Freeman (TV pilot)

Did You Know?

• The pilot's plot revolves around the Wainrights, a middle-class New York family that finds its dream house in an affluent Connecticut suburb, and Freeman, the house's recalcitrant African American ghost.
• Gilliam's character delivered the line, 'Don't let the doorknob hitcha where the bulldog bitcha.'

Reception

Variety critic Bob Knight (aka Bok) commended the cast as a whole, but found Gilliam's performance in the title role overdone and underwhelming, alongside the ubiquitous trick camerawork. Gilliam appeared without his upper teeth and gave the role an overplayed Fred Sanford flavor, resulting in a strained sound despite good playing by Beverly Sanders, Linden Chiles, and Jimmy Baio. Sanders was especially noted for her timing and delivery. Melinda Dillon, as a late-arriving ghost-finder, had the choicest material in her brief appearance and made the most of it. The standard now-you-see-him, now-you-don't camera tricks were worked overtime, with no indication that gimmick could sustain the series. Almost diametrically opposed was the take offered by Michigan Chronicle columnist Bill Lane, who wrote that Stu Gilliam scored mightily in his role, citing a laugh line. The producers had originally called on Godfrey Cambridge, but found him bedded down with the flu. Variety's view evidently prevailed at ABC; no additional episodes or news of this prospective series ever surfaced.