The Desperate Passage Series
Encyclopedia
The Desperate Passage Series is an American television docu-drama series which ran on KTLA
with world-wide syndication from 1988 to 1994. The entire series was directed by Lee Stanley and during its six year run was nominated for thirty-three Emmy Awards and won thirteen statues. The shows often focused on juvenile prisoners who were released into Stanley's custody for ten days at sea aboard his sailboat for the journey of their lives and a voyage viewers would never forget.
Each episode was made for a modest budget, the first for only $25,000 and each one after for less than $200,000. Often Stanley would make the shows with a skeleton crew and modernized the run and gun approach, usually producing with his son Shane Stanley
or wife Linda. Regardless of the budgets, each episode except for A Time for Life was nominated and won several Emmy Awards against big- budgeted network counterparts.
, Louis Gossett, Jr.
, Sharon Gless
, Marlo Thomas
, and Edward James Olmos
.
Maiden Voyage
A Time for Life
Gridiron Gang
Father/Son
A Step Apart
Good Cop, Bad Kid
was made into a major motion picture for Sony Pictures that starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The Comebacks
had several quotes and spoofs from Gridiron Gang
.
Drug Watch Los Angeles was a quarterly series hosted by Lee Stanley offering an in depth look as a city and its residents crack down on drug dealers and users.
A Time for Life was developed into a major motion picture by The Walt Disney Company
but never made it to the big screen.
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
with world-wide syndication from 1988 to 1994. The entire series was directed by Lee Stanley and during its six year run was nominated for thirty-three Emmy Awards and won thirteen statues. The shows often focused on juvenile prisoners who were released into Stanley's custody for ten days at sea aboard his sailboat for the journey of their lives and a voyage viewers would never forget.
Each episode was made for a modest budget, the first for only $25,000 and each one after for less than $200,000. Often Stanley would make the shows with a skeleton crew and modernized the run and gun approach, usually producing with his son Shane Stanley
Shane Stanley
Shane Stanley is a multi-Emmy Award winning filmmaker best known for Executive Producing Gridiron Gang starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for Sony Pictures and directing Bret Michaels music videos supporting the smash hit show Rock of Love and Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It...
or wife Linda. Regardless of the budgets, each episode except for A Time for Life was nominated and won several Emmy Awards against big- budgeted network counterparts.
Guest Star Hosts
Michael LandonMichael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
, Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. is an American actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman and Fiddler in the 1970s television miniseries Roots...
, Sharon Gless
Sharon Gless
Sharon Marguerite Gless is an American character actress of stage, film and television, who is best known for her roles as Maggie Philbin on Switch , as Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey and as Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer...
, Marlo Thomas
Marlo Thomas
Margaret Julia “Marlo” Thomas is an American actress, producer, and social activist known for her starring role on the TV series That Girl . She also serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...
, and Edward James Olmos
Edward James Olmos
Edward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt...
.
Series Titles
Desperate PassageMaiden Voyage
A Time for Life
Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang is a 2006 American film starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, and Kevin Dunn. It was filmed in California at Camp Kilpatrick, a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season...
Father/Son
A Step Apart
Good Cop, Bad Kid
Spin-offs and Cultural References
Gridiron GangGridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang is a 2006 American film starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, and Kevin Dunn. It was filmed in California at Camp Kilpatrick, a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season...
was made into a major motion picture for Sony Pictures that starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The Comebacks
The Comebacks
The Comebacks is a 2007 American satirical comedy film directed by Tom Brady. This film is a parody of the clichés and plots of the sports film genre. In the UK, Greece, Finland and Australia this film is called Sports Movie and called Team of Crazy in Brazil...
had several quotes and spoofs from Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang
Gridiron Gang is a 2006 American film starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell, and Kevin Dunn. It was filmed in California at Camp Kilpatrick, a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season...
.
Drug Watch Los Angeles was a quarterly series hosted by Lee Stanley offering an in depth look as a city and its residents crack down on drug dealers and users.
A Time for Life was developed into a major motion picture by The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
but never made it to the big screen.