BJ & The Bear preceded CBS' Dukes of Hazzard to the air by a month, but only lasted 2 1/2 years as opposed to Dukes' 6 year run (1979-85, 6 1/2 seasons). Go figure.
BJ McKay (Greg Evigan, ex-A Year At The Top) was a truck driver making his living taking jobs all over the country, and finding trouble and adventure at every turn. Aside from the last part, I can relate, since I had an uncle who drove a 18 wheeler for a prominent company back in the day. Digressing aside, BJ had frequent run-ins with corrupt sheriff Elroy Lobo (Claude Akins, ex-Movin' On), who became so popular himself, that he was spun off into his own series. Once Lobo left, BJ had a new nemesis in another corrupt lawman, Rutherford Grant (Murray Hamilton), who made Lobo look like a choirboy by comparison.
The final season not only saw the emergence of Grant, but also a team of female drivers, including Grant's own daughter, which put Grant at a moral crossroads. As a result, like Lobo before him, Grant would forge a temporary truce with BJ against a common foe.
Following is a network promo for the TV-movie opener, narrated by Casey Kasem:
Today, the show sits in Universal's vaults, not even airing on Cloo. Try figuring that one out. If Lobo's solo series could land a berth on Retro a couple of years back, why not BJ & The Bear? And whatever happened to Bear, anyway?
Rating: B.
2 comments:
I wasn't aware there was still a Cloo channel!
Our dish doesn't carry it anymore.
This was a likeable show if a bit gimmicky (hot trucker traveling with a chimp), but Greg Evigan always came across as a likeable guy. I started tuning out once Sherriff Lobo was gone and the lady truckers came along. There are times I wish I could be a fly on the wall at some of these network suit meetings just to find out how they come up with these ideas!
Then again, I have a hunch it has to do with street pharmacuticals.....
Ditto, though the trucker dolls were spinoff potential.......
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