Turnabout (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Turnabout is a television situation comedy
that first aired on NBC
in 1979, and was based on a 1931 novel of the same name by Thorne Smith
(which had already been adapted into a film in 1940
). The plot was about a man and woman who found themselves inhabiting each other's bodies, similar to the plot of Freaky Friday
.
The show only lasted for seven episodes, partly because it aired right after the poorly-received Hello, Larry
and that it competed against Dallas
on CBS
.
) and his cosmetics executive wife Penny (Sharon Gless
) each envy the other's life. One day Penny buys a small statue from a gypsy, which turns out to have the magical power to grant wishes. The next morning, Sam and Penny each discover that they've switched bodies. Once they realize that the switch isn't going to simply wear off, they both try to adjust to their situation without letting anyone know about it; Sam discovers what it's like to live as a woman, and Penny as a man.
on 1 December 1981.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that first 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...
in 1979, and was based on a 1931 novel of the same name by Thorne Smith
Thorne Smith
James Thorne Smith Jr. , was an American writer of humorous supernatural fantasy fiction.He is best known today for the three Topper novels, comic fantasy fiction that sold millions of copies in the early 1930s...
(which had already been adapted into a film in 1940
Turnabout (film)
Turnabout is a 1940 comedy film directed by Hal Roach and starring Adolphe Menjou, Carole Landis and John Hubbard. Based on the 1931 novel of the same name by Thorne Smith, the screenplay was written by Mickell Novack, Bernie Giler and John McClain with additional dialogue by Rian James.-Plot:Tim...
). The plot was about a man and woman who found themselves inhabiting each other's bodies, similar to the plot of Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday is a classic comedic children’s novel written by Mary Rodgers first published in the USA in 1972, and adapted for film several times.-Plot:...
.
The show only lasted for seven episodes, partly because it aired right after the poorly-received Hello, Larry
Hello, Larry
Hello, Larry is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from January 26, 1979, to April 30, 1980.-First season:Larry Alder is a radio talk show host who left Los Angeles after being divorced and moved to Portland, Oregon, with his two teenage daughters, Diane and...
and that it competed against Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
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...
.
Plot
Sports writer Sam Alston (John SchuckJohn Schuck
Conrad John Schuck Jr. is an American actor, primarily in stage, movies and television. He is best-known for his roles as police commissioner Rock Hudson's mildly slow-witted assistant, Sgt. Charles Enright in the 1970s crime drama McMillan & Wife, and as Lee Meriwether's husband, Herman Munster...
) and his cosmetics executive wife Penny (Sharon Gless
Sharon Gless
Sharon Marguerite Gless is an American character actress of stage, film and television, who is best known for her roles as Maggie Philbin on Switch , as Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey and as Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer...
) each envy the other's life. One day Penny buys a small statue from a gypsy, which turns out to have the magical power to grant wishes. The next morning, Sam and Penny each discover that they've switched bodies. Once they realize that the switch isn't going to simply wear off, they both try to adjust to their situation without letting anyone know about it; Sam discovers what it's like to live as a woman, and Penny as a man.
Episodes
| № | Title | Directed by: | Written by: | Original air date |
|---|
TV-movie
Four episodes of the series — "Turnabout," "Penny's Old Boyfriend," "Till Dad Do Us Part," and "Statutory Theft" — were compiled into a single TV-movie entitled Magic Statue, which aired on the Disney ChannelDisney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
on 1 December 1981.