Skag
Skag | |
---|---|
Genre | Drama |
Created by | Abby Mann |
Written by | William A. Attaway Hindi Brooks Abby Mann Marsha Norman |
Directed by | Edward Parone Frank Perry Allen Reisner |
Starring | Karl Malden Piper Laurie Craig Wasson Peter Gallagher Leslie Ackerman Kathryn Holcomb George Voskovec Powers Boothe Frank Campanella Shirley Stoler |
Composer | Bruce Broughton |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 5 (+ Pilot television movie) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Abby Mann Lee Rich |
Producers | Douglas Benton Brad Dexter |
Running time | 60 mins. (approx) |
Production company | Lorimar Television |
Original release | |
Network | NBC |
Release | January 6 February 21, 1980 | –
Skag is an American
Skag focused on the life of a foreman at a
Synopsis
The opening three-hour movie pilot introduces viewers to 56-year-old Pete "Skag" Skagska (Malden), a hard-working steel mill foreman of
Throughout the rest of the movie and the brief five-episode run of the series, Skag is forced to make some monumental decisions in his life, as he slowly regains his physical abilities and comes to terms with the fact that retirement may come early, due to possible less competence in his line of work. The larger obstacle in Skag's life was perhaps not so much his health or job, but of his disapproval and difficulty understanding the values of a changing world. All his life, Skag was a staunch traditionalist, and viewed modern society with scorn and derision. This ultimately caused the rift between his sons and him; Skag hoped the oldest, David, who worked at the steel mill with him, would carry on the Skagska name and take over the local industry someday. David, unfortunately, felt uncomfortable about his job, due to its high safety risk and his concern about being labeled in the meantime as just a
During his rehabilitation period, Skag decided to promote another younger "star worker" at the steel mill, Whalen (Powers Boothe), to take over as foreman; it was evident from the start that Whalen coveted the job on a full-time basis, which both relieved and upset Skag. Since Whalen was hired only as a second choice after son David, Skag, in his old-fashioned ways, believed that a younger person outside the family who ran the operation would deplete the work ethic that Skag and many others had worked hard to maintain for many generations. Skag was able to vent his frustrations to Jo, who at this time, found herself mending bridges with her husband, even if not all was perfect; and with father Petar, who would sit with his equally debilitated son and relate to his sentiments on the changing world and how it made them break down inside.
Paczka (Frank Campanella) was a tenured worker at the steel mill, and Dottie Jessup (Shirley Stoler) a neighbor and friend of the Skagska family.
Cast
- Karl Malden as Pete "Skag" Skagska
- Piper Laurie as Jo Skagska
- Craig Wasson as David Skagska
- Peter Gallagher as John Skagska
- Leslie Ackerman as Barbara Skagska
- Kathryn Holcomb as Patricia Skagska
- George Voskovec as Petar Skagska, Sr.
- Richard Bright as Madman Messisik
- Powers Boothe as Whalen
- Frank Campanella as Paczka
- Shirley Stoler as Dottie Jessup
- Eoin Kerr Pint Man
Reception and ratings
The series pilot episode earned critical praise and high ratings, but ratings quickly dropped off and NBC canceled the series after five episodes. Skag creator Abby Mann, who worked on the series' first two episodes, blamed uneven directing and artistic interference and unreasonable salary demands from series star Karl Malden for the series' failure.[1]
One leftover episode of Skag remained after the cancellation, and did not air on NBC.
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|
0 | "Pilot" | Frank Perry | Abby Mann | January 6, 1980 |
1 | "In Trouble at 15" | Edward Parone | Story by : Hindi Brooks Teleplay by : Marsha Norman | January 17, 1980 |
2 | "The Wildcatters" | Virgil W. Vogel | William A. Attaway & Abby Mann | January 24, 1980 |
3 | ||||
4 | "The Working Girl: Part 1" | Allen Reisner | William A. Attaway | January 31, 1980 |
5 | "The Working Girl: Part 2" | Allen Reisner | William A. Attaway | February 7, 1980 |
6 | "What Passes For Love in East Pittsburgh" | Bruce Bilson | Ivy Schultz | February 21, 1980 |
Award nominations
Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Emmy Award |
Nominated | Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for a Series | Larry Strong (For episode "The Working Girl (Part 1)" |
Footnotes
- ISBN 1-57958-411-X.
Sources
- Alex McNeil, Total Television. New York City: Penguin Books, 1984 ed.
- Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows
External links
- Skag (Pilot) at IMDb
- Skag at IMDb