| I-40 Paradise | |
|---|---|
| Theme music composer | Lionel Cartwright [1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Ross Bagwell |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | The Nashville Network |
| Release | March 1983 – April 1986 |
I-40 Paradise is a 30-minute daily cable TV sitcom broadcast on The Nashville Network from March 1983, [2] when the network was first launched, [3] and lasted until at least April 1986. [4]
A weekly 30 minute spinoff, Pickin’ at the Paradise, began in December 1983. [5]
"The havoc and hi-jinks involved in running a restaurant and entertainment spot just outside Nashville are explored with hilarious results" was how early television listings described the series. [6] [7]
The series was set in the small town of Crab Orchard, Tennessee, and most scenes took place in the roadside diner, I-40 Paradise, that had a separate-room tavern where country artists often stopped to perform. [8] There was a house-band, The Mighty Notes, headed by singer Buck Taylor. Buck's younger brother, Randy, was also in the band. [5]
Local residents frequented I-40 Paradise, and they were part of the episode storylines. Stories included: Sonny, Buck, Orvis and Calvin join a group that helps fatherless boys, but have to share Crab Orchard's only orphan; [9] Will Georgia quit her job to pursue a career in art?; [10] Lathrop is kidnapped and held for ransom; [11] and Velma and Calvin consider marriage. [12]
Country music performers would drop in on their way to Nashville and sing a couple of songs on each episode. One of the first guest stars to tape segments for the show was Helen Cornelius, [15] and Ty Herndon was on several episodes before he became well known. [16] Reba McEntire was on two episodes. In one she just sang, but the other had her take part in a conversation about video games, which was one of her first opportunities to act. [17]
The series was produced by Cinetel Productions in Knoxville, Tennessee. Producer Ross Bagwell rented a warehouse to use as a studio, and hired mostly local dinner-theater actors as regulars. [8] Outside shots of the I-40 Paradise building were of the nearby Mount Olive Trading Post, a grocery store that closed in 1987. [18]
Lionel Cartwright, who'd been working at the Wheeling Jamboree , wrote the series theme song, and acted as one of the house-band singers. [19]
On December 25, 1983 Pickin’ at the Paradise began a six-week pilot run as a 30-minute Sunday series, advertised as a weekly visit to the Paradise's music room, where Crab Orchard residents would stop by to hear the house-band sing. Regulars included Lionel Cartwright as Randy, Jack Crook as Buck, and Kelli Warren as Melody Dawn. [5] Lionel Cartwright wrote the series theme song. [19] The series aired until at least March 1986. [20]