Big Eddie

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Big Eddie
Big eddie 1975.JPG
Publicity photo of Sheldon Leonard, Sheree North, and Quinn Cummings in Big Eddie
Created by Bill Persky
Sam Denoff
Written byRoy Kammerman
Sid Dorfman
Simon Muntner
Jerry Davis
Jay Folb
Richard Powell
Directed by Hy Averback
Starring Sheldon Leonard
Composer Jonathan Wolff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerHy Averback
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseAugust 23 (1975-08-23) –
November 7, 1975 (1975-11-07)

Big Eddie is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from August 23 until November 7, 1975. [1] Its first three episodes, in a Saturday night time slot, did well in the ratings, but after it was moved to Friday nights, it had little success opposite Sanford and Son . [2]

Contents

Premise

Big Eddie Smith, [3] a reformed mobster tries to go legit as the owner of the Big E Sports Arena [1] in New York City. [4] Smith's family included his wife Honey, granddaughter Ginger, and brother Jessie. [3]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Man of the Year"UnknownUnknownAugust 23, 1975 (1975-08-23)
A reporter attempts to get the low-down on the checkered past of Eddie and his retinue.
2"One Nation Invisible"UnknownUnknownAugust 30, 1975 (1975-08-30)
To show how the law guarantees justice for everyone, Big Eddie helps his granddaughter sue the merchant who sold her a defective toy.
3"Hello Poppa"UnknownUnknownSeptember 6, 1975 (1975-09-06)
An engaging young man from Italy claims that Eddie is the long-lost GI who married his mother-- and fathered him during World War II. Jack Carter, Cliff Norton, Ed Peck, and Ron Silver guest star.
4"Too Many Grandmothers (a.k.a. One Grandmother Too Many)"UnknownUnknownSeptember 19, 1975 (1975-09-19)
Big Eddie is surprised by a visit from his first wife, a Hungarian aristocrat (Eva Gabor) who has the kind of designs not designed to please his current loving spouse.
5"Who Am I?"UnknownUnknownSeptember 26, 1975 (1975-09-26)
Honey wrestles with an identity crisis-- and by Eddie with a marital crisis-- when she has to write a sociology class paper on "Who Am I?"
6"Crashing Violet"UnknownUnknownOctober 3, 1975 (1975-10-03)
A smitten Bang Bang persuades Eddie to hire a maid: the waitress (Alice Ghostley) who lost her job because she dropped a plate of beans on Bang Bang's head.
7"Eddie Makes a Speech"UnknownUnknownOctober 10, 1975 (1975-10-10)
A chum from Eddie's rough-and-tumble school days (Ron Feinberg) is now a high-school principal, and he'd like Eddie to say a few words to kids who are even rougher than they were.
8"One of Our Red Shoes is Missing"UnknownUnknownOctober 24, 1975 (1975-10-24)
The Smiths risk creating an international flap by harboring a Soviet dancer (Sandy Ignon) who wants to defect.
9"Alone Together"UnknownUnknownOctober 31, 1975 (1975-10-31)
With granddaughter Ginger off to a slumber party, the Smith's look forward to an undisturbed evening of champagne, caviar and romance. The only obstacle remaining is their live-in retainer Bang Bang.
10"A Date with Eddie"UnknownUnknownNovember 7, 1975 (1975-11-07)
Eddie is in the doghouse. After asking his granddaughter out on her first big date, he has to stand her up. Ronnie Schell guest stars as a clown.

Production

Bill Persky and Sam Denoff created the series [6] and were Big Eddie's executive producers and writers. Hy Averback was the producer and director. It had three "sneak preview" broadcasts (August 23 - September 6, 1975) from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturdays. Ratings decreased after it was moved to 8 - 8:30 p.m. ET on Fridays beginning on September 19, 1975. [5]

Episodes were recorded on videotape in front of a live audience using facilities at KTLA-TV. [6]

Critical response

John J. O'Connor, in a review distributed by the New York Times Service, commented, ". . . to know Big Eddie is to loath it." [7] The review implied that Eddie married Honey as a means of obtaining custody of his granddaughter, "who, for purposes of uncomplicated plotting, is conveniently orphaned." [7] O'Connor commented that Eddie often shouted and that his speech was filled with pronunciations such as "'dat' for that, or 'foist' for first" and he added, "His black assistant (Ralph Wilcox) jive talks hysterically." [7]

After watching four episodes, Lee Winfrey wrote in The Evening Sun , "The only thing large about Big Eddie is growing wonder as to why it is still on the air." [8] The review added that "each week the plots grow more surpassingly stupid, the guest stars less interesting, and the whole show steadily more arthritic in pace." [8] The title character was called "as dull as a reformed drunk" and the family's home life was summarized as "dull domesticity, just another unbelievable sitcom family, wrestling with piffling problems and pennywhistle crises." [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. VNR AG. p. 45. ISBN   9780918432612 . Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Hyatt, Wesley (2003). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948–1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. p. 238. ISBN   9780786414208 . Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 139. ISBN   9780307483201 . Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  4. ↑ TV Guide. "Big Eddie Cast and Details". TV Guide. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hyatt, Wesley (January 20, 2003). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. p. 238. ISBN   978-0-7864-1420-8 . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Leszczak, Bob (November 16, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 14. ISBN   978-0-7864-6812-6 . Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 O'Connor, John J. (August 23, 1975). "'Big Eddie' is depressing". The Morning News. Delaware, Wilmington. p. 23. Retrieved June 1, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 Winfrey, Lee (October 16, 1975). "'Eddie': Big Or Dull?". The Evening Sun. Maryland, Baltimore. KNI. p. 22. Retrieved June 1, 2023– via Newspapers.com.


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