A Date with Judy (TV series)
| 'A Date with Judy (daytime) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Situation comedy |
| Written by | Aleen Leslie |
| Starring | Patricia Crowley |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Aleen Leslie |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | June 2, 1951 – February 23, 1952 |
| 'A Date with Judy (primetime) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Situation comedy |
| Written by | Aleen Leslie |
| Starring | Mary Lynn Beller |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Producer | Aleen Leslie |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | July 15, 1952 – September 30, 1953 |
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]
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 Foster | Patricia Crowley | Mary Lynn Beller |
| Oogie Pringle | Jimmie Sommer | Jimmie Sommer |
| Melvin Foster | Gene O'Donnell | John Gibson |
| Dora Foster | Anna Lee | Flora Campbell |
| Randolph Foster | Judson Rees | Peter 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
- ^ a b McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 199. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (2016). Television Series of the 1950s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9781442261044. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Morse, Leon (June 16, 1951). "Date with Judy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 8. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ "ABC Weighs 'Problem' TV". Billboard. September 5, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved May 4, 2017.