The Hero (1966 TV series)

The Hero is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC on Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m. Eastern from September 8, 1966 to January 5, 1967.[1] It was the first television series for Richard Mulligan.

The Hero
Created byLeonard Stern
StarringRichard Mulligan
Theme music composerJack Marshall
ComposerJack Marshall
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersLeonard Stern
Daniel Melnick
ProducerJay Sandrich
Running time30 minutes
Production companyTalent Associates
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 8, 1966 (1966-09-08) –
January 5, 1967 (1967-01-05)

After reports of possible cancelation of the series surfaced in the fall of 1966, the National Association for Better Broadcasting (NABB) wrote to NBC and to sponsors Lever Brothers Company and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company asking that it not be canceled. Frank Orme, NABB's executive director, said that ending the series would undermine writers' and producers' efforts to come up with shows "that would reverse the continuing decline in standards of network entertainment programming."[2]

Premise

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The series centers on Sam Garret, the star of a fictional Western television series titled Jed Clayton — U.S. Marshal. In contrast to the Western's success onscreen, Garret is "a clumsy bloke offscreen."[3] An article in The New York Times described the character as "a good-natured family man with 10 thumbs and a fear of horses."[2]

Other characters include Garret's wife, Ruth, and their son, Paul. Fred Gilman and his son, Burton, are the Garrets' neighbors.[3]

Cast

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Episodes

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No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"A Night to Remember to Forget"Robert Ellis MillerBill Idelson & Sam BobrickSeptember 8, 1966 (1966-09-08)
2"The Big Return of Little Eddie"UnknownLeonard Stern & Don HinkleySeptember 15, 1966 (1966-09-15)
3"Pardon Me, But Your Party's Showing"UnknownBill Idelson & Sam BobrickSeptember 22, 1966 (1966-09-22)
4"Curiosity Killed a Key"UnknownRoswell RogersSeptember 29, 1966 (1966-09-29)
5"Rumble Without a Cause"UnknownRonald Axe & Sydney ZelinkaOctober 6, 1966 (1966-10-06)
6"The Kid's Revenge"UnknownRoswell RogersOctober 13, 1966 (1966-10-13)
7"The Matchmaker"UnknownBill Idelson & Sam BobrickOctober 20, 1966 (1966-10-20)
8"The Day They Shot Sam Garret"William WiardAustin Kalish & Irma Kalish and Leonard SternNovember 3, 1966 (1966-11-03)
9"If You Loved Me, You'd Hate Me"UnknownBudd GrossmanNovember 10, 1966 (1966-11-10)
10"Universal Language"UnknownRoswell RogersNovember 17, 1966 (1966-11-17)
11"I Wouldn't Wish It on a Dog"UnknownBill Idelson & Sam BobrickNovember 24, 1966 (1966-11-24)
12"The Truth Never Hurts...Much"UnknownMartin RagawayDecember 1, 1966 (1966-12-01)
13"Who Needs a Friend in Need?"UnknownBill Idelson & Sam BobrickDecember 8, 1966 (1966-12-08)
14"I Have a Friend"William WiardJoseph C. Cavella & Carol CavellaDecember 15, 1966 (1966-12-15)
15"My Favorite Father"UnknownRoswell RogersDecember 22, 1966 (1966-12-22)
16"The Terribly Talented Trayton Tyler Taylor"UnknownArne SultanJanuary 5, 1967 (1967-01-05)

Production

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Leonard Stern was the series's creator and executive producer. Jay Sandrich was the producer for Talent Associates.[3] Sixteen episodes were filmed in color at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.[4] It was broadcast at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursdays.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 606. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Adams, Val (October 20, 1966). "N.B.C. Will Film 5 'Today' Shows in Britain". The New York Times. p. 87. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 375. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  4. ^ Leszczak, Bob (November 8, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7864-9305-0. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Shubilla, Thom “Beefstew” (April 26, 2022). Primetime 1966-1967: The Full Spectrum of Television's First All-Color Season. McFarland. pp. 194–195. ISBN 978-1-4766-4502-5.
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