His Honor, Homer Bell

Homer Bell (Gene Lockhart) is both an elected judge and a practising attorney in midwestern Spring City.[4] He is a middle-aged widower, who is guardian to his orphaned niece, fifteen year-old Cassandra "Casey" Bell (Mary Lee Dearring).[5] They are both looked after by the housekeeper-cook Maude (Jane Moultrie). Casey is a tomboy whose efforts to help her uncle often backfire. Maude is a superb cook, who is often recruited to change employers.[5] Homer Bell, well regarded by his constituents, nevertheless finds himself landing in situations which might compromise their good will. He also can't resist helping anyone who seeks his aid.[6]

Despite its supposed midwestern setting, the series was produced by Galahad Productions[fn 1] at the NBC Films studio in Brooklyn.[4][7] Himan Brown was the producer for Galahad; he also directed some episodes.[4] Other directors included Derwin Abbe and Will Price.[4] There was no pilot episode as such, since NBC produced it for syndication. The show started filming in late 1954; by mid-January 1955 NBC felt confident enough to advertise the 39 episode package of shows in a trade paper.[1] Midwood High School in Brooklyn was used for exterior shots of the Spring City courthouse.[7]

There was very little critical response to this show, not unusual for a syndicated series without a major star. Critic Allen Rich said it was "much ado about nothing".[8]

The first episode broadcast was on Thursday, February 24, 1955, by KCOP-TV in Los Angeles.[2] The initial sponsor at KCOP-TV and other West Coast cities was the Union Pacific Railroad.[9] Within a month, stations in Nebraska, Texas, Oregon, and Washington had started showing it. Since it was syndicated, stations ran it on different days of the week, and at various times, usually before or after network programming in the evening. Since there was no continuity between episodes, stations ran them in whichever sequence suited them.