Freebie and the Bean (TV series)

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Freebie and the Bean
Freebie and the Bean (TV series).jpg
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Based onFreebie and the Bean
StarringHéctor Elizondo
Tom Mason
ComposerDominic Frontiere
No. of episodes9 (2 unaired)
Production
Producers
CinematographyRic Waite
Running time60 minutes
Production companyWarner Bros. Television
DistributorCBS
Release
Original releaseDecember 6, 1980 (1980-12-06) –
January 17, 1981 (1981-01-17)
Mason and Elizando in a promotional photo for Freebie and the Bean

Freebie and the Bean was a short-lived[1] nine-episode American action-comedy film 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]

Cast[]

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.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Seduction of the Bean"Lawrence DobkinDick NelsonDecember 6, 1980 (1980-12-06)
2"Health Nuts"Bruce KesslerDick NelsonDecember 13, 1980 (1980-12-13)
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 AverbackJay FolbDecember 20, 1980 (1980-12-20)
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 PreeceRobert W. LenskiDecember 27, 1980 (1980-12-27)
5"Highway Robbery"Michael CaffeyJanuary 10, 1981 (1981-01-10)
Freebie and the Bean go undercover as teamsters to stop a truckjacking ring.
6"Tee-Off for Two"Arnold LavenRick MittlemanJanuary 17, 1981 (1981-01-17)
7"Lover, Come Back"Michael PreeceJanuary 24, 1981 (1981-01-24)
8"A Pair of Pirates"Lawrence DobkinRobert W. LenskiUNAIRED
9"Follow the Leader"Alex MarchDick NelsonUNAIRED

References[]

  1. ^ Susman, Gary. "The Beaning of Life: 10 Memorable Movie Beans" – via entertainment.time.com.
  2. ^ "Freebie and the Bean | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  3. ^ Rowan, Terry. Whodoneit! A Film Guide. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781312308060 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Leszczak, Bob (May 16, 2016). Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide. McFarland. ISBN 9781476623849 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b 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.
  6. ^ Richard Meyers (1981). A.S. Barnes (ed.). TV detectives. p. 276.
  7. ^ Vincent Terrace (1985). "Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974-1984". VNR AG. p. 154. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (August 4, 2009). The A to Z of African-American Television. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810863484 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Fearn-Banks, Kathleen (November 15, 2005). Historical Dictionary of African-American Television. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810865228 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Freebie and The Bean | Nostalgia Central".

External links[]

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