Mr. Smith (TV series)
A talking orangutan becomes a political adviser.
Mr. Smith was an American sitcom broadcast on NBC from September 23 to December 16, 1983, airing Fridays at 8:00 pm ET. Its central character was a talking orangutan. The show was cancelled after thirteen episodes were broadcast. (Note: The orangutan portraying Mr. Smith was a different animal from the one featured in the 1978 film *Every Which Way but Loose* and its 1980 sequel, *Any Which Way You Can*, which starred an orangutan named Clyde.)
The series followed Cha Cha and Bobo, two orangutans separated from their trainer, Tommy Atwood (Tim Dunigan), after a car accident knocked him unconscious while their traveling act, the Atwood Orangutans, moved from Arizona to California. Cha Cha fled the accident scene and was later sent to a government research center in Washington, D.C. After escaping, he discovered an experimental intelligence-enhancing mixture in a lab. Drinking it gave him the ability to speak (voiced by executive producer Ed. Weinberger) and an IQ of 256. Renamed Mr. Smith, he became a political adviser, with Tommy later serving as his assistant. Mr. Smith tackled political issues while his staff, including secretary Raymond Holyoke (Leonard Frey), worked to conceal his identity from the public.
The premiere episode earned a weak 12.1 rating and 22 share, ranking 47th out of 57 shows that week, and was heavily criticized. Viewership declined over the season, and the series was cancelled on December 14, 1983, alongside seven other NBC shows. The cast also included Terri Garber as Dr. July Tyson, Laura Jacoby as Ellie Atwood, Stuart Margolin as Dr. Klein, and Isabel Cooley as Nurse.
- network
- NBC
- timeslot
- Fridays at 8:00 pm ET
- premiere_date
- September 23, 1983
- finale_date
- December 16, 1983
- episodes_aired
- 13
- title_character
- Mr. Smith (a talking orangutan)
Lore & Background
The orangutan who played Mr. Smith was a different animal from the one featured in the 1978 film Every Which Way but Loose and its 1980 sequel Any Which Way You Can (which starred an orangutan named Clyde). In the series, the character was originally part of a traveling act called the Atwood Orangutans. Cha Cha and Bobo are separated from their trainer, Tommy Atwood (Tim Dunigan), after he is knocked unconscious in a car accident while traveling from Arizona to California. Frightened, both run away. Cha Cha is eventually found and sent to a government research center in Washington, D.C. Weeks later, Cha Cha escapes and ends up in a research lab where he discovers an experimental mixture to increase human intelligence. After drinking the mixture, Cha Cha can talk (his voice was provided by series executive producer Ed. Weinberger) and is later determined to have an I.Q. of 256. He is renamed Mr. Smith and becomes a political adviser. His old trainer, Tommy, later becomes his assistant. Mr. Smith attempts to solve various political problems, and his staff, including his secretary Raymond Holyoke (Leonard Frey), attempts to keep his identity hidden from the general public.
Reader's Guide
Mr. Smith is notable as a short-lived NBC sitcom featuring a talking orangutan as the lead character. The series premiered with a weak 12.1/22 rating/share and ranked 47th out of 57 shows that week, and was panned by critics. Viewership decreased as the season progressed, and the series was canceled (along with seven other NBC series) on December 14, 1983. The show's premise—a highly intelligent orangutan advising politicians—was unusual for its time. The orangutan actor had previously appeared in two popular Clint Eastwood films. Despite its brief run, Mr. Smith remains a curiosity in television history as an example of a high-concept sitcom that failed to find an audience.
Did You Know?
- The title character was a talking orangutan with an I.Q. of 256.
- The orangutan who played Mr. Smith was a different animal from the one featured in the 1978 film Every Which Way but Loose and its 1980 sequel Any Which Way You Can (which starred an orangutan named Clyde).
- Mr. Smith's voice was provided by series executive producer Ed. Weinberger.
- The series was canceled after thirteen episodes had been aired.
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