List of Whiz Kids episodes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Crakkerjakk (talk | contribs) at 23:11, 21 January 2013 (Small fixes). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Whiz Kids is an American science-fiction adventure television series that aired on CBS in the United States. The 60-minute series was created by Philip DeGuere and Bob Shayne and originally aired from October 5, 1983 to June 2, 1984, lasting one season and consisting of 18 episodes.[1] The premise follows four high school tenth-graders, portrayed by Matthew Laborteaux, Todd Porter, Jeffrey Jaqcuet, and Andrea Elson, who use their sophisticated knowledge of computers to become amateur detectives, solving crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.[2] Although the series experienced a notable backlash from critics for its portrayal of teenage computer hackers,[3] the program garnered four Youth in Film Award nominations for its young stars, as well as a fifth nomination as "Best New Television Series" of 1983.[4]

In the summer of 1983, CBS executives had reportedly planned for Whiz Kids to air in a Saturday night timeslot on their schedule.[5] By August, the series had been moved to a Wednesday night timeslot and was reportedly "penciled in" for a September 28 premiere, however, Philip DeGuere had reportedly expressed concerns about a September premiere competing with late-season baseball and was instead advocating for a late October premiere.[6] In September, the decision was made to delay the planned premiere by one week.[3] Whiz Kids premiered on Wednesday, October 5, 1983 in an 8:00 p.m. timeslot[7] where it remained throughout the rest of the 1983 calendar year.[1] Beginning on January 7, 1984, CBS moved the series into a Saturday night timeslot, where it remained until the series concluded on June 2, 1984.[1]

Cast

Episodes

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Programmed for Murder"Corey AllenPhilip DeGuere
Bob Shayne		October 5, 1983 (1983-10-05)[8]

The Whiz Kids discover a suspicious skeleton on property coveted by corporate developers.

Guest stars: Michael Horton, Jonathan Banks, James Whitmore, Jr., and Don Dubbins.
2"Fatal Error"Corey AllenTom SawyerOctober 19, 1983 (1983-10-19)[9]

The Whiz Kids unwittingly assist a computer programmer escape from prison.

Guest stars: Mabel King, Joanna Kerns, and David Ackroyd.
3"Deadly Access"Corey AllenJames CrockerOctober 26, 1983 (1983-10-26)[10]

The Whiz Kids are hired to test computer security for a chemical company and uncover a secret project.

Guest stars: Greg Mullavey, Richard Anderson, Tricia O'Neil, Gary Frank, and Jameson Parker (Simon & Simon crossover).
4"Candidate for Murder"Bernard L. KowalskiBob ShayneNovember 2, 1983 (1983-11-02)[11]

The Whiz Kids use computer enhancement of a photograph to reveal a gubernatorial candidate with a fugitive embezzler.

Guest stars: Michael Young, James Luisi, Vonetta McGee, and Tom Simcox
5"A Chip Off the Old Block"Vincent McEveetyPhilip DeGuereNovember 9, 1983 (1983-11-09)[12]

The Whiz Kids discover that a student has been framed for embezzlement by a bank employee.

Guest stars: Daryl Anderson, Robbie Rist, Darryl Hickman, and Jackie Earle Haley.
6"Airwave Anarchy"James SheldonJoe GannonNovember 16, 1983 (1983-11-16)[13]

The Whiz Kids investigate a malfunctioning police computer that's been sabotaged to prevent police responses to robberies.

Guest stars: Guy Stockwell, Allan Miller, Anthony James, and Barbara Cason.
7"Return of the Big Rocker"Barry CranePaul MagistrettiNovember 23, 1983 (1983-11-23)[14]

The Whiz Kids encounter a record company planning to market faked recordings by a presumably dead rock star.

Guest stars: Marjoe Gortner and Sal Viscuso.
8"The Wrong Mr. Wright"Michael HamiltonPhil Combest (teleplay);
Arthur Weingarten,
Bob Shayne (story)		November 30, 1983 (1983-11-30)[15]

The Whiz Kids enroll Richie's mother in a computer dating service which leads to the investigation of a suicide.

Guest stars: Warwick Sims, Scott Stevensen, Anthony Charnota, and Jourdan Fremin.
9"Red Star Rising"John NewlandAndy Guerdat,
Steve Kreinberg,
Joe Gannon (teleplay);
Andy Guerdat,
Steve Kreinberg (story)		December 21, 1983 (1983-12-21)[16]

The Whiz Kids' computer malfunctions due to interference caused by a neighbor's satellite dish.

Guest stars: Christopher Stone, John Pleshette, and William Hootkins.
10"The Network"Hollingsworth MorseJames Crocker,
Philip DeGuere		January 7, 1984 (1984-01-07)[17]

The Whiz Kids encounter trouble after accessing data from the National Security Agency.

Guest stars: Wayne Morton, Barbara Brownell, Michael Boyle, Joe Hacker, and Jim McMullan.
11"Watch Out!"Dennis DonnellyJames CrockerJanuary 14, 1984 (1984-01-14)[18]

The Whiz Kids investigate when a consumer advocate claims that his TV series' ratings are being torpedoed.

Guest stars: Gerrit Graham, Eric Server, Belinda Montgomery, David Groh, Eddie Barth, and Jeff Corey.
12"Amen to Amen-Re"Alf KjellinPaul MagistrettiJanuary 28, 1984 (1984-01-28)[19]

The Whiz Kids uncover an ancient Egyptian curse which may account for Farley's uncharacteristic behavior.

Guest stars: Kay Lenz, William Boyett, and Zelda Rubinstein.
13"Maid in the USA"Max GailJames CrockerFebruary 4, 1984 (1984-02-04)[20]

The Whiz Kids find that Richie's house is being bugged, which may be linked to the family's new maid.

Guest stars: June Lockhart, Reid Shelton, and Dan O'Herlihy.
14"The Lollypop Gang Strikes Back"Dennis DonnellyLynn BarkerFebruary 25, 1984 (1984-02-25)[21]

The Whiz Kids help investigate a case involving a gang of senior citizens robbing small markets.

Guest stars: Sylvia Sidney, Elisha Cook, Whitman Mayo, Kenneth Mars, and Dan O'Herlihy.
15"The Sufi Project"Georg FenadyDon Boudry (teleplay);
Philip DeGuere,
James Crocker (story)		March 17, 1984 (1984-03-17)[22]

The Whiz Kids unravel the mystery of the disappearance of a marine biologist.

Guest stars: Pamela Susan Shoop, Keene Curtis, M. C. Gainey, and Dan O'Herlihy.
16"Father's Day"Hollingsworth MorseCraig BuckApril 21, 1984 (1984-04-21)[23]

The Whiz Kids investigate when they discover Alice's new boyfriend is being sought by a KGB agent.

Guest stars: John Reilly, Brad Savage, Peter Brown, Sharon Acker, Jim McKrell, Bruce M. Fischer, and Dan O'Herlihy.
17"Altaira"Georg FenadyLynn Barker (teleplay),
Jill Gordon (story)		April 28, 1984 (1984-04-28)[24]

The Whiz Kids believe Richie's new girlfriend may not be all she appears.

Guest stars: Tammy Taylor, Scott Brady, Alex Kubik, and Dan O'Herlihy.
18"May I Take Your Order Please?"Lawrence LevyTim MaschlerJune 2, 1984 (1984-06-02)[25]

The Whiz Kids disbelieve Alice when she claims to have overheard two men planning a murder.

Guest stars: Charles Napier, Bart Braverman, Larry Gelman, and Sandy Helberg.


References

  1. ^ a b c "Whiz Kids Full Episode Guides on CBS". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  2. ^ Robert Greenberger. "Whiz Kids". Starlog (February 1984). O'Quinn Studios, Inc.: pages 34–35. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ a b Sally Bedell Smith (September 1, 1983). "CBS Is Revamping Show on Computer Tampering". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Fifth Annual Youth in Film Awards 1982-1983". Young Artist Awards. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  5. ^ Marilynn Preston (June 14, 1983). "CBS working on bugs in 'Whiz Kids' computer". Chicago Tribune.
  6. ^ Jon Anderson (August 23, 1983). "Computer crime gives CBS pause on 'Kids'". Chicago Tribune.
  7. ^ John J. O'Connor (October 5, 1983). "TV: A Youthful Computer Genius". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Programmed for Murder". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  9. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Fatal Error". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  10. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Deadly Access". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  11. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Candidate for Murder". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  12. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – A Chip Off the Old Block". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  13. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Airwave Anarchy". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  14. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Return of the Big Rocker". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  15. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – The Wrong Mr. Wright". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  16. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Red Star Rising". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  17. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – The Network". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  18. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Watch Out!". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  19. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Amen to Amen-Re". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  20. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Maid in the USA". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  21. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – The Lollypop Gang Strikes Back". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  22. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – The Sufi Project". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  23. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Father's Day". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  24. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – Altaira". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  25. ^ "Whiz Kids Episode Guide – May I Take Your Order Please?". TV Guide. Retrieved January 16, 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Whiz_Kids_episodes&oldid=534238136"