The Best of Times (TV series)
| The Best of Times | |
|---|---|
| Written by |
Bob Comfort Rick Kellard |
| Directed by | Bill Bixby |
| Starring |
Robert Romanus Krista Errickson Hallie Todd Leif Green |
| Music by | Craig Safan |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Bob Comfort Rick Kellard Stuart Sheslow |
| Cinematography | Richard C. Glouner |
| Editor(s) | Daniel Todd Cahn |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Lorimar Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | August 29, 1983 |
The Best of Times is a one-shot television pilot that aired as a "CBS Special Presentation" on August 29, 1983. It was originally going to be a replacement series for then-cancelled Square Pegs, but dismal ratings for the pilot episode caused the network to officially pull the plug on it. The pilot was written by Bob Comfort and Rick Kellard and directed by Bill Bixby.
Set in suburban Indiana, the show centers around three friends – smooth Pete Falcone (Robert Romanus), nerdy Neil Hefernan (Leif Green) and aspiring musician Dewey "The Phantom" Hooper (Chris Nash) – starting their freshman year at Ulysses S. Grant High School. Pete has made an agreement with his caring, but strict father Gene (Alex Rocco) that he will stay out of trouble this year, since Gene promised Pete he could have his own car, as Neil is the only one currently with a driver's license. On the way to school, they pick up two girls, brash Robin DuPree (Krista Errickson) and goody-goody Patti Eubanks (Hallie Todd), who takes a liking to Pete immediately. Patti enlists Robin's help to woo Pete at the upcoming freshman dance, as long as Patti pays her money. Dewey also has his hands full when the sadistic, hard-nosed vice principal Franklin T. Otto (William G. Schilling) reminds him that he will keep a close eye on Dewey for the entire semester as he is known for pranks and cutting classes.
A subplot consists of hulking resident bully Garth Stimlovich (Tony Longo) returning to town to settle a score with Pete when he ratted him out in a school incident, causing him to get expelled and placed in military school. He also knows Pete has been taunting his younger brother and his friend. One night, as Gene is fixing the kitchen sink, he mistakenly receives a threatening phone call from Garth, complete with racial slurs, saying a fight is going to happen. Knowing Pete is a part of this, Gene firmly tells him that even though he does not condone fighting of any kind, and that they have a deal going on, Pete has his permission to teach Garth a lesson, even if the fight might get Pete suspended from school. He also tells Pete that he will not tell his mother about it, either.
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