Julie Farr, M.D.

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Julie Farr, M.D.
Starring Susan Sullivan
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
Production
Producer(s) Gerald W. Abrams and Gerald Isenberg (executive producers)
Location(s) United States
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Original airing 1978

Julie Farr, M.D. (aka Having Babies) is a short-lived American television show that aired on the ABC network in 1978. It followed three television movies called Having Babies which aired from 1976-78, and was not renewed after its initial run of episodes aired in March-April 1978. The show began airing as Having Babies but was re-christened Julie Farr, M.D. during its run after its lead character.

Background

A series of three movie specials called Having Babies (II & III for the latter installments) aired on ABC from 1976 to 1978.[1] Following the airing of Having Babies III as the ABC Friday Night Movie on March 3, 1978, the storyline was continued as a six-episode "trial" one-hour series on Tuesday nights.[2][3][4]

As of March 28, 1978, the show began airing under the title of Julie Farr, M.D.,[5][6] apparently to try to attract more male viewers.[7] After the initial episode run was completed on April 18, 1978, the show was not re-renewed, though three unaired episodes were later shown in June 1979.[5][8]

The show was the first American hospital drama that centered on a female character, and its failure caused some concern in Hollywood that such a show could not succeed, even though the poor quality of the story lines and fairly poor reviews of the show likely also played a part.[9][10]

Plot

The show starred Susan Sullivan as Dr. Julie Farr, a role which debuted in the Having Babies II movie.[11]

Reception

Initial reviews of the show, as it transitioned from its movie-status to a series, were somewhat negative. One review opined that Sullivan "plays a better than average medico," but that the show was "one of the finer comedies of the season," which was a rather big problem since the show was a drama.[12] The National PTA, however, ranked it number 7 among the top 10 shows on television.[13][14] Sullivan was also nominated for an Emmy for her performance.[15][16]

The ratings for the series were far from stellar. Though the March 7, 1978 debut ranked 26th,[17] the final episode tied for 60th place out of 68 prime time shows.[18]

Primary cast

References

  1. ↑ Terrace, Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974-1984, Vol. II, p. 186-87 (1985)
  2. ↑ Witbeck,Charles (3 March 1978). 'Having Babies' to return Tuesday as a six-week series, Boca Raton News (King Features Syndicate article)
  3. ↑ O'Connor, John J. (3 March 1978). TV: More On Having Babies, The New York Times
  4. ↑ Elze, Winifred (26 March 1978). Susan Doctors Her New Series, The Vindicator
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle. The complete directory to prime time network and cable TV shows, 1946-present, p. 513 (8th ed. 2003)
  6. ↑ (28 March 1978). Previews, Evening Independent
  7. ↑ Hanauer, Joan (7 April 1978). How Sweet It Was, Bryan Times
  8. ↑ Associated Press (28 June 1979). New Show Rate Well, Toledo Blade (in a week filled with mostly re-runs, a newly aired episode of Julie Farr, M.D. ranked number 15)
  9. ↑ Llewellyn-Jones, Margaret & Carson, Bruce (eds.) Frames and fictions on television: the politics of identity within drama, p.53 (2000)
  10. ↑ (2 March 1978). Symbol of a Woman, The Hour (newspaper) (UPI article)
  11. ↑ Scheuer, Steven H. (11 March 1978). Susan jumps from soap to nighttime drama, The Miami News
  12. ↑ Moody, Greg. TV Today: Having Babies Is No More Trying Than 'Having Babies', Milwaukee Sentinel
  13. ↑ (11 August 1978). PTA's top--and bottom--10 on TV, Boston Globe
  14. ↑ Associated Press (12 August 1978). Parents Object to Kojak, Leader Post
  15. ↑ (17 October 1981). Susan Sullivan to star in 'Falcon Crest', Lewiston Daily Sun
  16. ↑ Julie Farr, M.D. - Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 1978, emmys.com, Retrieved September 2, 2011 (Sada Thompson won)
  17. ↑ (15 March 1978). Happy Days Rerun Tops Weekly Nielsen Poll, Los Angeles Times ("Having Babies placed 26th in its debut as a weekly series")
  18. ↑ Hanauer, Joan (26 April 1978). On the bottom line: 'Holocaust' sold, Ellensburg Daily Record

External links

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