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The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage

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The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
GenreComedy-drama
Fantasy
Created byJames Wong
Glen Morgan
Stephen J. Cannell
Developed byThe Walt Disney Company
Written byJames Wong
Glen Morgan
Stephen J. Cannell
Jack Bernstein
Gary Rosen
Directed byKim Manners
Tucker Gates
Bruce Kessler
Jorge Montesi
David Nutter
James Whitmore Jr.
StarringDaniel Hugh Kelly
Steven Williams
Roma Downey
Bert Rosario
Steve Hytner
Theme music composerMike Post
ComposerMike Post
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producerStephen J. Cannell
ProducerJohn Peter Kousakis
CinematographyFrank Johnson, A.S.C.
Running time42 minutes
Production companiesStephen J. Cannell Productions
Walt Disney Television
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseMarch 31 –
May 26, 1991 (1991-05-26)

Disney Presents The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage is an American fantasy comedy-drama television series broadcast in the United States by NBC and produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions in association with Walt Disney Television.[1] The show originated as a television movie.[2] The program originally aired from March 31 to May 26, 1991, and lasted less than one season.[3]

Plot

The series followed the story of Black Jack Savage (Steven Williams),[a] the ghost of a legendary 17th-century Caribbean pirate who teams up with Barry Tarberry (Daniel Hugh Kelly), a crooked Wall Street con artist who has escaped trial by coming to the Caribbean. Facing eternal damnation, both of them discover that they need to save 100 lives to compensate for the damage done by their sinful lives, and thus save their own souls.

Any time Black Jack tries to leave the safety of his castle haunt on San Pietro Island, he is fair game for the "snarks". They are entities that can transport Jack to Hell through an entrance at the base of the tree where he was originally hanged. Tarberry has his own difficulties dodging the government agents sent to extradite him back to the United States to stand trial for his crimes. Other characters on San Pietro include the corrupt governor-general, Abel Vasquez (Bert Rosario), with whom Tarberry is able to make another deal, and island activist Danielle (Roma Downey), who is constantly trying to help protect the locals from the effects of Vasquez's corruption and is not above enlisting Tarberry's help in doing so.[4]

The show follows the misadventures of both Black Jack and his human counterpart as they team up to dodge the law, both supernatural and secular, to make their 100 soul quota and thus win their way to salvation. Each episode ended with a graphic telling the viewers "??? Lives To Go..."

Blackbird powerboat

A regular part of every episode was an appearance of the high tech powerboat. Built by scientist/inventor Logan "FX" Murphy (played by Steve Hytner), the Blackbird was a black trimaran speedboat that resembled a SR-71 reconnaissance plane.[5] It was originally commissioned by the previous owner of Blackbird Castle, a drug runner. After his arrest, Tarberry took possession of the Blackbird from Murphy. When not in use, the Blackbird was moored at a secret dock at Blackbird Castle on San Pietro Island.

Cast

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot"Kim MannersStephen J. CannellMarch 31, 1991 (1991-03-31)
2"A Pirate Story"Kim MannersStephen J. CannellApril 5, 1991 (1991-04-05)
3"A Day in the Life of Logan Murphy"Tucker GatesGlen Morgan & James WongApril 12, 1991 (1991-04-12)
4"Deals Are Made to Be Broken"David NutterGlen Morgan & James WongApril 19, 1991 (1991-04-19)
5"Look for the Union Label"James Whitmore Jr.Jack BernsteinMay 12, 1991 (1991-05-12)
6"The Not-So-Great Dictator"Jorge MontesiGary RosenMay 19, 1991 (1991-05-19)
7"For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls"Bruce KesslerGary RosenMay 26, 1991 (1991-05-26)

Notes

  1. ^ Black Jack Savage was played by Stoney Jackson in the pilot

References

  1. ^ "Disney Presents The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage". EW.com.
  2. ^ "The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (1991)". BFI.
  3. ^ Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. pp. 394–397. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
  4. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 364. ISBN 0307483207.
  5. ^ Skorupa, Joe (January 1994). "Dream Boats". Popular Mechanics.
  • Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television: A Complete History. Disney Editions. pp. 37, 395. ISBN 0786863595.
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