Second generation star Adam Arkin landed his first series gig in the winter of 1977, cast in the lead of CBS' Busting Loose, which ran for a grand total of 21 episodes between January & November of '77. Which begs to ask. Why renew it if you're going to turn your back on it two months into the second season?
Truth is, viewers turned away in droves when the second season began, after the series was moved from Monday to Wednesday nights. Even though Loose was coupled with Good Times, the two sitcoms were matched against Eight is Enough (ABC) & The Life & Times of Grizzly Adams (NBC). My folks preferred Grizzly Adams, most Nielsen families opted for Enough. Ballgame over.
It wasn't for lack of trying. What the producers were hoping for was an ensemble buddy comedy that would've suggested studio stablemate Happy Days all grown up, with the setting being New York instead of Milwaukee. The lack of a Fonzie-esque character didn't help matters. Arkin and friends were helped along by veterans Pat Carroll (ex-Make Room For Daddy) and Jack Kruschen, better known for his frequent appearances in commercials and on Barney Miller.
Co-executive producer Mark Rothman also composed the show's swinging theme song, but the music otherwise came from Jack Elliott & Allyn Ferguson (Barney Miller, Charlie's Angels, etc.). Co-star Greg Antonacci was also a consultant, but wasn't heard from again on camera.
Let's check out a sample episode.
I can relate to Lenny's sitch. He's got an engineering degree and works in a shoe store? My brother has a Ph.D, but put himself up too high, career wise, and can't get a teaching job.
Of course, more than a decade later, Married......With Children found the gold mine with a high school jock turned shoe salesman who became a cult favorite.......
Generic sitcom fare of the period. Not much else.
Rating: B.
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