Tequila and Bonetti

Last updated

Tequila and Bonetti
Tequila and Bonetti.jpg
Genre Comedy drama
Created by Donald P. Bellisario
Written by
  • Donald P. Bellisario
  • Robin Bernheim
  • Richard C. Okie
  • Gerald Sanoff
  • Tommy Thompson
Directed by
Starring
Voices ofBrad Sanders
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12 (10 + 2 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
  • Donald P. Bellisario
  • Jimmy Giritlian
Producers
Running time60 mins. (with commercials)
Production companies
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseJanuary 17 (1992-01-17) 
April 17, 1992 (1992-04-17)

Tequila and Bonetti is an American crime comedy-drama television series starring Jack Scalia. The series originally aired on CBS, as a mid-season replacement, from January 17, 1992 to April 17, 1992, with only 10 of the 12 episodes aired. It was rebooted in 2000, for Italian television, with the Italian speaking Scalia returning as Bonetti.

Contents

Synopsis

The lead character of the series, Nico ("Nick") Bonetti, is a policeman from New York City who is proud of his Italian heritage and very fond of his vintage rose-colored Cadillac convertible, which he inherited from his father. After he erroneously shoots a young girl during a gunfight, he relocates to a beachfront Los Angeles precinct on temporary assignment. Here he meets his new partners, Tequila (a large, burrito-eating French Mastiff), and Officer Angela Garcia, who joined the department after her policeman husband's death, which she has kept a secret from her young daughter. Their boss is Captain Midian Knight, who is almost as interested in selling a screenplay as he is in police work. The series shows their investigations of crimes and the evolving relationships between the characters. This show has the peculiarity that television viewers are able to hear Tequila's thoughts.

Life is not easy for Bonetti, due to his remorse about the girl he shot and the strange habits of Californians whom he does not understand. His neighbors include a Puerto Rican psychic, who hears Tequila's thoughts but initially believes she is hearing spirits. Bonetti develops a grudging respect for the people around him as well as for Tequila, who despite his faults is an excellent police dog. The dog is portrayed as having human-level intelligence and a street-wise, sassy attitude.

Each episode has a montage during which Bonetti plays piano and viewers see odd, sometimes disturbing scenes featuring Bonetti's neighbors and co-workers. Some of these scenes are from later episodes, while others remain unexplained. Each montage ends with Bonetti's memory of the shooting of the girl in New York.

Cast

In addition, Liz Torres recurs as psychic Gina Garcia, while series creator Donald P. Bellisario's daughter Troian recurs as Teresa Garcia, the young daughter of Hargitay's character.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Street Dogs" Michael Zinberg Donald P. Bellisario January 17, 1992 (1992-01-17)
2"Teach Your Children" James Whitmore, Jr. Richard C. OkieJanuary 24, 1992 (1992-01-24)
3"The Rose Cadillac"James Whitmore, Jr.Richard C. OkieJanuary 31, 1992 (1992-01-31)
4"Language of the Heart"Christopher HiblerRobin Jill BernheimFebruary 28, 1992 (1992-02-28)
5"Tales of the Dragon"James DarrenRobin Jill Bernheim & Donald P. BellisarioMarch 6, 1992 (1992-03-06)
6"A Perfect Match"Virgil W. VogelStory by: Beverly Bridges & Robin Jill Bernheim
Teleplay by: Robin Jill Bernheim
March 13, 1992 (1992-03-13)
7"Fetch This, Pal"Rob BowmanTommy ThompsonApril 3, 1992 (1992-04-03)
8"Wonderdog"Rob BowmanRobin Jill Bernheim & Richard C. OkieApril 10, 1992 (1992-04-10)
9"Brooklyn and the Beast"Jeff GoursonRichard C. Okie & Robin Jill BernheimApril 17, 1992 (1992-04-17)
10"Mama"Bob HulmeTommy ThompsonApril 18, 1992 (1992-04-18)
11"Reel Life"James Whitmore, Jr.Tommy Thompsonunaired (unaired)
12"Runt of the Litter"James Whitmore, Jr.Richard C. Okie & Donald P. Belisariounaired (unaired)

Cancellation

The series received negative reviews from critics due to the weaknesses of the scripts, California stereotypes, and an embarrassing ambiguity in the fact of making the dog speak in black street jive. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] It was subsequently canceled by CBS four months after its premiere.

2000 series reboot

Eight years later, Tequila & Bonetti was rebooted for television with Jack Scalia reprising his role as Bonetti; only this time, the show was filmed and aired in Italy. Bonetti goes to Rome to team up with a new "Tequila", a cross between a Saint Bernard and a golden retriever, and the policewoman Fabiana Sasso (Alessia Marcuzzi). Again, only the audience can hear the dog's thoughts, but this time Bonetti is the one with strange American habits, as seen by his new Italian friends.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayne Mansfield</span> American actress and Playmate (1933–1967)

Jayne Mansfield was an American actress and Playboy Playmate. A sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s, Mansfield was known for her numerous publicity stunts and open personal life. Although her film career was short-lived, she had several box-office successes, and won a Theatre World Award and Golden Globe Award, and soon gained the nickname of Hollywood's "smartest dumb blonde."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariska Hargitay</span> American actress and producer (born 1964)

Mariska Magdolna Hargitay is an American actress, producer, and philanthropist. Hargitay has played Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, which is the longest-running character in the longest-running American primetime drama. Since 2013, she is among the highest-paid actresses on television. Her accolades include two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, and in 2013, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is also known for her philanthropic work and activism.

<i>Kingdom Hospital</i> 2004 TV series

Kingdom Hospital is a thirteen-episode television series based on Lars von Trier's The Kingdom, developed by horror writer Stephen King in 2004 for American television. While initially conceived as a miniseries, it was later changed into a regular television series. It was first aired on ABC on March 3 and concluded on July 15, 2004 after being put on hold during NBA playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rowlf the Dog</span> Muppet character

Rowlf the Dog is a Muppet character created and originally performed by Jim Henson. Known most notably as the resident pianist on the sketch comedy television series The Muppet Show, Rowlf is a scruffy brown dog of indeterminate breed with a rounded black nose and long floppy ears. Laid-back and wisecracking, his humor is characterized as deadpan and as such, he is one of few Muppets who is rarely flustered by the show's prevalent mayhem. Henson's closest collaborators and family members have claimed Rowlf to be the Muppet character most similar to Henson's real-life personality.

Jack Scalia is an American actor. Scalia is perhaps best known for his frequent appearances in prime-time television series and television movies in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as feature films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Torres</span> American actress, singer, comedian (born 1947)

Elizabeth Larrieu Torres is an American actress, singer, and comedian. Torres is best known for her role as Mahalia Sanchez in the NBC comedy series The John Larroquette Show (1993–1996), for which she received two Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations. She is also known for her role as Patricia "Miss Patty" LaCosta in The WB family comedic drama series Amy Sherman-Palladino's Gilmore Girls (2000–07) starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. In the 1970s, she played Julie Erskine on Phyllis and also had a recurring role as Teresa Betancourt on All in the Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Whitmore Jr.</span> American actor and director (born 1948)

James Allen Whitmore Jr., is an American actor and director. He is best known for his roles as Captain Jim Gutterman on the television program Baa Baa Black Sheep, Freddie Beamer in The Rockford Files (1977–1979), and Sgt Bernie Terwilliger in Hunter (1984–1986), and since the 1980s as a prolific television director. He is the son of actor James Whitmore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dabbs Greer</span> American actor (1917–2007)

Robert William "Dabbs" Greer was an American character actor in film and television for over 60 years. Greer appeared in nearly 100 film roles and in nearly 600 television episodes of various series. He played Mr. Jonas in Gunsmoke, Coach Ossie Weiss in the sitcom Hank, and Reverend Robert Alden in Little House on the Prairie. Greer's final film role was as the 108-year-old Paul Edgecomb, the character played by Tom Hanks in 1999's The Green Mile.

"Raised by Another" is the tenth episode of the first season of the American drama series Lost. It first aired on December 1, 2004, on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Directed by Marita Grabiak and written by Lynne E. Litt, the episode was the first to reveal the backstory of Claire Littleton. It also represented a shift from previous Lost backstories by being one of the first to emphasise the series' mythology – a decision that made the network nervous at the time.

"Exodus: Part 1" and "Exodus: Part 2" are collectively the first season finale of the American drama television series Lost, consisting of the 23rd episode and a double 24th and 25th episodes of the first season and the show overall. The episodes were directed by Jack Bender, and written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. In the United States, "Part 1" first aired on May 18, 2005, and "Part 2" on May 25, 2005, as a double-length season finale on ABC. In several countries, like the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia and Portugal, the double-length "Part 2" was split in half, resulting in the last episode being called "Exodus: Part 3".

<i>Law & Order: Special Victims Unit</i> season 8 Season of television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The eighth season of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered September 19, 2006 and ended May 22, 2007 on NBC. The series remained in its 10pm/9c Tuesday timeslot. With the introduction of a new partner for Detective Stabler, early episodes of season 8 took on a significantly different focus when compared to those of previous seasons.

Alessia Marcuzzi is an Italian television host, actress and former fashion model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Going to America</span> 8th episode of the 3rd series of Father Ted

"Going to America" is the series finale of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. It is the eighth episode of the third series, and the 25th episode overall. Dermot Morgan, who played the show's title character, died the day after filming was completed.

Nico is a 2001 Spanish animated television series produced by BRB Internacional, Televisión Española and the National Organization of the Spanish Blind. The title character, Nico, is a boy that is blind. Blind people in the cartoon are usually referred to as "visually impaired" (invidente) regardless of how severe, or otherwise, their blindness is.

<i>Law & Order: Special Victims Unit</i> season 3 Season of television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The third season of the television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered Friday, September 28, 2001 and ended Friday, May 17, 2002 on NBC. It occupied the Friday 10pm/9c timeslot once again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsies, Tramps and Weed</span> 7th episode of the 3rd season of Will & Grace

"Gypsies, Tramps and Weed" is the seventh episode of the third season of the American television series Will & Grace. It was written by Katie Palmer and directed by series producer James Burrows. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 16, 2000. Guest stars in "Gypsies, Tramps and Weed" include Cher, Camryn Manheim, and Robert Romanus.

<i>Pound Puppies</i> (2010 TV series) 2010 multi-national TV series or program

Pound Puppies is an animated children's television series developed by Wendy Klein Moss, Nancy Steingard, Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere for the Hub Network. It premiered on October 10, 2010 in the United States as the first Hub "original series". It also aired on YTV in Canada and on Boomerang in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. Produced by Hasbro Studios, it was the second series to adapt Pound Puppies into a cartoon format. Originally a property by Tonka, Hasbro acquired Tonka itself and currently manages Pound Puppies. The plot style and music were similar to the 1960s TV series Hogan's Heroes and to films like Stalag 17 and The Great Escape. The first seven episodes of the series were animated by 9 Story Entertainment, but DHX Media/Vancouver took over to animate the series from episode 8 onwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Sande</span> American actor (1906–1971)

Walter Sande was an American character actor, known for numerous supporting film and television roles.

<i>Lenkov-verse</i> American media franchise

The Lenkov-verse is a media franchise that consists of a group of three interconnected television reboots that share a fictional universe, and their related media. All three of the television series, Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver, and Magnum P.I., were developed by Peter M. Lenkov who also served as the showrunner on the series. They are each American crime dramas that aired on CBS. Hawaii Five-0 revolves around a task force, led by Steve McGarrett, that investigates crimes in Hawaii. MacGyver centers around Angus MacGyver who uses nonviolent methods to keep the world safe, with the help of a team of undercover government agents. Magnum P.I. follows private investigator Thomas Magnum, who solves crimes in Hawaii with the help of his friends. The universe is also connected to the so-called Bellisario-verse, which consists of the entire NCIS franchise and JAG, via two direct crossovers between Hawaii Five-0 and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Walter Kirk Stratton Jr. is an American film and television actor born in Front Royal, Virginia. He portrayed Lt. Lawrence Casey in the American television series Black Sheep Squadron. Stratton also played the recurring role of Cmdr. Ted Lindsey in 14 episodes of the American legal drama television series JAG.

References

  1. Tucker, Ken (February 7, 1992). "Tequila and Bonetti". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  2. Rosenberg, Howard (January 17, 1992). "TV Reviews: Canine Cop Capers in 'Tequila & Bonetti'". Los Angeles Times .
  3. "Tonight: 'Tequila & Bonetti' is a real dog". Deseret News . January 17, 1992.
  4. Hiltbrand, David (January 17, 1992). "Picks and Pans Review: Tequila and Bonetti". People . Vol. 37, no. 6. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023.
  5. Quill, Greg (February 25, 1992). "Gotta watch... ...well, maybe ...zap-able".