department at Ellis Island.

With:- RICHARD BURTON / CLAIRE BLOOM / JUDI BOWKER / EMMA SAMMS / BEN VEREEN / FAYE DUNAWAY / ALICE KRIGE / GREG MARTIN / PETER RIEGERT / MILO O'SHEA

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