B. J. and the Bear
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| BJ and the Bear | |
| Format | Comedy-drama |
|---|---|
| Starring | Greg Evigan Claude Akins |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 48 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | 10 February 1979 – 11 August 1981 |
B.J. and the Bear is a comedy-drama television series which aired on NBC from 1979 to 1981. The series starred Greg Evigan.
[edit] Plot
Greg Evigan stars as B. J. (Billie Joe) McKay, a professional freelance itinerant trucker who traveled the country's highways in a red and white Kenworth K-100 cab over semi truck with his pet chimpanzee, Bear (named for Bear Bryant, the famed college football coach; this explains the chimp's choice of headwear). He was constantly harassed by Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo (Claude Akins, who eventually spun off onto his own show, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo). Ben Cooper appeared in an episode of B.J. and the Bear and continued his "Waverly" character in The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo.
In 1981, when the show returned from hiatus, B.J. had settled down to run Bear Enterprises, a trucking company based in Los Angeles. His nemesis was Rutherford T. Grant (Murray Hamilton), the corrupt head of the state's Special Crimes Action Team, who was a silent partner in a competing trucking company. Because of Grant's harassment, B.J. was unable to hire experienced truckers, and he was forced to hire several beautiful young female truckers, including Grant's daughter Cindy (Sherilyn Wolter), and another busty blonde nicknamed "Stacks" (Judy Landers).
[edit] Cultural references
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Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (October 2008) |
- The band Minus the Bear derived their name from a joke based on the show's title.
- In the Mr. Show episode Peanut Butter, Eggs, and Dice, a Bob Odenkirk character asks to be awakened for B.J. and the Bear.
- The UK sitcom Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere parodies parts of the show theme song in its opening credits.
- In Mallrats, Brody (Jason Lee) remarks to his friend T.S. Quint (Jeremy London) that he'd like to see a remake of B.J. and the Bear.
- Is briefly mentioned in the 2007 film Death Proof.
- Is mentioned several times by Randy Hickey in My Name is Earl.
- The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun sports editor Brandon Jeffrey Shields, a Bear Bryant/Alabama fan, was named by his sisters, who loved the show, in honor of B.J.
- Was referenced by Eric Cartman in the "The Ring" on the television show South Park.
- Is mentioned in the "Rock On" episode of Canadian sitcom Corner Gas.
- Mentioned by Mike Smith A K A Bubbles in the episode "Propane, Propane"{Trailer Park Boys}
- Mentioned in the UK TV series Ashes to Ashes episode entitled "Charity Begins at Home"
[edit] External links
- B.J. and the Bear at the Internet Movie Database
- BJ and the Bear at the Internet Movie Database
- B.J. and the Bear at TV.com
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