Harry and the Hendersons (TV series)

Harry and the Hendersons is an American sitcom based on the film of the same name, produced by Amblin Television for Universal Television.[1] The series aired in syndication from January 13, 1991 to June 18, 1993, with 72 half-hour episodes produced. The series is about a family who adopts a Bigfoot called Harry.[2][3]

Harry and the Hendersons
GenreSitcom
Written bySam Denoff
Bob Fraser
Sheree Guitar
Harriet B. Helberg
Sandy Helberg
Alan Moskowitz
Daryl G. Nickens
Lin Oliver
Mike Scott
Directed byDon Amendolia
Scott Baio
Lee Bernhardi
Frank Bonner
Alan Cooke
Bruce Davison
Tony Dow
Richard Kline
Nick Havinga
Dwayne Hickman
Lee Lochhead
Howard Murray
Donna Pescow
James Widdoes
StarringBruce Davison
Molly Cheek
Carol-Ann Plante
Zachary Bostrom
Kevin Peter Hall (1991)
Dawan Scott (1991-1992)
Brian Steele (1992-1993)
Opening theme"Your Feets Too Big" performed by Leon Redbone
ComposerTodd Hayen
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes72
Production
Executive producerLin Oliver
ProducersJill Lopez Danton
Sheree Guitar
CinematographyRobert Caramico
EditorAndy Zall
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time2224 minutes
Production companyAmblin Television
DistributorMCA TV (1991–1998)
The Program Exchange (1998–2016)
NBCUniversal Television Distribution (2016–present)
Release
Original networkfirst-run syndication
Original releaseJanuary 13, 1991 (1991-01-13) 
June 18, 1993 (1993-06-18)
Chronology
Related showsHarry and the Hendersons

Synopsis

Bruce Davison and Molly Cheek played the parents (in the film, they were played by John Lithgow and Melinda Dillon respectively) with Carol-Ann Plante and Zachary Bostrom as the children (in the film, they were played by Margaret Langrick and Joshua Rudoy respectively). Kevin Peter Hall played the role of Harry in both the film and TV series, until his death late in the production of the first season. He was replaced first by Dawan Scott and then by Brian Steele in the third season (Steele had filled in for Scott in the Harry costume for numerous scenes during season two, before taking over the role full-time). Harry's vocal effects were provided by Patrick Pinney, where the vocal effects were previously provided by Fred Newman in the film.

In the series, George and Nancy were an upwardly mobile two-career couple, with the former working for a sporting goods company. George eventually launched his own magazine, The Better Life, late in the second season. Initially helping the Hendersons with Harry's care, and Sasquatch research, was Walter Potter, a biologist working for the Department of Animal Control. Also seen early on were the Glicks, neighbors of the Hendersons; Samantha was a pretty, young single mother and reporter, and Tiffany was her precocious little girl, a classmate of Ernie's who had an obvious crush on him. Samantha, Tiffany, and Walter were all written out after the first season, but the aspect of having a girl next door who chased after Ernie was retained through a new character, Darcy Payne, for the 1991–92 season. Darcy was more annoying than her predecessor, and spent all her waking hours trying to make the Hendersons' young son hers. However, she did catch on to the fact that the family was hiding a bigfoot, and had several close encounters with Harry; fortunately, Darcy disappeared from the show before she could have exposed the secret about him. Nancy's younger brother Brett, a photographer, moved in with the Hendersons in the second season, and was also sworn to secrecy about Harry. When George began The Better Life in the spring of 1992, Brett was hired as the publication's chief photographer and a financial beneficiary.

The following year brought many changes, as in the season premiere Harry's existence was accidentally exposed. Just as the Hendersons feared he would be captured by the government and possibly killed, he was rather embraced by the public and received overnight regional fame. For a while, Harry had to adjust to a high-profile life full of exhibition and additional scientific studies, but at the same time the entire family got used to resting more comfortably now that they did not have to hide the big creature from view anymore. Hilton, a friend of Ernie's and the son of a local police chief, joined the cast in the third season.

The TV series credits contains an artistic representation of key scenes from the film.

Cast

  • Kevin Peter Hall - Harry (1991)
  • Dawan Scott - Harry (1991-1992)
  • Brian Steele - Harry (1992-1993)
  • N. Brock Winkless IV - Harry (face performer, 1991-1993)
  • Patrick Pinney - Harry (vocal effects, 1991-1993)
  • Bruce Davison - George Henderson
  • Molly Cheek - Nancy Henderson
  • Carol-Ann Plante - Sarah Henderson
  • Zachary Bostrom - Ernie Henderson
  • Gigi Rice - Samantha Glick (1991)
  • Cassie Cole - Tiffany Glick (1991)
  • David Coburn - Walter Potter (1991)
  • Noah Blake - Brett Douglas (1991-1993)
  • Courtney Peldon - Darcy Payne (1991-1992)
  • Mark Dakota Robinson - Hilton Woods, Jr. (1992-1993)
  • Jared Henderson - Himself (1992)

Episodes

Season 1: 1991

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"The Arrival"Frank BonnerStory by: Lin Oliver & Alan Moskowitz
Teleplay by: Alan Moskowitz
January 13, 1991 (1991-01-13)
22"The Day After"Alan CookeJohn BoniJanuary 20, 1991 (1991-01-20)
33"Cool"Frank BonnerLin Oliver & Alan MoskowitzJanuary 27, 1991 (1991-01-27)
44"Harry Goes Home: Part 1"TBATBAFebruary 3, 1991 (1991-02-03)
55"Whose Forest Is It Anyway?: Part 2"TBATBAFebruary 10, 1991 (1991-02-10)
66"The Father-Son Game"Frank BonnerR. J. CollearyFebruary 17, 1991 (1991-02-17)
77"Banging the Big One"Frank BonnerDaryl Nickens & Mike ScottFebruary 24, 1991 (1991-02-24)
88"Harry the Hero"TBATBAMarch 3, 1991 (1991-03-03)
99"Roots, the Curb"TBATBAMarch 10, 1991 (1991-03-10)
1010"The Mentor"TBATBAMarch 17, 1991 (1991-03-17)
1111"The Bodyguard"TBATBAMarch 24, 1991 (1991-03-24)
1212"Harry and the Homeless Man"TBATBAApril 7, 1991 (1991-04-07)
1313"Harry Goes Ape"Frank BonnerMichael PoryesApril 21, 1991 (1991-04-21)
1414"Pet Psychic"Frank BonnerJulie Moskowitz & Gary StephensApril 28, 1991 (1991-04-28)
1515"The Bigfoot That Ate Seattle"Don AmendoliaAlan MoskowitzMay 5, 1991 (1991-05-05)
1616"Harry and the Masked Wrestler"Richard KlineJohn BoniMay 12, 1991 (1991-05-12)
1717"When Harry Met Sammy"TBATBAMay 19, 1991 (1991-05-19)
1818"Harry and the Cheerleaders"TBATBAMay 26, 1991 (1991-05-26)

Season 2: 1991–92

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
191"Retrospective"TBATBASeptember 29, 1991 (1991-09-29)
202"The Terror of the Trees"TBATBAOctober 6, 1991 (1991-10-06)
213"Sarah Sings the Blues"TBATBAOctober 13, 1991 (1991-10-13)
224"Mom"TBATBAOctober 20, 1991 (1991-10-20)
235"The Ransom of Bigfoot"TBATBAOctober 27, 1991 (1991-10-27)
246"Halloween"TBATBANovember 3, 1991 (1991-11-03)
257"Brett Hits Home"TBATBANovember 10, 1991 (1991-11-10)
268"George's White Light"TBATBANovember 17, 1991 (1991-11-17)
279"Working Stiffs"TBATBANovember 24, 1991 (1991-11-24)
2810"Love Mask"TBATBAJanuary 12, 1992 (1992-01-12)
2911"The Blue Parrot"TBATBAJanuary 19, 1992 (1992-01-19)
3012"Winning"TBATBAJanuary 26, 1992 (1992-01-26)
3113"'Til Theft Do Us Part"TBATBAFebruary 2, 1992 (1992-02-02)
3214"The Genius"TBATBAFebruary 9, 1992 (1992-02-09)
3315"Wild Things"TBATBAFebruary 16, 1992 (1992-02-16)
3416"Fatherhood"TBATBAFebruary 23, 1992 (1992-02-23)
3517"Sarah Spills the Bigfoot Beans"Dwayne HickmanRobin J. SteinMarch 1, 1992 (1992-03-01)
3618"Moonlighting"TBATBAMarch 22, 1992 (1992-03-22)
3719"The Green Eyed Bigfoot"TBATBAMarch 29, 1992 (1992-03-29)
3820"The Itchologist"TBATBAApril 5, 1992 (1992-04-05)
3921"Selling Out"TBATBAApril 26, 1992 (1992-04-26)
4022"The Girl Who Cried Bigfoot"TBATBAMay 3, 1992 (1992-05-03)
4123"The Busybody"TBATBAMay 10, 1992 (1992-05-10)
4224"I Got Your Birthday Right Here"TBATBAMay 17, 1992 (1992-05-17)

Season 3: 1992–93

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
431"Yo Richie!"TBATBASeptember 18, 1992 (1992-09-18)
442"The Candidate"TBATBASeptember 25, 1992 (1992-09-25)
453"The Bride and the Gloom"TBATBAOctober 2, 1992 (1992-10-02)
464"Born Again"Bruce DavisonLin Oliver & Alan MoskowitzOctober 30, 1992 (1992-10-30)
475"The Old Bigfoot"TBATBANovember 6, 1992 (1992-11-06)
486"The Outing"TBATBANovember 13, 1992 (1992-11-13)
497"Harry Henderson, National Treasure"TBATBANovember 20, 1992 (1992-11-20)
508"Retrospective Two"TBATBAJanuary 2, 1993 (1993-01-02)
519"Blood Is Thicker Than Karma"TBATBAJanuary 22, 1993 (1993-01-22)
5210"Pitch, Pitch, Pitch"TBATBAJanuary 29, 1993 (1993-01-29)
5311"Harry the Mascot"TBATBAFebruary 5, 1993 (1993-02-05)
5412"The Big Kiss Off"TBATBAFebruary 12, 1993 (1993-02-12)
5513"The Frenchman"TBATBAFebruary 19, 1993 (1993-02-19)
5614"Laid Up"TBATBAFebruary 26, 1993 (1993-02-26)
5715"Harrywood Babylon"TBATBAMarch 5, 1993 (1993-03-05)
5816"Witness: Part 1"TBATBAMarch 12, 1993 (1993-03-12)
5917"Harry the Hostage: Part 2"TBATBAMarch 19, 1993 (1993-03-19)
6018"Exterminator"TBATBAMarch 26, 1993 (1993-03-26)
6119"Beauty and the Beast"TBATBAApril 2, 1993 (1993-04-02)
6220"Big Feet, Small Minds"TBATBAApril 9, 1993 (1993-04-09)
6321"Surf's Down"TBATBAApril 16, 1993 (1993-04-16)
6422"Follow Your Art"TBATBAApril 23, 1993 (1993-04-23)
6523"Them Bones"Lee LochheadR. J. CollearyApril 30, 1993 (1993-04-30)
6624"The Three Facts of Brett"TBATBAMay 7, 1993 (1993-05-07)
6725"Ernie Confidential"TBATBAMay 14, 1993 (1993-05-14)
6826"Uncle Mack Comes Back"TBATBAMay 21, 1993 (1993-05-21)
6927"Skin Deep"Lee LochheadSheree GuitarMay 28, 1993 (1993-05-28)
7028"Retrospective Three"Howard MurrayStory by: Lin Oliver & R. J. Colleary
Teleplay by: Lin Oliver
June 4, 1993 (1993-06-04)
7129"The Long Goodbyes: Part 1"TBATBAJune 11, 1993 (1993-06-11)
7230"The Long Goodbyes: Part 2"Lee LochheadTBAJune 18, 1993 (1993-06-18)

Production

Among the series' directors were series star Bruce Davison, Scott Baio, Frank Bonner, Tony Dow, Richard Kline, Dwayne Hickman, and Donna Pescow.

The series' theme song was "Your Feet's Too Big", performed by Leon Redbone.

Broadcast stations

City Station
Albany WXXA 23[4]
Anchorage KYES 5[5]
Asheville WLOS 13[6]
Baltimore WNUV 54[7]
Bloomington WYZZ 43[8]
Boston WFXT 25[9]
Buffalo WUTV 29[10]
Charleston WVAH 11[11]
Fort Smith KPBI 46[12]
Lakeland WMOR 32[13]
Los Angeles KTTV 11[14]
Merrimack WGOT 60[15]
Oklahoma City KOKH 25[16]
Orlando WKCF 18[17]
Philadelphia WPSG 57[18]
Phoenix KPHO 5[19]
Spokane KAYU 28[20]
St. Louis KPLR 11[21]
Waterbury WTXX 20[22]

References

  1. "Harry' Spinoff Is 'Alf' For The '90s". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  2. "Harry and the Hendersons". Entertainment Weekly. 1991-03-01. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  3. Letofsky, Irv (1991-01-12). "TV REVIEW : Insipid Remake of 'Hendersons'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  4. "Retro: Albany/Schenectady/Troy, Sunday, September 27, 1992". Radio Discussions. January 9, 2017.
  5. "RETRO: Anchorage, Alaska (June 27, 1992)". Radio Discussions. January 12, 2008.
  6. "Retro: North Carolina, 9/14/91". Radio Discussions. August 25, 2005.
  7. "Retro: Baltimore and Washington, DC...Saturday 9/14/91". Radio Discussions. February 20, 2006.
  8. "RETRO: WESTERN ILLINOIS, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1993". Radio Discussions. April 18, 2010.
  9. "Retro: Boston, MA: Saturday: October 16, 1993". Radio Discussions. April 6, 2019.
  10. Harry & The Hendersons Promo - Fox 29 on YouTube
  11. "Retro: Point Pleasant, WV, Sunday, November 8, 1992". Radio Discussions. July 8, 2017.
  12. "Retro: Arkansas, 9/11/93". Radio Discussions. February 11, 2016.
  13. "Retro: Tampa Bay, Sunday, August 23, 1992". Radio Discussions. May 29, 2019.
  14. "Retro: Oxnard/Los Angeles, Saturday, July 31, 1993". Radio Discussions. September 9, 2017.
  15. "Retro: Southeastern New England, Saturday, June 19, 1993". Radio Discussions. March 18, 2017.
  16. Commercial Harry and the Hendersons OKC FOX 25 Teaser on YouTube
  17. "Retro: Tampa/Orlando, Saturday, August 22, 1992". Radio Discussions. August 26, 2017.
  18. "Who aired what where: Lesser-known syndicated shows". Radio Discussions. January 2, 2019.
  19. "Retro: Kingman, AZ, Sunday, May 3, 1992". Radio Discussions. October 22, 2017.
  20. "Retro: Spokane, Washington — Sunday, December 22, 1991". Radio Discussions. February 27, 2019.
  21. "Retro: St. Louis/Paducah/Evansville - Saturday, May 23, 1992". Radio Discussions. June 28, 2013.
  22. "Retro: New London, CT, Saturday, June 8, 1991". Radio Discussions. May 7, 2017.
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