McGurk: A Dog's Life
Encyclopedia
McGurk: A Dog's Life was a 1979
NBC
television series pilot and the last television concept created by Norman Lear
to become a pilot. The show starred Barney Martin, Beej Johnson, Charles Martin Smith
and Sherry Lynn. Only one half-hour pilot episode was made of this offbeat costume comedy. It was shown only once on ABC
on June 15, 1979 at 8:00 PM EST. The show featured the actors portraying the roles of the family dogs and wearing dog costumes. Lear's intention was to do an All in the Family
style show using the dog's point of view to discuss controversial social and racial biases.
McGurk is the old family dog whose life becomes complicated when his owners adopt a young, eager-to-please pup named Tucker. Iris is MuGurk's love interest, while Camille is Iris' young pup who takes an instant liking to Tucker.
1979 in television
The year 1979 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1979.For the American TV schedule, see: 1979-80 American network television schedule.-Events:...
NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series pilot and the last television concept created by Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
to become a pilot. The show starred Barney Martin, Beej Johnson, Charles Martin Smith
Charles Martin Smith
Charles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director.-Early life:Smith was born in Van Nuys, California. His father, Frank Smith, was a film cartoonist and animator, while his uncle Paul J. Smith was an animator as well as a director for the Walter Lantz Studios...
and Sherry Lynn. Only one half-hour pilot episode was made of this offbeat costume comedy. It was shown only once on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
on June 15, 1979 at 8:00 PM EST. The show featured the actors portraying the roles of the family dogs and wearing dog costumes. Lear's intention was to do an All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
style show using the dog's point of view to discuss controversial social and racial biases.
Plot summary of pilot episode
"Curtains for McGurk"McGurk is the old family dog whose life becomes complicated when his owners adopt a young, eager-to-please pup named Tucker. Iris is MuGurk's love interest, while Camille is Iris' young pup who takes an instant liking to Tucker.
Cast
- Barney Martin ... McGurk
- Beej Johnson... Iris
- Charles Martin SmithCharles Martin SmithCharles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director.-Early life:Smith was born in Van Nuys, California. His father, Frank Smith, was a film cartoonist and animator, while his uncle Paul J. Smith was an animator as well as a director for the Walter Lantz Studios...
... Tucker - Sherry LynnSherry LynnSherry Lynn is a veteran American voice actress, known for young girl roles in animation and video games. She is represented by Arlene Thornton & Associates...
... Camille - Michael Huddleston ... Turk
- Hamilton CampHamilton CampHamilton Camp was an English-American singer, songwriter, actor and voice actor.-Early life:Camp was born in London, England, and was evacuated during World War II to the United States as a child with his mother and sister. He became a child actor in films and onstage...
... Spike
Production team
- Norman LearNorman LearNorman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
... Executive producer - Peter BonerzPeter BonerzPeter Bonerz is an American actor and director who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show....
... Director - Charles Hauck ... Producer
- Ken Stump ... Associate producer
- Charles Hauck ... Writer