BRIDGET LOVES BERNIE: INFORMATION GAP (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series, set in New York City, about the marriage of a Jewish writer-cabdriver and an Irish-Catholic schoolteacher.
Amy and Sophie each keep trying to call Bernie and Bridget, causing a great deal of commotion over the phone. Bridget tries to dissuade her mother from calling constantly, and both she and Bernie are frustrated at their parents and their constant communication. Furthermore, they discover that their parents inform each other of their doings, increasing their discomfort. At Michael’s suggestion they try to force a “news blackout,” limiting their parents’ phone contact and constant inquiries as to their activities. However, both sets of parents have difficulty adhering to their request for more privacy. They grow concerned about their children and Walter and Amy visit the deli and confer with Bernie’s parents, convinced that there is some problem Bridget and Bernie is not telling them about. They convince Moe to “spy” on them and try to find out what’s wrong.
Moe overhears Bridget and Bernie discussing some kind of “surprise” which they wish to keep concealed from their parents. Based on his eavesdropping he concludes that Bridget is pregnant and rushes downstairs to tell Sophie and Sam. They tell Walter and Amy in person and celebrate, but soon start arguing about what religion their new grandchild will follow. Unbeknownst to them, Bridget and Bernie’s actual surprise is that they are planning on getting a dog. Moe speaks to Bridget and Bernie, and based on their conversation comes to the conclusion that they are adopting a child. He informs Sam, Sophie, Walter, and Amy, and Walter somehow comes to the conclusion that Bernie is sterile. Walter goes to Michael for advice, but Michael prefers to allow Bridget and Bernie to decide the particulars of the adoption for themselves. Michael visits Bridget, Bernie, and Otis and through him they discover the misunderstanding and realize what transpired among their parents. Bridget and Bernie decide to resolve the situation by calling everyone over to their apartment one night. They see Otis’s infant nephew and assume that it is Bridget and Bernie’s new child; they are initially shocked but put aside their differences about the baby, just as Michael planned. They reveal the truth to them and arrive home with their new dog, “Spot Steinberg.” Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:61066
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1972-1973
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Douglas S. Cramer … Executive Producer
- Don Nelson … Producer
- Arthur Alsberg … Producer
- Ralph Riskin … Associate Producer
- Ozzie Nelson … Director
- Bernard Slade … Created by
- Marty Roth … Writer
- Jerry Fielding … Music by, Theme Music by
- Diane Hilderbrand … Theme Music by
- David Birney … Cast, Bernie Steinberg
- Meredith Baxter (See also: Meredith Baxter-Birney) … Cast, Bridget Fitzgerald Steinberg
- Harold J. Stone … Cast, Mr. Sam Steinberg
- Bibi Osterwald … Cast, Mrs. Sophie Steinberg
- David Doyle … Cast, Mr. Walter Fitzgerald
- Audra Lindley … Cast, Mrs. Amy Fitzgerald
- Ned Glass … Cast, Uncle "Moe" Plotnik
- Robert Sampson … Cast, Father Michael Fitzgerald
- Bill Elliott … Cast, Otis Foster
- Ivor Barry … Cast, Charles