Peck’s Bad Girl
Starring: Wendell Corey, Marsha Hunt, Patty McCormick, Ray Ferrell
First Aired: 1959
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: $45,000* per episode with inflation
The major difficulty with Peck’s Bad Girl, which was released in 1959, was that audiences simply didn’t comprehend it. A time when white picket fences and Lucille Ball reigned supreme, parodies were either misunderstood or viewed with disapproval. The concept behind the family sitcom was to take the tales so far afield that it could be used to poke fun at other shows. It was actually a silent film, Peck’s Bad Girl, that was first released in 1918 that inspired the film. Earle Foxe, Corinne Baker, Riley Hatch, Eddie Sturgis, and Edward M. Favor had cameo cameos in the film, which was directed by Earle Foxe. There were also star guests on the CBS broadcast, though it was a less successful venture than the fifty-minute MGM picture in terms of audience response. Many have claimed that viewers at the time may not have realized it was a comedy because it was narrated by little Patty McCormick in the role of Torey Peck. Almost as soon as it was broadcast, the show was pulled from the air, never to be seen again.
Peck’s Bad Girl
Broadside
Starring: Edward Andrews, Dick Sargent, Sheila James, Kathleen Nolan, Joan Staley
First Aired: September 20, 1964
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: $65,000* per episode with inflation
As a result of the overwhelming number of war dramas that center on the masculine perspective, it was a welcome break when Broadside premiered in 1964. The musical was about the ladies of the Navy during World War II, and Kathleen Nolan had a prominent role in the production. The show’s ratings remained strong throughout its existence, which is why its cancellation came as such a surprise. Most military-themed television episodes (particularly Navy shows) have the appearance of being advertising for Huntington Ingalls or Boeing, but Broadside was an exception. It was the creative ideas, excellent direction, and enthusiastic cast that made the show a hit on the big screen. In a fun tidbit, the entire ensemble was given honorary Teamsters memberships, which allowed them to legally drive the show’s cars and trucks. After 32 episodes, the production company realized that they didn’t have enough area to utilize the tropical exteriors of the set, and so they opted to stop the show altogether.
Broadside
