The Dumplings
James Coco as Joe Dumpling and Geraldine Brooks as Angela Dumpling in The Dumplings.
GenreSituation comedy
Created byDon Nicholl
Michael Ross
Bernie West
Based onThe Dumplings
by Fred Lucky
Developed byNorman Lear
StarringJames Coco
Geraldine Brooks
Opening theme"Two By Two, Side by Side", performed by Steve Lawrence
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes11 (1 unaired) (list of episodes)
Production
ProducersDon Nicholl
Michael Ross
Bernie West
George Sunga
Running time30 minutes
Production companyT.A.T Communications Company[1]
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseOctober 4, 1975 (1975-10-04) –
March 31, 1976; 47 years ago (1976-03-31)

The Dumplings is an American sitcom starring James Coco and Geraldine Brooks that aired on NBC during the 1975–1976 television season.[2][3] The series was based on a syndicated comic strip of the same name by Fred Lucky that ran in newspapers from 1975 to 1977.[4]

Cast

Synopsis

Joe and Angela Dumpling are a very happily married and overweight couple who are very much in love with each other and with life, never have a bad thing to say about one another, and exude good cheer and enthusiasm. They operate Dudley's Take-Out, a luncheonette on the ground floor of a Manhattan skyscraper owned by the Bristol Oil Company. Charles Sweetzer, who works upstairs as executive vice president of Bristol Oil, is a regular customer, as are New York city councilman Frederic Steele, Mr. Sweetzer's secretary Bridget McKenna[3][5][6] (or Norah McKenna, according to some sources[1][2][7]), and Angela's sister Stephanie. Cully is the Dumplings' employee at the luncheonette and works as the cashier. The Dumplings' obesity is a source of much humor as they interact with customers, friends, and family.[1][2][3][5][8]

Production

The show originated as a syndicated comic strip created by Fred Lucky.[4] Norman Lear developed the series for television and Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West created and produced it, with George Sunga also serving as a producer.[1][2][5][6] Episode directors were Paul Bogart, Hal Cooper, and Dennis Steinmetz.[6] Nicholl, Ross, and West all wrote for the show, as did Joseph Bonaduce, Bill Davenport, Fred S. Fox, Gary David Goldberg, Seaman Jacobs, Fred Lucky, Barry Sand, and Alan Uger.[5][6]

Angela Dumpling was the final role of Geraldine Brooks' career; she died in 1977.

Steve Lawrence sang the show's theme song, "Two By Two, Side By Side."[9]

Broadcast history

NBC broadcast the pilot episode of The Dumplings on October 4, 1975. The Dumplings joined NBC's regular lineup on January 28, 1976, with a rebroadcast of the pilot in the show's regular time slot at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Its tenth and final episode aired on March 31, 1976.[2][3] An eleventh episode was never broadcast.[5]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"Paul BogartDon Nicholl, Michael Ross & Bernie WestOctober 4, 1975 (1975-10-04)
Joe and Angela try to celebrate the anniversary of their first meeting. NBC rebroadcast this episode on January 28, 1976, as the first episode of the weekly series in its regular time slot.
2"The Ultimatum"UnknownDon Nicholl, Michael Ross & Bernie WestFebruary 4, 1976 (1976-02-04)
The Dumplings' landlord orders them to move their luncheonette out of the building after Joe calls Mr. Steele a thief.
3"To Drink or Not to Drink"UnknownJoseph BonaduceFebruary 11, 1976 (1976-02-11)
The Dumplings inherit a $900 bottle of wine and must decide whether or not to drink it.
4"The Parting"UnknownDon Nicholl, Michael Ross & Bernie WestFebruary 18, 1976 (1976-02-18)
Joe and Angela must be apart for the first time in their 15-year marriage.
5"Gourmet's Delight"UnknownGary David GoldbergFebruary 25, 1976 (1976-02-25)
A newspaper columnist praises Angela's soup.
6"Sweetzer's Image"UnknownFred S. Fox & Seaman JacobsMarch 3, 1976 (1976-03-03)
Mr. Sweetzer seeks refuge with the Dumplings after a fight with his wife.
7"Cully's Sister"UnknownUnknownMarch 10, 1976 (1976-03-10)
Cully's twin sister makes a surprise visit – and reveals an even bigger surprise.
8"The Other Woman"UnknownBarry Sand & Alan UgerMarch 17, 1976 (1976-03-17)
Stephanie becomes hysterical when she sees her boyfriend, Mr. Steele, with another woman.
9"The Foundling"UnknownDon Nicholl, Michael Ross & Bernie WestMarch 24, 1976 (1976-03-24)
Angela talks a woman out of committing suicide.
10"Joe Takes a Fall"UnknownBill DavenportMarch 31, 1976 (1976-03-31)
Joe is injured in a fall from a broken apartment step. Vernon Weddle guest-stars.
11"Joe Gets Jugged"TBDTBDUnaired (Unaired)
Joe is arrested after he accidentally knocks out a policeman.

References

  1. ^ a b c d The Classic TV Archive: The Dumplings (1976)
  2. ^ a b c d e McNeil, Alex, Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, p. 242.
  3. ^ a b c d Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present, Sixth Edition, New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, ISBN 0-345-39736-3, pp. 296-297.
  4. ^ a b Holtz, Allan. "Obscurity of the Day: The Dumplings". Stripper's Guide. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e The TV Historian: 70s Sitcom #158 The Dumplings - 1976
  6. ^ a b c d IMDb Full Cast and Crew
  7. ^ Terrace, Vincent, Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed., Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 2008, p. 292.
  8. ^ IMDb The Dumplimgs
  9. ^ Terrace, Vincent, Television Introductions: Narrated TV Program Openings since 1949, Scarecrow Press, 2013, p. 314.

External links

Norman Lear
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