To say that Bob Crane's TV comeback was troubled would be a gross understatement.
Crane had been making movies, such as the Disney film, "Superdad", before he signed with MTM Productions, which sold a sitcom, initially entitled, Second Start, to NBC, intended for the fall 1974 schedule. However, there were some issues, leading to a pair of reshoots. The series finally aired, under the title, The Bob Crane Show, launching in March 1975. NBC was looking for something, anything, to counter The Waltons on CBS.
Crane played Bob Wilcox, a former insurance executive who changed careers by enrolling in medical school. Patricia Harty (ex-Blondie, Occasional Wife) played his wife. It is said that Crane wasn't really happy with the way the show turned out, as he was hoping for something along the lines of what Mary Tyler Moore and Bob Newhart had over at CBS, but didn't get it.
Following is a clip from the series finale, with guest star John Ritter, who had a recurring role on The Waltons.
This was fish out of water territory. Viewers weren't buying. Not seen in the video is John Hillerman (later of Ellery Queen, Magnum, P. I., etc.), who also appeared in this episode.
No rating. Thursdays meant The Waltons or an ABC newcomer, Barney Miller, back in those days.
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