Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Encyclopedia
Scarecrow and Mrs. King is an American
television series
that aired from October 3, 1983, to May 28, 1987 on CBS
. The show starred Kate Jackson
and Bruce Boxleitner
as divorced housewife Amanda King and top-level "Agency" operative Lee Stetson who begin a strange association, and eventual romance, after encountering one another in a train station.
) is a divorced housewife who lives with her mother, Dotty (Beverly Garland
), and her young sons, Philip (Paul Stout) and Jamie (Greg Morton). One morning, Agency operative Lee Stetson (Bruce Boxleitner
), codenamed "Scarecrow," hands her a package while he is being pursued. He instructs her to "give it to the man in the red hat," but she is unable to complete the assignment, as there are many men in red hats in the train car at the time. Scarecrow later has to track her down to recover the package, inadvertently getting her involved with his case. When Stetson is captured by his pursuers and marked for elimination, Amanda ends up solving the secret behind the package, finding and rescuing Stetson, and even taking down their opponents, thereby getting introduced to the Agency.
Inquisitive, Amanda seeks to learn more about the organization and ends up working for them, first in an office role and later receiving training to become a full agent, while keeping her new job a secret from her family. She works under Lee's boss Billy Melrose (Mel Stewart
) and with dismissive fellow agent Francine Desmond (Martha Smith
). Amanda and Lee work together frequently, though he is initially reluctant to work with the "rookie," but eventually they become a good team.
As the series progresses, the "team" travels to places like Germany and England, and help each other as they pose as other people, even posing as husband and wife. Escapades involving cruise ships and even getting "married" are some of their assignments, and the KGB or other enemies of the United States are always involved. Amanda's ex-husband Joe King (Sam Melville
), is still friendly with the family and makes his appearance in a few episodes, including one where he is suspected of murder.
Lee and Amanda develop a friendship during the beginning that turns into a romantic relationship. Many suitors for Amanda or Lee pop up in episodes, but in the end, they fall for each other. Lee professes his love for Amanda before going into hiding from The Agency at the beginning of Season 4, and he then pops the question after her kidnapping. However, because of safety for Amanda's family, they must keep the marriage secret from their employer, friends, and family.
during the fourth season, her role was drastically reduced in later episodes and the series was canceled after the season was over.
SlashControl service from January through August 2009.
As of June 2011, the entire series is currently available for online viewing through Amazon Instant Video.
Warner Home Video
has released the first two seasons on DVD in Region 1. Season 3 will be released on March 20, 2012.
for "Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)" for the episode "We're Off to See the Wizard". It was nominated for multiple awards during its four year run, including two Emmy award nominations in 1985 for "Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series" and "Outstanding Achievement in Costuming" and another nomination in 1986 for "Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series". It was nominated for a 1985 Golden Globe award for "Outstanding Cinematography for a Series" for the episode "D.O.A.: Delirious On Arrival", and in 1988 the American Society of Cinematographers
nominated it for the "Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series" award. Paul Stout was nominated for a Young Artist Award
in 1985 for "Best Young Supporting Actor in a Daytime or Nighttime Drama" and "Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Drama Series", respectively.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
that aired from October 3, 1983, to May 28, 1987 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...
. The show starred Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson is an American actress, director, and producer, perhaps best known for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the popular 1970s television series Charlie's Angels...
and Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce William Boxleitner is an American actor, and science fiction and suspense writer. He is known for his leading roles in the television series How the West Was Won, Bring 'Em Back Alive, Scarecrow and Mrs. King , and Babylon 5...
as divorced housewife Amanda King and top-level "Agency" operative Lee Stetson who begin a strange association, and eventual romance, after encountering one another in a train station.
Plot
Amanda King (Kate JacksonKate Jackson
Kate Jackson is an American actress, director, and producer, perhaps best known for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the popular 1970s television series Charlie's Angels...
) is a divorced housewife who lives with her mother, Dotty (Beverly Garland
Beverly Garland
Beverly Garland was an American film and television actress, businesswoman, and hotel owner. Garland gained prominence for her role as Fred MacMurray's second wife, "Barbara Harper Douglas", in the 1960s sitcom My Three Sons...
), and her young sons, Philip (Paul Stout) and Jamie (Greg Morton). One morning, Agency operative Lee Stetson (Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce William Boxleitner is an American actor, and science fiction and suspense writer. He is known for his leading roles in the television series How the West Was Won, Bring 'Em Back Alive, Scarecrow and Mrs. King , and Babylon 5...
), codenamed "Scarecrow," hands her a package while he is being pursued. He instructs her to "give it to the man in the red hat," but she is unable to complete the assignment, as there are many men in red hats in the train car at the time. Scarecrow later has to track her down to recover the package, inadvertently getting her involved with his case. When Stetson is captured by his pursuers and marked for elimination, Amanda ends up solving the secret behind the package, finding and rescuing Stetson, and even taking down their opponents, thereby getting introduced to the Agency.
Inquisitive, Amanda seeks to learn more about the organization and ends up working for them, first in an office role and later receiving training to become a full agent, while keeping her new job a secret from her family. She works under Lee's boss Billy Melrose (Mel Stewart
Mel Stewart
Milton "Mel" Stewart was an American character actor, television director, and musician who appeared in numerous films and television shows from the 1960s to the 1990s. He is best known for playing Henry Jefferson on the popular television series All in the Family...
) and with dismissive fellow agent Francine Desmond (Martha Smith
Martha Smith
Martha Smith is an American model and actress. She is sometimes credited as Martha L. Smith....
). Amanda and Lee work together frequently, though he is initially reluctant to work with the "rookie," but eventually they become a good team.
As the series progresses, the "team" travels to places like Germany and England, and help each other as they pose as other people, even posing as husband and wife. Escapades involving cruise ships and even getting "married" are some of their assignments, and the KGB or other enemies of the United States are always involved. Amanda's ex-husband Joe King (Sam Melville
Sam Melville (actor)
Samuel Gardner Melville was an American actor who appeared as a guest sar on many popular television programs of the 1960s and 1970s...
), is still friendly with the family and makes his appearance in a few episodes, including one where he is suspected of murder.
Lee and Amanda develop a friendship during the beginning that turns into a romantic relationship. Many suitors for Amanda or Lee pop up in episodes, but in the end, they fall for each other. Lee professes his love for Amanda before going into hiding from The Agency at the beginning of Season 4, and he then pops the question after her kidnapping. However, because of safety for Amanda's family, they must keep the marriage secret from their employer, friends, and family.
Production
Due to Jackson being treated for breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
during the fourth season, her role was drastically reduced in later episodes and the series was canceled after the season was over.
Media
The entire series was made available for online viewing through AOL'sAOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
SlashControl service from January through August 2009.
As of June 2011, the entire series is currently available for online viewing through Amazon Instant Video.
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
has released the first two seasons on DVD in Region 1. Season 3 will be released on March 20, 2012.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Complete First Season | 21 | March 9, 2010 |
| The Complete Second Season | 23 | March 22, 2011 |
| The Complete Third Season | 22 | March 20, 2012 |
Reception
Scarecrow and Mrs. King won a 1986 Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for "Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)" for the episode "We're Off to See the Wizard". It was nominated for multiple awards during its four year run, including two Emmy award nominations in 1985 for "Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series" and "Outstanding Achievement in Costuming" and another nomination in 1986 for "Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series". It was nominated for a 1985 Golden Globe award for "Outstanding Cinematography for a Series" for the episode "D.O.A.: Delirious On Arrival", and in 1988 the American Society of Cinematographers
American Society of Cinematographers
The American Society of Cinematographers is an educational, cultural, and professional organization. It is not a labor union, and it is not a guild. Membership is by invitation and is extended only to directors of photography and special effects experts with distinguished credits in the film...
nominated it for the "Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series" award. Paul Stout was nominated for a Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
in 1985 for "Best Young Supporting Actor in a Daytime or Nighttime Drama" and "Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Drama Series", respectively.