Blondie (1968 TV series)
Encyclopedia
Blondie is a short-lived American sitcom
that aired on CBS
during the 1968-1969 television season. The series is an updated version of the 1957 TV series that was based on the comic strip of the same name
. The series starred Will Hutchins
as Dagwood Bumstead and Jim Backus
as his boss Mr. Dithers, and featured child character actress Pamelyn Ferdin
as the Bumstead's daughter, and character actor Bryan O'Byrne
as the hapless mailman, always getting run over by Dagwood hurrying out the door, late for work.
as his wife, the title character. Jim Backus played Dagwood's grumpy boss J.C. Dithers, with his real life wife Henny Backus
playing Cora Dithers. Pamelyn Ferdin, a noted child actress of the 1960s and 1970s, played Cookie Bumstead. The series is known for its opening theme, which featured the comic strip characters in animated form before transforming into the actors playing the characters. Like the 1957 version, which lasted only one season, this one was even shorter-lived, lasting only 13 episodes due to competition on Thursday nights.
This version of the series, jointly produced by CBS Productions
(which owns the distribution rights in the United States), King Features Syndicate
and Kayro Productions
, ran from September 26, 1968 to January 9, 1969.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
during the 1968-1969 television season. The series is an updated version of the 1957 TV series that was based on the comic strip of the same name
Blondie (comic strip)
Blondie is an American comic strip created by cartoonist Chic Young. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, the strip has been published in newspapers since September 8, 1930...
. The series starred Will Hutchins
Will Hutchins
Will Hutchins is an American actor most noted for playing the lead role of the young lawyer Tom Brewster in the Warner Brothers Western television series Sugarfoot on ABC from 1957-1961.-Biography:...
as Dagwood Bumstead and Jim Backus
Jim Backus
James Gilmore "Jim" Backus was a radio, television, film, and voice actor. Among his most famous roles are the voice of Mr...
as his boss Mr. Dithers, and featured child character actress Pamelyn Ferdin
Pamelyn Ferdin
Pamelyn Ferdin is a former American television and film child actor, active both in live action and as a voice actress in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and has since appeared in several voice acting roles as late as 2009...
as the Bumstead's daughter, and character actor Bryan O'Byrne
Bryan O'Byrne
Bryan Jay O'Byrne was an American film and television actor and acting coach...
as the hapless mailman, always getting run over by Dagwood hurrying out the door, late for work.
Synopsis
Blondie starred Will Hutchins as Dagwood Bumstead and Patricia HartyPatricia Harty (actor)
Patricia Harty also known professionally as Trisha Hart, is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles in several short-lived television series, Occasional Wife as Greta Patterson, Blondie as the titular Blondie Bumstead, The Bob Crane Show as Ellie Wilcox and Herbie, The Love Bug...
as his wife, the title character. Jim Backus played Dagwood's grumpy boss J.C. Dithers, with his real life wife Henny Backus
Henny Backus
Henny Backus was a Broadway showgirl in the 1930s, where she performed with Earl Carroll's Vanities. Born Henrietta Kaye in Philadelphia, she was the wife of actor and comedian Jim Backus.-Career:...
playing Cora Dithers. Pamelyn Ferdin, a noted child actress of the 1960s and 1970s, played Cookie Bumstead. The series is known for its opening theme, which featured the comic strip characters in animated form before transforming into the actors playing the characters. Like the 1957 version, which lasted only one season, this one was even shorter-lived, lasting only 13 episodes due to competition on Thursday nights.
This version of the series, jointly produced by CBS Productions
CBS Productions
CBS Productions is the production arm of the CBS television network now a part of CBS Corporation, formed in 1952 to produce shows in-house, instead of relying solely on outside productions. Its first production was CBS Television Workshop, a drama anthology series...
(which owns the distribution rights in the United States), King Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate, a print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to nearly 5000 newspapers worldwide...
and Kayro Productions
Universal Television
Universal Television is the television production arm of the NBCUniversal Television Group, and by extension, the NBC television network...
, ran from September 26, 1968 to January 9, 1969.
Cast
- Will HutchinsWill HutchinsWill Hutchins is an American actor most noted for playing the lead role of the young lawyer Tom Brewster in the Warner Brothers Western television series Sugarfoot on ABC from 1957-1961.-Biography:...
as Dagwood Bumstead - Patricia HartyPatricia Harty (actor)Patricia Harty also known professionally as Trisha Hart, is an American actress. She is known for her starring roles in several short-lived television series, Occasional Wife as Greta Patterson, Blondie as the titular Blondie Bumstead, The Bob Crane Show as Ellie Wilcox and Herbie, The Love Bug...
as Blondie - Jim BackusJim BackusJames Gilmore "Jim" Backus was a radio, television, film, and voice actor. Among his most famous roles are the voice of Mr...
as Mr. Dithers - Pamelyn FerdinPamelyn FerdinPamelyn Ferdin is a former American television and film child actor, active both in live action and as a voice actress in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and has since appeared in several voice acting roles as late as 2009...
as Cookie - Peter RobbinsPeter Robbins (actor)Peter Robbins is a former child actor best known for his voice-over work as Charlie Brown in the 1960s.-The original Charlie Brown:...
as Alexander - Henny BackusHenny BackusHenny Backus was a Broadway showgirl in the 1930s, where she performed with Earl Carroll's Vanities. Born Henrietta Kaye in Philadelphia, she was the wife of actor and comedian Jim Backus.-Career:...
as Mrs. Cora Dithers - Bobbi Jordan as Tootsie Woodley
- Bryan O'ByrneBryan O'ByrneBryan Jay O'Byrne was an American film and television actor and acting coach...
as the mailman Mr. Beasley
Episode list
| Episode # | Production Code | Episode Title | Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Sayanora Dagwood" | September 26, 1968 |
| 2 | 8 | "My Camp Runneth Over" | October 3, 1968 |
| 3 | 4 | "Blondie-Flower Child" | October 10, 1968 |
| 4 | 9 | "The Gladiators" | October 17, 1968 |
| 5 | 10 | "Angel in Disguise" | October 31, 1968 |
| 6 | 2 | "Dither's Damned Dog" | November 7, 1968 |
| 7 | 6 | "Dagwood the Wheeler Dealer" | November 14, 1968 |
| 8 | 3 | "Blondie's Good Citizen" | November 21, 1968 |
| 9 | 13 | "Blondie's Birthday" | December 5, 1968 |
| 10 | 5 | "Marriage Menders" | December 12, 1968 |
| 11 | 11 | "Blondie's Masquerade" | December 19, 1968 |
| 12 | 7 | "Once Upon a Guru" | December 26, 1968 |
| 13 | 14 | "Pick on a Bully Your Own Size" | January 9, 1969 |
| 14 | |
"Run Buddy Run" | Never aired |
Further reading
Blondie Goes to Hollywood, by Carol Lynn Scherling. Albany, 2010. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-401-9.External links
- Official Blondie Website
- Blondie TV series opening at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....