Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Sandra Warner and Fess Parker as Pat and Eugene Smith.
GenreSitcom
Created byHal Stanley, based on the 1939 theatrical movie
StarringFess Parker
Sandra Warner
Red Foley
Theme music composerIrving Taylor
Hal Stanley
Opening theme"Mr. Smith Goes To Washington"
ComposerJimmie Haskell
Country of originUSA
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes25
Production
ProducerHal Stanley
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time24 mins.
Production companyStarstan-Fespar Productions (in association with Screen Gems)
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 29, 1962 (1962-09-29) –
March 23, 1963 (1963-03-23)
Related
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is an American sitcom that aired on ABC starring Fess Parker. The series, which aired from September 29, 1962 to March 30, 1963, was based on the 1939 film of the same name, starring James Stewart in the title role.[1]

Premise

The title character is a "small-town idealist who becomes a United States senator"[2] who was elected to fill the unexpired term of the incumbent who died.[3] Although Smith seemed naive, he disappointed his backers.[4] Smith's small-town background led him to use a "low-keyed, homespun approach" to problems within his family and at the national level.[5]

Regular characters in the series, in addition to Smith, were his wife Pat, his Uncle Cooter, Miss Kelly (a secretary), and Arnie (a chauffeur).[1]

Cast

Guest stars

Episode list

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Washington Hostess"UnknownUnknownSeptember 29, 1962 (1962-09-29)
2"Bad Day at Cuttin' Corners"UnknownUnknownOctober 6, 1962 (1962-10-06)
3"...But What Are You Doing for Your Country?"Oscar RudolphEarl Hamner Jr.October 13, 1962 (1962-10-13)
4"The Musicale"UnknownUnknownOctober 20, 1962 (1962-10-20)
5"The Country Sculptor"UnknownUnknownOctober 27, 1962 (1962-10-27)
6"The Senator and the Paperboy"UnknownUnknownNovember 3, 1962 (1962-11-03)
7"The Fork in the Road"UnknownUnknownNovember 10, 1962 (1962-11-10)
8"First Class Citizen"UnknownUnknownNovember 17, 1962 (1962-11-17)
9"The Senator Baits a Hook"UnknownUnknownNovember 24, 1962 (1962-11-24)
10"For Richer or Poorer"UnknownUnknownDecember 1, 1962 (1962-12-01)
11"Man's Best Friend"UnknownUnknownDecember 8, 1962 (1962-12-08)
12"The Sleeping Sentry"UnknownUnknownDecember 22, 1962 (1962-12-22)
13"Without a Song"UnknownUnknownDecember 29, 1962 (1962-12-29)
14"That's Show Business"UnknownUnknownJanuary 5, 1963 (1963-01-05)
15"Miss Ida's Star"UnknownUnknownJanuary 12, 1963 (1963-01-12)
16"Think Mink"Claudio GuzmánHoward Snyder & Jack HarveyJanuary 19, 1963 (1963-01-19)
17"The Resurrection of Winesap Corners"UnknownUnknownJanuary 26, 1963 (1963-01-26)
18"Oh, Pioneers!"UnknownUnknownFebruary 2, 1963 (1963-02-02)
19"Grand Ol' Opry"UnknownUnknownFebruary 9, 1963 (1963-02-09)
20"And Still the Champ"UnknownUnknownFebruary 16, 1963 (1963-02-16)
21"Citizen Bellows"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1963 (1963-02-23)
22"Kid from Brooklyn"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 1963 (1963-03-02)
23"To Be or Not to Be"UnknownUnknownMarch 9, 1963 (1963-03-09)
24"High Society"UnknownUnknownMarch 16, 1963 (1963-03-16)
25"The Lobbyist"UnknownUnknownMarch 23, 1963 (1963-03-23)

Production

Hal Stanley was the producer[4] and creator of the series, which was filmed in black-and-white with a laugh track. Claudio Guzman and Oscar Rudolph were two of the directors. Earl Hamner, Jack Harvey, and Howard Snyder were three of the writers. Stanley and Irving Taylor wrote the theme song.[3] The show was broadcast from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturdays.[5] Sponsors included Camel cigarettes, Metrecal, and U. S. Royal tires.[3]

Critical response

John P. Shanley, writing in The New York Times, commented that much of the initial episode was "obvious and unnecessary."[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Alex McNeil, Total Television, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, 4th ed., p. 561
  2. ^ a b Shanley, John P. (October 1, 1962). "TV: Simplicity Rescues One of 4 Weekly Comedies". The New York Times. p. 63. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Leszczak, Bob (2 November 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-7864-6812-6. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "'Mr. Smith' series to begin in fall". The New York Times. February 20, 1962. p. 51. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 674. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (TV series).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
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