Nightingales
GenreMedical drama
Created by
Written by
Starring
ComposerJohn E. Davis
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producers
Production companyAaron Spelling Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJanuary 21 (1989-01-21) –
April 26, 1989 (1989-04-26)

Nightingales is an American medical drama television series that aired on NBC from January 21 to April 26, 1989.[1] It was produced by Aaron Spelling Productions.

Premise

The series follows the stories of Christine Broderick, a supervisor of student nurses, portrayed by Suzanne Pleshette, and her five nursing students: Sam, Bridget, Yolanda, Becky, and Allyson. Other hospital personnel include Christine's love interest, Dr. Paul Petrillo; the head nurse, Lenore Ritt; and the chief of staff, Dr. Garrett Braden. Nurse Sam also has a daughter, Megan.

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)		Rating/share
(households)
0"Pilot"Mimi LederStory by : Rita Lakin & Frank Furino and Howard Lakin
Teleplay by : Howard Lakin		June 27, 1988 (1988-06-27)N/A18.9/33[2]
1"Episode 01"UnknownUnknownJanuary 25, 1989 (1989-01-25)20.5[3]15.1/26[3]
2"Episode 02"UnknownUnknownFebruary 1, 1989 (1989-02-01)18.0[4]13.1/22[4]
3"Episode 03"UnknownUnknownFebruary 8, 1989 (1989-02-08)15.9[5]11.6/18[5]
4"Episode 04"UnknownUnknownFebruary 15, 1989 (1989-02-15)18.0[6]13.4/24[6]
5"Episode 05"UnknownUnknownFebruary 22, 1989 (1989-02-22)18.1[7]13.1/22[7]
6"Episode 06"UnknownUnknownMarch 1, 1989 (1989-03-01)19.2[8]14.0/25[8]
7"Episode 07"UnknownUnknownMarch 15, 1989 (1989-03-15)15.9[9]11.4/20[9]
8"Episode 08"Robert BeckerDon RoosMarch 22, 1989 (1989-03-22)17.8[10]12.9/23[10]
9"Episode 09"UnknownUnknownApril 5, 1989 (1989-04-05)17.6[11]13.2/23[11]
10"Episode 10"UnknownUnknownApril 12, 1989 (1989-04-12)17.5[12]13.0/23[12]
11"Episode 11"UnknownUnknownApril 19, 1989 (1989-04-19)16.2[13]11.9/22[13]
12"Episode 12"UnknownUnknownApril 26, 1989 (1989-04-26)15.3[14]11.6/20[14]

Production

The series was developed from a pilot television film, also titled Nightingales, that was directed by Mimi Leder and originally aired in June 1988. Field, Walters, Swanson, Bennett, and Jennifer Rhodes (as Effie Gardner) are the only members of the cast to appear in both the film and the series.[15]

Reception

The series was described in the Chicago Tribune as portraying nursing students as women who "don't spend much time studying...[but] do hang around in their underwear a lot".[16] Nightingales was criticized for "demeaning the nursing profession...by portraying five student nurses as lusty bimbos", and the American Nurses Association initiated a letter-writing campaign that prompted several of the show's sponsors to withdraw their advertising.[17] The series was cancelled after 13 episodes. Aaron Spelling briefly revived it in syndication as the 1995 series University Hospital.

References

  1. ^ Brooks & Marsh 2003, p. 859.
  2. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. July 7, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306067407.
  3. ^ a b "Midseason entries boost NBC". Life. USA Today. February 1, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306144802.
  4. ^ a b "Comedies sweep up for NBC". Life. USA Today. February 8, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306179902.
  5. ^ a b "CBS gallops to a tie with NBC". Life. USA Today. February 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306163263.
  6. ^ a b "NBC's back alone on top". Life. USA Today. February 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306175741.
  7. ^ a b "CBS up despite Grammy drop". Life. USA Today. March 1, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306152931.
  8. ^ a b "Hit-and-miss program changes". Life. USA Today. March 8, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306184202.
  9. ^ a b "Glad tidings for all networks". Life. USA Today. March 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306198820.
  10. ^ a b "A 'Brewster' boost for ABC". Life. USA Today. March 29, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306173300.
  11. ^ a b "ABC's hit-and-miss week". Life. USA Today. April 12, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306166319.
  12. ^ a b "CBS squeaks by into second". Life. USA Today. April 19, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306176608.
  13. ^ a b "Sitcom rewards ABC's faith". Life. USA Today. April 26, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306174966.
  14. ^ a b "We loved CBS' 'Lucy' tribute". Life. USA Today. May 3, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306197470.
  15. ^ "Nightingales". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  16. ^ "Sour Notes On 'Nightingales'". Chicago Tribune. March 16, 1989. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  17. ^ Superville, Darlene E. (May 2, 1989). "Suzanne Pleshette Meets Nurses, Asks Them to Help Save "Nightingales"". Associated Press. Retrieved January 10, 2013.

Sources

External links

Works produced by Aaron Spelling
Categories