The Tony Randall Show

Last updated

The Tony Randall Show
Tony Randall Show cast 1977.JPG
Genre Sitcom
Created by Tom Patchett
Jay Tarses
Written by Gary David Goldberg
Hugh Wilson
Ken Levine
David Isaacs
Patricia Jones
Tom Patchett
Donald Reiker
Jay Tarses
Michael Zinberg
Directed by Tony Mordente
Starring Tony Randall
Barney Martin
Rachel Roberts
Allyn Ann McLerie
Penny Peyser
Hans Conried
Devon Scott
Brad Savage
Diana Muldaur
Composer Patrick Williams
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes44 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersTom Patchett
Jay Tarses
Producers Hugh Wilson
Gary David Goldberg
Michael Zinberg
Running time30 minutes
Production company MTM Enterprises
Original release
Network ABC (1976–1977)
CBS (1977–1978)
ReleaseSeptember 23, 1976 (1976-09-23) 
March 25, 1978 (1978-03-25)

The Tony Randall Show is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC during its first season from September 23, 1976, to March 10, 1977, and on CBS for its second (and final) season from September 24, 1977, to March 25, 1978.

Contents

Synopsis

The series starred Tony Randall as Walter Franklin, a widowed and very talented judge, and took place in Philadelphia. The show followed the reserved Franklin dealing with being a single parent, raising his daughter, Roberta (Devon Scott), and son, Oliver (Brad Savage). At times he also had to play surrogate parent to his daffy English housekeeper (Rachel Roberts), whose inedible cooking was a frequent source of humor. She made huge mistakes which contributed to lowering her self-confidence. At work, Judge Franklin had to contend with his stuffy and acerbic secretary, Miss Janet Reubner (Allyn Ann McLerie), and his court reporter, Jack Terwilliger (Barney Martin), as well as presiding over court cases. Actor Zane Lasky played the recurring role of Mario Lanza, an annoying, nerdy, overbearing assistant who irritated Judge Franklin, but who kept getting rehired by Miss Reubner. Another recurring role was played by Diana Muldaur, who appeared as Judge Franklin's love interest, Judge Eleanor Hooper. Annette O'Toole played the role of Melissa (Oliver's teacher, to whom Walter was attracted) in two episodes, one in each season. In the show's second season, Devon Scott was replaced in the role of Roberta by Penny Peyser, and Hans Conried joined the cast in the occasional recurring role of Walter's irascible father Wyatt. Towards the very end of the series run, Walter began teaching a night class in law; Michael Keaton was seen as Zeke Zacharias, one of Water's students, in two late-running episodes.

The show was produced by MTM Enterprises and aired for one season on ABC. For its second season, the series moved to CBS where it aired for one more season before being canceled. Writer/producer Gary David Goldberg discusses behind-the-scenes stories in his autobiography, Sit, Ubu, Sit.

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
1 22September 23, 1976 (1976-09-23)March 10, 1977 (1977-03-10) ABC
2 22September 24, 1977 (1977-09-24)March 25, 1978 (1978-03-25) CBS

Season 1 (1976–77)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Pilot" Jay Sandrich Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses September 23, 1976 (1976-09-23)
Judge Walter O. Franklin prepares to go on his first date since the death of his wife.
22"Case: A Question of Qualifications"Jay SandrichTom Patchett & Jay TarsesSeptember 30, 1976 (1976-09-30)
Walter tries to hire a new law clerk, and the applicants include a beautiful woman (Brooke Adams), a strange young man named Mario Lanza (Zane Lasky), and Jack.
33"Case: His Honor vs. Her Honor" James Burrows David Lloyd October 7, 1976 (1976-10-07)
Walter starts dating the attractive female judge Eleanor Hooper (Diana Muldaur).
44"Case: Franklin vs. Reubner & Reubner" Peter Bonerz Hugh Wilson October 21, 1976 (1976-10-21)
Miss Reubner thinks Walter might be romantically interested in her, and when he laughs at the idea, she quits.
55"Case: The Snow White Affair" Michael Zinberg Lloyd GarverOctober 28, 1976 (1976-10-28)
Walter upholds a theatre's right to show a pornographic film, but exercises his authority as a father to stop Bobby from seeing it.
66"Case: Terwilliger vs. Himself"Harvey MedlinskyTom Patchett & Jay TarsesNovember 4, 1976 (1976-11-04)
When Jack's work deteriorates, Walter suspects he's having trouble at home.
77"Case: The Ego Affair" Alan Myerson Tom Patchett & Jay TarsesNovember 11, 1976 (1976-11-11)
Walter gets a swelled head when he starts getting a lot of offers for speaking engagements.
88"Case: The DeNecki Debacle"Alan MyersonHugh WilsonNovember 18, 1976 (1976-11-18)
Walter must try a criminal case where the defense attorney, Mr. DeNecki (Stephen Elliott) uses every tactic in the book to stretch out the case.
99"Case: Mario Strikes Again"Harvey Medlinsky Gary David Goldberg December 2, 1976 (1976-12-02)
Walter regrets hiring the perpetually annoying Mario Lanza as his assistant.
1010"Case: Franklin in Love"Harvey MedlinskyTom Patchett & Jay TarsesDecember 9, 1976 (1976-12-09)
Walter and Eleanor consider getting married.
1111"Case: O'Come All Ye Wastrels"James BurrowsSy RosenDecember 23, 1976 (1976-12-23)
Walter invites a thief (Dick Van Patten) to spend Christmas at his home.
1212"Case: Money vs. Stature"Hugh WilsonHugh WilsonDecember 30, 1976 (1976-12-30)
Walter gets a lucrative offer to quit the bench and go back into private law practice.
1313"Case: The Hooper Affair"Michael ZinbergPatricia Jones & Donald ReikerJanuary 6, 1977 (1977-01-06)
Walter has to compete for Eleanor when her old boyfriend (Craig Stevens) comes to town.
1414"Case: Franklin vs. McClellan"James BurrowsKen Levine & David IsaacsJanuary 13, 1977 (1977-01-13)
Walter deals with another revolt by Mrs. McClellan
1515"Case: Whatever Happened to Mary Jane?"John C. ChulayTom Patchett & Jay TarsesJanuary 20, 1977 (1977-01-20)
Someone has to be the fall guy when a joint of marijuana is found in Walter's office.
1616"Case: McClellan vs. Immigration"Hugh WilsonDavid LloydJanuary 27, 1977 (1977-01-27)
Mrs. McClellan tries to find a husband to avoid being deported.
1717"Case: May vs. December"Harvey MedlinskyGary David GoldbergFebruary 3, 1977 (1977-02-03)
Walter finds himself attracted to a woman (Annette O'Toole) who's too young for him.
1818"Case: The Lawndale Report"Harvey MedlinskyGary David GoldbergFebruary 10, 1977 (1977-02-10)
Walter goes undercover to write a report on the prison system.
1919"Case: The Hero Syndrome"Hugh WilsonEarl PomerantzFebruary 17, 1977 (1977-02-17)
Oliver starts to admire a thuggish hockey player who appeared in Walter's courtroom.
2020"Case: Democracy vs. Tyranny"Tony MordenteGary David GoldbergFebruary 24, 1977 (1977-02-24)
Walter's kids and Mrs. McClellan accuse him of being a "tyrant" and stage a mock trial where he defends himself against the charges.
2121"Case: Facing Up vs. Hiding Behind the Drapes"James BurrowsEarl PomerantzMarch 3, 1977 (1977-03-03)
Walter's life is threatened by a man he sent to prison.
2222"Case: The People Speak"Michael ZinbergKen Levine & David IsaacsMarch 10, 1977 (1977-03-10)
Walter challenges a veteran incumbent in the election for Superior Court judge.

Season 2 (1977–78)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
231"Franklin vs. the Generation Gap"Harvey MedlinskyPatricia Jones & Donald ReikerSeptember 24, 1977 (1977-09-24)
Walter is shocked when Bobby announces she's going to live with her boyfriend Michael (Michael Burns).
Note Penny Peyser replaces Devon Scott as Bobby.
242"The Prodigal Father Returns"Harvey MedlinskyHugh WilsonOctober 1, 1977 (1977-10-01)
Walter's estranged father Wyatt (Hans Conried) visits his son for the first time in five years.
253"Walter Screws Up" Asaad Kelada Sy RosenOctober 8, 1977 (1977-10-08)
Walter doubts his competence as a judge when he discovers that he convicted an innocent man.
264"Philadelphia Triangle"Tony MordenteGary David GoldbergOctober 15, 1977 (1977-10-15)
Mario mistakes Eleanor's kindness for love.
275"Love vs. Excitement"Michael ZinbergGary David GoldbergOctober 22, 1977 (1977-10-22)
Walter fears that Jack will become suicidal after he and his wife separate.
286"The Taking of Reubner 1-2-3"Hugh WilsonHugh WilsonOctober 29, 1977 (1977-10-29)
An escaped convict (Cleavon Little) takes over Walter's chambers with a gun and holds Miss Reubner hostage.
297"Civil Disobedience"Harvey MedlinskyTom ChehakNovember 5, 1977 (1977-11-05)
Franklin is forced to rule against an environmental protester, and when Bobby leads a protest, he jails her for contempt of court.
308"Skin Game"Harvey MedlinskyEarl PomerantzNovember 12, 1977 (1977-11-12)
Walter doesn't know how to act around his new clerk, a militant young upper-class black man.
319"New Found Franklin"Asaad KeladaCarol GaryNovember 19, 1977 (1977-11-19)
When Eleanor thinks their relationship has become dull, Walter tries to make himself a more well-rounded person by joining clubs.
3210"Franklin vs. Casanova"Harvey MedlinskyKathy Donnell & Madeline Di MaggioNovember 26, 1977 (1977-11-26)
Walter must protect Miss Reubner from the advances of a notorious womanizer (Robert Alda).
3311"Bobby vs. Michael"Tony MordentePatricia Jones & Donald ReikerDecember 17, 1977 (1977-12-17)
Franklin reacts unexpectedly after Bobby announces she's tired of living with Michael.
3412"The Sylvia Needleman Experience"Harvey MedlinskyJay TarsesDecember 24, 1977 (1977-12-24)
A predatory real estate agent (Beverly Garland) tries to get Walter to sell his house.
3513"Kids' Rights"Tony MordenteBill DialJanuary 7, 1978 (1978-01-07)
Mario is hopelessly outmatched when he represents a young girl suing for the right to live with her stepmother.
3614"Bobby and Brian"Tony MordentePatricia Jones & Donald ReikerJanuary 14, 1978 (1978-01-14)
Bobby's new boyfriend (Brian Dennehy) is not only too old for her, but a known gangster.
3715"I Live to Dance"Tony MordenteHugh WilsonJanuary 21, 1978 (1978-01-21)
Jack and Miss Reubner enter a ballroom dancing competition.
3816"Twice is Not Enough"Asaad KeladaPatricia Jones & Donald ReikerJanuary 28, 1978 (1978-01-28)
Walter has to choose between Eleanor and Melissa.
3917"Dream Maker"Asaad KeladaMary-David Sheiner & Sheila Judis WeisbergFebruary 4, 1978 (1978-02-04)
Mrs. McClellan's nephew, a photographer, enthrals the Franklins with his tales of globe-trotting adventure.
4018"Eyes of the Law"John C. ChulayTom Patchett & Jay TarsesFebruary 11, 1978 (1978-02-11)
Walter begins teaching a night school law course, where the only promising student is a blind woman.
4119"Phantom of the Poconos"Ken LuberJoyce Armor & Judie NeerFebruary 18, 1978 (1978-02-18)
Walter inherits a mountain cabin that seems to be haunted.
4220"Adios, Mr. Chips"Michael ZinbergTom Patchett & Jay TarsesMarch 4, 1978 (1978-03-04)
Walter is proud of his night school class's showing on a test, until it turns out they all cheated.
4321"The Way it Was"Asaad KeladaBlake HunterMarch 11, 1978 (1978-03-11)
Walter and his employees all have different memories of his first day as a judge.
4422"Wyatt Loves Bonnie"Harvey MedlinskyGary David GoldbergMarch 25, 1978 (1978-03-25)
Walter discovers that his father is in love with Mrs. McClellan.

Award nominations

YearAwardResultCategoryRecipient
1977 Golden Globes Nominated Best TV Actor - Musical/Comedy Tony Randall

Related Research Articles

<i>Happy Days</i> American television sitcom (1974–1984)

Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most successful series of the 1970s. The series presented an idealized vision of life in the 1950s and early 1960s Midwestern United States, and it starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham, Henry Winkler as his friend Fonzie, and Tom Bosley and Marion Ross as Richie's parents, Howard and Marion Cunningham. Although it opened to mixed reviews from critics, Happy Days became successful and popular over time.

<i>JAG</i> (TV series) American legal drama television series (1995–2005)

JAG is an American legal drama television series with a U.S. Navy theme, created by Donald P. Bellisario, and produced by Belisarius Productions in association with Paramount Network Television. The series originally aired on NBC for one season from September 23, 1995, to May 22, 1996, and then on CBS for an additional nine seasons from January 3, 1997, to April 29, 2005. The first season was co-produced with NBC Productions and was originally perceived as a Top Gun meets A Few Good Men hybrid series.

<i>Franklin</i> (TV series) Childrens television show

Franklin is an animated preschool educational children's television series, based on the Franklin the Turtle books by Brenda Clark and Paulette Bourgeois, and co-produced by Nelvana Limited. It was followed up by a CGI adaptation, Franklin and Friends.

<i>The Odd Couple</i> (play) 1965 stage play by Neil Simon

The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. Following its premiere on Broadway in 1965, the characters were revived in a successful 1968 film and 1970s television series, as well as several other derivative works and spin-offs. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates: the neat, uptight Felix Ungar and the slovenly, easygoing Oscar Madison. Simon adapted the play in 1985 to feature a pair of female roommates in The Female Odd Couple. An updated version of the 1965 show appeared in 2002 with the title Oscar and Felix: A New Look at the Odd Couple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gale Gordon</span> American actor (1906–1995)

Gale Gordon was an American character actor who was Lucille Ball's longtime television foil, particularly as cantankerously combustible, tightfisted bank executive Theodore J. Mooney, on Ball's second television sitcom The Lucy Show. Gordon also appeared in I Love Lucy and had starring roles in Ball's successful third series Here's Lucy and her short-lived fourth and final series Life with Lucy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Wyatt</span> American actress (1910–2006)

Jane Waddington Wyatt was an American actress. She starred in a number of Hollywood films, such as Frank Capra's Lost Horizon, but is likely best known for her role as homemaker and mother Margaret Anderson on the CBS and NBC television comedy series Father Knows Best, and as Amanda Grayson, the human mother of Spock on the science-fiction television series Star Trek. Wyatt was a three-time Emmy Award–winner.

<i>One Day at a Time</i> (1975 TV series) American television sitcom (1975–1984)

One Day at a Time is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from December 16, 1975, to May 28, 1984. It stars Bonnie Franklin as a divorced mother raising two teenage daughters, played by Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, set in Indianapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Franklin</span> American actress (1944–2013)

Bonnie Gail Franklin was an American actress. She is best known for her leading role as Ann Romano in the television series One Day at a Time (1975–1984). She was nominated for Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jami Gertz</span> American actress (born 1965)

Jami Beth Gertz is an American actress. Gertz is known for her early roles in the films Crossroads, Quicksilver, Less than Zero, The Lost Boys, and the 1980s TV series Square Pegs and 1996's Twister, as well as for her roles as Judy Miller in the CBS sitcom Still Standing and as Debbie Weaver in the ABC sitcom The Neighbors. Along with her husband, Tony Ressler, she is a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association.

<i>Love, Sidney</i> 1981 American TV series or program

Love, Sidney is an American sitcom television series which aired two seasons on NBC, from October 28, 1981, to June 6, 1983. It stars Tony Randall as Sidney Shorr, Swoosie Kurtz as Laurie Morgan, and Kaleena Kiff as Patricia "Patti" Morgan. It was the first program on American television to feature a gay person as the central character, although his sexual orientation was carefully downplayed for most of the series' duration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Hartley</span> American actor (born 1977)

Justin Scott Hartley is an American actor, television producer, and director. He has played Fox Crane on the NBC daytime soap opera Passions (2002–2006), Oliver Queen on the WB/CW television series Smallville (2006–2011), and Adam Newman on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless (2014–2016) which earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination. He also had recurring roles in the third season of the television drama series Revenge (2013–2014) and in the final three seasons of the drama series Mistresses (2014–2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Hudson</span> American actor

Oliver Rutledge Hudson is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Adam Rhodes in the CBS comedy series Rules of Engagement (2007–2013), Jeff Fordham on the ABC musical drama series Nashville (2013–2015) and Wes Gardner in the Fox horror comedy Scream Queens. He appeared as one of the main cast members of the ABC sitcom Splitting Up Together, produced by Ellen DeGeneres. In 2022, he played FBI agent Garrett Miller in Fox's The Cleaning Lady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McIntire</span> American actor (1907–1991)

John Herrick McIntire was an American character actor who appeared in 65 theatrical films and many television series. McIntire is well known for having replaced Ward Bond, upon Bond's sudden death in November 1960, as the star of NBC's Wagon Train. He played Christopher Hale, the leader of the wagon train from early 1961 to the series' end in 1965. He also replaced Charles Bickford, upon Bickford's death in 1967, as ranch owner Clay Grainger on NBC's The Virginian for four seasons.

<i>The New Leave It to Beaver</i> American television series

The New Leave It to Beaver is an American sitcom sequel to the original 1957–1963 sitcom Leave It to Beaver. The series began with the 1983 reunion television movie Still the Beaver that aired on CBS in March 1983. The success of the television movie prompted the creation of a revival series, also titled Still the Beaver, that aired on The Disney Channel from 1984 to 1985. In 1986, the series was picked up by TBS, where it aired until June 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Peyser</span> American actress (b. 1951)

Penelope Allison "Penny" Peyser is an American actress, writer, and filmmaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Moffat</span> British–American actor (1930–2018)

Donald Moffat was a British-American actor with a decades-long career in film and stage in the United States.

<i>Dan August</i> American crime drama series

Dan August is an American drama series that aired on ABC from September 23, 1970, to April 8, 1971. Burt Reynolds played the title character. Reruns of the series aired in prime time on CBS from May to October 1973 and from April to June 1975.

<i>The Odd Couple</i> (1970 TV series) American sitcom (1970–1975)

The Odd Couple is an American sitcom television series broadcast from September 24, 1970, to March 7, 1975, on ABC. The show, which stars Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison, was the first of several sitcoms developed by Garry Marshall for Paramount Television. The series is based on the 1965 play, The Odd Couple, written by Neil Simon, which was also adapted into the 1968 film, The Odd Couple. The story examines two divorced men, Oscar and Felix, who share Oscar's Manhattan apartment, and whose contrasting personalities inevitably lead to conflict and laughter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Pierson</span> American actor

Geoff Pierson is an American actor known for his starring television roles on Dexter, Unhappily Ever After, Grace Under Fire, 24, Ryan's Hope, and Designated Survivor. He has also guest-starred in dozens of other TV shows such as Friends, Monk, Fringe and Homeland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sue Randall</span> American actress (1935–1984)

Marion Burnside Randall, who acted under the name Sue Randall, was an American television actress whose entire seventeen-year career was spent in episodes of TV series, and one film (1957). Her best known role was the kindly Miss Alice Landers, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver's elementary school teacher in the CBS and ABC sitcom Leave It to Beaver.

References