Breaking Away (TV series)
Breaking Away is a 1980 American comedy-drama television series that was based on the 1979 film of the same name. It was created by Steve Tesich, who wrote the original film, and the film's director Peter Yates served as Executive Producer.
Breaking Away | |
---|---|
Genre | Comedy/Drama |
Created by | Steve Tesich |
Starring | Shaun Cassidy Jackie Earle Haley Barbara Barrie |
Composer(s) | Lance Rubin |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 8 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Peter Yates |
Producer(s) | Sam Manners Glenn Gordon Caron (Supervising Producer) |
Cinematography | Brianne Murphy |
Editor(s) | Artie Mandelberg Gene Ruggiero |
Running time | 1 hour (inc. commercials) |
Production company(s) | 20th Century Fox Television |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Picture format | 4:3 color film |
Original release | November 29, 1980 – January 10, 1981 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by | Breaking Away |
As a prequel, the series was set during the year prior to the events of the film. Shaun Cassidy took over the role of Dave Stohler (played by Dennis Christopher in the film),[1] a young man crazy about bicycle racing and all things Italian. Barbara Barrie, Jackie Earle Haley and John Ashton reprised their roles from the film.[2] The television series was set in Bloomington, Indiana, but was actually shot in Athens, Georgia.
The series was caught up in the 1980 Screen Actors Guild Strike and did not begin production until that fall. While heavily promoted by ABC, it was overlooked by TV audiences once it got on the air and suffered low ratings. It was cancelled after eight episodes were filmed, though only seven episodes aired during its original run.[3] ABC showed reruns of the series during the summer of 1981, and it was also rerun by A&E during 1985–1987.
Cast
- Shaun Cassidy as Dave Stohler[1]
- Tom Wiggin as Mike[1][2]
- Thom Bray as Cyril[1]
- Jackie Earle Haley as Moocher[1][2]
- Barbara Barrie as Evelyn Stohler, Dave's mother[2]
- Vincent Gardenia as Raymond Stohler, Dave's father[1]
- Recurring
- Dominique Dunne as Paulina Bornstein (episodes 2, 5, 6, & 8)
- Shelby Brammer as Nancy (episodes 1, 4, 5)
- Steve Doubet as Steve (episodes 2, 4)
- John Ashton as Roy, Mike's brother
Episodes
# | Title | Director | Writer(s) | Airdate | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1x01 | "The Cutters" | Joe Rubin | Steve Tesich[1] | 29 November 1980 | |
The series opens one year before the film as Dave and his friends graduate high school. | |||||
1x02 | "The American Dream" | Stan Lathan | Charles Rosin | 6 December 1980 | |
Dave audits a college class and meets Paulina, while a co-ed gets Mike to play in a football game for a fraternity. Guest stars: Jeff Corey as Professor Manchester | |||||
1x03 | "Knowing Her" | Kim Friedman | Jerry McNeely | 13 December 1980 | |
Cyril dates a co-ed, Moocher gets a job in a movie theater, Evelyn takes a real-estate course. Guest stars: Larry Larson as Grant/Greg Prince, Woody Eney as Dougherty, Lenora May as Jeanne Lindsay | |||||
1x04 | "King of the Quarry" | Victor Lobl | Steve Pritzker | 20 December 1980 | |
Ray guest lectures at the university, Moocher get a job offer in Chicago. Guest stars: Brian Lane Green as Jerry, Lauri Huffer as Jennifer | |||||
1x05 | "Heart Like a Wheel" | Jack Bender | Caroline Elias | 27 December 1980 | |
Paulina meets Dave's parents over dinner, Moocher asks Nancy to move in together, and Mike drag races a college student. Guest stars: Chris Lemmon as Danny | |||||
1x06 | "Rainy Night in Georgia" | Stan Lathan | Jerry McNeely & Charles Rosin | 3 January 1981 | |
Evelyn wants Ray to buy land near the university as an investment | |||||
1x07 | "La Strada" | Jeff Bleckner | Steve Tesich & Glenn Gordon Caron | 10 January 1981 | |
The guys get a painting job, Dave's bicycle is stolen. Guest stars: Mark Metcalf as Racer, Dennis Robertson as Simms | |||||
1x08 | "Grand Illusion" | —— | —— | unaired |
References
- Peter J Boyer (28 November 1980). "ABC 'Breaking Away' misses star of film". The Miami News. Cox Enterprises. p. 6B. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- Vernon Scott (23 January 1981). "Breaking Away issues an SOS". Calgary Herald. Postmedia Network. p. 7. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- "Breaking Away: Episodes". TV.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-12.