The Byrds of Paradise
The Byrds of Paradise | |
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Genre | Drama |
Created by | |
Starring | |
Opening theme | Mike Post |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No.of seasons | 1 |
No.of episodes | 13 (1 unaired)(list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Running time | 47 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | March 3 June 23, 1994 | –
The Byrds of Paradiseis an Americandramatelevision series that ran onABCfrom March 3 to June 23, 1994, during the 1993–94 season. One of the few series executive produced bySteven Bochcothat he did not help create, the hour-long drama centers on a father and his three children, abruptly relocated toHawaiifromNew Haven, Connecticutafter the sudden death of the children's mother. Much of the show dealt with the titular Byrd family adjusting to their lives in an entirely new environment as they recovered from their loss.
Filmed on location in the state of Hawaii,The Byrds of Paradisewas unique in the inclusion of thelocal culture of Hawaiiin the lives of the originallymainlandByrd family, rather than their maintaining a lifestyle nearly indistinguishable from that on the mainland with Hawaii's tropical]scenery serving primarily as an attractive background.
Plot
[edit]Sam Byrd, the family's father, accepts aheadmaster's position at a private school in Hawaii, which his children attend along with local students. All of the Byrds interact with local characters, some of whom speakpidgin(performed with varying degrees of authenticity) and reflect a far more realistic portrait of Hawaii's culture than is usually shown in film and television depictions of Hawaii. This tendency includes the romantic interests of the Byrds, who are local characters (played by local actors) rather than mainland transplants. Topics such as teenage pregnancy and underage drinking were featured, as are usually presented in a television show with teens as central characters.
One of the more distinctive aspects ofThe Byrds of Paradisewas the role of Dr. Murray Rubinstein, an unpretentious beachsidepsychiatrist.Originally doctor to Franny, the temperamental middle child who is the most obviously traumatized by her mother's death, Murray eventually treats Sam, the children's father who is also suffering from the loss of his wife. A voice of reason who counsels his patients with an unconventional bedside manner, the doctor makes significant progress with Franny and Sam.
Again in a more realistic rather than idealized representation of Hawaii, atsunamistrikes mid-season, threatening the lives of several characters. The doctor's residence is destroyed, prompting him to continue his practice on chairs in the sand while he is rebuilding his house.
While the finished episodes were not aired in their entirety on the mainland, one of the last episodes, entitled "Twelfth Night o' Whatevah", featuring a school production ofShakespearepresented entirely in pidgin, was aired in Hawaii.
Cast
[edit]- Timothy Busfieldas Sam Byrd
- Seth Greenas Harry Byrd
- Jennifer Love Hewittas Franny Byrd
- Ryan O'Donohueas Zeke Byrd
- Arlo Guthrieas Alan Moon
- Elizabeth Lindseyas Healani Douglas
- Bruce Weitzas Dr. Murray Rubinstein
Reception
[edit]Varietytelevision critic Tony Scott describes the series as a 'viable if familiar concept for family viewing' that 'plays comfortably and attractively.' He further states that the realistic treatment of the difficulties faced by a family moving from the mainland to Hawaii 'give the program heft.'[1]Ken Tucker ofEntertainment Weeklyfound the series to be 'at once charming and predictable.' Tucker found Busfield's character to be more confident and decent than his other roles, in particular Elliot Weston onthirtysomething.'When Busfield plays nice, his natural glow dims somewhat.'[2]Benjamin Svetkey, also fromEntertainment Weekly,describes the series as a 'shockingly wholesome new drama' fromSteven Bochco.Svetkey quotes Bochco describing the series, 'We're not pushing the envelope. We're just doing a show about how families wire up to each other in the 1990s.'[3]Jerry Schwartz of theAssociated Pressdescribes the series as 'an archipelago in a sea of earnestness' that does have 'an occasionally quirky sense of humor.'[4]Scott D. Pierce ofDeseret Newsdescribes the series as 'a quality hour drama about a family. It is far from a perfect family, but it is an engaging one.' He cautions that parents may want to screen this for their younger children but then goes on to say 'Byrds of Paradiseis the sort of family show viewers have been insisting they want to see.'[5]
Episodes
[edit]No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
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1 | "Pilot" | Bradley Silberling | Charles H. Eglee&Channing Gibson | March 3, 1994 | OP01 |
2 | "The Nenes Have It" | Joe Ann Fogle | Nick Harding | March 10, 1994 | OP02 |
3 | "Moon, Man" | Stephen Cragg | Charles H. Eglee & Channing Gibson | March 17, 1994 | OP03 |
4 | "This Band is My Band" | Dennis Dugan | Nick Harding | March 24, 1994 | OP04 |
5 | "The Secret Life of Underpants" | Oz Scott | Grace McKeaney | March 31, 1994 | OP05 |
6 | "In Todd We Trust" | John Fleckenstein | Nick Harding | April 7, 1994 | OP06 |
7 | "Mi Casa es Tsunami" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Story by : Nick Harding & Channing Gibson & Charles H. Eglee Teleplay by :Jon Harmon Feldman | April 14, 1994 | OP07 |
8 | "The Bottle Show" | Mark Horowitz | Charles H. Eglee & Channing Gibson | April 21, 1994 | OP08 |
9 | "Back in the Saddle" | Daniel Attias | Story by : Channing Gibson & Charles H. Eglee Teleplay by : Nick Harding | April 28, 1994 | OP09 |
10 | "Kimo the Magnificent" | Charles Haid | Charles H. Eglee & Channing Gibson | May 5, 1994 | OP10 |
11 | "Hair Today, Gone to Maui" | Dennis Dugan | Elaine Aronson | June 16, 1994 | OP11 |
12 | "He Hawai'i Kakou I Ka Pu'uwai" | Joe Ann Fogle | Charles H. Eglee & Channing Gibson | June 23, 1994 | OP13 |
13 | "Da Play's Da T'ing" "Twelfth Night o' Whatevah" | TBD | Nick Harding | Unaired | OP12 |
References
[edit]- ^Scott, Tony (February 28, 1994)."The Byrds of Paradise".Variety.RetrievedJune 4,2010.
- ^Tucker, Ken (March 4, 1994)."Byrds of Paradise; The Road Home".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon October 10, 2008.RetrievedJune 4,2010.
- ^Svetkey, Benjamin (March 11, 1994)."Byrds Watching".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon July 29, 2012.RetrievedJune 4,2010.
- ^Schwartz, Jerry (March 3, 1994)."...as 'Byrds' prepares to fly tonight".The Daily News.Bowling Green, Kentucky. p. 6–B.RetrievedJune 4,2010.
- ^Pierce, Scott D. (March 3–4, 1994)."'Byrds of Paradise' soars ".Deseret News.p. C3.RetrievedJune 4,2010.
External links
[edit]- 1990s American drama television series
- 1994 American television series debuts
- 1994 American television series endings
- American English-language television shows
- Television series about families
- Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
- Television shows set in Hawaii
- Television shows filmed in Hawaii
- American Broadcasting Company television dramas