The Psychiatrist (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Psychiatrist is an American television series about a young psychiatrist
with unorthodox methods of helping his patients. Roy Thinnes
played the title role of Dr. James Whitman. Luther Adler
co-starred as Dr. Bernard Altman, the older psychiatrist with whom Whitman worked. Two episodes of the short-lived series, "The Private World of Martin Dalton" and "Par for the Course," were directed by Steven Spielberg
. The regular hour long series ran from February 3, 1971 to March 10 of the same year.
The pilot for the series, a made for TV movie called The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children, aired on December 14, 1970. Actor Pete Duel
was at the center of this 90 minute drama, as Casey Poe, a former drug addict who, after finishing a two year prison sentence, must battle his own personal demons, as well as the prejudices of others, in order to reenter society. Dr. Whitman is the psychiatrist who must break through Poe's resistance in order to help him form a new life for himself. Duel received much praise for his performance and reprised his role in the first regular episode of the series, "In Death's Other Kingdom."
The Psychiatrist was an element in the wheel series
Four in One
, which NBC aired in the 10 PM Eastern time slot during its 1970-71
series. The Psychiatrist was the final series of the four to air, following the first-run conclusions of the other three components, McCloud, Night Gallery
, and San Francisco International Airport
. After all four series had completed their initial six-episode runs, rerun
s of the four were interspersed with each other until the end of the summer. Of the four elements, McCloud was picked up as one element of a new wheel-format series, the NBC Mystery Movie
, and Night Gallery
was picked up as a stand-alone series, while San Francisco International Airport and The Psychiatrist were cancelled with no further episode
s ordered beyond the original six.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
with unorthodox methods of helping his patients. Roy Thinnes
Roy Thinnes
Roy Thinnes is an American television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the ABC 1967-68 television series The Invaders. He also played Alfred Wentworth in the pilot episode of Law & Order...
played the title role of Dr. James Whitman. Luther Adler
Luther Adler
Luther Adler was an American actor best known for his work in theatre, but who also worked in film and television. He also directed plays on Broadway.-Life and career:...
co-starred as Dr. Bernard Altman, the older psychiatrist with whom Whitman worked. Two episodes of the short-lived series, "The Private World of Martin Dalton" and "Par for the Course," were directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
. The regular hour long series ran from February 3, 1971 to March 10 of the same year.
The pilot for the series, a made for TV movie called The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children, aired on December 14, 1970. Actor Pete Duel
Pete Duel
Pete Duel was an American actor, best known for his role in the television series Alias Smith and Jones.-Early life:Peter Ellstrom Deuel was born in Rochester, New York, and grew up in nearby Penfield....
was at the center of this 90 minute drama, as Casey Poe, a former drug addict who, after finishing a two year prison sentence, must battle his own personal demons, as well as the prejudices of others, in order to reenter society. Dr. Whitman is the psychiatrist who must break through Poe's resistance in order to help him form a new life for himself. Duel received much praise for his performance and reprised his role in the first regular episode of the series, "In Death's Other Kingdom."
The Psychiatrist was an element in the wheel series
Wheel series
A wheel series is a term applied in the broadcast television industry to a television program in which two or more regular series are rotated with the same time slot...
Four in One
Four in One
Four in One was the umbrella title for a wheel series broadcast in the United States on the NBC television network as part of its 1970-71 schedule in the Wednesday 10 PM Eastern time slot....
, which NBC aired in the 10 PM Eastern time slot during its 1970-71
1970-71 United States network television schedule
This was the television schedule on all three United States commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1970. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with a few exceptions, such as Monday Night Football....
series. The Psychiatrist was the final series of the four to air, following the first-run conclusions of the other three components, McCloud, Night Gallery
Night Gallery
Night Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
, and San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport (TV series)
San Francisco International Airport was a television drama aired in the United States by NBC as a part of its 1970-71 wheel series Four in One....
. After all four series had completed their initial six-episode runs, rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
s of the four were interspersed with each other until the end of the summer. Of the four elements, McCloud was picked up as one element of a new wheel-format series, the NBC Mystery Movie
NBC Mystery Movie
The NBC Mystery Movie is the general name of an American television series, produced by Universal Studios, that was broadcast by NBC from 1971-77...
, and Night Gallery
Night Gallery
Night Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
was picked up as a stand-alone series, while San Francisco International Airport and The Psychiatrist were cancelled with no further episode
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
s ordered beyond the original six.
TV-movie pilot
| Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children aka The Psychiatrist: Children of the Lotus Eaters | Daryl Duke Daryl Duke Daryl Duke was a Canadian film producer and director.Duke was born at Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became one of CBC Television's earliest regional producers... |
Jerrold Freedman, Richard Levinson Richard Levinson Richard Levinson was an American writer and producer who often worked in collaboration with William Link. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics in 1956. He served in the United States Army from... , William Link William Link William Theodore Link is an American film and television writer and producer who often worked in collaboration with Richard Levinson.-Life and career:... |
December 14, 1970 |
Regular series
| # | | Title | Director | Writer | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “In Death's Other Kingdom” | Jerrold Freedman | Jerrold Freedman | February 3, 1971 |
| 2 | “The Private World of Martin Dalton” | Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an... |
Bo May | February 10, 1971 |
| 3 | “Such Civil War in My Love and Hate ” | Daryl Duke Daryl Duke Daryl Duke was a Canadian film producer and director.Duke was born at Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became one of CBC Television's earliest regional producers... |
Jack Morse | February 17, 1971 |
| 4 | “The Longer Trail ” | Douglas Day Stewart Douglas Day Stewart Douglas Day Stewart is an American screenwriter. He graduated from Claremont McKenna College.-Writer:*Bonanza *Cannon *The Man Who Could Talk to Kids *Murder or Mercy... |
Charles Israel | February 24, 1971 |
| 5 | “Ex-Sgt. Randell File, U.S.A. ” | Jeff Corey Jeff Corey Jeff Corey was an American stage and screen actor and director who became a well-respected acting teacher after being blacklisted in the 1950s.-Biography:... |
March 3, 1971 | |
| 6 | “Par for the Course” | Steven Spielberg Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an... |
Jerrold Freedman, Bo May, Thomas Y. Drake | March 10, 1971 |