My Friend Tony
Encyclopedia
My Friend Tony is an American crime drama that aired on NBC
in 1969. The pilot originally aired as "My Pal Tony" on The Danny Thomas Hour
on March 4, 1968.
as John Woodruff, a professor of criminology
who served in Italy
during World War II
. As a child, Novello had been a street urchin who survived as a pickpocket, with Woodruff being one of his intended victims. The premise of the series was that the adult (and reformed) Novello had emigrated to the United States to join Woodruff in a private investigation team. Novello handled the legwork and physical side of the investigations while Woodruff conducted painstaking analysis of the most obscure clues.
My Friend Tony debuted on January 5, 1969. NBC slotted the program in the 10 p.m. Eastern timeslot on Sundays, following Bonanza
. The network ended production of the series after 16 episodes but continued airing reruns of the show through that summer. The program aired for the last time on August 31, 1969.
— who developed My Friend Tony and was its executive producer — attributed the program's low ratings to its timeslot.
"First, the 10-to-11 P.M. time spot didn't take full advantage of Enzo's youthful audience, as shown by his flood of fan mail, which exceeds anything in our experience," Leonard told TV Guide
. "Second, because of the one-hour length and the network's commitment to 27 new projects all demanding air time, there was no 8 or 9 o'clock spot into which to move it."
Critics had savaged My Friend Tony, calling the series "hackneyed and confusing" ... "the kind of minimal fare that has been ground out ad nauseam" ... "mundane" and "bilge."
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...
in 1969. The pilot originally aired as "My Pal Tony" on The Danny Thomas Hour
The Danny Thomas Hour
The Danny Thomas Hour is an American anthology television series that was broadcast on NBC during the 1967-68 television season.-Synopsis:...
on March 4, 1968.
Synopsis
The series features Enzo Cerusico as the title character, Tony Novello, and James WhitmoreJames Whitmore
James Allen Whitmore, Jr. was an American film and stage actor.-Early life:Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official, Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, before graduating from The Choate School in...
as John Woodruff, a professor of criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
who served in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As a child, Novello had been a street urchin who survived as a pickpocket, with Woodruff being one of his intended victims. The premise of the series was that the adult (and reformed) Novello had emigrated to the United States to join Woodruff in a private investigation team. Novello handled the legwork and physical side of the investigations while Woodruff conducted painstaking analysis of the most obscure clues.
My Friend Tony debuted on January 5, 1969. NBC slotted the program in the 10 p.m. Eastern timeslot on Sundays, following Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
. The network ended production of the series after 16 episodes but continued airing reruns of the show through that summer. The program aired for the last time on August 31, 1969.
Reception
Despite having the highly successful Bonanza as its lead-in, Sheldon LeonardSheldon Leonard
Sheldon Leonard was a pioneering American film and television producer, director, writer, and actor.-Biography:...
— who developed My Friend Tony and was its executive producer — attributed the program's low ratings to its timeslot.
"First, the 10-to-11 P.M. time spot didn't take full advantage of Enzo's youthful audience, as shown by his flood of fan mail, which exceeds anything in our experience," Leonard told TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
. "Second, because of the one-hour length and the network's commitment to 27 new projects all demanding air time, there was no 8 or 9 o'clock spot into which to move it."
Critics had savaged My Friend Tony, calling the series "hackneyed and confusing" ... "the kind of minimal fare that has been ground out ad nauseam" ... "mundane" and "bilge."
Episode list
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "Corey Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | January 5, 1969 |
| 1-2 | "Death Comes In Small Packages" | January 12, 1969 |
| 1-3 | "Voices" | January 19, 1969 |
| 1-4 | "Let George Do It" | January 26, 1969 |
| 1-5 | "The Lost Hours" | February 2, 1969 |
| 1-6 | "The Hazing" | February 16, 1969 |
| 1-7 | "Encounter" | February 23, 1969 |
| 1-8 | "Dead Reckoning" | March 9, 1969 |
| 1-9 | "Wedding Cake Blues" | March 23, 1969 |
| 1-10 | "The Twenty-Mile Jog" | April 13, 1969 |
| 1-11 | "Molly" | May 18, 1969 |
| 1-12 | "Intermission" | May 25, 1969 |
| 1-13 | "Casino" | June 1, 1969 |
| 1-14 | "Kidnap" | June 8, 1969 |
| 1-15 | "The Shortest Courtship" | June 15, 1969 |
| 1-16 | "Welcome Home, Jerry Stanley" | June 22, 1969 |