Lady Blue (TV series)
Lady Blue | |
---|---|
Genre |
|
Starring |
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Opening theme | "Back to the Blue" by Arnetia Walker |
Composer | John Cacavas |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 14 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | David Gerber |
Production location | Chicago |
Running time | 60 min. (including commercials) |
Production companies | David Gerber Productions MGM/UA Television |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | April 15, 1985 January 25, 1986 | –
Lady Blue is an American
After the pilot aired, Lady Blue was criticized by several
Premise and characters
A
Mahoney's reliance on violence is emphasized in the opening scene of the
Although Mahoney was portrayed at odds with most of her superiors, her boss
Mahoney's father, brother, and married lover were killed in the
Production
The executive producer of Lady Blue was David Gerber.[10] Directors Guy Magar and Gary Nelson worked on the series,[10][14] while Jack Priestley was the cinematographer.[14] Produced by MGM Television and David Gerber Productions,[4][10][14] its musical score was composed by John Cacavas.[14][15] Actress Arnetia Walker performed the show's theme song, "Back to the Blue".[2][9] Lady Blue was filmed on location in various areas of Chicago,[4][10] including the Cabrini–Green Homes.[1] Rose recalled having a difficult time in Cabrini Green since the residents threatened the cast and crew and threw bottles at them during filming.[1]
Mahoney was Rose's first role after playing
To prepare for Lady Blue, Rose watched Clint Eastwood films (including the
According to Jamie Rose, Lady Blue had a similar concept as the crime dramas Police Woman and Get Christie Love!; Reesman stated that the latter was not as violent as Lady Blue.[1] John J. O'Connor compared the series' violence to Eastwood's work, and saw it as a combination of Wonder Woman and Dick Tracy comic strips.[5] In the 2011 book Triumph of the Walking Dead: Robert Kirkman's Zombie Epic on Page and Screen, horror fiction writer Vince A. Liaguno described Lady Blue and NYPD Blue as part of a movement towards "grittier depictions of violence".[18] In a 2017 interview, Rose said that Lady Blue was the most violent series of its time and there had been little public exposure to a character as "bloodthirsty" as Mahoney; however, she said that the series was less graphic than future television programs.[1]
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Pilot" | Gary Nelson | Robert Vincent O'Neil | April 15, 1985[8] | |
Homicide detective Katy Mahoney is transferred to the "Matron Squad" of the Chicago Police Department after several charges of excessive force are filed against her. While investigating a shoplifting case and the murders of two women and their children, she discovers that they are all related to cocaine trafficking. | |||||
2 | "Death Valley Day" | Virgil Vogel | Nancy Audley and Howard Chesley | September 26, 1985[8] | |
Mahoney investigates a murder at a housing project and discovers that the area is terrorized by Alvin Banger and his gang. When she learns that Banger forces children to steal from stores and homes, she decides to bring down the gang. | |||||
3 | "Romeo and Juliet" | Robert Vincent O'Neil | Mark Rodgers | October 3, 1985[19] | |
During a war between two rival street gangs, a man and a woman from the opposing sides develop feelings for one another and Mahoney tries to help them find a future together. | |||||
4 | "Beasts of Prey" | Guy Magar | Anthony Lawrence and Nancy Lawrence | October 10, 1985[19] | |
Mahoney tracks a serial killer while investigating a string of South Side murders. | |||||
5 | "The Widow-Maker" | Mike Vejar | Allison Hock | October 17, 1985[19] | |
Mahoney searches for a Vietnamese assassin who is programmed to kill former soldiers and refugees who have moved to America. | |||||
6 | "The Hunter" | Christian I. Nyby II | Robert Vincent O'Neil | November 16, 1985[19] | |
Mahoney investigates a series of murders committed with unconventional weapons and poisons. | |||||
7 | "Portrait of Death" | Mike Vejar | Anthony Lawrence and Nancy Lawrence | November 23, 1985[19] | |
An imprisoned criminal mastermind hires hitmen to kill everyone responsible for his conviction, starting with Mahoney and her former lover. Mahoney discovers that her ex-partner is a lawyer with questionable connections. | |||||
8 | "Terror" | John Florea | Bill Driskill | November 30, 1985[19] | |
While infiltrating a terrorist organization, Mahoney discovers that their main objective is to dismantle Chicago's political system. | |||||
9 | "Designer White" | Arnold Laven | Michael Ahnemann | December 7, 1985[19] | |
Mahoney is injected with a hallucinogen during an encounter with a drug dealer, and wanders around the city having strange visions. | |||||
10 | "Death Grip" | Guy Magar | Mark Rodgers | December 21, 1985[19] | |
While tracking down a hitman who kills local drug kingpins, Mahoney discovers that he is part of a larger plot to establish an international narcotics operation. | |||||
11 | "Scorpio's Sting" | John Hancock | Robert Vincent O'Neill | January 11, 1986[19] | |
Mahoney is tasked to find a former Green Beret and his gang, who are killing people for thrills. | |||||
12 | "Sylvie" | Mike Vejar | Michael Ahemann | January 18, 1986[19] | |
During an investigation, Mahoney discovers that a policewoman was murdered to cover up a scandal involving politicians, pornographers, and bankers. | |||||
13 | "Maximum Force" | Jerry Jameson | Mark Rodgers | January 25, 1986[8] | |
Mahoney and detective Gino Gianelli are kidnapped by a group seeking vengeance for an arrest. | |||||
14 | "Willow's Cowboy" | Jerry Jameson | Mark Rodgers | 1986[20] | |
While searching for Terry McNichols' missing niece, Mahoney becomes involved with a group of cowboys trying to steal a shipment of bull semen. |
Broadcast history
Thirteen episodes of Lady Blue were broadcast on ABC between September 15, 1985 and January 25, 1986.
Lady Blue was initially broadcast on Thursday nights at 8 pm EST; the series ranked third in its time slot, behind the half-hour sitcoms Cheers and Night Court and the detective series Simon & Simon.[7] After seven episodes aired, it was moved to Thursday nights at 9 pm EST to accommodate The Colbys.[7][21] ABC announced that it ordered a limited number of episodes of Lady Blue in its new time, but the series would be moved to another day "without interrupting the weekly flow" if it was successful.[21] The series was later moved to Saturday nights at 9 pm EST, when it aired against The Golden Girls[5][25] and continued to receive complaints of excessive violence.[25]
ABC cancelled Lady Blue in 1986.
Critical reception
During its run, Lady Blue received primarily negative reviews due to its emphasis on violence.[8][23] Although O'Connor criticized the series for its "mindless violence and questionable law enforcement",[5] Anderson felt that the show had potential:[7] "Perhaps, with a little more seasoning on the Chicago police department, Jamie Rose might become a star."[7] In his 1991 book The TV Encyclopedia, David Inman called Lady Blue "one of the dumbest shows ever on ABC--and that's saying a lot".[29] Lloyd Grove of The Washington Post criticized the reliance on violence "overpowers, and eventually sours, what could have been an agreeably fast-paced show". In response to the pilot, Grove also panned its writer Robert Vincent O'Neil for copying ideas from Clint Eastwood films and the 1971 movie The French Connection.[12] Despite negative reviews, Reesman reported that teenage and young adult males responded positively to Mahoney's attitude and appearance.[1]
In his 2013 book June Cleaver Was a Feminist!: Reconsidering the Female Characters of Early Television, television studies author Cary O'Dell called Lady Blue an "interesting experiment" in imagining the "hardcore cop genre with a female lead". According to O'Dell, criticism of Mahoney and the series' ultimate cancellation were the results of sexism: "Was such rebellion, contempt for authority, and brutal tactics considered too 'unfeminine'?" The author felt that Lady Blue was ahead of its time, contrasting Mahoney's negative reception with the positive reaction to the titular protagonists of the 1991 film Thelma & Louise, who have developed a legacy as "newfangled feminist icons".[23]
References
Citations
- ^ New York Observer. Archivedfrom the original on December 26, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Terrace (2012): p. 5115
- ^ a b "Overview". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Buck, Jerry (July 27, 1985). "'Dirty Harry' is a Patter for 'Lady Blue'". Kentucky New Era. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k O'Connor, John J. (November 18, 1985). "TV Reviews; ABC Series 'Lady Blue' Switches to Saturdays". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017.
- ^ "Lady Blue". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Anderson, Jon (October 10, 1985). "'Lady Blue' Is Struggling Against Powerful Opponents". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Erickson, Hal. "Synopsis by Hal Erickson". AllMovie. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Terrace (2003): p. 87
- ^ a b c d e Magar, Guy (May 15, 2012). "How to Shoot Johnny Depp: 'Gimme a Bullet Hit … Here!'". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.
- ^ Magar (2011): pp. 136–137
- ^ a b Grove, Lloyd (April 15, 1985). "Blood-Spattered 'Lady Blue'". The Washington Post. p. B3.
- ^ Shales, Tom (September 15, 1985). "The Soul Of a TV Season; From Gleason to Spielberg, Glimmers of a Better Year". The Washington Post. p. H1.
- ^ a b c d "Cast & Crew". AllMovie. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018.
- ^ "R.I.P. TV/Film Composer John Cacavas". Deadline Hollywood. January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018.
- Orange County Register. Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2018.
- Nexis. (subscription required)
- ^ Liaguno (2011): p. 122
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Episode Guide". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018.
- ^ Romanko (2016): pp. 115-116
- ^ a b c Margulies, Lee (May 9, 1985). "ABC Pulls Switch On Its Fall Prime-time Lineup". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015.
- Nexis. (subscription required)
- ^ a b c O'Dell (2013): p. 143
- Nexis. (subscription required)
- ^ a b Leonard, John (December 2, 1985). "Double Fantasy". New York. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Grant, James (December 8, 1986). "Snagging a Steady Job on TV Turns Out to Be a Real Thorn in Jamie Rose's Side". People. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.
- ^ Dines & Humez (2003): p. 620
- ^ "Lady Blue (1985)". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015.
- ^ Inman (1991): p. 683
Book sources
- Dines, Gail; Humez, Jean M. (2003). Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Thousand Oaks: Sage. ISBN 0-7619-2260-1.
- Inman, David (1991). The TV Encyclopedia. New York: Perigee. ISBN 0-399-51704-9.
- Liaguno, Vince A. (2011). "Happy (En)trails". In Lowder, James (ed.). Triumph of the Walking Dead: Robert Kirkman's Zombie Epic on Page and Screen. Dallas: BenBella Books. pp. 115–126. ISBN 978-1-936661-13-8.
- Magar, Guy (2011). Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot. Jefferson: Guy Magar. ISBN 978-0-9828663-4-4.
- O'Dell, Cary (2013). June Cleaver Was a Feminist!: Reconsidering the Female Characters of Early Television. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-7177-5.
- Romanko, Karen A. (2016). Television's Female Spies and Crimefighters: 600 Characters and Shows, 1950s to the Present. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-9637-2.
- Terrace, Vincent (2003). The Television Crime Fighters Factbook: Over 9,800 Details from 301 Programs, 1937–2003. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-1533-9.
- Terrace, Vincent (2012). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed.. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
External links
- Lady Blue at IMDb