Banyon

Banyon

Banyon title card
Genre Detective fiction
Starring Robert Forster
Joan Blondell
Richard Jaeckel
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 15 (+ 1 TV movie)
Production
Producer(s) Quinn Martin
Running time 60 minutes
Release
Original network NBC
Original release September 15, 1972 
January 12, 1973

Banyon is a detective series broadcast in the United States by NBC as part of its 1972-73 television schedule, though a standalone two-hour television movie was broadcast first in March 1971. The series was a Quinn Martin Production (in association with Warner Bros. Television), the first-ever show Martin made for the NBC network.

Forster as Banyon.

Banyon was a period drama set in the late 1930s in Los Angeles. It concerned the life of private investigator Miles C. Banyon (Robert Forster), a tough-but-honest detective who would accept essentially any case for US$20/day. Located in the same complex (the famed Bradbury Building) as Banyon's office was the secretarial school operated by Peggy Revere (Joan Blondell). By an agreement between Banyon and Revere, part of the training provided to these young women was a period serving as Banyon's secretary; this gave him the advantage of not having to provide a salary for a secretary but meant that he never had the same one long enough for her to become a truly knowledgeable or reliable assistant. Besides Revere, the other ongoing female character was Banyon's girlfriend, Abby Graham (Julie Gregg), a nightclub singer who was constantly trying to encourage him to "settle down" and marry her, but to no avail during the brief run of this series. Banyon's police acquaintance with the Los Angeles Police Department was the cynical Lieutenant Pete McNeil (Richard Jaeckel).

Banyon was unable to find an adequate audience and lost in the Nielsen ratings to American Broadcasting Company's Love, American Style and movies on CBS and was canceled midseason. Despite the show's short life, Quentin Tarantino liked Forster's performance as the title character so much that he hired him for the feature film Jackie Brown many years later.[1][2]

It is one of the few Quinn Martin shows not owned currently by CBS/Republic Pictures; the series rights remain with Time Warner. It is also one of only two QM shows to bill a cast member above the title (the other is A Man Called Sloane, featuring Robert Conrad).

Episode list

Episode Title Original Airdate Episode Summary
1 "The Decent Thing to Do" September 15, 1972 Discounting an official ruling of suicide, Banyon suspects murder when a client is found dead.
2 "The Old College Try" September 22, 1972 Banyon is hired to find the son of a film czar, a college student who has disappeared mysteriously.
3 "The Graveyard Vote" September 29, 1972 Political intrigue develops when Banyon investigates the murder of a candidate for state attorney general.
4 "Completely Out of Print" October 6, 1972 A pulp magazine publisher hires Banyon to find his missing star writer.
5 "Meal Ticket" October 13, 1972 Immediately after a boxer scores an upset victory, he disappears and Banyon is hired to find him.
6 "The Clay Clarinet" October 27, 1972 A famous but obnoxious bandleader hires Banyon for protection after someone takes a shot at him during a performance.
7 "Dead End" November 3, 1972 After being officially ordered off a case, a policeman (Jack Cassidy) hires Banyon to solve a suspected murder that has nagged him for almost seven years.
8 "Time to Kill" November 10, 1972 A marathon dancer (Jo Ann Pflug) hires Banyon to find a friend that she had thought was dead.
9 "Think of Me Kindly" November 17, 1972 Another private detective is hired by Banyon to handle a routine case, but the detective ends ups getting murdered.
10 "A Date with Death" November 24, 1972 In the midst of investigating the murder of a dime-a-dance hostess, Banyon clashes with an aggressive stage mother.
11 "Sally Overman Is Missing" December 1, 1972 Banyon is wounded by a gunman as he tries to locate his secretary of the week after she mysteriously flees from his office.
12 "The Lady Killer" December 8, 1972 A young waitress hires Banyon to find a driver who ran her down in an attempt to kill her.
13 "The Murder Game" December 15, 1972 An old girlfriend of Banyon's seeks his assistance after being frightened by two men.
14 "Just Once" December 22, 1972 Banyon tries to find out why an ex-convict was gunned down just one day after being released from prison.
15 "Time Lapse" January 12, 1973 While tracking down an ex-husband behind on his alimony payments, he ends up being held captive by a major gangster.

References

  1. http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/banyon/199895
  2. http://www.allmovie.com/artist/robert-forster-p90191

Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows

External links

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