Memorable TV

JACK BENNY'S NEW LOOK

ABC/Jack Benny Prod. / 1x60m-e / 1969

Producer/Director: Norman Abbott 

Comedy. A one off variety special starring Jack Benny with guest appearances by Gregory Pack, George Burns, Nancy Sinatra and Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson.

CBS/Jack Benny Prod. / 5x60m-e / 1959

Producer/Director: Bud Yorkin 

Comedy. Stand up and variety series hosted by Jack Benny with guests including Bob Hope, Phil Silvers, Gary Cooper, Julie Andrews and Raymond Burr.

NBC/Jack Benny Prod. / 1x60m-e / 1970

Writers: Hal Goldman, Al Gordon, Hillard Marks, Hugh Wedlock Jr  / Producers: Irving Fein, Stu Harris / Director: Stan Harris

Comedy. A one off variety special made to celebrate Benny's 20th year on TV, featuring Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton, Eddie Anderson, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Mel Blanc, Dean Martin and Dinah Shore.

Renaissance/Syndicated / x30m-e / 2000

Creator: Erin Morris / Executive Producer: Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Eric Greundelman

Period action adventure series. During the era of the Napoleonic wars, Jack Stiles, an American spy, goes undercover as an attaché to British widow (and fellow agent) Emilia Rothschild in the East Indies. The pair spend most of their time attempting to foil the advances of Governor Croque (brother of Napoleon) and his right hand man Brogard.

Jack Stiles............................... BRUCE CAMPBELL

Emilia Rothschild...................... ANGELA DOTCHKIN

Governor Croque....................... STUART DEVENIE

Brogard.................................... STEPHEN PAPPS 

JAG

NBC-CBS / x60 minute episodes / 1995-2005

First Episode Saturday 23 September 1995 @ 8.00pm 

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario / Theme Music: Bruce Broughton

Action adventure mixing in crime drama elements. The cases of former aviator turned naval lawyer Cmdr Harman Rabb Jr and his partner (lawyer wise) Lt Meg Austin (season 1) and then Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie. In January 1997 the show switched to CBS. 

With:- DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT as Cmdr Harmon Rabb Jr / TRACEY NEEDHAM as Lt Meg Austin (series 1) / CATHERINE BELL as Sarah "Mac" McKenzie (from season 2) / PATRICK LABYORTEAUX as Lt Bud Roberts (from season 2) / KARRI TURNER as Ensign Harriet Simons (from season 2) / TREVOR GODDARD as Mic Brunby (from season four) / W.K. STRATTON as Cmdr Teddy Lindsey

CBS/Viacom / 100+x60m-e / 1987-?

Creators: Dean Hargrove, Joel Steiger / Music: Dick De Benedictus / Executive Producer: Fred Silverman, Dean Hargrove, Joel Steiger

Crime drama series. J.L. 'Fatman' McCabe, a DA in Honolulu often teams up with private detective Jake Styles to crack his cases. 

J.L. 'Fatman' McCabe............... WILLIAM CONRAD

Jake Styles............................. JOE PENNY

Derek Mitchell.......................... ALAN CAMPBELL

JAKE 2.0

UPN / x60mins / 2003 (First Episode: Wednesday 10 September 20003) 

Scifi Drama series. After being exposed to a biotech substance, a nerdy computer technician who works for the National Security Agency (NSA) is transformed into a bionic man with tremendous powers. 

With:- CHRISTOPHER GORHAM  

JAKE IN PROGRESS is covered here. 

CBS/Universal / 12x30m-e / 1966 (12 September - 5 December 66 / Mondays 10.00pm)

Sitcom. Female attorney Patricia Marshall teams up with her graduate son Paul starting their own practice.

with:- JEAN ARTHUR as Patricia Marshall / RON HARPER as Paul Marshall / RICHARD CONTE as Richie Wells / LEONARD STONE as Morton (the chauffeur)

THE JEFFERSONS

CBS / x30m-e / 1975-85 (18 January 75 - 23 July 85)

Theme Music: Moving On Up by Jeff Barry, Ja'net DuBois/ Producer: Norman Lear

Sitcom. Spin off from All In The Family. The Jefferson family make good and move to a posh new area. In All in the Family the Jeffersons lived next door to Archie Bunker but when George's business took off the family moved to a high class apartment in Manhattan. Between 1975-78 Damon Evans (no relation to Mike) played Lionel.

With:- SHERMAN HEMSLEY as George Jefferson / ISABEL SANFORD as Louise Jefferson / MARLA GIBBS as Florence Johnston / ROXIE ROPER as Helen Willis / FRANKLIN COVER as Tom Willis / MIKE EVANS as Lionel Jefferson / BELINDA TOLBERT as Jenny Willis Jefferson / PAUL BENEDICT as Harry Bentley / EBONIE SMITH as Jessica Jefferson (1984-85) / NED WERTIMER as Ralph the doorman / DANNY WELLS as Charlie (1984-85) 

JESSE HAWKES

CBS / x60m-e / 1989 (First Episode: 22 April)

Action adventure series. After moving to San Francisco from Sierra Nevada (Jesse Hawkes (and his sons Cody and Matt) set up in business as private detectives and sometime bounty hunters. 

With:- ROBERT CONRAD as Jesse Hawkes / CHRISTIAN CONRAD as Matt Hawkes / SHANE CONRAD as Cody Hawkes

1x105m-e / 1999

Producer: John Heyman 

Documentary. A saccharine heavy celebration of the birth of Jesus with contributions from Pope John Paul II, Jimmy Carter and Olusegan Obansanjo (president of Nigeraia).

39x30m-e / 1958

Producer: George Bilson

SciFi drama series. Jet Jackson, a member of the 'Secret Squadron' helps fight evil wherever he finds it.

With:- RICHARD WEBB as Jet Jackson / SID MELTON as Ikky / OLAN SOULIE as Tut

JIGSAW

ABC / x60m-e / 1972-73 21 September 72 - 11 August 73 Thursdays 9.00pm then Saturdays at 10.00pm

Crime drama series. The cases of Lt Frank Dain who worked for the Bureau of Missing Persons of the California State Police Department. This show rotated with two other series Assignment Vienna and The Delphi Bureau. The umbrella title for the shows was The Men.

With:- JAMES WAINWRIGHT as Lt Frank Dain 

Syndication/CNP / 39x30m-e /  1960-61 black and white

Producers: Ray Singer, Dick Chevillat 

Sitcom. Exploits of Mike O'Toole, journalist turned owner of news gathering agency Headline Press Service.

John Michael 'Mike' O'Toole...... JIM BACKUS

Dora........................................ NITA TALBOT

Sidney.................................... BOBS WATSON

'Fingers' Larkin......................... LEWIS CHARLES

NBC/Warner / 24x30m-e / 1971-72

Producer/Director: Hal Kantner / Music: Van Alexander 

Sitcom. College professor James Howard lets his son and his wife and child move back into the family home when their house is destroyed in a fire.

With:- JIMMY STEWART as James K. Howard / JULIE ADAMS as Martha Howard / JONATHAN DALY as Peter Howard / ELLEN GREER as Wendy Howard / KIRBY FURLONG as Jake Howard

J.J. STARBUCK

NBC / x60m-e / 1987-88

Executive Producer: Stephen J. Cannell / Theme Music sung by Ronnir Milsap

Crime drama series. Texas billionaire Jerome Jeremiah Starbuck decides to use his influence and contacts to turn private detective and problem solver. The character of Tenspeed had previously appeared in Tenspeed and Brownshoe.

With:- Dale Robertson as J.J. Starbuck / Ben Vereen as E.L. "Tenspeed" Turner

ABC/Miller-Milkis- Boyett Prod/Henderson / 17x30m-e / 1982  23 March - 23 December

Creator: Garry Marshall / Producers: Garry Marshall, Thomas L. Miller, Lowell Ganz, Ronny Hallin 

Sitcom. Spin off from Happy Days. When Al Delvecchio marries Chachi's widowed mother Louisa and moves to Chicago, Joanie and Chachi also up sticks to sing in the band who perform at Al's new restaurant.

Joanie Cunningham.................. ERIN MORAN

Charles 'Chachi' Arcola............. SCOTT BAIO

Al Delvecchio........................... AL MOLINARO

Louisa Delvecchio.................... ELLEN TRAVOLTA

Uncle Rico............................... ART METRANO

Bingo...................................... ROBERT PIERCE

Mario....................................... DERREL MAURY

Annette................................... WINIFRED FREEDMAN

HBO/Showtime/ Rivers-Rosenberg Prod. / 1x65m-e / 1985

Writers: Joan Rivers, Kenny Solms, Martha A. Williams / Producer: Kenny Solms / Director: Bruce Gowers 

Comedy. One off special starring Joan Rivers(Abromowitz was one of the characters created by Rivers). Also appearing were Lynn Redgrave, Anthony Perkins and Dr Ruth Westheimer.

THE JOB

ABC-Dreamworks-Touchstone / x30m-e / 2001-2002

Executive Producers: Peter Tolan, Denis Leary, Lauren Corrao, Jim Serpico

Sitcom. Shot entirely on location in New York,  Mike McNeil, a decorated New York City detective has trouble looking after himself never minding catching the crooks. His unconventional approach to fighting crime makes him a great cop, but takes a toll on his 
personal life.

With:- Denis Leary as Det. Mike McNeil / Bill Nunn as Det. Terrence "Pip" Phillips / Lenny Clarke as Det. Frank Harrigan / Diane Farr as Det. Jan Fendrich / Adam Ferrara as Det. Tommy Manetti / John Ortiz as Ruben Sommariba / Julian Acosta as Al Rodriguez / Keith David as Lt. Tom Williams

JOE MILLIONAIRE

x60m-e / 2002

Reality dating show in which 20 women were whisked away to a French chateau to vie for the attentions of Evan Wallace who would decide which one he would like to marry. The catch being that multi millionaire Evan Wallace was really construction worker Evan Marriott. And the "Winner" on Joe Millionaire was (from Mark Berman: As expected, Evan Marriott went the more sentimental route, choosing sweet substitute teacher Zora Andrich instead of one-time bondage model Sarah Kozer. Sarah, according to Evan, was more interested in Joe Millionaire than Evan Marriott. As for Evan revealing to Zora he didn't inherit $50 million, Zora barely flinched, proving to Evan that there could still be a future for them. And in a surprise final moment, both Evan and Zora were given a check in the amount of $1 million to split. Although it's nice to think you're a millionaire, cut in two and minus Uncle Sam's take and both Evan and Zora are likely to walk away with about $250,000. Millionaires? No. But better than making $19,000 a year? Yes.

CBS/Four Star/Pamaron/Zane Grey / 38x30m-e / 1959-60

Creator/Producer: Aaron Spelling / Theme Sung by Don Durant 

Western drama series. Former gunslinger Johnny Ringo takes over as Sheriff of Velardi in Arizona.

Johnny Ringo........................... DON DURANT

Deputy Cully 'Kid' Adonas......... MARK GODDARD

Cason Thomas........................ TERENCE DEMARNEY

Laura Thomas.......................... KAREN SHARPE

NBC/ABC/MCA/ Universal / 27x30m-e / 1959-60 black and white

Creator: John Cassavetes / Theme Music: Elmer Bernstein / Producer: William Freye 

Crime drama series. Cases of jazz musician turned private detective Johnny Staccato operating in New York.

Johnny Staccato...................... JOHN CASSAVETES

Waldo..................................... EDUARDO CIANELLI

USA Network / 2x120m-e / 1999

Period scifi fantasy drama serial. Whilst on an expedition to New Zealand searching for the missing Casper Hastings, a group led by Paleontologist Theodore Lytton discover a bizarre new world lurking deep inside the Earth.

Theodore Lytton....................... TREAT WILLIAMS

Casper Hastings...................... BRYAN BROWN

Alice Hastings......................... TUSHKA BERGEN

Jonas...................................... JEREMY LONDON

McNiff..................................... HUGH KEAYS-BYRNE

JULIE

JULIE AND CAROL:TOGETHER AGAIN

JUST OUR LUCK

JUST POLLY AND ME

JUST SHOOT ME