Beverly Hills Buntz
A Hill Street Blues spin-off turned private-eye dramedy.
Beverly Hills Buntz is an American television series that blends comedy and drama, and it is a spin-off from the acclaimed police drama *Hill Street Blues*. The show aired on NBC between November 5, 1987, and May 20, 1988. It stands out as one of the rare instances where a dramatic series produced a spin-off in a comedic genre.
The series follows Norman Buntz, a character originally seen as a morally questionable cop on *Hill Street Blues*, who quits the police force, relocates to Beverly Hills, and becomes a private investigator. The show is a half-hour dramedy, mixing light private eye stories with sitcom elements. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff treated it as a "designated hitter," initially giving it prime time slots once a month after *Cheers* and *Night Court*. That season’s other "designated hitters" were the second season of *The Bronx Zoo* (a drama with Ed Asner); all three shows were canceled in 1988. In March 1988, *Beverly Hills Buntz* was moved to Fridays at 9:30pm, between *Night Court* and *Miami Vice*. While *Buntz* did not succeed, *Night Court* was a successful, long-running series (1984–1992), and *Miami Vice* saw declining ratings after its move to 10pm and was not renewed for a sixth season after its fifth. Three pilots were filmed for the series, including one directed by Hal Ashby.
Of the 13 episodes produced, nine were broadcast. The first aired on November 5, 1987, and the last on May 20, 1988. The cast included Dennis Franz as Norman Buntz, Peter Jurasik as Sid "The Snitch" Thurston, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Rebecca Griswold.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy drama
- Creator
- David Milch / Jeffrey Lewis
- Director
- Barnet Kellman
- Starring
- Dennis Franz / Peter Jurasik / Dana Wheeler-Nicholson
- Composer
- Mike Post
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 13 (4 unaired)
- Camera
- Single-camera
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Company
- MTM Enterprises
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series follows Norman Buntz, a morally and ethically questionable cop from Hill Street Blues, who quits the police force, moves to Beverly Hills, and becomes a private investigator. The show was a half-hour dramedy, blending light private eye fare with sitcom elements. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff announced it as a 'designated hitter,' originally given prize time slots once a month after Cheers and Night Court. The other designated hitter that season was the second season of The Bronx Zoo; each show was canceled in 1988. Eventually, Buntz was scheduled Fridays at 9:30pm between Night Court and Miami Vice in March 1988. Buntz was unsuccessful, but Night Court was a hit that ran from 1984 to 1992; Miami Vice's ratings declined after moving to 10pm, and it was not renewed for a sixth season. Three pilots of Buntz were filmed, including one by director Hal Ashby.
Reader's Guide
Beverly Hills Buntz is significant as a rare example of a dramatic series spawning a comedic spin-off, a programming experiment by NBC. Its 'designated hitter' scheduling strategy aimed to boost ratings but ultimately failed, leading to cancellation after nine broadcast episodes out of thirteen filmed. The series is remembered primarily for its connection to Hill Street Blues and for starring Dennis Franz, who later gained fame on NYPD Blue. The show's brief run and unusual genre shift make it a footnote in television history, illustrating the risks of network experimentation.
Did You Know?
- The series is one of a handful of examples of a dramatic series spinning off a comedic one.
- Three pilots were filmed, including one directed by Hal Ashby.
- Nine episodes were broadcast out of thirteen filmed.
- The show was a 'designated hitter' along with The Bronx Zoo; all three were canceled in 1988.
More in American television spinoffs 1-24
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