Updates to Blondie On Television

RGJ — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:46:32 +0000

I’ve totally rewritten my article about Blondie on Television, having uncovered new details about not one but two early attempts to bring the comic strip to television. A pilot was produced between 1951 and 1953 starring Jeff Donnell and John Harvey but failed to turn into a series. Another pilot was produced in 1954 with Pamela Britton and Hal LeRoy but it, too, was never sold.

I’ve also expanded the section about Blondie on the big screen and on radio. And I’ve added several reviews from critics relating to the 1968 version. Here’s the new summary:

Chic Young’s long-running comic strip found lasting success on the big screen (with a series of 28 movies) and radio (a solid eleven-year run). But it just couldn’t translate to television. The first two attempts, in 1952 and 1954, never made it past the pilot stage. And the two versions that did make it to the air lasted, at best, a single season. The first was broadcast on CBS in 1957 (26 episodes) with Arthur Lake, reprising his role from the film series, and Pamela Britton. The second ran on NBC from 1968 to 1969 (13 episodes) with Patricia Harty and Will Hutchins.

Television Obscurities » Blondie

Updates to Blondie On Television