Hazel (TV series)
Hazel | |
---|---|
Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Ted Key |
Based on | The Saturday Evening Post character |
Directed by | E. W. Swackhamer William D. Russell |
Starring |
|
Theme music composer |
|
Opening theme | "Hazel" (1961-1964) |
Composers |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 5 (1 in black & white (except for S1 E6), 4 in color (including S1 E6)) |
No. of episodes | 154 (34 in black & white, 120 in color) (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | Harry Ackerman |
Producer | James Fonda |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company | Screen Gems |
Original release | |
Network | NBC (seasons 1-4, 1961–1965) CBS (season 5, 1965–1966) |
Release | September 28, 1961 April 11, 1966 | –
Hazel is an American sitcom about a spunky live-in maid named Hazel Burke (played by Shirley Booth) and her employers, the Baxters. The five-season, 154-episode series aired in prime time from September 28, 1961, to April 11, 1966, and was produced by Screen Gems. The first four seasons of Hazel aired on NBC, and the fifth and final season aired on CBS. Season 1 was broadcast in black-and-white except for one episode which was in color, and seasons 2–5 were all broadcast in color. The show was based on the single-panel comic strip of the same name by cartoonist Ted Key, which appeared in The Saturday Evening Post.
Synopsis
Seasons 1–4
Hazel is a competent, take-charge, live-in maid in the home of the Baxter family. George Baxter (
The series humorously dramatizes Hazel's life with the Baxters and her friendships with others in the neighborhood such as postman Barney Hatfield (
Some episodes take Hazel outside the Baxter house and follow her life in the community. In the first episode, for example, she spearheads a drive for the construction of a neighborhood playground. Hazel's life is sometimes complicated by George's snobby Bostonian sister Deirdre Thompson (Cathy Lewis) and his gruff client Harvey Griffin (Howard Smith). Dotty neighbors Herbert and Harriet Johnson (Donald Foster and Norma Varden) often call upon Hazel's expertise in household matters, of which they seem ignorant.
Network change and final season
After a four season run on NBC, the network canceled the series, but it was picked up by CBS for what would be a fifth and final season. In an effort to appeal to a younger audience, DeFore and Blake were dropped after the move to CBS. George and Dorothy’s departure was explained as a relocation to
Production notes
The series was filmed at Columbia
In July 1963, the
In the pilot episode of the show, the part of George Baxter was played by Edward Andrews. Test audiences were not comfortable with Andrews playing the role, so when the series was green-lighted it was recast with DeFore.
Theme song
While the weekly show began with an instrumental theme song composed by the team of
Sponsors
During its first four seasons, Hazel was sponsored by
Cast
This section needs expansion with: adding additional cast members in the other cast section (because it is incomplete). You can help by adding to it. (May 2023) |
Main cast
Seven main characters in this show are included. Four main characters were in the show in the first version. When the second version was introduced in 1965 to help the show for a younger audience, Don DeFore and Whitney Blake retired from acting from this show. George was replaced by a brother named Steve, while Dorothy became Steve's wife Barbara. In the second version of this show, Ray Fulmer and Lynn Borden act as Steve Baxter and Barbara Baxter, respectively. Julia Benjamin was added to the cast as Susie, while Bobby Buntrock remained as a cast member in the second version and also kept his name in the show, Harold. The first version of the cast ended on spring of 1965, when NBC cancelled Hazel at the time. The second version of the cast started on September 13, 1965.
- Shirley Booth as Hazel (all 5 seasons, 1961-1966)
- Don DeFore as George Baxter (seasons 1-4, 1961-1965) (Hazel nicknamed him "Mr. B")
- Whitney Blake as Dorothy Baxter (seasons 1-4, 1961-1965) (Hazel nicknamed her "Missy")
- Ray Fulmer as Steve Baxter (season 5, 1965-1966)
- Lynn Borden as Barbara Baxter (season 5, 1965-1966)
- Bobby Buntrock as Harold (all 5 seasons, 1961-1966) (Hazel nicknamed him "Sport")
- Julia Benjamin as Susie (season 5, 1965-1966)
Other cast
This section needs expansion with: adding additional cast members in this section (because it is incomplete). You can help by adding to it. (May 2023) |
- Howard Smith as Mr. Harvey Griffin (4 seasons)
- Lurene Tuttle as Mrs. Pruett (S1E01)
- Maurice Manson as Mr. Pruett (S1E01)
- Donald Foster as Herbert Johnson (S1E01, S3E10)
- Norma Varden as Harriet Johnson (S1E01, S3E10)
- Hal Smith as Announcer (S1E01)
- Francis De Sales as Osborn Bailey (S1E01)
- Pat Michon as Maria (S2E04)
- Sue England as Marie (S2E24)
- Douglas Dick as Gabe Fairchild (S3E10)
Reception
The show's first season placed fourth in the 1961–1962 Nielsen's ratings. Shirley Booth received two
ABC loosely copied the Hazel theme in the 1962–1963 series Our Man Higgins as an English butler to a suburban American family. Stanley Holloway played the lead role, along with Audrey Totter and Frank Maxwell.[3]
The show had received some low ratings over the years. At the end of the 1962–1963 season, the ratings had slipped from #4 the previous year to #15. At the end of the 1963–1964 season, the ratings had slipped again from #15 the previous year to #22. By the time NBC canceled the series in the spring of 1965, Hazel had fallen out of the top 30 programs. CBS picked it up for the 1965–1966 season, and made a number of cast changes. Buntrock remained in the cast as Harold Baxter; DeFore and Blake were dropped and replaced with Fulmer and Borden, respectively. Child actress Julia Benjamin was added to the cast as Susie Baxter. In the spring of 1966, Hazel ended its primetime network run. And as such, CBS canceled Hazel after a one-season run on CBS due to still not being in the top 30.
In 2014, according to Playbill,[4] a New York City reading of Hazel, a musical based on Ted Key's cartoon character as well as the 1961–1966 TV sitcom, took place October 24–25, 2014, at the June Havoc Theatre. Lucie Arnaz directed the reading.
Syndication
Hazel was seen in syndicated reruns on some local stations, mainly during the 1970s. Since then it has occasionally aired on some stations.
Episodes
Home media
DVD Name | Ep# | Release Date |
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The Complete 1st Season | 35 | August 1, 2006 |
The Complete 2nd Season | 32 | February 21, 2012 |
The Complete 3rd Season | 32 | May 15, 2012 |
The Complete 4th Season | 26 | December 11, 2012 |
The Complete 5th Season | 29 | January 14, 2014 |
Seasons
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2023) |
Season No. | No. of Episodes | Season DVD release date | Rank | First aired | Last aired | Network |
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1 | 35 | August 1, 2006 | #4 | September 28, 1961 | June 7, 1962 | NBC |
2 | 32 | February 21, 2012 | #15 | September 20, 1962 | May 9, 1963 | NBC |
3 | 32 | May 15, 2012 | #22 | September 19, 1963 | April 23, 1964 | NBC |
4 | 26 | December 11, 2012 | Not in the top 30 | September 17, 1964 | March 25, 1965 | NBC |
5 | 29 | January 14, 2014 | Not in the top 30 | September 13, 1965 | April 11, 1966 | CBS |
References
- ^ "Negro Hired to Head Off Ford Boycott". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 1963.
- ^ Defore, Ron. "Ron DeFore in first "Hazel" episode 1961" (Video). YouTube.com.
- ^ "Our Man Higgins". TV Guide.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam (8 October 2014). "Klea Blackhurst Will Lead Hazel Musical Reading". Playbill. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ WLMB Programs: A to Z. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, David (February 18, 2011). "Hazel - Is 'Season 2' of the Shirley Booth Sitcom Coming to DVD?". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
- ^ Lambert, David (November 7, 2011). "Hazel - 'The Complete 2nd Season': Finalized Date, Cost, and Package Art". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ Lambert, David (February 10, 2012). "Hazel - Maid by Shout! Factory: 'The Complete 3rd Season' DVDs Announced". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ Lambert, David (August 27, 2012). "Hazel - 'The Complete 4th Season' is Scheduled by Shout! for the Holiday Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
- ^ Lambert, David (October 3, 2013). "Hazel - The 5th and 'Final Season' is Coming Soon from Shout!". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
Further reading
- Kim, Lahn S. "Hazel". Encyclopedia of Television. Museum of Broadcast Communications.