Bridget Loves Bernie

Last updated
Bridget Loves Bernie
Meredith Baxter David Birney Bridget Loves Bernie 1972.JPG
The wedding photo.
Created by Bernard Slade
Starring Meredith Baxter
David Birney
Audra Lindley
David Doyle
Harold J. Stone
Ned Glass
William Elliott
Bibi Osterwald
Robert Sampson
Theme music composer Jerry Fielding
Diane Hildebrand
Opening theme"Love Is Crazy"
ComposerJerry Fielding
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producer Douglas S. Cramer
ProducersJerry London (pilot)
Don Nelson
Arthur Alsberg
Running time26 minutes
Production companiesThe Douglas S. Cramer Company
Thornhill Productions
Screen Gems
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseSeptember 16, 1972 (1972-09-16) –
March 3, 1973 (1973-03-03)

Bridget Loves Bernie is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to March 3, 1973. The series, created by Bernard Slade, depicted an interfaith marriage between a Catholic woman and a Jewish man. It stars Meredith Baxter and David Birney as the title characters. CBS canceled the show after only one season despite very high ratings.

Contents

Baxter and Birney later married in real life in 1974 after the program had left the air and Baxter was known in her professional career for several years as Meredith Baxter Birney.

Overview

Father Mike picking up the Archbishop's weekly bagel supply Robert Sampson Bridget Loves Bernie 1972.JPG
Father Mike picking up the Archbishop's weekly bagel supply

The series depicts an interfaith marriage between an Irish Catholic teacher (Bridget Fitzgerald) from a wealthy family and a Jewish cab driver who aspires to be a playwright (Bernie Steinberg), whom she had met at a bus stop. With a primetime slot between All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show on Saturday nights, the situation comedy was No. 5 in the ratings among all shows for the 1972-73 television season and obtained a 24.2 rating, tying The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie. However, CBS executives canceled the show in response to negative reactions to the characters' marriage, the show thus being the highest-rated television program to be canceled after only one season. [1]

Supporting cast members included Audra Lindley, David Doyle, Harold J. Stone, Ned Glass and Bibi Osterwald. Lindley and Doyle played Bridget's wealthy parents, Walter and Amy Fitzgerald, and Stone and Osterwald played Bernie's lower-class parents, Sam and Sophie Steinberg. The Steinbergs owned a delicatessen above which Bridget and Bernie lived. Glass played Bernie's uncle, Moe Plotnik. Robert Sampson played Bridget's brother, Catholic priest Father Michael Fitzgerald; he was more sympathetic than others to his sister's marriage. Bill Elliott played Otis, Bernie's best friend and fellow cab driver. Nancy Walker was cast as Bernie's religious Jewish Aunt Ruthie and Nora Marlowe was cast as Bridget's nun Aunt Agnes in the 1972 episode "The Little White Lie That Grew and Grew".

Cast

Controversy

The series was controversial because of the differing faiths of the married characters. Some Jewish groups charged that the series "mocked the teachings of Judaism". [2] [3] Rabbi Wolfe Kelman, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Assembly of America, called the show "an insult to some of the most sacred values of both the Jewish and Catholic religions". [4] Rabbi Meir Kahane wrote an essay on the series. [5] Orthodox rabbis met with CBS officials several times. A Conservative rabbi organized a boycott by advertisers, and Reform rabbis met with CBS staff in secret to have the show canceled. Rabbi Abraham Gross, president of the Rabbinical Alliance of Orthodox Rabbis and Educators, described the show as a "flagrant insult" to Jews, protesting that intermarriage was strictly forbidden under Jewish law. Threats followed; Meredith Baxter said, "We had bomb threats on the show. Some guys from the Jewish Defense League came to my house to say they wanted to talk with me about changing the show." Threatening phone calls made to the home of producer Ralph Riskin resulted in the arrest of Robert S. Manning, [6] described as a member of the Jewish Defense League. [7] Manning was later indicted on unrelated murder charges and fought extradition to the United States from Israel, where he fled. [8]

Episodes

NºTitleDirected byWritten byAir date
1"Bridget Loves Bernie" Richard Kinon Bernard Slade September 16, 1972 (1972-09-16)
Series pilot: It's love at first sight when cab driver (and struggling writer) Bernie Steinberg picks up his fare, Bridget Fitzgerald, on a rainy New York day.
2"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Vatican" Lee Philips John McGreevey September 23, 1972 (1972-09-23)
Bernie's parents, Sam and Sophie, win a raffle ticket for a private audience with Pope Paul VI that was sold by Bridget's mother, Amy. Her father, Walt, fears that the Steinbergs may end up causing him major embarrassment.
3"Wake Up, We're Getting Married Today"Richard Kinon Don Nelson and Arthur AlsbergSeptember 30, 1972 (1972-09-30)
After being married in a civil ceremony, Bridget and Bernie agree to their parents' wishes to have a religious ceremony, but the conflict of religions causes havoc.
4"The Last of the Red Hot Playwrights"Richard KinonBernard SladeOctober 7, 1972 (1972-10-07)
Despite several rejections, a reluctant Bernie decides to write a play drawn from his own experiences and personal acquaintances.
5"Who's Watching the Store?"Lee PhilipsJerry MayerOctober 14, 1972 (1972-10-14)
Confusion and chaos reign when Catholic Bridget runs a Jewish delicatessen, aided by her socialite mother and brother who's a priest.
6"The Newlybeds"Richard KinonWarren S. MurrayOctober 21, 1972 (1972-10-21)
Trying to replace a perennially-breaking bed results not only in sleeping trouble for Bridget and Bernie, but also causes an inter-family squabble.
7"Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Moe" Hal Cooper Lloyd Turner and Gordon MitchellOctober 28, 1972 (1972-10-28)
Bernie's Uncle Moe falls in love with Bridget's aunt, which leads to all sorts of trouble.
8"Bernie's Last Stand"Richard Kinon Burt and Adele StylerNovember 4, 1972 (1972-11-04)
Despite a generous (and belated) wedding gift of one year's free rent on a plush apartment from Walt and Amy, Bridget and Bernie are reluctant to accept the offer.
9"How to Be a Jewish Mother"Richard Kinon George Burditt and Paul Wayne November 11, 1972 (1972-11-11)
After Bernie rejects Bridget's breakfast of ham and eggs, she decides to take a crash course in Jewish cooking, which leads to disaster.
10"The Little White Lie That Grew and Grew"Don Nelson and Arthur Alsberg Lee Philips November 18, 1972 (1972-11-18)
Bridget and her parents become Jewish for the weekend when Bernie's devout aunt stops in New York on her way back from Israel.
11"The In-Laws Who Came to Dinner"Richard KinonJerry MayerNovember 25, 1972 (1972-11-25)
Walt and Amy fear that their ability to influence an important art collector will be compromised when the in-laws move in after smoke damage currently has their apartment under repair.
12"The Homecoming" Ezra Stone Bernard SladeDecember 2, 1972 (1972-12-02)
Bridget and Bernie spend the weekend at the Fitzgerald country estate and after Bernie meets some of Bridget's friends, he becomes aware of the style to which she was previously accustomed.
13"You Are Cordially Not Invited"Hal Cooper Ron Friedman December 9, 1972 (1972-12-09)
Sam and Sophie aren't invited to a party that Walt and Amy are holding for United Nations delegates. However, Sophie is determined to attend after discovering Moshe Dayan will be the guest of honor.
14"'Tis the Season" Alan Rafkin Joanna Lee December 16, 1972 (1972-12-16)
Bridget and Bernie reach the holiday season unsure of whether to celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah.
15"Belated Honeymoon"Coby RuskinJoanna LeeDecember 23, 1972 (1972-12-23)
Increasing tensions between Bridget and Bernie lead both sets of parents to send them on the honeymoon they never had.
16"Honesty Is the Worst Policy"Richard KinonHoward MerrillJanuary 6, 1973 (1973-01-06)
Bernie is distressed when he discovers that Bridget was engaged when they met and never once mentioned there being another man in her life.
17"Life Begins at 65" James Sheldon Jack Hanrahan and Don ShermanJanuary 13, 1973 (1973-01-13)
After Uncle Moe turns 65, he runs away from home after Sam and Sophie decide he should retire from the deli.
18"With This Ring" Ozzie Nelson Gordon Farr and Arnold KaneJanuary 20, 1973 (1973-01-20)
Bernie is finally able to buy Bridget an engagement ring, but she quickly loses it.
19"Into Every Life, a Little Snow Must Fall"James SheldonElias DavisJanuary 27, 1973 (1973-01-27)
Bridget and Bernie talk their fathers into spending a weekend at Walt's hunting lodge.
20"To Teach or Not to Teach"James SheldonDon Nelson and Arthur AlsbergFebruary 3, 1973 (1973-02-03)
Bridget announces that she's going to teach a sex education class to her fourth graders.
21"Painting, Painting – Who's Got the Painting?"Ozzie Nelson Bill Dana February 10, 1973 (1973-02-10)
Bridget has a hard time finding a home for a painting that once hung in her nursery until she discovers a potentially rare painting is found hidden under the surface of the canvas.
22"Steinberg and Son"Richard KinonJerry MayerFebruary 17, 1973 (1973-02-17)
Sam and Walt each get the chance to realize their dream of having Bernie work for them.
23"The Information Gap"Ozzie NelsonMarty RothFebruary 24, 1973 (1973-02-24)
In an effort to get some measure of privacy, Bridget and Bernie decide to ignore all questions and phone calls from their parents.
24"Greener Pastures" Bill Bixby Rick Mittleman March 3, 1973 (1973-03-03)
Bernie is offered the opportunity to work for a newspaper in Providence.

Home media

On December 4, 2012, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the complete series as a manufacture-on-demand DVD set in Region 1, [9] available in the U.S. exclusively through Amazon.com and WBShop.com.

Bridget Loves Bernie was referenced to in the MAD Magazine article "M*A*S*Huga" (its first satire of the M*A*S*H TV series) which appeared in Issue # 166 (April 1974). The Surgeon General stated to "Cockeye Piercer" and "Crapper John" that they were put in-between The Mary Tyler Moore Show and All in the Family only because religious groups objected to Bridget Loves Bernie, which was a reference to the fact that M*A*S*H was put in the time slot in between those two shows in the 1973-74 TV season after the cancellation of Bridget Loves Bernie.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Defense League</span> Jewish far-right organization

The Jewish Defense League (JDL) is a far-right religious and political organization in the United States and Canada. Its stated goal is to "protect Jews from antisemitism by whatever means necessary"; it has been classified as "right-wing terrorist group" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 2001, and is also designated as hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. According to the FBI, the JDL has been involved in plotting and executing acts of terrorism within the United States. Most terrorist watch groups classify the group as inactive as of 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meir Kahane</span> American-Israeli politician (1932–1990)

Meir David HaKohen Kahane was an American-born Israeli ordained Orthodox rabbi, writer, and ultra-nationalist politician who served one term in Israel's Knesset before being convicted of acts of terrorism. He founded the Israeli political party Kach. A cofounder of the Jewish Defense League (JDL), he espoused strong views against antisemitism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meredith Baxter</span> American actress and producer (born 1947)

Meredith Ann Baxter is an American actress and producer. She is known for her roles on the CBS sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie (1972–1973), ABC drama series Family (1976–1980) and the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989). A five-time Emmy Award nominee, one of her nominations was for playing the title role in the 1992 TV film A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story.

"Who is a Jew?" is a basic question about Jewish identity and considerations of Jewish self-identification. The question pertains to ideas about Jewish personhood, which have cultural, ethnic, religious, political, genealogical, and personal dimensions. Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism follow Jewish law (Halakha), deeming people to be Jewish if their mothers are Jewish or if they underwent a halakhic conversion. Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism accept both matrilineal and patrilineal descent as well as conversion. Karaite Judaism predominantly follows patrilineal descent as well as conversion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audra Lindley</span> American actress (1918–1997)

Audra MarieLindley was an American actress, most famous for her role as landlady Helen Roper on the sitcom Three's Company and its spin-off The Ropers.

Interfaith marriage, sometimes called interreligious marriage or "mixed marriage", is marriage between spouses professing different religions. Although interfaith marriages are often established as civil marriages, in some instances they may be established as a religious marriage. This depends on religious doctrine of each of the two parties' religions; some prohibit interfaith marriage, and among others there are varying degrees of permissibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Steinberg</span> American comedian, actor, director, and writer

David Steinberg is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, director, and author. At the height of his popularity, during the late 1960s and mid 1970s, he was one of the best-known comics in the United States. He appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson more than 130 times and served as guest host 12 times, the youngest person ever to guest-host. Steinberg directed several films and episodes of television situation comedies, including Seinfeld, Friends, Mad About You, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Golden Girls, and Designing Women. Steinberg also hosted the interview program Inside Comedy on the Showtime network.

The Catholic Church and Judaism have a long and complex history of cooperation and conflict, and have had a strained relationship throughout history, with periods of persecution, violence and discrimination directed towards Jews by Christians, particularly during the Middle Ages.

<i>Abies Irish Rose</i>

Abie's Irish Rose is a popular comedy by Anne Nichols, which premiered in 1922. Initially a Broadway play, it has become familiar through repeated stage productions, films and radio programs. The basic premise involves an Irish Catholic girl and a young Jewish man who marry despite the objections of their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Birney</span> American actor and director (1939–2022)

David Edwin Birney was an American actor and director whose career included performances in both contemporary and classical roles in theatre, film, and television. He is noted for having played the title role in the television series Serpico. He also starred in Bridget Loves Bernie, an early 1970s TV series about an interfaith marriage that also starred Meredith Baxter. He also portrayed Dr. Ben Samuels in St. Elsewhere from 1982 until 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interfaith marriage in Judaism</span> Jewish religious views on interfaith marriages

Interfaith marriage in Judaism was historically looked upon with very strong disfavor by Jewish leaders, and it remains a controversial issue among them today. Many Jews followed the Talmud and all of resulting Jewish law Halakha until the advent of new Jewish movements following the Jewish Enlightenment resulted in the "Haskala"; in Halakha marriage between a Jew and a gentile is both prohibited, and also void under Jewish law.

In Judaism, the traditional method of determining Jewishness relies on tracing one's maternal line. According to halakha, the recognition of someone as fully Jewish requires them to have been born to a Jewish mother. A person who is born to a non-Jewish mother and a Jewish father is regarded as Zera Yisrael and will only be accepted as ethnically Jewish and not as religiously Jewish. Thus, being Jewish through the paternal line typically necessitates conversion to Judaism to validate one's identity as a Jew in the fullest sense.

Wolfe Kelman was an Austrian-born American rabbi and leader in the Conservative Judaism in the United States who never led a congregation, serving for decades as a mentor to hundreds of rabbis in his role as the executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, where he also prepared the initial steps for the rabbinic ordination of women in the Conservative movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lehava</span> Jewish far-right organization in Israel

Lehava is a far-right and Jewish supremacist organization based in Israel that strictly opposes Jewish assimilation, objecting to most personal relationships between Jews and non-Jews. It is opposed to the Christian presence in Israel. It has an anti-miscegenation focus, denouncing marriages between Jews and non-Jews forbidden by Orthodox Jewish law. The group has over 10,000 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bibi Osterwald</span> American actress

Margaret Virginia "Bibi" Osterwald was an American actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kach (political party)</span> Former ultranationalist political party in Israel (1971–94)

Kach was a radical Orthodox Jewish, religious Zionist political party in Israel, existing from 1971 to 1994. Founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1971, based on his Jewish-Orthodox-nationalist ideology, the party earned a single seat in the Knesset in the 1984 election, after several electoral failures. However, it was barred from participating in the next election in 1988 under the revised Knesset Elections Law banning parties that incited racism. After Kahane's assassination in 1990, the party split, with Kahane Chai breaking away from the main Kach faction.

<i>A Touch of Grace</i> Television series

A Touch of Grace is an American sitcom that was based on the British series For the Love of Ada starring Shirley Booth and J. Patrick O'Malley centering on a widow who moves in with her daughter and son-in-law and her romantic relationship with an elderly man. It aired on ABC from January 20 to April 21, 1973.

William David Elliott was an American actor and jazz musician. He had a recurring role in Bridget Loves Bernie as Otis Foster and a recurring role as Officer Gus Grant in Adam-12. He also appeared in Elvis Presley's 1969 film Change of Habit.

Rabbi Allen Secher is a rabbi, civil and human rights activist, radio host, television producer, actor, author and public speaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Sampson (actor)</span> American actor (1933–2020)

Robert LeRoy Sampson was an American actor. He was known for playing the role of Father Mike Fitzgerald in the American sitcom television series Bridget Loves Bernie.

References

  1. ↑ "'Live From Baghdad': The Cameras of War", by Tom Shales, The Washington Post , December 7, 2002. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  2. ↑ "'Bridget Loves Bernie' Attacked by Jewish Groups" The New York Times, Feb 7, 1973
  3. ↑ "Some Jews Are Mad At Bernie; Intermarriage Religion, The New York Times, Feb 11, 1973
  4. ↑ Jewish Groups Score New TV Show for Intermarriage Theme The Jewish Daily Forward, Oct 24, 1972
  5. ↑ Kahane, Meir (1975). "What Makes Bernie Run?". mkwords.com. Manhattan, NY.
  6. ↑ "Producer Gets Threat Call, Milwaukee Sentinel, January 19, 1973
  7. ↑ "David Zurawik, The Jews of Prime Time, Brandeis Series in American Jewish History, Culture, and Life, 2003, p. 94
  8. ↑ "Murder Suspect Overdoses, Delaying Extradition to U.S.," Los Angeles Times, July 14, 1993
  9. ↑ "Bridget Loves Bernie DVD news: Update about Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series". TV Shows On DVD. May 25, 2007. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.