This Norman Lear project was originally intended to be starring vehicle for Priscilla Lopez alone in response to her success on Broadway (in "Company", "Pippin", and "A Chorus Line"). She was to play a liberal nun running a missionary in a ghetto of Baltimore, and the series was going to be titled "Aggie", after her character. Somewhere along the way, they decided to add McLean Stevenson in and the focus went from Sister Aggie against the establishment to her against Stevenson's character, Father Cleary. Lopez stated in an interview that the producers spent too much time trying to get the casting right during the summer of 1978 (at one point, they even tried to replace Lopez) and not enough time developing the characters and researching what was going on in the church. I used to think the actor appearing at 0:41 and 0:47 in the intro was a young T.K. Carter, but I think it's actually Bobby Ellerbee, who was a series regular.
In the beginning, we were not a very likely pair, but I guess you never know/In the beginning, there was not one point of view we shared, and that's not so long ago/It makes me smile when we know how it all began/Mission improbable was what they called our plan/In the beginning we could've used a miracle or two/Never thought we'd see it through/In the beginning
Did You Record This? If Yes, Do You Have Any Episodes Taped (Even Audio Will Do)? If No, Where Did You Find This? I Was On The Lost Media Wiki And "In The Beginning" Was Featured On The Home Page, I Am Searching To See If People Have Old Recordings, Sorry If This Annoys You LMW Article: lostmediawiki.com/In_the_Beginning_(partially_found_television_sitcom;_1978)
For some reason I remember a fragment. The nun (in street clothes) gets kissed by someone, and she guiltily confesses to Father McLean, "I wanted to kiss back." He says, and I quote, "When you took your vows, you gave up sex, not your sexuality." That's all I remember, fortunately, but I'd like to forget it.
I saw the show. At the time, I actually enjoyed it. In my opinion, the best of the McLean Stevenson post-MASH flops. Hard to believe that Hello Larry lasted longer than this show. The only scene I remember "kind of" clearly is when the young nun was giving a sex talk. One of the men was trying to get a girl to leave with him and said "there ain't a virgin within 50 miles of here" whereupon the old nun took offense and said "I beg your pardon".
I know. It's also got guys from Blazing Saddles and Laugh-In, AND it stars a pretty funny man. It's amazing that combination couldn't deliver a winner.
This show aired on 9/20/78, just two weeks after I was born. And it lasted until 10/14/78 and a total of 9 episodes, with 4 episodes were unaired. I was born that year, and I've never heard of this show before.
I seem to recall that unlike the other McLean Stevenson flops, this show actually had some good reviews and was placed in a favorable time slot, sandwiched in between The Jeffersons and All in the Family. I guess the premise was a hard sell but at least it was something unique and not just another rinky dink family sitcom.
John W Landry McLean Stevenson always had a chip on his shoulder. Didn't want to do a show unless he was the Star. He had a great thing going with M*A*S*H but the producers got tired of his attitude and canned him. When he was on the Doris Day Show they all loved working with him but unfortunately they only kept him for 2 seasons then they retooled the show. In later years he royally ripped Doris a new one and she was hurt and never understood why he did it.
They should've given him an action-comedy cop show. Make him be the "straight" man and given him a wacky sidekick, sort of like a Henry and Radar team. Maybe he would've had more luck instead of trying to find him another sitcom.
@@ExplorerDS6789 Many people forget, or were not aware, that Mac actually did try something other than a sitcom post-MASH. In 1985, he landed a job as a talk/lifestyle show host on the syndicated series "America". However, he was no more successful here, as the show was instantly met with low ratings--and Mac was fired over a month before the show's last airing in January 1986. Stuart Damon (General Hospital) and Sarah Purcell were Mac's co-hosts; only Purcell lasted the entire run. Damon left on his own accord before Mac was even fired.
This is my best shot: In the beginning, we were not a very likely pair, but I guess you never know/In the beginning, there was not one point of view we shared, and that's not so long ago/It makes me smile when we know how it all began/Mission improbable was what they called our plan/In the beginning we could've used a miracle or two/Never thought we'd see it through/In the beginning
I remember the first shot in the opening credits where he put the fingers in the statue's ears. That is crazy!
This Norman Lear project was originally intended to be starring vehicle for Priscilla Lopez alone in response to her success on Broadway (in "Company", "Pippin", and "A Chorus Line"). She was to play a liberal nun running a missionary in a ghetto of Baltimore, and the series was going to be titled "Aggie", after her character. Somewhere along the way, they decided to add McLean Stevenson in and the focus went from Sister Aggie against the establishment to her against Stevenson's character, Father Cleary. Lopez stated in an interview that the producers spent too much time trying to get the casting right during the summer of 1978 (at one point, they even tried to replace Lopez) and not enough time developing the characters and researching what was going on in the church.
I used to think the actor appearing at 0:41 and 0:47 in the intro was a young T.K. Carter, but I think it's actually Bobby Ellerbee, who was a series regular.
Yeah, she should have been the star and they should have left McLean out. It may have made it.
One of 70's Powerhouse Producer Norman Lear's few flops.
In the beginning, we were not a very likely pair, but I guess you never know/In the beginning, there was not one point of view we shared, and that's not so long ago/It makes me smile when we know how it all began/Mission improbable was what they called our plan/In the beginning we could've used a miracle or two/Never thought we'd see it through/In the beginning
MacLean was like a bad luck charm after M.A.S.H.
Mac may have had his share of duds, but at least the theme songs were pretty darn catchy.
Who is the teen actress at the 44 second mark? Don't see a listing for a teen actress for this show on IMDB
Olivia Barash.
Did You Record This? If Yes, Do You Have Any Episodes Taped (Even Audio Will Do)? If No, Where Did You Find This?
I Was On The Lost Media Wiki And "In The Beginning" Was Featured On The Home Page, I Am Searching To See If People Have Old Recordings, Sorry If This Annoys You
LMW Article: lostmediawiki.com/In_the_Beginning_(partially_found_television_sitcom;_1978)
I think what's most annoying is that Every Word In Your Sentence Starts With A Capital Letter. (Why do some people type like that?)
Did anyone see this show??
I have no memory of it.
For some reason I remember a fragment. The nun (in street clothes) gets kissed by someone, and she guiltily confesses to Father McLean, "I wanted to kiss back." He says, and I quote, "When you took your vows, you gave up sex, not your sexuality." That's all I remember, fortunately, but I'd like to forget it.
I saw the show. At the time, I actually enjoyed it. In my opinion, the best of the McLean Stevenson post-MASH flops. Hard to believe that Hello Larry lasted longer than this show. The only scene I remember "kind of" clearly is when the young nun was giving a sex talk. One of the men was trying to get a girl to leave with him and said "there ain't a virgin within 50 miles of here" whereupon the old nun took offense and said "I beg your pardon".
For a show that only lasted a month, it had a catchy theme song that could be heard on the radio.
I'd love to know who sang this.He sounds a lot like Lobo.
It sounded ahead of its time for 1978.
I love the tune myself. Too bad MacLean Stevenson could not carry this series.
Hard to believe that this was Norman Lear.
I know,eh?Especially considering everything he produced or created was pretty much a hit.
I know. It's also got guys from Blazing Saddles and Laugh-In, AND it stars a pretty funny man. It's amazing that combination couldn't deliver a winner.
This show aired on 9/20/78, just two weeks after I was born. And it lasted until 10/14/78 and a total of 9 episodes, with 4 episodes were unaired. I was born that year, and I've never heard of this show before.
remember when jack dodson used to be a regular on the ''andy griffith show.
And on Mayberry R.F.D.
How many short lived sitcoms had Jack Dodson as a cast member ? I have seen him in several openings.
I seem to recall that unlike the other McLean Stevenson flops, this show actually had some good reviews and was placed in a favorable time slot, sandwiched in between The Jeffersons and All in the Family. I guess the premise was a hard sell but at least it was something unique and not just another rinky dink family sitcom.
All McLean Stevenson needed was one bonafide hit show after he departed M*A*S*H and that was even too much to ask.
John W Landry McLean Stevenson always had a chip on his shoulder. Didn't want to do a show unless he was the Star. He had a great thing going with M*A*S*H but the producers got tired of his attitude and canned him. When he was on the Doris Day Show they all loved working with him but unfortunately they only kept him for 2 seasons then they retooled the show. In later years he royally ripped Doris a new one and she was hurt and never understood why he did it.
They should've given him an action-comedy cop show. Make him be the "straight" man and given him a wacky sidekick, sort of like a Henry and Radar team. Maybe he would've had more luck instead of trying to find him another sitcom.
I thought Stevenson left on his own volition.
He should have stayed with MASH
@@ExplorerDS6789 Many people forget, or were not aware, that Mac actually did try something other than a sitcom post-MASH. In 1985, he landed a job as a talk/lifestyle show host on the syndicated series "America". However, he was no more successful here, as the show was instantly met with low ratings--and Mac was fired over a month before the show's last airing in January 1986. Stuart Damon (General Hospital) and Sarah Purcell were Mac's co-hosts; only Purcell lasted the entire run. Damon left on his own accord before Mac was even fired.
0:46- Now there is his "I left M*A*S*H for THIS?" face.
poor McLean Stevenson-he could never fin another hit series after MASH.
EWTN or TBN could've pick this show up if it ever existed
Soon, McLean got Hello Larry!
And it was Goodbye, Larry just a few months later.
@@ExplorerDS6789 Hello, Larry lasted from January 1979 to April 1980. That was two seasons, fifteen months. It was Mac's longest run post-MASH.
@@VaultMasterDBT And has since become his most infamous.
Later they had the equally unsuccessful Have Faith, which looked like basically the same show.
Can someone post the lyrics? I can't make out some of them, especially at the.beginning.
This is my best shot:
In the beginning, we were not a very likely pair, but I guess you never know/In the beginning, there was not one point of view we shared, and that's not so long ago/It makes me smile when we know how it all began/Mission improbable was what they called our plan/In the beginning we could've used a miracle or two/Never thought we'd see it through/In the beginning
Yet another flop for McLean Stevenson.
Priests all look creepy to me now. Worse than clowns.
Jews dressed up like Catholics.