Blondie
The Bumstead family.
Also known asThe New Blondie
GenreSitcom
Based oncomic strip Blondie
by Chic Young
Written byDanny Simon
Directed byNorman Abbott
Peter Baldwin
Bruce Bilson
Gene Nelson
StarringPatricia Harty
Will Hutchins
Peter Robbins
Pamelyn Ferdin
Jim Backus
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes14 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producerAl Brodax
ProducersJoe Connelly
Irving Paley (assistant)
Running time24 mins.
Production companiesKayro Productions
King Features Syndicate
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 26, 1968 (1968-09-26) –
January 9, 1969 (1969-01-09)
Related

Blondie (also known as The New Blondie) is an American sitcom that aired on CBS during the 1968–69 television season. The series is an updated version of the 1957 TV series that was based on the comic strip of the same name. The series stars Patricia Harty as the title character and Will Hutchins as her husband Dagwood Bumstead. Jim Backus played Dagwood's boss Mr. Dithers, with his real-life wife Henny Backus playing Cora Dithers. The series also featured the noted child character actress Pamelyn Ferdin as the Bumsteads' daughter, Cookie, and character actor Bryan O'Byrne as the hapless mailman, always getting run over by Dagwood hurrying out the door, late for work.

Synopsis

Blondie stars Patricia Harty and Will Hutchins as Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, a suburban couple raising two precocious children. Plots mixed typical sitcom tropes from home life and work life. The series is best remembered for its opening theme, which featured the comic strip characters in animated form before transforming into the actors playing the characters.

Like the 1957 version, which lasted only one season, the series was not a hit, lasting a total of 13 weeks before being canceled, with the final episode remaining unaired.[1] Two further episodes were planned, "The Dying Swan" and "Dagwood's Private War", but were never completed.

Cast

Jim and Henny Backus as Mr. and Mrs. Dithers

Ferdin and Robbins would later reunite on the 1969 television special It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown and the 1969 film A Boy Named Charlie Brown, being the last time Robbins played Charlie Brown.

Production notes

This version of the series, jointly produced by CBS Productions (which owns the distribution rights in the United States), King Features Syndicate and Kayro Productions, ran from September 26, 1968, to January 9, 1969.

Cast member Pamelyn Ferdin recalls the series was cancelled so abruptly that the cast was dismissed during the lunch break while an episode was being filmed.

Episode list

Nº Title Directed by Written by Air date PC
1"Sayanora Dagwood"Norman AbbottGary Belkin and George TibblesSeptember 26, 1968 (1968-09-26)1
2"My Camp Runneth Over"Peter BaldwinGary Belkin & John McGreeveyOctober 3, 1968 (1968-10-03)8
3"Blondie-Flower Child"Norman AbbottUnknownOctober 10, 1968 (1968-10-10)4
4"The Gladiators"Gene NelsonDanny SimonOctober 17, 1968 (1968-10-17)9
5"Angel in Disguise"Bruce BilsonUnknownOctober 31, 1968 (1968-10-31)10
6"Dither's Damned Dog"Norman AbbottUnknownNovember 7, 1968 (1968-11-07)2
7"Dagwood the Wheeler Dealer"Norman AbbottUnknownNovember 14, 1968 (1968-11-14)6
8"Blondie's Good Citizen"Norman AbbottUnknownNovember 21, 1968 (1968-11-21)3
9"Blondie's Birthday"Gene NelsonUnknownDecember 5, 1968 (1968-12-05)13
10"Marriage Menders"Norman AbbottLois HireDecember 12, 1968 (1968-12-12)5
11"Blondie's Masquerade"Gene NelsonUnknownDecember 19, 1968 (1968-12-19)11
12"Once Upon a Guru"Norman AbbottUnknownDecember 26, 1968 (1968-12-26)7
13"Pick on a Bully Your Own Size"Peter BaldwinUnknownJanuary 9, 1969 (1969-01-09)14
14"Run Buddy Run"Gene NelsonBob MosherUNAIRED12

References

  1. ↑ Tucker, David C. (2010). Lost Laughs of '50s and '60s Television: Thirty Sitcoms That Faded Off Screen. McFarland. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-786-44466-3.

Further reading

  • Blondie Goes to Hollywood, by Carol Lynn Scherling. Albany, 2010. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-401-9.
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