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» » Channing A Bang and a Whimper (1963–1964)

Short summary

Inspired by the recent death of that gifted writer (and incurable wonanizer and chronic drunk), Brendan Behan, A Bang and a Whimper tells the tale of a visitor to the Channing campus, poet laureate, drunk,and skirt chaser Paddy Riordan, played by Robert ( The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes) Stephens. a naive and impressionable young female student, played by Susan, ( Imitaion of Life,) Kohner, has to escort hima round campus. She finds herself falling in love, but Riordan is more interested in a short-term affair. This is another show that deserves to be realesed on DVD. Sadly, it apparently has an an even smaller following than Slattery's People.

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    • Author: Vudomuro
    Channing was apparently a fascinating, if erratic, Television series, and one of two serious TV dramas with a college setting. ( The other was The Paper Chase.) Channing was one of the first TV shows for such performers as Suzanne Pleshette, Tim Conway, James Caan, Peter Fonda, Bob Crane, Michael Parks,Keir Dullea, Joey Heatherton, and Dawn Wells, all of whom played students at fictional Channing College. Jason Evers, the guy with the fascinating eyes, played Joseph Howe, Korean War Vet, English professor, and would-be Great American Novelist. Henry Jones, the guy with he unforgettable voice, played his mentor, the college dean. In this episode, the great Robert Stephens played an old buddy of Howe, Irish celebrity poet Paddy Riordan, brilliant writer and self-destructive alcoholic and womanizer, ( Sounds like Brendan Behan- and Stephens himself)who visits Channing to lecture and read some poems. While visiting, he attracts a "groupie" ( Yes, Poets used to have groupie like Rock Stars today.), a star-struck young student played by Susan ( Imitation of Life), Kohner. Jones and Howe do their best to keep the young woman fe away from the doomed poet, but in the end, it is Stephens himself who must break the young idolater's balloon, and, in the process, discover the sad truth about himself. Why, or why isn't there a TV equivalent of TCM, to show gems like this?
  • Episode cast overview, first billed only:
    Henry Jones Henry Jones - Dean Fred Baker
    Jason Evers Jason Evers - Professor Joseph Howe
    Robert Stephens Robert Stephens - Paddy Riordan
    Susan Kohner Susan Kohner - Rena Covic
    Jonathan Bolt Jonathan Bolt - Bert
    Alex Gerry Alex Gerry - Covic
    Robert Cornthwaite Robert Cornthwaite - Eric Northway
    Dennis McCarthy Dennis McCarthy - Prof. Whitlock
    Nicky Blair Nicky Blair - Bartender
    Meg Wyllie Meg Wyllie - Dr. Helen Rodriguez
    Richard Reeves Richard Reeves - Mechanic
    Ray Baumann Ray Baumann - Student Waiter
    Vince Townsend Jr. Vince Townsend Jr. - Edward (as Vince M. Townsend)
    Tom Signorelli Tom Signorelli - Jimmy
    James V. Christy James V. Christy - Charlie
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