A True One Hit Wonder! 'Bridget Loves Bernie' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 11-10-2010, 12:38 AM

Bridget Loves Bernie (1972)

It's about a Jewish cab driver (David Birney) who marries a wealthy Catholic girl (Meredith Baxter).

This show has the distinction of being the highest rated series ever cancelled by any American network. It actually performed better than Mary Tyler Moore before it was canned!

What the heck happened?!?

TV Knowledge Fan · 11-10-2010, 04:41 AM

....it was pressure from several Jewish and Catholic groups- who didn't want CBS to promote the idea of a "mixed marriage"- that forced the network to cancel the series after one season (to programmer Fred Silverman's eternal regret). Yes, it was one of the highest-rated series on CBS' Saturday night schedule [inbetween "ALL IN THE FAMILY" and "THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW"] duirng the 1972-'73 season, but again, most people just weren't ready for a modern variation of "Abie's Irish Rose"....

McGillicuddy · 11-12-2010, 11:20 PM

Bridget Loves Bernie was supposed to get a dvd release a couple of years ago, then plans got scrapped.

TV Knowledge Fan · 11-13-2010, 04:34 AM

...that "racial intolerance" had nothing to do with SONY's indefinite postponement of the DVD release; I believe it was more of a "financial intolerance" (that is, the fear of not making enough money to justify their releasing it on DVD in the first place).

OOliver · 11-13-2010, 04:49 PM

To think a show as sweet as this was one could be considered "inappropriate" to viewers, and could lead to it's cancellation.

McGillicuddy · 11-13-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...that "racial intolerance" had nothing to do with SONY's indefinite postponement of the DVD release; I believe it was more of a "financial intolerance" (that is, the fear of not making enough money to justify their releasing it on DVD in the first place).

Oh no! I didn't realize it was owned by Sony! All you had to do was mention Sony, no wonder its not released. Sony Sucks!!!!

bencasey · 11-18-2010, 11:03 PM

CBS caved into pressure, as they always do. Actually, the show really watered down the scripts after the first several episodes after the complaints started rolling in. The later episodes barely touch upon the religious themes at all.

catlover79 · 03-03-2011, 12:38 AM

.

catlover79 · 03-03-2011, 12:43 AM

A book was even written based on the show. Who knew? Anyway, so sad that a happy on-screen love turned into such a sour, ugly relationship in real life.

biffbronson · 03-03-2011, 06:41 PM

The book is not too hard to find; I picked up a nice copy a couple of years ago for under $1...!

catlover79 · 03-03-2011, 10:37 PM

Cool!!

bencasey · 03-05-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

The book is not too hard to find; I picked up a nice copy a couple of years ago for under $1...!

Me too. Every Jewish guy I knew loved this show. It was every Jewish guys dream - a rich, gorgeous, blonde gentile girl! That's why the Jewish groups complained, afraid too many guys would get ideas!

catlover79 · 03-05-2011, 04:42 PM

The ironic thing is that David Birney isn't even Jewish in real life. I believe he's Roman Catholic. The Catholic groups also protested, but according to Meredith Baxter's recent book, the Catholic group protests were nothing compared to the Jewish lobby.

catlover79 · 03-06-2011, 12:00 AM

http://www.people.com/people/article...471466,00.html

By Mike Fleeman

Friday, March 04, 2011 08:55 PM EST

Breaking his silence, David Birney issued a forceful denial of ex-wife Meredith Baxter's allegations he abused her during their 16-year marriage.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Friday, the actor, 71, calls her claims "an appalling abuse of the truth" and derided her new memoir, Untied, as "a kind of fairy tale."

After their divorce 20 years ago, he says, Baxter "conducted a relentless and brutal assault" for eight years against their shared custody of their three children in what he called an attempt "to destroy that arrangement and replace it with herself as sole custodian."

"During that time she arrived in court repeatedly with various lawyers and several therapists, 'recovered memories,' accusations of abuse – a common charge in custody disputes – and tales of our life together that bore little resemblance to truth – a mean spirited process that battered us all, especially the children," he says. "The court denied her suit on every occasion."

The pair continued to have shared custody until their children went to college, he says, adding, "This current recycled version of our family story is no more credible now than it was then."

Birney says he found it "immensely sad and truly absurd" that in the memoir Baxter "is unable to reclaim a single instance of joy or pleasure in all that time, not one occasion of love or delight or accomplishment in our entire life together as we built a family. Not one.

"Nothing from our first meeting to divorce. Nothing, in sixteen years. Really?" he continues.

"This blanket omission, this unrelieved denial of even a single instance of joy or pleasure in the creation of a family, the substance and amazing joy of raising children together, of simply being together with them during that time, is incomprehensible. And sad."

He concludes by saying, "Meredith’s own account of these years is its own rebuke to her credibility. "

In the memoir, Baxter, 63, who came out as a lesbian in 2009, claims that Birney struck her on more than one occasion.

"It was so sudden and unexpected, I couldn't tell you which hand hit me, or even how hard," she writes. "I do recall thinking, 'I'd better not get up because he's going to hit me again.' "

bencasey · 03-06-2011, 05:50 PM

Her recent actions sound like those of a deeply troubled woman and one who is trying desperately to remain in the public eye as her career fades from memory.

11-10-2010, 12:38 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	A True One Hit Wonder! 'Bridget Loves Bernie' Bridget Loves Bernie (1972) It's about a Jewish cab driver (David Birney) who marries a wealthy Catholic girl (Meredith Baxter). This show has the distinction of being the highest rated series ever cancelled by any American network. It actually performed better than Mary Tyler Moore before it was canned! What the heck happened?!? Attached Images
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

11-10-2010, 04:41 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	I'll tell you what happened... ....it was pressure from several Jewish and Catholic groups- who didn't want CBS to promote the idea of a "mixed marriage"- that forced the network to cancel the series after one season (to programmer Fred Silverman's eternal regret). Yes, it was one of the highest-rated series on CBS' Saturday night schedule [inbetween "ALL IN THE FAMILY" and "THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW"] duirng the 1972-'73 season, but again, most people just weren't ready for a modern variation of "Abie's Irish Rose"....

11-13-2010, 04:34 AM	#4
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	And I'm quite sure... ...that "racial intolerance" had nothing to do with SONY's indefinite postponement of the DVD release; I believe it was more of a "financial intolerance" (that is, the fear of not making enough money to justify their releasing it on DVD in the first place).

03-03-2011, 12:38 AM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	. Attached Images
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

03-03-2011, 06:41 PM	#10
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,283	The book is not too hard to find; I picked up a nice copy a couple of years ago for under $1...!
	__________________ In memory of lovely Erin Moran 1960-2017 ~ Missing you "For you are beautiful ~ And I have loved you dearly ~ More dearly than the spoken word can tell..." "What's the word?" (Paul Martin) ~~ "I don't want money for nothing." (Timmy Martin) -- Lassie ROCKS! WORD UP "It's just a dugout that my dad built... In case the reds* decide to push the button down..."*

11-12-2010, 11:20 PM	#3
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Bridget Loves Bernie was supposed to get a dvd release a couple of years ago, then plans got scrapped.

11-13-2010, 04:49 PM	#5
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	To think a show as sweet as this was one could be considered "inappropriate" to viewers, and could lead to it's cancellation.

11-18-2010, 11:03 PM	#7
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	CBS caved into pressure, as they always do. Actually, the show really watered down the scripts after the first several episodes after the complaints started rolling in. The later episodes barely touch upon the religious themes at all.

03-03-2011, 10:37 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Cool!!

03-05-2011, 04:42 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	The ironic thing is that David Birney isn't even Jewish in real life. I believe he's Roman Catholic. The Catholic groups also protested, but according to Meredith Baxter's recent book, the Catholic group protests were nothing compared to the Jewish lobby.

03-06-2011, 12:00 AM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	David Birney Denies Abuse Claims by Meredith Baxter http://www.people.com/people/article...471466,00.html By Mike Fleeman Friday, March 04, 2011 08:55 PM EST Breaking his silence, David Birney issued a forceful denial of ex-wife Meredith Baxter's allegations he abused her during their 16-year marriage. In a statement to PEOPLE on Friday, the actor, 71, calls her claims "an appalling abuse of the truth" and derided her new memoir, Untied, as "a kind of fairy tale." After their divorce 20 years ago, he says, Baxter "conducted a relentless and brutal assault" for eight years against their shared custody of their three children in what he called an attempt "to destroy that arrangement and replace it with herself as sole custodian." "During that time she arrived in court repeatedly with various lawyers and several therapists, 'recovered memories,' accusations of abuse – a common charge in custody disputes – and tales of our life together that bore little resemblance to truth – a mean spirited process that battered us all, especially the children," he says. "The court denied her suit on every occasion." The pair continued to have shared custody until their children went to college, he says, adding, "This current recycled version of our family story is no more credible now than it was then." Birney says he found it "immensely sad and truly absurd" that in the memoir Baxter "is unable to reclaim a single instance of joy or pleasure in all that time, not one occasion of love or delight or accomplishment in our entire life together as we built a family. Not one. "Nothing from our first meeting to divorce. Nothing, in sixteen years. Really?" he continues. "This blanket omission, this unrelieved denial of even a single instance of joy or pleasure in the creation of a family, the substance and amazing joy of raising children together, of simply being together with them during that time, is incomprehensible. And sad." He concludes by saying, "Meredith’s own account of these years is its own rebuke to her credibility. " In the memoir, Baxter, 63, who came out as a lesbian in 2009, claims that Birney struck her on more than one occasion. "It was so sudden and unexpected, I couldn't tell you which hand hit me, or even how hard," she writes. "I do recall thinking, 'I'd better not get up because he's going to hit me again.' " Attached Images

03-06-2011, 05:50 PM	#15
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	Her recent actions sound like those of a deeply troubled woman and one who is trying desperately to remain in the public eye as her career fades from memory.