A Date with Judy (TV series)

A Date with Judy is an American situation comedy television series, two versions of which were broadcast on ABC between 1951 and 1953. A daytime version ran on weekly on Saturdays from June 2, 1951 to February 23, 1952.[1] A primetime version with a different cast ran from July 10, 1952 to September 30, 1953.[2]

This article is about the 1951 American television program. For the radio program and the film, respectively, see A Date with Judy and A Date with Judy (film).

A Date with Judy (daytime)
GenreSituation comedy
Written byAleen Leslie
StarringPatricia Crowley
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
Production
Producer(s)Aleen Leslie
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseJune 2, 1951 (1951-06-02) –
February 23, 1952 (1952-02-23)
A Date with Judy (primetime)
GenreSituation comedy
Written byAleen Leslie
StarringMary Lynn Beller
Country of originUnited States
Production
Producer(s)Aleen Leslie
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseJuly 15, 1952 (1952-07-15) –
September 30, 1953 (1953-09-30)

Premise

The title character was teenager Judy Foster. The book Television Series of the 1950s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details described Foster as "a very pretty girl who is called 'the cutest date in town'", adding, "Judy has a knack for finding mischief and has a firm belief that her family doesn't understand her."[3] The Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 described her as "bright, enthusiastic and 'blessed' with a knack for finding trouble."[4] Judy's parents were Melvyn and Dora Foster, and she had a 12-year-old brother, Randolph. Her boyfriend was Oogie Pringle.[3]

The program was derived from the radio show of the same name.[2]

Cast

The table below shows the actors who portrayed the main characters in the two versions of the program.

Character Daytime version Primetime version
Judy FosterPatricia CrowleyMary Lynn Beller
Oogie PringleJimmie SommerJimmie Sommer
Melvin FosterGene O'DonnellJohn Gibson
Dora FosterAnna LeeFlora Campbell
Randolph FosterJudson ReesPeter Avramo

Source: Total Television[1]

Broadcast

The daytime version ran on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to noon, Eastern Daylight Time.[5] The primetime version ran on Thursdays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. (July 1952 - October 1952) and then on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. (June 1953 - September 1953).[2]

The primetime version was replaced by Saber of London, which had been on ABC on a different night the previous season.[6]

Reception

In the trade publication Billboard, a review of the first daytime episode described A Date with Judy as "a mildly diverting situation comedy aimed at teenagers". Reviewer Leon Morse wrote that the program was cast well, but the script needed improvement.[5]

References
  1. McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 199. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. Books, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1979). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946–Present. New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 147–148. ISBN 0-345-25525-9.
  3. Terrace, Vincent (2016). Television Series of the 1950s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9781442261044. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  4. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 237–238. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. Morse, Leon (June 16, 1951). "Date with Judy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 8. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  6. "ABC Weighs 'Problem' TV". Billboard. September 5, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
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