The McLean Stevenson Show

The McLean Stevenson Show is an American sitcom that aired on NBC on Wednesday nights from December 1, 1976, to March 23, 1977.

The McLean Stevenson Show
GenreSitcom
Created byNorman Barasch
Carroll Moore
Directed byAlan Myerson
StarringMcLean Stevenson
Barbara Stuart
Theme music composerPaul Williams[1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12 (2 unaired)
Production
Executive producerMonty Hall
ProducersArnold Margolin
Don Van Atta
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesMcLean Stevenson Enterprises, Inc.
Monty Hall Enterprises, Inc.
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseDecember 1, 1976 (1976-12-01) –
March 23, 1977 (1977-03-23)

Premise

The series centered on Mac Ferguson, the owner of a hardware store in Evanston, Illinois (McLean Stevenson's birth state). Mac lived with his wife Peggy and two grown children, divorced daughter Janet, and son Chris. Also living in the household were Janet's two children, David and Jason, and Mac's mother-in-law.

Cast
  • McLean Stevenson as Mac Ferguson
  • Barbara Stuart as Peggy Ferguson
  • Madge West as Grandma Ferguson
  • Ayn Ruymen as Janet Ferguson
  • Andrew Parks as Chris Ferguson (eps 1–4)[2]
  • Steve Nevil as Chris Ferguson (eps 5–12)[2]
  • David Hollander as David
  • Jason Whitney as Jason

Background and production

McLean Stevenson left M*A*S*H in March 1975. He was signed to a one-year contract by NBC after doing so. A variety show he hosted in November of that year was not successful. Stevenson was approached in the spring of 1976 with an idea for a sitcom. Mac Ferguson, a hardware store owner, was framed as a nice guy, assailed on all sides, a man caught in the middle, and a chronic victim of circumstances – similar to the character he played as Lt. Col. Henry Blake in M*A*S*H.[3]

The first seven episodes were taped, with the cast and production staff expecting the series to begin airing in January 1977. Then, some of the NBC program executives changed out, and it was insisted that one of the primary actors be replaced. Shortly after this, the premiere date was moved up from January to December 1.[3]

As Stevenson explained, "They scrapped the first seven episodes and started from scratch...We've been working morning noon and night ever since. The minute we finish a show it's on the air. We're running as fast as we can. Nobody knows when or if we'll ever catch up."[3]

The series was cancelled for the first time in mid-January 1977, and it was announced it would be replaced on February 9.[4] As Barbara Stuart explained, while a swan song party was underway for the cast and crew, word came through that The McLean Stevenson Show had instead been spared. "You would have expected us to start jumping up and down with excitement, but we all just sat there – probably because we'd all been through so much, we just couldn't get emotional about it any more."[5]

Theme music

The theme music was composed and performed by Paul Williams.[6]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Who Do You Trust?"Alan MyersonStory by : Mark Evanier & Dennis Palumbo
Teleplay by : Lloyd Garver		December 1, 1976 (1976-12-01)
Mac arrives home after a day's work to find a burglar, whose pregnant wife is outside, robbing his house.
2"Oldie But Goodie"UnknownUnknownDecember 8, 1976 (1976-12-08)
Mac discovers that his daughter is developing a relationship with an older man.
3"Going My Way"Bill HobinBill IdelsonDecember 22, 1976 (1976-12-22)
Chris meets a friend who wants to become a priest. Janet and her boys bring a Yorkshire Terrier home.
4"Mac's Fatal Charm"UnknownUnknownDecember 29, 1976 (1976-12-29)
A friend of Janet's, divorced, makes a play for Mac.
5"The Great Rift"UnknownUnknownJanuary 19, 1977 (1977-01-19)
Mac refuses to attend group therapy sessions that Peggy wants him to attend to "add sparkle to their lives".
6"Janet Leaves Home"UnknownUnknownJanuary 26, 1977 (1977-01-26)
Janet leaves the Ferguson home, then entertains Mac and Peggy in her new living arrangements.
7"Mac and Big Mac"UnknownUnknownFebruary 9, 1977 (1977-02-09)
Mac's father visits, a visit which threatens to become a permanent living arrangement. He then tries to reorganize his son's hardware store.
8"What Makes Mac Run?"UnknownUnknownFebruary 16, 1977 (1977-02-16)
Mac considers running for city council. Two ladies from a city council screening committee come to interview him.
9"Grandma's Secret"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1977 (1977-02-23)
Grandma Ferguson announces that she's engaged to be married. Mac is delighted, believing this means she'll soon move out.
10"Money Troubles"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 1977 (1977-03-02)
The family faces financial problems. Janet gets a job as a cocktail waitress.
11"Strangers in the Night"UnknownUnknownMarch 9, 1977 (1977-03-09)
Mac and Peggy plan a private anniversary party at home, until two unexpected guests drop in.
12"Say It Isn't So"UnknownUnknownMarch 23, 1977 (1977-03-23)
Peggy announces to the family that she may be pregnant.

Sources disagree on how many episodes were aired after the first ten;[7] however, numerous contemporary newspaper sources suggest that the last two episodes of the series were aired on March 9, and March 23, respectively.

Reception

It was hoped that Stevenson's popularity on M*A*S*H would draw viewers in, but the actor's first starring vehicle failed to find an audience and was cancelled after three months.

References
  1. metv.com
  2. "Show Has Fast Change". The Odessa American. 1977-01-16. p. 126. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  3. "McLean Stevenson Plays The Schnock". The Millville Daily. 1976-12-22. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  4. Hanauer, Joan (1977-01-14). "Lear difficult to please, pulls his new TV series". The Daily Herald. p. 19. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  5. Beck, Marilyn (1977-01-26). "Marlo Thomas steals the show". The Ithaca Journal. p. 23. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  6. "Which McLean Stevenson sitcom deserved a better chance?".
  7. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 760. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
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