The Byrds of Paradise
A family relocates to Hawaii after a sudden loss.
The Byrds of Paradise is an American drama television series that aired on ABC during the 1993–94 season, from March 3 to June 23, 1994. One of the few series executive produced by Steven Bochco that he did not help create, the hour-long program follows a father and his three children who relocate to Hawaii after the mother's sudden death. The show was notable for its inclusion of local Hawaiian culture and for being filmed on location in the state.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Drama
- Creator
- Charles H. Eglee; Channing Gibson
- Starring
- Timothy Busfield
- Seth Green
- Jennifer Love Hewitt
- Ryan O'Donohue
- Arlo Guthrie
- Elizabeth Lindsey
- Bruce Weitz
- Opening theme
- Mike Post
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 13 (1 unaired)
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Sam Byrd becomes headmaster at a private school in Hawaii, which his children attend alongside local students. The family interacts with local characters, some speaking pidgin, offering a more realistic portrait of Hawaii's culture than typical television depictions. Romantic interests for the Byrds are local characters played by local actors. Topics such as teenage pregnancy and underage drinking appear. Dr. Murray Rubinstein, a beachside psychiatrist, initially treats Franny, the middle child most traumatized by her mother's death, and later counsels Sam as well. A mid-season tsunami threatens several characters and destroys the doctor's residence, leading him to hold sessions on chairs in the sand while rebuilding. One episode, "Twelfth Night o' Whatevah," features a school production of Shakespeare performed entirely in pidgin and aired in Hawaii.
Reception
Tony Scott of Variety called the series a "viable if familiar concept for family viewing" that "plays comfortably and attractively," noting that its realistic treatment of moving from the mainland to Hawaii "give the program heft. Benjamin Svetkey, also from Entertainment Weekly, described it as a "shockingly wholesome new drama" from Steven Bochco, who said, "We're not pushing the envelope. We're just doing a show about how families wire up to each other in the 1990s. Jerry Schwartz of the Associated Press called it "an archipelago in a sea of earnestness" with an "occasionally quirky sense of humor. Scott D. Pierce of Deseret News deemed it "a quality hour drama about a family" that is "far from a perfect family, but it is an engaging one."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created The Byrds of Paradise?
The Byrds of Paradise was created by Charles H. Eglee and Channing Gibson.
Who stars in The Byrds of Paradise?
The Byrds of Paradise stars Timothy Busfield, Seth Green, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan O'Donohue, Arlo Guthrie, Elizabeth Lindsey and Bruce Weitz.
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