Our Family Honor
Encyclopedia
Our Family Honor is an American drama
tic television series aired in the United States
on ABC
as part of its 1985 fall lineup
.
Launched as a two-hour TV-movie, Our Family Honor was about two New York City
families who had known each other since their childhoods and who were involved in competing "family businesses" – the McKay family mostly worked for the New York City Police Department
, where Patrick (Kenneth McMillan
) was Commissioner, while the Danzigs were deeply involved in organized crime
, with patriarch Vincent (Eli Wallach
) filling the role of "godfather". Barbara Stuart
played Vincent's wife, Marianne Danzig. Detective Sergeant Frank McKay (Tom Mason
) was Patrick's often hot-headed son, while Vincent's cruel but inept son, Augie (Michael Madsen
), was nonetheless his heir apparent. Liz McKay (Daphne Ashbrook
), Patrick's niece, was a newly-graduated officer now partnered with Officer Ed Santini (Ray Liotta
). She was romantically involved with Vincent's other son, Jerry (Michael Woods
), who wanted out of his father's business and used the name "Jerry Cole" in order to minimize any connection with his father's family. Another story line involved Vincent's murder of his wife's lover, carried out by Augie; when Frank came to arrest Augie for this crime, Augie died in the ensuing fight. The effect of Augie's death was not revealed. Despite the program's large budget and large, impressive cast, it was cancelled due to low ratings
after the episode (January 3, 1986) containing this event was aired.
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
tic television series aired in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
as part of its 1985 fall lineup
1985-86 United States network television schedule
This was the United States television schedule on all three commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1985. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football....
.
Launched as a two-hour TV-movie, Our Family Honor was about two New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
families who had known each other since their childhoods and who were involved in competing "family businesses" – the McKay family mostly worked for the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
, where Patrick (Kenneth McMillan
Kenneth McMillan (actor)
Kenneth McMillan was an American actor. McMillan was usually cast as gruff, hostile and unfriendly characters due to his rough image...
) was Commissioner, while the Danzigs were deeply involved in organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
, with patriarch Vincent (Eli Wallach
Eli Wallach
Eli Herschel Wallach is an American film, television and stage actor, who gained fame in the late 1950s. For his performance in Baby Doll he won a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and a Golden Globe nomination. One of his most famous roles is that of Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
) filling the role of "godfather". Barbara Stuart
Barbara Stuart
Barbara Ann Stuart was an American actress.-Major roles:Stuart portrayed "Miss Bunny", the girlfriend of Sergeant Vincent Carter, played by Frank Sutton, on three seasons of CBS's Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C....
played Vincent's wife, Marianne Danzig. Detective Sergeant Frank McKay (Tom Mason
Tom Mason (actor)
Tom Mason is an American actor born in Brooklyn, New York. He began his television career in 1977, portraying Rex Stout's fictional detective Archie Goodwin in the ABC-TV movie Nero Wolfe...
) was Patrick's often hot-headed son, while Vincent's cruel but inept son, Augie (Michael Madsen
Michael Madsen
Michael Søren Madsen is an American actor, poet, and photographer. He has appeared in more than 150 films, most of them small independent films, though he has starred in central roles in such films as Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Kill Bill, in addition to a supporting role in Sin...
), was nonetheless his heir apparent. Liz McKay (Daphne Ashbrook
Daphne Ashbrook
Daphne Lee Ashbrook is an American actress.-Personal life:Daphne Ashbrook was raised in the San Diego, CA area. Her parents are San Diego theatre actress D'Ann Paton and late actor/Director Buddy Ashbrook...
), Patrick's niece, was a newly-graduated officer now partnered with Officer Ed Santini (Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta
[File:Ray Liotta is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams...
). She was romantically involved with Vincent's other son, Jerry (Michael Woods
Michael Woods
Michael Woods is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide range of cabinet positions, most notably as Minister for Agriculture and Food, Minister for Education and Science and Minister for Health.-Life:...
), who wanted out of his father's business and used the name "Jerry Cole" in order to minimize any connection with his father's family. Another story line involved Vincent's murder of his wife's lover, carried out by Augie; when Frank came to arrest Augie for this crime, Augie died in the ensuing fight. The effect of Augie's death was not revealed. Despite the program's large budget and large, impressive cast, it was cancelled due to low ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
after the episode (January 3, 1986) containing this event was aired.