Goodnight, Beantown

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Goodnight, Beantown
Goodnight Beantown opening title.png
Opening title
GenreSitcom
Created byAJ Carothers
Written byAJ Carothers
Elias Davis
Bill Greer
Kathy Greer
Steve Kline
Ron Osborn
David Pollock
Jeff W. Reno
Directed byAlan Bergmann
Peter Baldwin
Alan Bergmann
Bill Bixby
Kim Friedman
David Nelson
Will Mackenzie
Dick Martin
Bob Sweeney
Harry Winer
StarringBill Bixby
Mariette Hartley
ComposerDennis McCarthy
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producersBill Bixby
Paul Treva Brandon
AJ Carothers
ProducersElias Davis
Charles B. Fitzsimons
Bill Greer
Kathy Greer
David Pollock
CinematographyRichard C. Glouner
Running time30 mins.
Production companiesBixby-Brandon Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseApril 2, 1983 (1983-04-02) –
January 15, 1984 (1984-01-15)

Goodnight, Beantown is an American sitcom that aired on CBS for two brief seasons in 1983 and 1984.

Synopsis[]

The series cast

The series stars Bill Bixby as Matt Cassidy and Mariette Hartley as Jennifer Barnes, two news anchors at WYN-TV, a fictional television station in Boston, Massachusetts. Matt is the station's evening news anchor and a longtime fixture at the station. However, when Matt's ratings begin to slide, the station management pairs the reluctant anchor with female co-anchor Jennifer.

The series follows their rocky relationship as they are not only coworkers but neighbors in the same building. Although slightly antagonistic at work, they are attracted to each other.

The series title comes from Matt's signoff at the end of the nightly newscasts, as "Beantown" is a common nickname for Boston (despite locals' disdain for the appellation).[1]

Co-stars included Tracey Gold as the divorced Jennifer's daughter Susan and George Coe as station manager Dick Novak. Over the two seasons, Charles Levin, G. W. Bailey, Jim Staahl, Stephanie Faracy and Todd Susman played their co-workers at WYN.

Bixby and Hartley had previously worked together on an episode of The Incredible Hulk, and at the time of making Goodnight, Beantown, Hartley was appearing in a series of television commercials for Polaroid cameras with James Garner.

The series first aired Sundays at 8:00 p.m. in the spring of 1983 for a limited run of five episodes. When it returned in the fall, it aired Sundays at 9:30 p.m. for 13 more episodes before being canceled because of its middling ratings.[citation needed]

Cast[]

US television ratings[]

Season Episodes Start Date End Date Nielsen Rank Nielsen Rating Tied With
1982-83 5 April 2, 1983 April 30, 1983 21 18.6[2] Knots Landing
1983-84 13 October 2, 1983 January 15, 1984 34 16.6[3] Cheers

Episode guide[]

Season 1 (1983)[]

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Pilot"Harry WinerAJ CarothersApril 2, 1983 (1983-04-02)
22"The-Out-of-Towner"Harry WinerElias Davis & David PollockApril 9, 1983 (1983-04-09)
33"The Source"Harry WinerSteve KlineApril 16, 1983 (1983-04-16)
44"Custody"Peter BaldwinAJ CarothersApril 23, 1983 (1983-04-23)
55"Please Stand By"Peter BaldwinSteve KlineApril 30, 1983 (1983-04-30)

Season 2 (1983–84)[]

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
61"Hooking for Mr. Goodbar"Bill BixbyBill Greer & Kathy GreerOctober 2, 1983 (1983-10-02)
72"What's Good for the Goose"Harry WinerRon Osborn & Jeff RenoOctober 9, 1983 (1983-10-09)
83"A Felon Needs a Girl"Bill BixbyKathy Greer & Bill GreerOctober 16, 1983 (1983-10-16)
94"Invasions of Privacy"Alan BergmannAJ CarothersOctober 23, 1983 (1983-10-23)
105"Popsicle"Dick MartinBill Greer & Kathy GreerOctober 30, 1983 (1983-10-30)
116"Our Man in the Slammer"Will MackenzieBill Greer & Kathy GreerNovember 6, 1983 (1983-11-06)
127"Looking Forward to the Past"Kim FriedmanRon Osborn & Jeff RenoNovember 20, 1983 (1983-11-20)
138"Valerie's Fan"Bob SweeneyRon Osborn & Jeff RenoDecember 4, 1983 (1983-12-04)
149"Happy Medium"Kim FriedmanRon Osborn & Jeff RenoDecember 11, 1983 (1983-12-11)
1510"Peace on Earth"Bill BixbySteve Kline & Ron Osborn & Jeff RenoDecember 25, 1983 (1983-12-25)
1611"The Consumer's Best Friend"David NelsonGibson CarothersJanuary 1, 1984 (1984-01-01)
1712"Lost and Foundering"Bob SweeneyBill Greer & Kathy GreerJanuary 8, 1984 (1984-01-08)
1813"An Old Flame Flickers"Harry WinerA.J. CarothersJanuary 15, 1984 (1984-01-15)

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1983 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Mariette Hartley
1984 Young Artist Award Winner Best Young Actress in a New Television Series Tracey Gold
Best New Television Series
-

References[]

  1. ^ Baker, Matthew Reed (2017-09-17). "Why Is Boston Nicknamed Beantown?". Boston Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  2. ^ Lina. "The TV Ratings Guide: 1982-83 Ratings History -- Soap Bubbles Rise, Several Veterans Part and NBC Renews Poorly Rated Masterpieces". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  3. ^ "1983-84 Ratings History -- The Networks Are Awash in a Bubble Bath of Soaps".

External links[]

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