PaleyArchive ColorBars TopBanner2

BYRDS OF PARADISE, THE: PILOT (TV)

Summary

The first in this short-lived dramatic series about a Yale professor who moves with his three children to a Hawaiian paradise after the untimely death of his wife. In this episode, Sam takes Franny, Harry and Zeke to a volcano that his late wife loved to honor her birthday, admitting that they are having a hard time without her. Sometime earlier, the family's departure from their New Haven home is chaotic as Harry bids a long good-bye to his girlfriend Marie, Franny prematurely tranquilizes Heidi the dog and Zeke is brought home by the police, having gotten in another fight. In Hawaii, Sam appears pleased with their new home, although Zeke is doubtful about having his father as his school headmaster. Franny hates their new life and argues with Harry, who seems at ease as he prepares to depart for a jungle retreat with his new classmates. The family is surprised by the arrival of Sonny and Manu, a married couple seeking housekeeping positions, and a skeptical Sam sends them away. As Sam drives Harry to school, he accidentally splashes a woman with his car, much to her annoyance. They arrive at the school and Sam meets Val, his secretary, and interviews an extremely mellow housekeeping candidate. He runs into the woman from the road, who turns out to be one of his teachers, Healani Douglas, and she is unamused to learn that he is her new boss. He meets several other teachers, struggling with their traditional Hawaiian names, and attempts to teach a class on ethics, although he is used to grad students and talks over their heads. A young man enters late and offers no explanation, and when he snaps back rudely at Sam's questions, Sam suspends him.

At the same time, Zeke finds himself cornered by several bullies, and when he keeps his promise to his father not to fight anymore, they chase him and steal his clothes. On his retreat, Harry attempts to fit in with the others, but they are disdainful of the new "haole" and give him a hard time. Sam learns that Franny was late to school and lectures her, but they are interrupted by Sonny and Manu again. Zeke tells Sam about the mean kids and asks permission to fight them, which he denies. Harry has a nightmare about being a virgin sacrifice to the goddess Pele, and Franny continues to be upset about Heidi, who is required under law to remain boarded for some time. Sam encourages his children to "embrace the place," but they seem disinterested, and Franny soon steals Sam's car and cuts school again. Healani confronts Sam about suspending the boy, saying that he is poor and was embarrassed by Sam's questions, accusing him of knowing nothing of their culture. He realizes that she was passed over for the headmaster job in favor of him, and is further stressed when he finds that his car is gone.

Harry attempts to leave the retreat and walk home, but soon gets himself lost. A friendly female classmate seeks him out and takes him swimming, assuring him that he will soon adjust to his new life. Sam learns that Zeke has been picked up by the cops for buying a bottle of gin, which he explains was meant as an offering to Pele to help with his bullying problem. They notice Sonny and Manu at the police station, arrested for camping without a permit, and Sam is told that his car has been found—over the side of a cliff. He hurries to the scene in a panic and is relieved to find Franny safe, but she accuses him of rushing into a new life and forgetting about their mother. At home, Sam interviews another prospective housekeeper, but their domestic life overwhelms her and she soon flees the scene. Zeke heads off to fight the bullies, but is surprised when they return his belongings and offer friendship. Sam reinstates the suspended boy and Healani thanks him, admitting she was "hurt and jealous" about the headmaster job. She suggests family counseling for Franny, although Sam is doubtful. He then learns that Sonny helped Zeke by telling the boys to back off, and Sam seeks the currently-homeless couple out again and thanks them for their assistance, finally offering them the housekeeping job. He holds a family meeting with his children and admits that he wanted a "fresh start" but did not consult them sufficiently, offering to let Franny move back to New Haven with her grandparents if she so chooses. He requests that they all visit the volcano for their mother's birthday, however, and when they do, they share an emotional moment as they remember her, and Franny decides she wants to stay in Hawaii for the time being. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: March 3, 1994 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:58:00
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:31736
  • GENRE: Drama
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Families; Hawaii
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1994
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - AT&T phone services
    • TV - Commercials - Alka-Seltzer Plus cold medication
    • TV - Commercials - Crest toothbrushes
    • TV - Commercials - Crest toothpaste
    • TV - Commercials - Finesse hair conditioner
    • TV - Commercials - Grape-Nuts cereal
    • TV - Commercials - Ivory dish soap
    • TV - Commercials - Jet-Dry dishwashing liquid
    • TV - Commercials - Palmolive Ultra dishwashing powder
    • TV - Commercials - U.S. Department of Transportation anti-drunk-driving PSA
    • TV - Promos - "Boy Meets World"
    • TV - Promos - "Family Matters"
    • TV - Promos - "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman"
    • TV - Promos - "One More Mountain" motion picture
    • TV - Promos - "People's 20th Birthday"
    • TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
    • TV - Promos - "The Byrds of Paradise" upcoming episodes
    • TV - Promos - "These Friends of Mine"
    • TV - Promos - "Thunder Alley"
    • TV - Promos - "Turning Point"
    • TV - Promos - "Wide World of Sports"

CREDITS

  • Steven Bochco … Executive Producer
  • Charles H. Eglee … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
  • Channing Gibson … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
  • Stephen Cragg … Co-Executive Producer
  • Joe Ann Fogle … Supervising Producer
  • Nick Harding … Producer
  • Deborah Edell Underwood … Associate Producer
  • Marc Buckland … Associate Producer
  • Mike Post … Music by
  • Bradley Silberling … Director
  • Timothy Busfield … Cast, Sam Byrd
  • Elizabeth Lindsey … Cast, Healani Douglas
  • Seth Green … Cast, Harry Byrd
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt … Cast, Franny Byrd
  • Ryan O'Donahue … Cast, Zeke Byrd
  • Betty Carvalho … Cast, Valentina Aguilar
  • Kimberley Kates … Cast, Elaine
  • Arlo Guthrie … Cast, Alan Moon
  • Robert Kekaula … Cast, Sonny
  • Lani Opunui-Ancheta … Cast, Manu
  • Andy Bumatai … Cast, Tony Agrabrita
  • Jayson Kalani … Cast, Junior
  • Elsa Awaya … Cast, Crystal
  • Kristin Dattilo … Cast, Marie
  • Alani Apio … Cast, Alan Akana
  • Dann Seki … Cast, Gil Watanabe
  • Cha Thompson … Cast, Lilinoe
  • Ektara Leighton Kaonohi, Sr. … Cast, New Haven Policewoman
  • Marjorie Nygren … Cast, Concepcion Macadangdang
  • William Oku, Jr. … Cast, Hawaiian Police Officer
  • Alex Garcia … Cast, Makapuu Police Officer
  • Luke Kaili, Jr. … Cast, Kid
  • Lainaholo Groendyke … Cast, Kimo
  • Matthew Stephen Liu … Cast, Mo Pa