Mr. Novak
Encyclopedia
Mr. Novak is an American dramatic series
starring James Franciscus
in the title role, which aired on NBC
for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965.
teacher
at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles
who often got involved in the lives of his students and fellow teachers. Franciscus himself held a bachelor of arts
degree in English from Yale University
. Principal Albert Vane was played by Dean Jagger
, who was nominated for an Emmy Award
in 1964 and 1965 for his performance. When Jagger left the series in 1964, Burgess Meredith
played new principal Martin Woodridge.
, was broadcast on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time). In its first season, Mr. Novaks principal competition was the ABC
series Combat!, and the second half of the hour-long The Red Skelton Show
on CBS
. In the second season, the competition was still Combat! on ABC, and the documentary series World War One
on CBS. Skelton was moved a half-hour later in December 1964.
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
starring James Franciscus
James Franciscus
James Grover Franciscus was an American actor, known for his roles in the series The Naked City and The Investigators, and in feature films.-Life and career:...
in the title role, which 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...
for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965.
Overview
The series follows John Novak, an idealistic first-year EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
who often got involved in the lives of his students and fellow teachers. Franciscus himself held a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. Principal Albert Vane was played by Dean Jagger
Dean Jagger
Dean Jagger was an Academy Award winning American film actor.-Career:Born Ira Dean Jagger in Columbus Grove, Ohio, Jagger made his film debut in The Woman from Hell with Mary Astor...
, who was nominated for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in 1964 and 1965 for his performance. When Jagger left the series in 1964, Burgess Meredith
Burgess Meredith
Oliver Burgess Meredith , known professionally as Burgess Meredith, was an American actor in theatre, film, and television, who also worked as a director...
played new principal Martin Woodridge.
Guest stars
- Peter HelmPeter HelmPeter J. Helm is an actor originally from Toronto, Canada, who appeared on American television from 1960-1971.-Early years:...
appeared three times, including the lead guest-star role in "The Private Life of Douglas Morgan, Jr." (1964)
Production notes
The show, produced by MGM TelevisionMGM Television
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television is an American television production/distribution launched in 1955 and a subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc....
, was broadcast on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time). In its first season, Mr. Novaks principal competition was the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series Combat!, and the second half of the hour-long The Red Skelton Show
The Red Skelton Show
The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke and third to The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings during that time. Skelton, who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion pictures as...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. In the second season, the competition was still Combat! on ABC, and the documentary series World War One
World War One (TV series)
World War One was an American documentary television series that was shown on CBS during the 1964-1965 television season to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the war. The series, produced by CBS News, which featured 26 half-hour episodes, was narrated by Robert Ryan...
on CBS. Skelton was moved a half-hour later in December 1964.