The Bad News Bears (1979 TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Bad News Bears is an American sitcom
that aired on CBS
from March 24, 1979 until July 26, 1980, consisting of 23 episodes. It was based on the 1976 hit movie of the same name, that was followed by two sequels in 1977 and 1978.
portrayed former minor-leaguer Morris Buttermaker, the coach of the Hoover Junior High Bears, a sorry bunch of youthful misfits and bumblers. Catherine Hicks
played Hoover Junior High principal Dr. Emily Rappant. Phillip Richard Allen played Roy Turner, the coach of the dreaded rival Lions. Corey Feldman
, Billy Jayne
(then credited as Billy Jacoby) and Meeno Peluce
were cast amongst the team's players, and Tricia Cast
played Amanda Wurlitzer, the Bears' star pitcher.
The series was originally scheduled on Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. In September 1979, it was moved to 8:30 p.m., and in June 1980 it was moved back to 8:00 p.m. In July 1980, the series was again moved to the 8:30 timeslot, but by then audiences were confused by the frequent time changes and stopped tuning in. Three episodes into the series' second season, CBS canceled The Bad News Bears due to low ratings.
. In the early 1990s, it was rerun on Comedy Central
.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from March 24, 1979 until July 26, 1980, consisting of 23 episodes. It was based on the 1976 hit movie of the same name, that was followed by two sequels in 1977 and 1978.
Synopsis
In the television version, Jack WardenJack Warden
Jack Warden was an American character actor.-Early life:Warden was born John Warden Lebzelter in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Laura M. and John Warden Lebzelter, who was an engineer and technician. He was of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry...
portrayed former minor-leaguer Morris Buttermaker, the coach of the Hoover Junior High Bears, a sorry bunch of youthful misfits and bumblers. Catherine Hicks
Catherine Hicks
Catherine Mary Hicks is an American stage, film, television actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Annie Camden on the long-running television series 7th Heaven and as Karen Barclay in Child's Play.-Personal life:...
played Hoover Junior High principal Dr. Emily Rappant. Phillip Richard Allen played Roy Turner, the coach of the dreaded rival Lions. Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman
Corey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
, Billy Jayne
Billy Jayne
Billy Jayne is an American actor, musician, and director. He has been in many films, and has sometimes been credited as Billy Jacoby. His siblings, Scott Jacoby, Robert Jayne, Susan Jayne and Laura Jacoby, are also actors.-Name:...
(then credited as Billy Jacoby) and Meeno Peluce
Meeno Peluce
Meeno Peluce is an American photographer and former child actor.Peluce was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the son of Sondra N. , a personal manager and caterer, and Floyd N. Peluce, a certified public accountant...
were cast amongst the team's players, and Tricia Cast
Tricia Cast
Tricia Cast is an American actress, best known for her role as Nina Webster on The Young and the Restless.-Personal life:...
played Amanda Wurlitzer, the Bears' star pitcher.
The series was originally scheduled on Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. In September 1979, it was moved to 8:30 p.m., and in June 1980 it was moved back to 8:00 p.m. In July 1980, the series was again moved to the 8:30 timeslot, but by then audiences were confused by the frequent time changes and stopped tuning in. Three episodes into the series' second season, CBS canceled The Bad News Bears due to low ratings.
Cast
- Jack WardenJack WardenJack Warden was an American character actor.-Early life:Warden was born John Warden Lebzelter in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Laura M. and John Warden Lebzelter, who was an engineer and technician. He was of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry...
... Morris Buttermaker - Catherine HicksCatherine HicksCatherine Mary Hicks is an American stage, film, television actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Annie Camden on the long-running television series 7th Heaven and as Karen Barclay in Child's Play.-Personal life:...
... Dr. Emily Rappant - Phillip Richard Allen ... Roy Turner
- Sparky MarcusSparky MarcusSparky Marcus is an American actor born December 6, 1967 in Hollywood, California. He had a prolific career as a child actor.-Career:...
... Leslie Ogilvie - Meeno PeluceMeeno PeluceMeeno Peluce is an American photographer and former child actor.Peluce was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the son of Sondra N. , a personal manager and caterer, and Floyd N. Peluce, a certified public accountant...
... Tanner Boyle - Billy JayneBilly JayneBilly Jayne is an American actor, musician, and director. He has been in many films, and has sometimes been credited as Billy Jacoby. His siblings, Scott Jacoby, Robert Jayne, Susan Jayne and Laura Jacoby, are also actors.-Name:...
... Rudi Stein - Corey FeldmanCorey FeldmanCorey Scott Feldman is an American film and television actor. He became known during the 1980s, with roles in the Hollywood films Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, Gremlins and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...
... Regi Tower - Shane Butterworth ... Timmy Lupus
- Kristoff St. JohnKristoff St. JohnKristoff St. John is an American actor, best known for his role as Neil Winters on the daytime US drama The Young and the Restless.-Career:...
... Ahmad Abdul Rahim - J. Brennan Smith ... Mike Engelberg
- Charles Nunez ... Miguel Agilar
- Danny Nunez ... Jose Agilar
- Tricia CastTricia CastTricia Cast is an American actress, best known for her role as Nina Webster on The Young and the Restless.-Personal life:...
... Amanda Whirlitzer - Bill Lazarus ... Frosty
- Gregg Forrest ... Kelly Leek
- Rad Daly ... Josh Matthews
- Persephanie Silverthorn ... Student
- Sherrie Wills ... Marsha
Episodes
| Season 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Episode Title | Original Airdate |
| 1 | "Here Comes the Coach" | March 24, 1979 |
| 2 | "Amanda Joins the Bears" | March 31, 1979 |
| 3 | "Dance Fever" | April 7, 1979 |
| 4 | "Nakedness is Next to Godliness" | April 14, 1979 |
| 5 | "The Kelly Story" | April 21, 1979 |
| 6 | "Tanner's Bird" | April 28, 1979 |
| 7 | "Emily Loves Morris" | May 5, 1979 |
| 8 | "The Food Caper" | May 12, 1979 |
| 9 | "Men Will Be Boys" | May 19, 1979 |
| 10 | "Three's a Crowd" | May 26, 1979 |
| 11 | "Save the Bears" | June 2, 1979 |
| 12 | "Buttermaker Rides Again" | June 9, 1979 |
| 13 | "Fielder's Choice" | June 16, 1979 |
| 14 | "Run Down" | June 23, 1979 |
| 15 | "Double Play" | June 30, 1979 |
| Season 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Episode Title | Original Airdate |
| 1 | "Lights Out" | September 29, 1979 |
| 2 | "Wedding Bells (Part 1)" | October 6, 1979 |
| 3 | "Wedding Bells (Part 2)" | October 13, 1979 |
| 4 | "The Birds, the Bees and the Bears" | June 7, 1980 |
| 5 | "First Base" | June 28, 1980 |
| 6 | "Old Timers' Day" | July 12, 1980 |
| 7 | "Scrambled Eggs" | July 19, 1980 |
| 8 | "Good Life" | July 26, 1980 |
Syndication
In the late 1980s, the show was occasionally rerun on Nick at NiteNick at Nite
Nick at Nite is the nighttime Cable network that broadcasts over the channel space of Nickelodeon on Sundays from 8.p.m.-7.am., Monday through Fridays from 9 p.m.-7 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. . Though it shares channel space with Nickelodeon, A.C. Nielsen Co...
. In the early 1990s, it was rerun on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
.