Detective School - Summer and Fall of 1979 featuring LaWanda Page

[TVFactFan]

One episode found on youtube........................https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTFXj3Ahbts

The show featured Lawanda Page known for her role as Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son

Show made its debut on Tuesday Night on July 31, 1979 on ABC at 8:30pm as a summer tryout to see if it was able to be part of the 1979 Fall schedule.

The first season was a total of three episodes that was 7/31/79. 8/7/79 and 8/14/79.

After the first summer airing on 7/31/79, the show was ranked #6 for the week behind, Vegas, Lou Grant, Mash, WKRP in Cincinnati, and Three's Company

After the 2nd episode, 8/7/79. the show ranked #17 about Laverne and Shirley, Starsky and Hutch, and Mork and Mindy.

After the final summer episode, the show ranked #5 behind, Mash, Taxi, WKRP, and Three's Company and added to the Fall schedule.

The show didnt have strong competition during the summer months since CBS and NBC had either a movie or a primetime specials

For season 2 the show was moved to Saturday Nights at 8:30pm and aired after the Ropers.

The competition in that time slot was Bad News Bears on CBS and Chips on NBC.

After the first airing of the fall, 9/15/79, the show ranked #30 out of 57 shows and Bad News Bears was #56 out of 57

After the second episode, 9/22/79. the show took a plunge all the way to #54 out of 57 shows, still above Bad News Bears at #58

After the 3rd episode, 9/29/79. the show fell lower for second straight week at #56 still beating Bad News Bears at #62

After the 4th episode, 10/6/79., the show slipped lower for the third straight week at #58 out of 67 shows still beating Bad News Bears at #63

After the 5th episode, 10/13/79. the show moved up slightly to #52 out of 57 shows

After the 6th episode, 10/20/79. the show slipped down again to #59 out of 63 shows

After the 7th episode, 10/27/79, the show fell to #63 out of 66 shows

After the 8th episode, 11/3/79, the show ranked as almost the worst TV show at #64 out of 65 shows

The show was pre-empted on 11/10/79 for a hour long special of the Love Boat

After the 11/17/79 airing, the show moved up to #49 out of 57 shows

After the last and final airing on 11/24/79 the show ranked #54 out of 58 shows and would be cancelled
















Des Moines Tribune, Aug 15, 1979
Baltimore Sun, August 8, 1979
Tampa Bay Times, Aug 24, 1979
Fort-Worth Telegram, Sept 19, 1979
Minneapolis Star, Sept 26, 1979
FortWorth Telegram, Oct 3, 1979
Minneapolis Star, Oct 10. 1979
FortWorth Telegram, Oct 17, 24. 31 1979
ForthWorth Telegram, Nov 7, 1979, Nov 21. 1979. Nov 28 1979

[DJM77]

LaWanda Page seems like the same type of character in everything that I've ever seen her in.

Interesting that James Gregory was in this. I guess he left Barney Miller to do this and then returned to it when this didn't last.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by DJM77

LaWanda Page seems like the same type of character in everything that I've ever seen her in.

Interesting that James Gregory was in this. I guess he left Barney Miller to do this and then returned to it when this didn't last.

True, even on the Love Boat and years later on Martin. Same character different name

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by DJM77

LaWanda Page seems like the same type of character in everything that I've ever seen her in.

Interesting that James Gregory was in this. I guess he left Barney Miller to do this and then returned to it when this didn't last.

Looks like he was doing both shows at the same time

On Thursday Oct 4, 1979, he appeared in the Barney Miller ep-"The Brother" and two days later on Saturday Oct 6, 1979, he appeared in the episode "the Runaway on Detective School

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Looks like he was doing both shows at the same time

On Thursday Oct 4, 1979, he appeared in the Barney Miller ep-"The Brother" and two days later on Saturday Oct 6, 1979, he appeared in the episode "the Runaway on Detective School

Interesting. I know that he wasn't in every episode of Barney Miller, but I wonder if he would've kept that up if Detective School would've lasted.

[cd637299]

I saw “Detective School,” said to myself, James Gregory leaving Barney Miller for THIS?!

If he did his two roles on BM & DS simultaneously, I wonder if BM aired out of production order, or was a rerun.

His Luger character was top notch.

cd

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by cd637299

I saw “Detective School,” said to myself, James Gregory leaving Barney Miller for THIS?!

If he did his two roles on BM & DS simultaneously, I wonder if BM aired out of production order, or was a rerun.

His Luger character was top notch.

cd

He did two shows during the late 70's, AES hudson in March of 1978 that only lasted 4 weeks. And Detective school was during the Hiatus of Barney Miller in summer of 79

[cd637299]

I was 20 years old when DS was on.

I have always figured that any new TV series’ intention is to be popular and to keep going. If DS’s intention was to go “five and out,” to me that doesn’t say much for the medium. I guess James G had part of his BM contract that he can return as Luger whenever the chance became available.

Edit: At least DS introduced us to Pat Proft, who, even though a “meh” actor on the show, was a great comedy writer. Anybody who contributed to “Police Squad!” gets a thumbs-up from me!

And I don’t even remember “Aunt Esther” being a regular on DS, to give you an idea….

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