Bring 'Em Back Alive (TV series)

Last updated

Bring 'Em Back Alive
Frankbucktv.jpg
Main title
Created by George Schenck
Frank Cardea
Starring
Composer Arthur B. Rubinstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes17
Production
Executive producers Larry A. Thompson
Jay Bernstein
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseSeptember 24, 1982 (1982-09-24) 
May 31, 1983 (1983-05-31)

Bring 'Em Back Alive is an adventure television series starring Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, and Ron O'Neal.

Contents

Premise

Frank Buck is a big game trapper and collector of wild animals who works out of the Raffles Hotel bar in Singapore during the 1930s, fighting a range of villains in pre-war Malaysia. He is assisted in his adventures by U.S. Consul Gloria Marlowe, and Ali, Buck's friend and number-one boy.

Cast

Production

The show was based on a 1930 book, Bring 'Em Back Alive , written by well-known big-game trapper Frank Buck. Buck appeared in several movies, including a 1932 adaptation of the book, and is remembered by serial fans as the star of Jungle Menace . Set in Singapore, it was one of several shows, along with the likes of Tales of the Gold Monkey , to try to capitalize on the public's renewed interest in old adventure serials catalyzed by the cinematic success of Raiders of the Lost Ark . The show often hearkened back to the cliffhanger endings of serial installments by having a cliffhanger before a commercial such as Buck's truck literally going off a cliff, then after the commercial break showing him jumping from the truck before it went over. Bruce Boxleitner and Cindy Morgan were cast after having co-starred together in the Walt Disney Productions feature film Tron the same year.

Broadcast

The series was shown in the United States from September 1982 to May 1983. The television series lasted only 17 episodes before being cancelled because of low ratings. The show was scheduled against NBC's top-10 hit The A-Team , and ABC's top-30 hits Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley .

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Bring 'Em Back Alive" E.W. Swackhamer Story by: George Schenck & Frank Cardea
Teleplay by: George Schenck & Frank Cardea & Tom Sawyer
September 24, 1982 (1982-09-24)
2"Seven Keys to Singapore"Bob KelljanTom SawyerSeptember 28, 1982 (1982-09-28)
3"There's One Born Every Minute" Paul Krasny George Schenck & Frank CardeaOctober 5, 1982 (1982-10-05)
4"The Reel World of Frank Buck" Don Weis B. W. SandefurOctober 12, 1982 (1982-10-12)
5"The Pied Piper" Mike Vejar Story by: Hamilton Berg
Teleplay by: Hamilton Berg & Arthur Weingarten
October 19, 1982 (1982-10-19)
6"The Warlord" Bob Sweeney Billy MarksOctober 26, 1982 (1982-10-26)
7"Thirty Hours"Paul Krasny Juliet Law Packer November 16, 1982 (1982-11-16)
8"Wilmer Bass and the Serengeti Kid" Bruce Bilson Story by: Bill Kelley
Teleplay by: B.W. Sandefur
November 23, 1982 (1982-11-23)
9"Escape from Kampoon"Paul KranskyTim MaschlerNovember 30, 1982 (1982-11-30)
10"The Best of Enemies"Nicholas Sgarro Ira Steven Behr December 7, 1982 (1982-12-07)
11"To Kill a Princess" George McCowan Story by: Bob Moloney & Scott Miller
Teleplay by: B.W. Sandefur & Arthur Weingarten
January 8, 1983 (1983-01-08)
12"Bones of Contention" Peter H. Hunt Story by: Bob Shayne & Tim Maschler
Teleplay by: Tim Maschler
January 15, 1983 (1983-01-15)
13"A Switch in Time"George McCowanArthur WeingartenJanuary 22, 1983 (1983-01-22)
14"The Shadow Women of Chung Tai"Peter H. HuntB.W. SandefurJanuary 29, 1983 (1983-01-29)
15"The Hostage"Paul KrasnySteven ThornleyFebruary 12, 1983 (1983-02-12)
16"Dead Run" Reza Badiyi Tim MaschlerFebruary 19, 1983 (1983-02-19)
17"Storm Warning"Joel OlianskyGeorge Schenck & Frank CardeaMay 31, 1983 (1983-05-31)

Ratings

SeasonEpisodesStart DateEnd DateNielsen RankNielsen RatingTied With
1982–8317September 24, 1982May 31, 198382 [1] N/AN/A

References

  1. Lina. "The TV Ratings Guide: 1982-83 Ratings History -- Soap Bubbles Rise, Several Veterans Part and NBC Renews Poorly Rated Masterpieces". Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.