by Lee Goldberg
127. Charlie Angelo. CBS 8/26/62. 30 minutes. Director/Writer: Don McGuire. Producer: Jackie Cooper. Music: Sonny Burke.
James Komack, later to a top TV producer and director, is an angel who tries to convince people not to do evil things—bad deeds encouraged by Dan Devin aka The Devil (Larry Storch). In the pilot, Charlie tries to convince a debt-ridden nightclub owner (Bernard Kates) not to set his building aflame to collect the insurance money.
Cast: James Komack (as Charlie Angelo), Larry Storch (Dan Devlin), Bernard Kates (Chico Hernandez), Robert Carricart (Tony), Len Lesser (Holdup Man), Ben Wright (George).
128. Finch Finds a Way (aka Slightly Fallen Angel). NBC 5/4/59. 30 minutes. Screen Gems. Director: Robert Ellis Miller. Producer: William Sackheim. Writers: Sol Saks, William Cowley, and Peggy Chantler.
Aired as an episode of Alcoa /Goodyear Theatre. Mr. Finch (Walter Slezak) is an angel who conies to earth to fix our human problems—but usually just makes the problems worse. This is a popular concept in television, a concept that would he pitched many times and become such series as Good Heavens and Highway to Heaven. Costarred are Lee Bergere, David White, Elizabeth Watts, Jeffrey Roland, Paul Reed and Sid Raymond.
129. Free Spirit. ABC 1987. 60 minutes. Aaron Spelling Productions. Director: Paul Aaron. Executive Producer: Aaron Spelling. Writer: Richard Shapiro.
Yet another failed attempt to sell a series about a widow (Lisa Eilbacher) who remarries (Robin Thomas), only to be haunted by the ghost of her dead first husband (Michael Des Barres)—and yet another in a long line of ripoffs of Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands and its Americanized remake Kiss Me Goodbye.
130. Freeman. ABC 6/19/76. 30 minutes. Harry Stoones, Inc. Director: Hal Cooper. Executive Producers: Bernie Kukoff, Jeff Harris, and Paul Mooney. Writer: Paul Mooney.
Freeman is a black ghost inhabiting a colonial mansion a wealthy white family is moving into. Neither is willing to leave and it's from this conflict that the laughs were supposed to come. They didn't.
Cast: Stu Gilliam (as Freeman), Linden Chiles (Dwight Wainright), Beverly Sanders (Helen Wainright), Jimmy Baio (Timmy Wainright), Melinda Dillon (Madam Arkadina).
131. Ghost of a Chance. ABC 7/7/81. 30 minutes. Arim Productions and Paramount Television. Director: Nick Havinga. Executive Producers/Writers: Austin and Irma Kalish. Producer: Gene Marcione. Music: Earle Hagen.
A pale imitation of the then-popular feature Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands. When Shelley Long marries Barry Van Dyke. the ghost of her dead first husband (Steven Keats) conies back to taunt her. Gretchen Wyler played Long's mother. Ironically, Dick Van Dyke, Barry's dad, also did a pilot called Ghost of a Chance six years later—playing a narco cop who accidentally gets himself killed and returns to help wrap up the case he was working on.
Cast: Shelley Long (as Jenny Clifford), Barry Van Dyke (Wayne Clifford), Steven Keats (Tom Chance), Gretchen Wyler (Frances), Archie Hahn (Michael) Rosalind Kind (Leslie), John O'Leary (Minister).
132. Heaven Help Us. CBS 8/14/67. 30 minutes. Twentieth Century Fox Television. Director: Richard Whorf. Executive Producer: William Dozier. Producer: Stan Sheptner. Writer: Sol Sachs.
Barry Nelson is a widower whose romantic life is frustrated by the ghost of his dead wife (Joanna Moore), who has a mean jealous streak and relishes interfering with his love life.
Cast: Barry Nelson (as Dick Cameron), Joanna Moore (Marge Cameron), Mary Grace Canfield (Mildred), Bert Freed (Mr. Walker), Skip Ward (Collins), Sue Randall (Ruth), Sandra Warner (Linda).
133. Jeremiah of ,Jacob's Neck. CBS 8/13/76. 30 minutes. Palomar Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Television. Director: Ralph Senesky. Producers: Art Stolnitz and Ed Scherick. Creator/Writer: Peter Benchley. Music: Harry Sukman.
The author of the novel Jaws created this thirty-minute pilot for an envisioned sixty-minute comedy/drama about a police chief and his family who move into a New England mansion inhabited by the cantankerous ghost of a smuggler.
Cast: Keenan Wynn (as Jeremiah the Ghost), Ron Masak (Chief Tom Rankin), Arlene Golonka (Anne Rankin), Brandon Cruz (Clay Rankin), Quinn Cummings (Tracy Rankin), Elliot Street (Deputy Wilbur Swift), Pitt Herbert (Mayor Dick Barker), Amzie Strickland (Abby Penrose), Alex Hentelhoff (Leonard), Les Lannom (Max), Tom Palmer (Crabtree), Don Burleson (Bob Peabody).
134. Judgment Day. NBC 12/6/81. 60 minutes. Ed Friendly Productions and NBC Productions. Director: Alan J. Levi. Executive Producer: Ed Friendly. Writer: William Froug. Music: Morton Stevens.
An anthology that features different people each week who turn up at the Pearly Gates to face sentencing to heaven or hell by the judge (Barry Sullivan) of the celestial court. Heaven is represented by Victor Buono, who tells us in flashbacks about the person's good deeds, while the Devil, represented by Roddy McDowall, shows us what this person did to deserve hell. This pilot reportedly cost $1.3 million to produce.
Cast: Barry Sullivan (as the Judge), Victor Buono (Mr. Heavener), Roddy McDowall (Mr. Heller), Carol Lynley (Harriet Egan), Beverly Garland (Vicki Connors), Robert Webber (Charles Egan), John Larch (Burton Randolph), Hari Rhodes (Joseph Pierson), Joseph Chapman (Bob Simmons), Priscilla Pointer (Mrs. Miller).
135. Justin Case. ABC 5/15/88. 90 minutes. Walt Disney Television and Blake Edwards Company. Director: Blake Edwards. Executive Producer: Blake Edwards. Producer: Tony Adams. Writer: Blake Edwards, from a story by Jennifer Edwards and Blake Edwards. Music: Henry Mancini.
Aired as an episode of The Disney Sunday Movie. A dizzy unemployed actress (Molly Hagan) who applies for a secretarial job at a detective agency only to find the private eye (George Carlin) murdered, helps his ghost search for his killer. (This was made as a two hour movie in two parts but chopped down to 90 minutes on the eve of its premiere.)
Cast: George Carlin (as Justin Case), Molly Hagan (Jenny Spaulding), Timothy Stack (Detective), Kevin McClarnon (Detective), Gordon Jump (Psychic), Douglas Sills (Paramedic), Paul Sand (Cab Driver), Valerie Wildman (Woman in Black), Todd Susman (Aaron Stinker), Rod Mc-Cary (Simon Fresca), Philippe Denham (Paul Arkin). Richard McGonagle (Dr. Weintraub), also Jay Thomas, Kenneth Tigar, Kay Perry, John Lavachielli, Dotty Colorso, Reed McCants, Joe Mays, Lily Mariye, Andrew Nadell, Nina Mann, Jerry Martin, Stuart Tanney.
136. Lady Luck. NBC 9/12/73. 30 minutes. Universal Television. Producer/Director: James Komack. Writers: Dean Hargrove, Charles Shyer, and Alex Mandel. Creator: Hunt Stromberg, Jr. Music: Hal Mooney.
Valerie Perrine is a beautiful—perhaps supernatural—woman who helps people in trouble.
Cast: Valerie Perrine (as Lady Luck), Paul Sand (Roger), Bert Convy (Clay), Sallie Shockley (Penny), J.D. Cannon (Walter), Carole Cook (Fran).
137. Landon, Landon and Landon (aka Gumshoes). CBS 6/14/80. 60 minutes. Quinn Martin Productions. Director: Charles Dubin. Executive Producer: Don Reo. Producers/Writers: Bruce Kalish and Philip John Taylor. Music: Perry Botkin, Jr.
A brother (Daren Kelly) and sister (Nancy Dolman) share a detective agency with the ghost of their dead P.I. father (William Windom). People said: "William Windom is a private eye who returns from the grave to solve his own murder, but the real zombie is this sitcom pilot." This concept was reworked in 1981 as Quick and Quiet, and only Windom as the ghost and Millie Slavin as the agency secretary survived.
Cast: William Windom (as Ben Landon), Nancy Dolman (Holly Landon), Daren Kelly (Nick Landon), Millie Slavin (Judith Saperstein), Richard O'Brien (Inspector Ulysses Barnes), Norman Bartold (George Rumford), Sudie Bond (Billie), Jason Wingreen (Daryl Goren), Wil Albert (Reggie Ozer), Pat Studstill (Capt. Nestor), Maurice Hill (Cy Vorpal).
138. Mr. Bevis. CBS 6/3/60. 30 minutes. Cayuga Productions. Director: William Asher. Producer: Buck Houghton. Writer/Creator: Rod Serling.
A spin-off from The Twilight Zone. A fantasy-comedy about the problems of Mr. Bevis, who discovers that his guardian angel J. Hardy Hempstead has come down to live with him. Burgess Meredith was originally envisioned as the angel but turned the role down. Serling would try
this concept again as the "Cavender Is Coming" episode of The Twilight Zone with Jesse White as the angel.
Cast: Orson Bean (as Mr. Bevis), Henry Jones (J. Hardy Hempstead), Charles Lane (Mr. Peckinpaugh), William Schaller( (Policeman), House Peters, Jr. (Policeman), Colleen O'Sullivan (Lady), Horace McMahon (Bartender), Florence MacMichael (Margaret), Dorothy Neuman (Landlady), Vito Scotti (Peddler), Timmy Cletro (Little Boy).
139. Mr. and Mrs. and Mr. CBS 9/1/80. 30 minutes. Director: Hal Cooper. Executive Producers: Hal Cooper and Rod Parker. Producers: Rod Dames, Bob Fraser, and Rita Dillon. Writer: Rod Parker. Music: Billy Byers.
Widow Jenny Collins (Rebecca Balding) marries Jeff (Patrick Collins) only to discover afterwards that her first husband (Kale Browne)—believed dead in a plane crash—is still alive. In this Enoch Arden-themed plot, she has to pick which husband to keep, and while she thinks about it, they stay in the guest room.
Cast: Rebecca Balding (as Jenny Collins), Kale Brown (Jimmy York) Patrick Collins (Jeff Zelinka), Eda Zahl (Susan Maste0.
140. Poor Devil. NBC 2/14/73. 90 minutes. Paramount Television. Director: Robert Scheerer. Executive Producers/Creators: Arne Sultan and Earl Barret. Producer: Robert Stambler. Writers: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret, and Richard Bare. Music: Morton Stevens.
Sammy Davis, Jr., stars as the earnest but inept disciple of the devil (Christopher Lee) who constantly fails to win over souls in this long-form pilot for a half-hour sitcom.
Cast: Sammy Davis, Jr. (as Sammy). Christopher Lee (Lucifer), Jack Klugman (Burnett Emerson), Adam West (Crawford), Gino Conforti (Bligh), Emily Yancy (Chelsea), Madelyn Rhue (Frances Emerson), Alan Manson (Mr. Moriarty), Ken Lynch (Desk Sergeant), Byron Webster (Blackboard), Buddy Lester (Al Capone), Owen Bush (Tom), Nick Georgiade (Bob Younger). Don Ross (Eddie), Lila Teigh (Woman), Stephen Coit (Father-in-law), Jo DeWinter (Secretary), George Kramer (Cole Younger), Clyde Ventura (Clyde Barrow), Nancy Reichert (Bonnie), Tom Wize (John Younger), David Young (James Younger).
141. Quick and Quiet. CBS 8/18/81. 30 minutes. Quinn Martin Productions and Brademan/Self Productions. Director: Don Weis. Executive Producers: Ed Self and Bill Brademan. Producer: Michael Rhodes. Writers: Sam Bobrick, Bruce Kalish, and Philip John Taylor. Music: Jack Elliott.
A reworking of the 1980 pilot Landon, Landon and Landon. William Windom returns as the ghost of dead private eye who, this time, haunts his fun-loving, irresponsible, irreverent son (Rick Lohman) and reluctantly helps him solve crimes. Millie Slavin once again plays the agency secretary.
Cast: William Windom (as Thaddeus Clark "T.C." Cooper), Rick Lohman (Elliot Cooper), Millie Slavin (Camille), Lynda Day George (Margo Hilliard), Henry Jones (Walter Hilliard), Warren Berlinger (Leonard Plumb), Lois Arena (Bambi Wilson), Joan Roberts (Trixie Hilliard), Dallas Alinder (Minister), Jerry Marren (Harry Romero), David Pritchard (David), Lee Crawford (Woman).
142. Satan's Waitin'. CBS 9/12/64. 30 minutes. Director: Charles Haas. Producer: Joel Malone. Writers: Joel Malone and Tom Tomlinson.
Ray Walston is The Stranger, actually Satan, who each week would try to muddle someone's life by tempting them to indulge in avarice, jealousy, greed, and vice. Walston also played the Devil in Damn Yankees.
Cast: Ray Walston (as The Stranger), Jo Van Fleet (Velma Clarke), Lee Phillips (Walter Leighton), Sue Randall (Linda), Tom Greenway (Police Lieutenant), Simon Twigg (Minister).
143. Shivers. CBS 7/4/89. 30 minutes. Columbia Pictures Television. Director: Peter Baldwin. Executive Producers: Jack Schwartzman and Larry Molin. Producer/Writer: Pamela Pettier. Music: Fred Mollin.
James Eckhouse is a divorced father who moves with his two kids into a house haunted by a Revolutionary War rogue (Mark Lindsay Chapman), his sexy girlfriend (Lesley-Anne Down), and a nasty pig-slopper (Courtney Gains)—all of whom make themselves visible to the new family but, of course, to nobody else.
Cast: Mark Lindsay Chapman (as Jack Marlowe), Lesley-Anne Down (Cassandra), James Eckhouse (David), Courtney Gains (Silas), Amber Susa (Amanda), Tim Eyster (Matthew), Priscilla Morrill (Miss Gordon), Tim Winters (Professor Frolich).
144. The Side of the Angels (aka Cavender Is Coming). CBS 5/25/62. 30 minutes. Cayuga Productions. Director: Christian Nyby. Producer: Buck Houghton. Writer: Rod Serling.
"Submitted for your approval: the case of one Agnes Grep, put on earth with two left feet, an overabundance of thumbs and a propensity for falling down manholes. In a moment she will be up to her jaw in miracles, wrought by apprentice angel Harmon Cavender, intent on winning his wings. And, though it's a fact both of them should have stayed in bed, they will tempt all the fates by moving into the cold, gray dawn of The Twilight Zone..” Sound familiar? It should. Cavender Is Coming is Serling's second attempt to sell the concept he showcased in Mr. Bevis, which was also aired as a Twilight Zone. Though it didn't come across like a comedy, this had a laugh track.’
Cavender is a hapless angel who must earn his wings by helping chronically unemployed and clumsy Agnes Grep (Carol Burnett) support herself. He botches the assignment, but the end result is a happy one and his boss, Mr. Polk, decides perhaps Cavender can help other mortals in distress (in the first pilot, Mr. Bevis was the angel's permanent assignment). Although it didn't sell, ten years later others with the similar notion were a little more successful—Out of the Blue, about an angel who helps a family, and Good Heavens, about an angel who helps people in need, both became series .. . and lasted less than a month. "A word to the wise now to any and all who might suddenly feel the presence of a cigar-smoking helpmate who takes bank books out of thin air. If you're suddenly aware of such celestial aids, it means that you're under the beneficent care of one Harmon Cavender, guardian angel. And this message from the Twilight Zone: lotsa luck!"
Cast: Carol Burnett (as Agnes Grep), Jesse White (Harmon Cavender), Howard Smith (Mr. Polk), William O'Connell (Field Rep), Pitt Herbert (Field Rep), John Fiedler (Field Rep), G. Stanley Jones (Field Rep), Frank Behrens (Stout), Albert Carrier (French Man), Roy Sickner (Bus Driver), Norma Shattuc (Little Girl), Rory O'Brien (Little Boy), Sandra Gould (Woman), Adrienne Marden (Woman), Jack Younger (Truck Driver), Danny Kulick (Child), Donna Douglas (Woman), Maurice Dallimore (Man), Barbara Morrison (Woman).
145. Three Wishes. NBC 7/29/63. 30 minutes. Director: Andrew McCullough. Executive Producer: Don Shame. Producer: Robert Welch. Writer: Robert Riley Crutcher.
Although originally made for NBC in 1960, this pilot appeared on CBS three years later. Diane Jergens stars as a woman who finds an antique lamp, rubs it, and a genie that only she can see appears to grant wishes to her and her friends that will help them out of trouble.
Cast: Diane Jergens (as Annie Brenner), Gustavo Rojo (The Genie), George Grizzard (Henry), Wallace Ford (Uncle Jonas), Gage Clark (Miles Bunker), Dan Tobin (John Bunker).
146. Where's Momma? NBC 1973. 30 minutes. Lorimar Productions. Producer/Director: Carl Reiner. Executive Producer: Lee Rich. Writer/ Creator: Muriel Resnick.
Yet another rehash of the dead spouse-from-beyond-returns premise. This time, it's Richard Mulligan as a widowed real estate agent having a hard time juggling work and the responsibility of raising his two five year-old twin boys—so his wife (Michele Carey) returns from the grave to help him out. Only he, of course, can see her. (Not to be confused, of course, with Reiner's cult movie, Where's Poppa?)
147. Who Goes There? CBS 1965. 30 minutes. CBS Productions. Producer: Stanley Kallis. Director: Jack Arnold.
Two troublesome ghosts haunting a southern California tract home materialize as General Custer (Pat Hingle) and Indian Chief Running Dog (Ben Blue) because pictures of those historical figures are on the wall, and roam the neighborhood.
JOHNNY
Producers desperately want to convey their series concepts as quickly and decisively as possible-and the best way to do that is right up front, with the title. Can there be any doubt what Magnum, P.I. is about? Or that B.L. Stryker, Hunter, and Cannon are action-adventure shows? It's all in the name.
A
nd nothing proves that idea more than the spate of "Johnny" titles tha6 ran rampant in the 1950s and early 1960s. Not only did they convey concepts (Johnny Wildlife) but played on the popularity of other TV characters, like Johnny Ringo and Johnny Yuma.
But it takes more than a catchy name, a name that just happens to match the character's profession and escapades, to sell a series, as the following pilots certainly prove.
158. Johnny Dollar. CBS 1962. 30 minutes MCA/Revue. Producer: Blake Edwards.
William Bryant stars as the insurance investigator popularized in the radio series, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.
159. Johnny Eager. MGM Television 1959. Producers: Wilbur Stark and Jerry Layton. Writer: Paul Monash.
