Freebie and the Bean (TV series)
Freebie and the Bean was a short-lived[1] nine-episode American action comedy television series about two off-beat plainclothes[2] police detectives in San Francisco. Based on the 1974 film of the same name,[3][4] it starred Tom Mason and Héctor Elizondo in the title roles and was broadcast on CBS on Saturday nights at 9:00 PM[5] in December 1980 and January 1981.[6][7]
Freebie and the Bean | |
---|---|
Based on | Freebie and the Bean |
Starring | Héctor Elizondo Tom Mason |
Composer | Dominic Frontiere |
No. of episodes | 9 (2 unaired) |
Production | |
Producers | Norman Jolley Robert Sherman |
Cinematography | Ric Waite |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production company | Warner Bros. Television |
Release | |
Original release | December 6, 1980 – January 17, 1981 |
Cast
- Tom Mason as Det. Sgt. Tim "Freebie" Walker
- Héctor Elizondo as Det. Sgt. Dan "Bean" Delgado[8]
- William Daniels as Dist. Atty. Walter W. Cruikshank
- George Loros as Willie
- Jeannetta Arnette
- Kimberly Beck
- Victoria Carroll as Louise
- Jon Cypher as Dwight Rollins
- Shannon Farnon as Dr. Brimmer
- Ben Hammer as Dr. Bronson
- Katherine Justice as Marsha
- Lori Lethin as Alice
- Donald May as Paul Stacey
- Patricia Pivaar as Gwen Brown
- Sharon Spelman as Stella Wickham
- Joseph Wiseman as Dr. Dorf
- Bill Beyers as George Wilson
- John Carter as Vernon Wilson
- Sandra de Bruin as Melodie Parsons
- Charles Dierkop as Wingy Landon
- Frank Farmer as Borchek
- BarBara Luna as Rita Valdez
- Karen Rushmore
- Mykelti Williamson as Lemar Washington
- Mel Stewart as Rodney "Axle" Blake[9][10]
Reception
The show ran opposite the very popular series The Love Boat, which overshadowed it in viewer polls.[11] In their book The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present, authors Tim Brooks and Earle F. Marsh write, "Unfortunately this series was such as mishmash of comedy and drama, slapstick and reality, that it soon sank without a trace. The fact that it was scheduled opposite ABC's The Love Boat-which had no trouble defining what it wanted to be-probably didn't help."[5]
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "The Seduction of the Bean" | Lawrence Dobkin | Dick Nelson | December 6, 1980 | |
2 | "Health Nuts" | Bruce Kessler | Dick Nelson | December 13, 1980 | |
Freebie and Bean learn that a series of hold-up victims all visit the same wellness spa so they investigate the employees to see if they are tipping off the bandits. | |||||
3 | "Pilot" | Hy Averback | Jay Folb | December 20, 1980 | |
Freebie and Bean rely on a scorned woman to testify against a loan shark they've been wanting to put away. | |||||
4 | "Flying Aces" | Michael Preece | Robert W. Lenski | December 27, 1980 | |
5 | "Highway Robbery" | Michael Caffey | Bill Taub | January 10, 1981 | |
Freebie and the Bean go undercover as teamsters to stop a truckjacking ring. | |||||
6 | "Tee-Off for Two" | Arnold Laven | Rick Mittleman | January 17, 1981 | |
7 | "Lover, Come Back" | Michael Preece | Donald R. Boyle | January 24, 1981 | |
8 | "A Pair of Pirates" | Lawrence Dobkin | Robert W. Lenski | UNAIRED | |
9 | "Follow the Leader" | Alex March | Dick Nelson | UNAIRED |
References
- Susman, Gary (3 March 2013). "The Beaning of Life: 10 Memorable Movie Beans". Time – via entertainment.time.com.
- "Freebie and the Bean | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
- Rowan, Terry (23 March 2015). Whodoneit! A Film Guide. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781312308060 – via Google Books.
- Leszczak, Bob (May 16, 2016). Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide. McFarland. ISBN 9781476623849 – via Google Books.
- 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. ISBN 9780307483201 – via Google Books.
- Richard Meyers (1981). A.S. Barnes (ed.). TV detectives. p. 276.
- Vincent Terrace (1985). "Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974-1984". VNR AG. p. 154.
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(help) - Baugh, Scott L. (April 13, 2012). Latino American Cinema: An Encyclopedia of Movies, Stars, Concepts, and Trends: An Encyclopedia of Movies, Stars, Concepts, and Trends. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313380372 – via Google Books.
- Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (August 4, 2009). The A to Z of African-American Television. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810863484 – via Google Books.
- Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (November 15, 2005). Historical Dictionary of African-American Television. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810865228 – via Google Books.
- "Freebie and The Bean | Nostalgia Central". 28 September 2014.