The Fighting Nightingales

[treky]

it was a show called "The Fighting Nightinggales" or something like that. It was patterned after the success of "MASH". Like that show, it was set in an Army medical unit during the Korean war, exept it focused on the nurses. The pilot only aired once, on CBS (which also aired "MASH") on a Monday night, right after "MASH". It starred the actress that played the daughter on "Maude".

[tvfan0101]

I have heard of it. Were the producers of M*A*S*H involved with it? I cannot be sure, but for some reason I think they were.

[treky]

I don't know; I think so, though.

I remember though, that it was pretty bad. And, from what I read on another website "critics weren't impressed".

[memarkw]

I have a book with every show on television up to 1996. The only mention of Adreinne barbeau was in Maude. Looking her up on IMDB, she has been a regular on no live action sitcom since then.

[tvfan0101]

Originally Posted by memarkw

I have a book with every show on television up to 1996. The only mention of Adreinne barbeau was in Maude. Looking her up on IMDB, she has been a regular on no live action sitcom since then.

Total Television does not list unsold pilots.

[memarkw]

Originally Posted by tvobscurities

Total Television does not list unsold pilots.

True.

But IMDB should still list it under notable television appearances.

I'm still looking to see what I can find though =)

[tvfan0101]

Originally Posted by memarkw

But IMDB should still list it under notable television appearances.

Only if someone submitted it. There are plenty of unsold pilots and even some guest appearance that the IMDb leaves out, simply because nobody ever got around to submitting them.

I'm still looking to see what I can find though =)

So am I. I know for a fact that I read about this. I just wish I could remember something concrete, like an airdate.

[treky]

I remember now, it was January of 76. I don't know the exact date, though.

[tvfan0101]

Here we go.

The Fighting Nightingales was a half-hour comedy pilot that aired on Monday, January 16th, 1978 at 9:30PM. Adrienne Barbeau and Kenneth Mars starred. The series was indeed set in Korea and followed a group of nurses working at a field hospital.

Apparently, there are some people who think it was supposed to be an actual spin-off of M*A*S*H, but there does not appear to be any real evidence linking the hit series and this failed pilot. I have not been able to track down any information about who created or produced the series nor have I found anything connecting it to M*A*S*H.

[treky]

anyone remember this? It only aired once, in January 1976, on CBS on a monday night, right after MASH. Like MASH, it was set at a medical unit in korea during the Korean war, exept it focused on the nurses. I remember, it was pretty bad. It stared Adrienne Barbeau (the daughter on "Maude").

[treky]

w remembers this show? It was a female version of MASH and only aired once on CBS on a Monday right after MASH in 1976 or 77. I heard that critics weren't very impressed.

[Du Mont]

'The Fighting Nightingales' pilot aired on CBS on January 16, 1978 and garnered a 16.4HH/23% rating in the Nielsens. It had the misfortune of airing against 'The American Music Awards' and the NBC telefilm NOWHERE TO RUN, both of which got high 30's shares.

Given that the pilot aired in January out of 'M*A*S*H', it was likely being given some sort of test run for the 1978-9 sked, with CBS and ad buyers looking at audience composition/retention and critical feedback.

[treky]

it was only a half hour; how could it have aired against a 90 min/2 hour movie AND a or 3 hour awards show?