Blondie (1957 TV series)

Blondie
GenreSitcom
Based onBlondie comic strip
by Chic Young
Directed byAbby Berlin
Paul Landres
StarringPamela Britton
Arthur Lake
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time25 mins.
Production companiesHal Roach Studios
King Features Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJanuary 4 (1957-01-04) –
July 5, 1957 (1957-07-05)
Related

Blondie is the first of two television series based on the comic strip by Chic Young. The show first aired on January 4, 1957 on NBC and ran for one season. Pamela Britton starred in the title role and Arthur Lake played Blondie's husband Dagwood Bumstead, reprising his role from the Blondie film series.[1]

A pilot episode was filmed in 1954 with Hal Le Roy as Dagwood opposite Britton's Blondie. The series was released in its entirety on September 25, 2018 by ClassicFlix.[2] As of 2024, it airs on Shout! TV.

Cast

Episodes

Nº Title [4] Directed by Written by Air date
1"Sudden Wealth"Hal YatesJohn L. GreeneJanuary 4, 1957 (1957-01-04)
2"It's for the Birds"Hal YatesJohn L. GreeneJanuary 11, 1957 (1957-01-11)
3"The Folks Who Came to Dinner"Hal YatesWarren Spector & Gordon T. HughesJanuary 18, 1957 (1957-01-18)
4"The Other Woman"UnknownUnknownJanuary 25, 1957 (1957-01-25)
5"Home Sweet Home"Hal YatesJack Ellinson & Charles StewartFebruary 1, 1957 (1957-02-01)
6"Get That Gun"Hal YatesFrank Gill, Jr.February 8, 1957 (1957-02-08)
7"The Feud"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneFebruary 15, 1957 (1957-02-15)
8"The Quiz Show"Hal YatesUnknownFebruary 22, 1957 (1957-02-22)
9"Husbands Once Removed"UnknownUnknownMarch 1, 1957 (1957-03-01)
10"The Payoff Money"Paul LandresGeorge Beck & Jo ConwayMarch 8, 1957 (1957-03-08)
11"Hard Luck Idol"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMarch 15, 1957 (1957-03-15)
12"Oil for the Lamps of Blondie"UnknownUnknownMarch 22, 1957 (1957-03-22)
13"Blondie the Breadwinner"UnknownUnknownMarch 29, 1957 (1957-03-29)
14"The Glamour Girl"UnknownUnknownApril 5, 1957 (1957-04-05)
15"The Rummage Sale"Paul LandresUnknownApril 12, 1957 (1957-04-12)
16"Deception"Paul LandresDon Nelson & Jay SommersApril 19, 1957 (1957-04-19)
17"Puppy Love"Gerald FreedmanGeorge Carleton Brown & Frank Gill Jr.April 26, 1957 (1957-04-26)
18"Made to Fire"Paul LandresGordon T. Hughes & Warren SpectorMay 3, 1957 (1957-05-03)
19"Blondie Redecorates"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMay 10, 1957 (1957-05-10)
20"Blondie's Double"Paul LandresUnknownMay 17, 1957 (1957-05-17)
21"The Spy"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMay 24, 1957 (1957-05-24)
22"Cupid's Question Column"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneMay 31, 1957 (1957-05-31)
23"The Tramp"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneJune 7, 1957 (1957-06-07)
24"Follow That Man"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneJune 14, 1957 (1957-06-14)
25"The Party"Paul LandresJohn L. GreeneJune 21, 1957 (1957-06-21)
26"Howdy Neighbor"UnknownUnknownJune 28, 1957 (1957-06-28)

Production

William Harmon was the producer, Hal Yates was the director, and John L. Greene was the director.[3] The show was a Hal Roach Jr. production. Toni and Nestle sponsored it on alternate weeks. It was broadcast on Fridays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.[5]

Critical response

A review in the trade publication Variety found little to like in the premiere episode. It said that the TV adaptation "adds no new dimensions, either in wit or humor, to the comic strip."[3] In contrast, it added, "the comic strip humor is diluted, the cliched lines and situations standing out like sore thumbs."[3]

Further reading

Blondie Goes to Hollywood, by Carol Lynn Scherling. Albany, 2010. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-401-9.

References

  1. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present (9 ed.). Random House Publishing. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  2. ^ "Blondie - the Complete 1957 Television Series - ClassicFlix".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Blondie". Variety. January 16, 1957. p. 31. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "Blondie - the Complete 1957 Television Series - ClassicFlix".
  5. ^ "Nestle, Toni Will Split 'Blondie' Tab". Variety. January 2, 1957. p. 17. Retrieved May 20, 2023.