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Billy
GenreSitcom
Created byMichael Elias
Rich Eustis
StarringBilly Connolly
Marie Marshall
Johnny Galecki
Natanya Ross
Clara Bryant
ComposerEd Alton
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersMichael Elias
Rich Eustis
ProducersRay Jessel
Frank Pace
Rebecca Parr
Ehrich Von Lowe
EditorJimmy B. Frazier
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesEustis/Elias Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 31 (1992-01-31) –
May 30, 1992 (1992-05-30)

Billy is an American sitcom and a spin-off of Head of the Class that aired on ABC for half a season from January 31 to May 30, 1992. The series starred Billy Connolly as Billy MacGregor, a Scottish teacher who moves to America in order to build a new life for himself.

Synopsis

Following the end of Head of the Class, Billy moves to Berkeley, California, after Filmore High School was closed down, where he marries Mary Springer (played by Marie Marshall), a single mom with several children, so he could get his green card. The marriage is arranged in order to prevent Billy from being deported back to the U.K.  Billy becomes Mary's boarder, living in her basement apartment with the strictest of rules: no drinking, no smoking, no pets, and no sex.

The series follows Billy's misadventures as he adjusts to life in California while staying one step ahead of immigration officials seeking to prove his marriage is a sham. Meanwhile, his relationship with Mary's children, 14-year-old David, 10-year-old Laura and 5-year-old Annie, (played by Johnny Galecki, Natanya Ross, and Clara Bryant) deepens to a parental level, and Billy and Mary likewise find themselves drawing closer together, although the series was cancelled before this subplot could be carried out.

Cast

Scheduling and cancellation

Billy premiered as part of ABC's TGIF lineup, Fridays at 9:30/8:30c. After two months in this time period, the show moved to Saturday night (just one week after ABC abruptly ended the failed TGIF sister lineup, I Love Saturday Night), at 8:30/7:30c. While on Saturdays, the program would switch time slots a few more times, but none of the moves produced better ratings; Billy folded after one season.

Episodes

No.Title [1]Directed byWritten byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Sam WeismanMichael Elias & Rich EustisJanuary 31, 1992 (1992-01-31)18.0[2]
2"Hot Stuff"Howard StormRebecca Parr & David Hurwitz & Erich Von LoweFebruary 7, 1992 (1992-02-07)15.7[3]
3"Parenting 101"Robert BerlingerStory by : George Tricker
Teleplay by : Diane Wilk & Joyce Costanza & Larry Moskowitz		February 14, 1992 (1992-02-14)13.7[4]
4"Poker Face"Peter BaldwinRich Eustis & Michael Elias & Ray JesselFebruary 21, 1992 (1992-02-21)13.8[5]
5"Billy Gets the Bird"John BowabErich Von LoweFebruary 28, 1992 (1992-02-28)16.0[6]
6"Gimme Some Credit"Robert BerlingerStory by : Ehrich Von Lowe
Teleplay by : Bill Lawrence & Ray Jessel		March 6, 1992 (1992-03-06)18.2[7]
7"Futile Attraction"John BowabDiane WilkMarch 13, 1992 (1992-03-13)16.1[8]
8"Billy Flunks Mary"Howard StormDavid HurwitzMarch 21, 1992 (1992-03-21)11.8[9]
9"Out All Night"Richard KlineJohn BoniMarch 28, 1992 (1992-03-28)11.7[10]
10"Home Alone, Almost"Howard StormDavid HurwitzApril 4, 1992 (1992-04-04)11.6[11]
11"Love Me or Leave Me: Part 1"John BowabApril KellyApril 11, 1992 (1992-04-11)10.2[12]
12"Love Me or Leave Me: Part 2"John BowabRebecca ParrApril 18, 1992 (1992-04-18)9.2[13]
13"Thunder from Down Under"Howard StormGeoff Gilbert & Gregg ShermanMay 30, 1992 (1992-05-30)8.8[14]

References

  1. ^ From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Billy : episode"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  2. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 5, 1992). "A show of CBS strength". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  3. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 12, 1992). "CBS mines Olympic gold". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  4. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 19, 1992). "CBS wins, but ABC gets silver". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  5. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 26, 1992). "CBS' all-around Olympic win". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  6. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 4, 1992). "Last-place Fox is rising fast". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  7. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 11, 1992). "'Indy' boosts ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  8. ^ "Hit comedies lift ABC". Life. USA Today. March 18, 1992. p. 3D.
  9. ^ "CBS ticks off another win". Life. USA Today. March 25, 1992. p. 3D.
  10. ^ Donlon, Brian (April 1, 1992). "'Room' in the top 10 for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  11. ^ Gable, Donna (April 8, 1992). "Oscar sweep extends to ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  12. ^ Gable, Donna (April 15, 1992). "CBS' historic jump". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  13. ^ Gable, Donna (April 22, 1992). "'Roseanne' leads ABC's way". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  14. ^ Gable, Donna (June 3, 1992). "ABC wins with 'Jack's Place'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.

External links

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