↓
 
Home→New Essays→IT’S ABOUT TIME

IT’S ABOUT TIME

56thst.com Posted on by
Wikipedia
The Free Encyclopedia

Search

Contents

hide

It’s About Time (TV series)

Tools

Appearancehide

Text

  • SmallStandardLarge

Width

  • StandardWide

Color (beta)

  • AutomaticLightDark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: “It’s About Time” TV series – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
It’s About Time
GenreScience fictionFantasyDramaSitcom
Created bySherwood Schwartz
StarringFrank Aletter
Jack Mullaney
Imogene Coca
Joe E. Ross
Cliff Norton
Mike Mazurki
Theme music composerGerald Fried
George Wyle
Sherwood Schwartz
ComposerGerald Fried
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
ProducerSherwood Schwartz
Running time30 minutes per episode
Production companiesRedwood Productions, Inc.
Gladasya Productions, Inc.
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 11, 1966 –
April 2, 1967

It’s About Time is an American science fantasy comedy television series that aired on CBS for one season of 26 episodes from September 11, 1966 to April 2, 1967. The series was created by Sherwood Schwartz and used sets, props, and incidental music from Schwartz’s other television series in production at the time, Gilligan’s Island.

Description

The cave family in the 20th century with Joe E. Ross, Imogene Coca, Mary (Graham) Grace, and Pat Cardi

Astronauts Mac McKenzie (Frank Aletter) and Hector Canfield (Jack Mullaney) travel faster than the speed of light, resulting in being sent back in time to prehistoric days where they have to adjust to living with a cave-dwelling family led by Shag/Shad (Imogene Coca) and Gronk (Joe E. Ross). Their children were 18-year-old Mlor (Mary Grace) and 14-year-old Breer (Pat Cardi). Tribe Chief Boss (Cliff Norton) and his right-hand man Clon (Mike Mazurki) were always suspicious of the astronauts.

Ratings were impressive for the first few weeks on the air, but they soon plunged. Show creator Schwartz concluded that three factors were the cause of the decline in audience interest:

  • Repetition of the astronauts being in danger from dinosaurs, clubs, spears, volcanoes, and cavemen
  • An unattractive look to the show (e.g., caves, dirt streets, etc.)
  • The cave dwellers spoke a primitive form of English that was difficult to listen to[1]

He retooled the series beginning with the January 22, 1967 episode, after 18 episodes set in prehistoric times, essentially reversing the premise that had been shown in the first half of the season. The astronauts repair their space capsule and return to 1967, with Shad, Gronk, and their children in tow. Boss and Clon make their final appearances in this episode, which also introduces two new supporting characters who remained with the show: Alan DeWitt as Mr. Tyler, manager of the apartment building where Mac and Hector live, and Frank Wilcox as General Morley, their commanding officer.

The prehistoric family begins adjusting to life in the 1960s, reacting to the unfamiliar surroundings and setting up a home in 20th-century Los Angeles. For example, Gronk and Shad had to learn to write their names and sign them for many salesmen who brought “presents” which had to be paid for later. Mac and Hector also had to convince their disbelieving superior that they really did travel in time and were not playing some sort of elaborate practical joke. Seven episodes were produced with this new premise before the series was canceled at the end of the season.

According to Pat Cardi, who played Greer, CBS considered reversing their cancellation decision after ratings improved during summer reruns; however, Imogene Coca and Joe E. Ross had already committed to other projects, officially ending the series.

Episodes

Imogene Coca and Joe E. Ross
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1“And Then I Wrote ‘Happy Birthday to You'”Richard DonnerDavid P. Harmon, Elroy Schwartz, Sherwood SchwartzSeptember 11, 1966
Mac and Hector introduce present day birthday customs to the cave people.
2“The Copper Caper”George CahanJoel KaneSeptember 18, 1966
The astronauts need copper, but the local supply is limited to a necklace worn by the unfriendly chief.
3“The Initiation”Jack ArnoldBruce HowardSeptember 25, 1966
The astronauts try to obtain a dinosaur tooth.
4“Tailor Made Hero”Jack ArnoldAlan Dinehart, Herbert FinnOctober 2, 1966
Gronk tries to prove he is as heroic as the astronauts.
5“The Rainmakers”George CahanBill Freedman, Ben GershmanOctober 9, 1966
Hector and Mac must end a drought or they will be sacrificed to the water spirit.
6“Me Caveman—You Woman”Jack ArnoldBudd GrossmanOctober 16, 1966
The astronauts are troubled that cavemen drag their women around by the hair as their form of courtship, so they do their best to institute modern, civilized courting techniques.
7“The Champ”Jerry HopperAlan Dinehart, Herbert FinnOctober 23, 1966
The cave people learn how to use a slingshot.
8“Mark Your Ballots”Leslie GoodwinsRoland MacLaneOctober 30, 1966
Mac and Hector try to persuade the cave people to elect a new leader.
9“Have I Got A Girl for You”Leslie GoodwinsJerry AdelmanNovember 6, 1966
Shad tries to find perfect mates for Mac and Hector.
10“Cave Movies”Jerry HopperBruce HowardNovember 13, 1966
Hector and Mac try to document their prehistoric predicament by filming daily activities.
11“Androcles and Clon”Jerry HopperRoland MacLaneNovember 20, 1966
Boss (Cliff Norton) wants to execute the astronauts because they have made an evil device.
12“Love Me, Love My Gnook”George CahanAlan Dinehart, Herbert FinnNovember 27, 1966
A puppy has the astronauts facing death sentences – the cave dwellers believe dogs are bad luck.
13“The Broken Idol”Leslie GoodwinsBrad RadnitzDecember 4, 1966
Hector and Mac try to keep the lid on a bubbling volcano.
14“The Sacrifice”Gary NelsonBill Freedman, Ben Gershman, Martin RothDecember 11, 1966
Mlor (Mary Grace) is about to be sacrificed in a cave ritual.
15“King Hec”Anton LeaderArthur WeingartenDecember 18, 1966
Hector steals Boss’s thunder by making weather forecasts.
16“The Mother-in-law”Jerry HopperJerry AdelmanDecember 25, 1966
Gronk (Joe E. Ross) moves in with the astronauts.
17“Which Doctor’s Witch?”Leslie GoodwinsAlbert E. LewinJanuary 1, 1967
Mac and Hector search frantically for Boss, who has disappeared.
18“To Catch a Thief”Jerry HopperBudd GrossmanJanuary 8, 1967
Someone is robbing the cave people.
19“20th Century Here We Come”George CahanElroy SchwartzJanuary 22, 1967
Mac and Hector orbit back to the 20th century, accompanied by the Stone Age family.
20“Shad Rack and Other Tortures”Jerry HopperDavid P. HarmonJanuary 29, 1967
The astronauts try to convince a general that their primitive pals are in Los Angeles.
21“The Cave Family Swingers”Steve BinderSam Locke, Joel RappFebruary 5, 1967
The cave dwellers form a rock-and-roll band.
22“To Sign or Not to Sign”David Orrick McDearmonJoel KaneFebruary 19, 1967
Mac teaches Gronk and Shad to write their names. With this new talent, they sign up for things.
23“School Days, School Days”Jack SheaMichael MorrisFebruary 26, 1967
Breer goes to school in the modern day world.
24“Our Brothers’ Keepers”David Orrick McDearmonBill Freedman, Ben GershmanMarch 5, 1967
Hector and Mac bring the cave family to the airbase to meet General Morley as proof they traveled back in time to the Stone Age.
25“The Stone Age Diplomats”Leslie GoodwinsJoel KaneMarch 12, 1967
Mac and Hector’s landlord wants to kick out Gronk and family from their apartment, but the boys set up a ruse that they are diplomats from a foreign country who simply dress differently.
26“The Stowaway”Dick DarleyBurt StylerApril 2, 1967
Hector tries to save Mlor from marriage to Boss’s son.
  • “The Stowaway” was originally scheduled to air January 15, 1967, but was pre-empted by an episode of Lassie after CBS revamped its prime time lineup following the first-ever Super Bowl which aired earlier that afternoon. This episode was set in prehistoric times and clearly predates the previous seven episodes. However, it did not air until April 2, 1967. In the show’s current syndication reruns on certain networks – such as Antenna TV – this episode airs in its intended order, immediately preceding “20th Century Here We Come…”.

Home media

On June 27, 2017, ClassicFlix released The Complete Series on DVD in region 1.[2][3]

Merchandising

The TV series was adapted into a comic strip by Dan Spiegle, distributed by Gold Key Comics.[4]

See also

References

  1.  Thomas, Bob. “It’s About Time Undergoing Changes” Ocala Star-Banner (December 28, 1966)
  2.  It’s About Time – Date, Details, Extras for ‘The Complete Series’ Starring Imogene Coca. The 4-DVD set is coming from ClassicFlix in just over a month! Archived 2017-05-21 at the Wayback Machine
  3.  It’s About Time – A First-Ever Release of ‘The Complete Series,’ Starring Imogene Coca! DVD Plans for this title, coming later in 2017 from ClassicFlix Archived 2017-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
  4.  “Dan Spiegle – Lambiek Comiclopedia”.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to It’s About Time (TV series).

vteTelevision series produced or created by Sherwood Schwartz
Gilligan’s IslandIt’s About TimeThe Brady BunchDusty’s TrailBig John, Little JohnThe Brady Bunch HourThe Brady BridesHarper Valley PTATogether We StandThe BradysThe Real Gilligan’s Island

Categories: 

Posted in New Essays permalink

About joelsnell99

Who's Who in all U.S and U.K. Honoraries (Marquis) Numerous publications in over 80 venues DANA SPIRIT AWARD/2009 Oxford Roundtable, Editor of FOCUS, a student Social Science Journal Author Snell Life Cycle Lonliness Curve Professor Emeritus - Kirkwood College Omicron Delta Kappa Grants Online Editor for Psychology and Education.com Research Fellow - Arlington Institute Outstanding Teacher at Kirkwood College Membership in numerous editorial boards or a reviewer of manuscripts Associate Editor - Psychology and Education Co-Author of Snell-Green Professor Index Author of Snell Educator Effectiveness Index Contributer to FutureEdition.com Co-Author of Snell-Allen Medical Rank Index Fellow in Kennedy Foundation Co-Author of Snell-Allen Subjective Assessment Sex Role Index Honors >>> Positions and Courses Taught >>> joelsnell@hotmail.com http://www.socialvibes.net Research Council, Advisory Board

Comments are closed.

↑