Breaking Away (TV series)

Breaking Away
Genre Comedy/Drama
Created by Steve Tesich
Starring Shaun Cassidy
Jackie Earle Haley
Barbara Barrie
Composer(s) Lance Rubin
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 8
Production
Executive producer(s) Peter Yates
Producer(s) Sam Manners
Glenn Gordon Caron (Supervising Producer)
Editor(s) Artie Mandelberg
Gene Ruggiero
Cinematography Brianne Murphy
Running time 1 hour (inc. commercials)
Production company(s) 20th Century Fox
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Picture format 4:3 color film
Original run November 29, 1980 – January 10, 1981
Chronology
Preceded by Breaking Away

Breaking Away is a 1980 American comedy-drama television series that was based on the 1979 film of the same name. It was created by Steve Tesich, who wrote the original film, and the film's director Peter Yates served as Executive Producer.

As a prequel, the series was set during the year prior to the events of the film. Shaun Cassidy took over the role of Dave Stohler (played by Dennis Christopher in the film),[1] a young man mad about bicycle racing and all things Italian. Barbara Barrie, Jackie Earle Haley and John Ashton reprised their roles from the film.[2] The television series was set in Bloomington, Indiana, but was actually shot in Athens, Georgia.

The show was caught up in the 1980 Screen Actors Guild Strike and did not begin production until that fall. While heavily promoted by ABC, it was overlooked by TV audiences once it got on the air and suffered low ratings. It was cancelled after eight episodes were filmed, though only seven episodes aired during its original run.[3] ABC showed reruns of the show during the summer of 1981, and it was also rerun by the Arts & Entertainment cable channel during 1985–1987.

Cast

Recurring

Episodes

Episode summaries[4]
# Title Director Writer(s) Airdate
1x01"The Cutter"Joe RubinSteve Tesich[1]29 November 1980
The series opens one year before the film as Dave and his friends graduate high school.
1x02"The American Dream"Stan LathanCharles Rosin6 December 1980
Dave audits a college class and meets Paulina, while a co-ed gets Mike to play in a football game for a fraternity.
Guest stars: Jeff Corey as Professor Manchester
1x03"Knowing Her"Kim FriedmanJerry McNeely13 December 1980
Cyril dates a co-ed, Moocher gets a job in a movie theater, Evelyn takes a real-estate course.
Guest stars: Larry Larson as Grant/Greg Prince, Woody Eney as Dougherty, Lenora May as Jeanne Lindsay
1x04"King of the Quarry"Victor LoblSteve Pritzker20 December 1980
Ray guest lectures at the university, Moocher get a job offer in Chicago.
Guest stars: Brian Lane Green as Jerry, Lauri Huffer as Jennifer
1x05"Heart Like a Wheel"Jack BenderCaroline Elias27 December 1980
Paulina meets Dave's parents over dinner, Moocher asks Nancy to move in together, and Mike drag races a college student.
Guest stars: Chris Lemmon as Danny
1x06"Rainy Night in Georgia"Stan LathanJerry McNeely & Charles Rosin3 January 1981
Evelyn wants Ray to buy land near the university as an investment
1x07"La Strada"Jeff BlecknerSteve Tesich & Glenn Gordon Caron10 January 1981
The guys get a painting job, Dave's bicycle is stolen. Guest stars: Mark Metcalf as Racer, Dennis Robertson as Simms
1x08"Grand Illusion"————unaired

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Peter J Boyer (28 November 1980). "ABC 'Breaking Away' misses star of film". The Miami News (Cox Enterprises). p. 6B. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Debra Katz (4 October 1986). "Cassidy starred as a bicyclist". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  3. Vernon Scott (23 January 1981). "Breaking Away issues an SOS". Calgary Herald (Postmedia Network). p. 7. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  4. "Breaking Away: Episodes". TV.com.

External links