- Mr. Smith (TV series)
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This article is about the 1983 series. For 1962-63 ABC sitcom, see Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (TV series).
Mr. Smith 
Genre Sitcom Written by Dari Daniels
George Kirgo
David Lloyd
Douglas WymanDirected by Stan Daniels
Ralph Helfer
Gerald Hirschfeld
Ed. WeinbergerStarring Leonard Frey
Tim DuniganVoices of Ed. Weinberger Composer(s) Patrick Williams Country of origin United States Language(s) English No. of seasons 1 No. of episodes 13 Production Executive producer(s) Stan Daniels
Ed. WeinbergerProducer(s) Ralph Helfer Running time 22–24 minutes Production company(s) Paramount Television Broadcast Original channel NBC Original run September 23, 1983 – December 16, 1983 Mr. Smith is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23 through December 16, 1983. The series was based around the premise of a talking orangutan. Mr. Smith was canceled after thirteen episodes were aired.
The orangutan who played Mr. Smith had previously been featured in the Clint Eastwood movies Any Which Way You Can and Every Which Way But Loose.[1]
Contents
Synopsis
Originally a part of a traveling act called the Atwood Orangutans, Cha Cha and Bobo are separated from their trainer Tommy Atwood (Tim Dunigan) after he is knocked unconscious after a car accident while the act is traveling from Arizona to California. Frightened by the commotion caused by the accident, Cha Cha and Bobo both run away. Cha Cha is eventually found and sent to a government research center in Washington, D.C.. Weeks later, Cha Cha escapes from the center and ends up in a research lab where he finds an experimental mixture to increase human intelligence being developed. After drinking the mixture, Cha Cha is able to talk (his voice was provided by series executive producer Ed. Weinberger)[2] and is later determined to have an I.Q of 256. He is then renamed Mr. Smith and, due to his high intelligence, becomes a political adviser. Mr. Smith's old trainer Tommy later becomes his assistant while Mr. Smith attempts to solve various political problems and his surrounding staff, which includes his secretary Raymond Holyoke (Leonard Frey), attempt to keep his identity hidden from the general public.
Mr. Smith's premiere episode ranked 47th out of 56 shows and was panned by critics. Viewership decreased as the season progressed and the series was canceled (along with seven other NBC series) in December 1983.[3][4]
Cast
- Leonard Frey....Raymond Holyoke
- Tim Dunigan....Tommy Atwood
- Terri Garber....Dr. July Tyson
- Laura Jacoby....Ellie Atwood
- Stuart Margolin.....Dr. Klein
Episode list
Episode # Episode Title Airdate 1 "Welcome to Washington (Part 1)" September 23, 1983 2 "Welcome to Washington (Part 2)" September 23, 1983 3 "Mr. Smith Operates" September 30, 1983 4 "Mr. Smith Finds His Brother" October 14, 1983 5 "Goodbye, Mr. Smith" October 21, 1983 6 "Mr. Smith Rescues Bobo" October 21, 1983 7 "Mr. Smith Falls in Love" October 28, 1983 8 "Mr. Smith Gets Physical" November 4, 1983 9 "Mr. Smith Loses a Friend" November 11, 1983 10 "Mr. Smith Makes a Commercial" November 18, 1983 11 "Mr. Smith Plays Cyrano" November 25, 1983 12 "Mr. Smith Goes Public" December 2, 1983 13 "Mr. Smith Goes to Court" December 16, 1983 Award nominations
Year Award Result Category Recipient 1984 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) Patrick Williams
(For episode "Mr. Smith Falls in Love")1984 Young Artist Award Nominated Best Young Actress in a New Television Series Laura Jacoby Nominated Best New Television Series - 1985 Nominated Best Young Actress in a Television Comedy Series Laura Jacoby References
- ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 789. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
- ^ Brant, Marley (2006). Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms, 1974-1984. Billboard Books. p. 260. ISBN 0-823-08933-9.
- ^ "10 Of The Most Outlandish TV Concepts Ever". tvobscurities.com. 2004-01-01. http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/10outlandish.php. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ Shah, Diane K. (1987-10-25). "Starting Over: TV's Grant Tinker". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4DA103EF936A15753C1A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=6. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
External links
- Mr. Smith at the Internet Movie Database
- Mr. Smith at TV.com
Categories:- 1983 television series debuts
- 1983 television series endings
- 1980s American television series
- American television sitcoms
- NBC network shows
- Fictional orangutans
- Television series by CBS Paramount Television
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