Beverly Hills Buntz
Encyclopedia
Beverly Hills Buntz was a short-lived spinoff from Hill Street Blues
. It aired on NBC
during the 1987-88 season.
fare and a sit-com. The main character, Norman Buntz, was previously seen as a morally and ethically questionable cop on Hill Street Blues
. The series has the character quitting the police force, moving to Beverly Hills
, and becoming a private investigator. In a programming experiment, NBC
president Brandon Tartikoff
announced that this show would be a "designated hitter" and was originally given prize time slots once a month following Cheers
and Night Court
. The other two "designated hitters" that season were Bruce Weitz
and Nancy Walker
sitcom, Mama's Boy and the second season of Edward Asner drama The Bronx Zoo
. Eventually, Buntz was scheduled Fridays at 9:30pm between Night Court and Miami Vice
in March 1988. The line-up didn't click for Night Court and Buntz but gained Miami Vice a fifth season with an improved performance having moved from 9pm back to 10pm.
Three pilots of Buntz were filmed including one by director Hal Ashby
.
Thirteen episodes were filmed, of which only nine were broadcast. The first episode was broadcast 5 November 1987 and the last on 22 April 1988. The series starred Dennis Franz
as Norman Buntz, and Peter Jurasik
as Sid "The Snitch" Thurston. Dana Wheeler-Nicholson
joined the cast and former Blues character "Irwin Bernstein" played by George Wyner
made an appearance.
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...
. It aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
during the 1987-88 season.
Overview
The show was a 30-minute 'dramedy', that was a hybrid between light private eyeDetective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
fare and a sit-com. The main character, Norman Buntz, was previously seen as a morally and ethically questionable cop on Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...
. The series has the character quitting the police force, moving to Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, and becoming a private investigator. In a programming experiment, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
president Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff was a television executive who was credited with turning around NBC's low prime time reputation with such hit series as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, ALF, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, Miami Vice, The Golden Girls, Knight Rider, The A-Team, St...
announced that this show would be a "designated hitter" and was originally given prize time slots once a month following Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
and Night Court
Night Court
Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984, to May 20, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan court, presided over by the young, unorthodox Judge Harold T. "Harry" Stone...
. The other two "designated hitters" that season were Bruce Weitz
Bruce Weitz
Bruce Peter Weitz is an American actor. He is perhaps best-known for his role as Sgt. Michael "Mick" Belker in the 1980s TV series Hill Street Blues for which he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1984.-Early life:Weitz was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son...
and Nancy Walker
Nancy Walker
Nancy Walker was an American actress and comedienne of stage, screen, and television. She was also a film and television director...
sitcom, Mama's Boy and the second season of Edward Asner drama The Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo may refer to:* The Bronx Zoo, an urban zoo in New York City* The Bronx Zoo , a short lived television series* The Bronx Zoo , book about the New York Yankees by Sparky Lyle...
. Eventually, Buntz was scheduled Fridays at 9:30pm between Night Court and Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
in March 1988. The line-up didn't click for Night Court and Buntz but gained Miami Vice a fifth season with an improved performance having moved from 9pm back to 10pm.
Three pilots of Buntz were filmed including one by director Hal Ashby
Hal Ashby
Hal Ashby was an American film director and film editor.-Birth and early years:Born William Hal Ashby in Ogden, Utah, Ashby grew up in a Mormon household and had a tumultuous childhood as part of a dysfunctional family which included the divorce of his parents, his father's suicide and his...
.
Thirteen episodes were filmed, of which only nine were broadcast. The first episode was broadcast 5 November 1987 and the last on 22 April 1988. The series starred Dennis Franz
Dennis Franz
Dennis Franz is an American actor best known for his role as Andy Sipowicz, a hard-boiled police detective in the television series NYPD Blue. He previously appeared as Lt...
as Norman Buntz, and Peter Jurasik
Peter Jurasik
Peter Jurasik is an American actor known for his television roles as Londo Mollari in the 1990s science fiction series Babylon 5 and Sid the Snitch on the 1980s series Hill Street Blues and its short-lived spinoff Beverly Hills Buntz.-Career:Among Jurasik's guest appearances are an entomologist in...
as Sid "The Snitch" Thurston. Dana Wheeler-Nicholson
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson is an American actress.Sometimes credited as Dana Wheeler Nicholson, she has appeared in numerous movies, but is probably best known for her role in Fletch as Gail Stanwyk and in Tombstone as Mattie Blaylock Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (born New York City, New York, October 9,...
joined the cast and former Blues character "Irwin Bernstein" played by George Wyner
George Wyner
George Wyner is an American film and television actor. He is probably best known for his role as ADA Bernstein on the series Hill Street Blues. Wyner graduated from Syracuse University in 1968 as a drama major, and was an in-demand character actor by the early 1970s. To date, Wyner has made guest...
made an appearance.
Trivia
- The name "Beverly Hills Buntz" is on a list of hobo names created by John HodgmanJohn HodgmanJohn Kellogg Hodgman is an American author, actor, and humorist. In addition to his published written works, such as The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That Is All, he is known for his personification of a PC in contrast to Justin Long's personification of a Mac in...
.