Grandpa Goes to Washington
Grandpa Goes to Washington | |
---|---|
Genre | Comedy-drama |
Starring | Jack Albertson Larry Linville Sparky Marcus Patti Deutsch |
Composer | Artie Butler |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 11 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Richard P. Rosetti Leonora Thuna |
Producer | Robert Stambler |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Production company | Paramount Television |
Distributor | CBS Television Distribution |
Release | |
Original network | NBC |
Original release | September 7, 1978 January 16, 1979 | –
Grandpa Goes to Washington is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on NBC on Tuesday nights from September 7, 1978 to January 16, 1979.[1] The series was very short-lived, as it was cancelled after a run of only 11 episodes. After Grandpa Goes to Washington's cancellation, no re-runs of the show have been aired by NBC, and it has also never seen a home media release.
Plot[]
The series centered on Joe Kelley, a political science teacher who was forced to retire when he turned 66, who then got himself elected to the U.S senate in spite of his not having any political experience. He won the election when the other candidates for office were tarnished by scandal. Kelley's style was unusual. He drove himself in an old Volkswagen (as opposed to being driven in a limousine), for relaxation he played the drums, and his earnest pledge was "Honesty in Government". He received his political information from former students, whom he considered his "friends in low places". His aim was to make the country a better place to live.
The senator lived with his son, Air Force General Kevin Kelley; Kevin's wife, Rosie; and their two children, Kathleen and Kevin, Jr. Joe thought Kevin was dull, bland and empty-headed (he called him, "My son, the Fathead'). Kevin tried to interfere with his father's position as a Senator, increasing the tension between them. Also seen was Madge, Joe's secretary, and Tony, Joe's aide. Another character was Patti who was played by comedian Patti Deutsch.
Cast[]
- Jack Albertson as Senator Joe Kelley
- Larry Linville as Maj. General Kevin Kelley
- Sue Ane Langdon as Rosie Kelley
- Sparky Marcus as Kevin Kelley Jr.
- as Kathleen Kelley
- Tom Mason as Tony DeLuca
- Madge Sinclair as Madge
- Patti Deutsch as Patti
- Scott Ellsworth as senator
Episode list[]
Series # | Episode title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Pilot" | Richard Crenna | & | September 7, 1978 | |
Retired college professor Joe Kelley is drafted to run for the U.S. Senate after the incumbent withdraws following the exposure of his affair with a stripper | |||||
2 | "Birthday Party" | Michael Caffey | September 19, 1978 | ||
Kelley introduces a motion to investigate the spending of $27,000 for the President's birthday party at the same time his granddaughter is set to date the President's son. | |||||
3 | "Kelley Inherits Tony" | Herbert Kenwith | Emily Levine & | September 26, 1978 | |
Kelley is joined by his predecessor's legislative assistant in his struggle to introduce a bill that would prevent the firing of federal employees who are living together without being married. | |||||
4 | "Kelley at the Bat" | October 3, 1978 | |||
Kelley matches wits with a crooked land developer to save the baseball field used by his grandson's little league team. | |||||
5 | "Kelley's Best Friend" | Paul Stanley | October 24, 1978 | ||
Kelley's oldest friend comes to Washington, supposedly to attend a convention, but instead intends to persuade the senator to do a political favor for him. | |||||
6 | "The Senator's Widow" | George Tyne | Harry Spalding | October 31, 1978 | |
A widowed interim senator shows more interest in Kelley than in politics when he asks her for her support of a bill. | |||||
7 | "The Leak" | December 5, 1978 | |||
Kelley lands in trouble when information in his personal files is published before it can be verified. | |||||
8 | "A Star is Dead" | George Tyne | Paul West, , , & | December 12, 1978 | |
Kelley tries to help a silent screen star prove that a Social Security computer mistakenly declared her dead. | |||||
9 | "The Red Hot Gift" | Allen Baron | December 26, 1978 | ||
Kelley and his son are accused of accepting political favors after a new Rolls-Royce with the keys in it and a note saying "for your pleasure" is found in the senator's driveway. | |||||
10 | "Grace" | Joseph Pevney | Barbara Avedon & Barbara Corday | January 9, 1979 | |
While Kelley stirs up trouble on Capitol Hill with his Domestic Security Bill, his friend Grace is arrested for trying to help him. | |||||
11 | "The Union Boys" | Paul West | January 16, 1979 | ||
Kelley calls for an investigation into the activities of a powerful union leader.[2] |
References[]
- ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2003). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (8th ed.). New York: Ballantine. p. 482. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
- ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1418. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
External links[]
- NBC original programming
- 1978 American television series debuts
- 1979 American television series endings
- 1970s American comedy-drama television series
- 1970s American political comedy television series
- Television series about families
- Television series by CBS Studios
- Television shows set in Washington, D.C.
- Television series about old age
- Comedy television series stubs