This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2014) |
Billy is an American sitcom and a spin-off of Head of the Class that aired on ABC for half a season from January 31 to May 30, 1992. The series starred Billy Connolly as Billy MacGregor, a Scottish teacher who moves to America in order to build a new life for himself.
| Billy | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Michael Elias Rich Eustis |
| Starring | Billy Connolly Marie Marshall Johnny Galecki Natanya Ross Clara Bryant |
| Composer | Ed Alton |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Michael Elias Rich Eustis |
| Producers | Ray Jessel Frank Pace Rebecca Parr Ehrich Von Lowe |
| Editor | Jimmy B. Frazier |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies | Eustis/Elias Productions Warner Bros. Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | January 31 – May 30, 1992 |
Synopsis
editFollowing the end of Head of the Class, Billy moves to Berkeley, California, after Filmore High School was closed down, where he marries Mary Springer (played by Marie Marshall), a single mom with several children, so he could get his green card. The marriage is arranged in order to prevent Billy from being deported back to the U.K. Billy becomes Mary's boarder, living in her basement apartment with the strictest of rules: no drinking, no smoking, no pets, and no sex.
The series follows Billy's misadventures as he adjusts to life in California while staying one step ahead of immigration officials seeking to prove his marriage is a sham. Meanwhile, his relationship with Mary's children, 14-year-old David, 10-year-old Laura and 5-year-old Annie, (played by Johnny Galecki, Natanya Ross, and Clara Bryant) deepens to a parental level, and Billy and Mary likewise find themselves drawing closer together, although the series was cancelled before this subplot could be carried out.
Cast
edit- Billy Connolly as Billy MacGregor
- Marie Marshall as Mary Springer MacGregor
- Johnny Galecki as David MacGregor
- Natanya Ross as Laura MacGregor
- Clara Bryant as Annie MacGregor
Scheduling and cancellation
editBilly premiered as part of ABC's TGIF lineup, Fridays at 9:30/8:30c. After two months in this time period, the show moved to Saturday night (just one week after ABC abruptly ended the failed TGIF sister lineup, I Love Saturday Night), at 8:30/7:30c. While on Saturdays, the program would switch time slots a few more times, but none of the moves produced better ratings; Billy folded after one season.
Episodes
edit| No. | Title [1] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Sam Weisman | Michael Elias & Rich Eustis | January 31, 1992 | 18.0[2] |
| 2 | "Hot Stuff" | Howard Storm | Rebecca Parr & David Hurwitz & Erich Von Lowe | February 7, 1992 | 15.7[3] |
| 3 | "Parenting 101" | Robert Berlinger | Story by : George Tricker Teleplay by : Diane Wilk & Joyce Costanza & Larry Moskowitz | February 14, 1992 | 13.7[4] |
| 4 | "Poker Face" | Peter Baldwin | Rich Eustis & Michael Elias & Ray Jessel | February 21, 1992 | 13.8[5] |
| 5 | "Billy Gets the Bird" | John Bowab | Erich Von Lowe | February 28, 1992 | 16.0[6] |
| 6 | "Gimme Some Credit" | Robert Berlinger | Story by : Ehrich Von Lowe Teleplay by : Bill Lawrence & Ray Jessel | March 6, 1992 | 18.2[7] |
| 7 | "Futile Attraction" | John Bowab | Diane Wilk | March 13, 1992 | 16.1[8] |
| 8 | "Billy Flunks Mary" | Howard Storm | David Hurwitz | March 21, 1992 | 11.8[9] |
| 9 | "Out All Night" | Richard Kline | John Boni | March 28, 1992 | 11.7[10] |
| 10 | "Home Alone, Almost" | Howard Storm | David Hurwitz | April 4, 1992 | 11.6[11] |
| 11 | "Love Me or Leave Me: Part 1" | John Bowab | April Kelly | April 11, 1992 | 10.2[12] |
| 12 | "Love Me or Leave Me: Part 2" | John Bowab | Rebecca Parr | April 18, 1992 | 9.2[13] |
| 13 | "Thunder from Down Under" | Howard Storm | Geoff Gilbert & Gregg Sherman | May 30, 1992 | 8.8[14] |
References
edit- ^ From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Billy : episode"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ Donlon, Brian (February 5, 1992). "A show of CBS strength". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Donlon, Brian (February 12, 1992). "CBS mines Olympic gold". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Donlon, Brian (February 19, 1992). "CBS wins, but ABC gets silver". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Donlon, Brian (February 26, 1992). "CBS' all-around Olympic win". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Donlon, Brian (March 4, 1992). "Last-place Fox is rising fast". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Donlon, Brian (March 11, 1992). "'Indy' boosts ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ "Hit comedies lift ABC". Life. USA Today. March 18, 1992. p. 3D.
- ^ "CBS ticks off another win". Life. USA Today. March 25, 1992. p. 3D.
- ^ Donlon, Brian (April 1, 1992). "'Room' in the top 10 for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Gable, Donna (April 8, 1992). "Oscar sweep extends to ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Gable, Donna (April 15, 1992). "CBS' historic jump". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Gable, Donna (April 22, 1992). "'Roseanne' leads ABC's way". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- ^ Gable, Donna (June 3, 1992). "ABC wins with 'Jack's Place'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
- Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, (2007) The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present Ballantine Books ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4, p. 147
- TV Guide Guide to TV (2006) ISBN 0-7607-7572-9