5 years had passed since The Partridge Family had ended. Ratings hungry NBC thought that its star, Shirley Jones, could still pull viewers in on Friday nights. I think you know where this is going.
Shirley bowed in October 1979, with Jones fronting a new ensemble that included veteran John McIntire (ex-Wagon Train, The Virginian), and future stars Tracey Gold and Peter Barton. Jones also sang the theme song.
However, and this was a lesson NBC would learn again and again, viewers' habits would change on different nights as time passes. In 1979, CBS had taken over Fridays with The Incredible Hulk, The Dukes of Hazzard, & Dallas. Shirley lasted just 1 season, and Shirley Jones didn't land another series gig.
Here's the opener:
Peter Barton would return a couple of years later with another 1-season wonder, The Powers of Matthew Star, before joining up with Gene Barry for a 90's revival of Burke's Law, which went 2 seasons. Tracey Gold would find greater success with Growing Pains, which was a mid-week staple for ABC in the 80's.
No rating. As has been previously noted, my folks were into Hulk and The Dukes.
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