Three for the Road (TV series)
| Three for the Road | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Jerry McNeely |
| Written by |
Jack Miller Dick Bensfield Perry Grant Jerry McNeely et al. |
| Directed by |
Bernard McEveety Hy Averback Barry Crane |
| Starring |
Alex Rocco Vincent Van Patten Leif Garrett |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Jerry McNeely |
| Producer(s) |
John G. Stephens Bill Phillips |
| Running time | 48 mins. |
| Production company(s) | MTM Enterprises |
| Distributor | 20th Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | September 14 – November 30, 1975 |
Three for the Road is an American drama series that aired on CBS from September 14 to November 30, 1975. The series follows a recently widowed father and his two sons who in an attempt to assuage their grief, sell their house, procure a recreational vehicle, called the "Zebec",[1] and travel around the United States. The program aired at 7 pm EST Sundays from September 14 to November 30, 1975 opposite The Wonderful World of Disney on NBC and The Swiss Family Robinson on ABC.[2]
Synopsis
Alex Rocco plays the 39-year-old father, Pete Karras, a free-lance writer and photographer, or photojournalist, in search of material to support his livelihood.[3] Vincent Van Patten plays the 18-year-old, John Karras, and Leif Garrett portrays 13-year-old Endy Karras. The first episode focuses on the Karrases' interest in hang-gliding. Stefanie Powers guest starred in the episode "Ghost Story" about a woman who believes her deceased twin sister has been reincarnated.[4]
Other guest stars on Three for the Road were Parley Baer, Kathleen Cody, Brian Cutler, Bradford Dillman, Meg Foster, Charles Frank, James Gavin, Clu Gulager, Larry Hagman (as Gordo Thurgate in the episode "Ride on a Red Balloon"),[4] Martin Kove, Judy Lewis, Anne Lockhart, Gary Lockwood, Tim Matheson, Dean Stockwell, Christopher Stone, James Van Patten, and Noble Willingham.[4]
Production notes
The series was filmed by Mary Tyler Moore's MTM Enterprises, its first 60-minute offering, as well as its first dramatic one. MTM was later absorbed by Fox Television Studios.[4] The CBS news magazine 60 Minutes moved into the time slot after Three for the Road folded, and has occupied that slot ever since.[2]
Despite the low ratings of the series, Leif Garrett attracted enough attention to become a teen idol of the 1970s. He landed the thirteenth ranking on TV Guide's "25 Greatest Teen Idols" list.[5] Garrett soon received so much fan mail that he was offered a recording contract despite his lack of musical training.
References
- ↑ Alex McNeil, Total Television, p. 415
- 1 2 McNeil, Total Television, appendix, network television schedule
- ↑ "Three for the Road". film.com. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "Three for the Road". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
- ↑ "Mark Nollinger, "Leif Garrett's Teen Steam", January 27, 2005". TV Guide. Retrieved March 17, 2011.