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BRIDGET LOVES BERNIE: LAST OF THE RED HOT PLAYWRIGHTS (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.

Bernie's latest play is rejected once again, and Bridget and the Steinbergs comment that he should write from his own experiences. He writes a new play based on his and Bridgets' families, and Bridget likes it despite the fact that there is little to disguise the characters from their real-life counterparts. Soon Otis finds a willing producer for the play and Bernie is surprised to learn this. He grows concerned when the Fitzgeralds and Steinbergs get excited about attending the play's opening, believing that they will be offended at their portrayal in the story. He and Bridget remain silent about the play's subject matter and try to dissuade their families from seeing it. The producer has difficulty finding a theater, and Bernie is strangely happy, since it means that his family won't see the play.

However, Moe conspires with Walter to get him to secretly offer the lobby of an apartment building he owns as a venue for the play. Soon the play starts rehearsal and Bernie and Bridget are once again concerned about how their parents will react to the play, particularly Walter, whose stand-in character is portrayed as carrying on a long-running affair. They try to deceive their families about the play to prevent them from attending, but it doesn't work and on opening night Bernie and Bridget spot them in the audience from backstage, adding to Bernie's nervousness. When the play finishes Bernie faces his family, who surprise him by saying they enjoyed the play and congratulate him on his work. He finds that they were unable to recognize the characters based on themselves, and instead fixated on making fun of the characters based on the Fitzgeralds. While Bernie and Bridget accompany the Steinbergs back to the deli for the cast party, Walter remains in the audience, furious at the portrayal of the character in the play based off of him. He vows to bring a lawsuit against Bernie, although Amy is more appreciative of the play. Soon the reviews are printed and they are unfavorable, calling Bernie "unfamiliar with the milieu" of the play and calling his characters as "stereotypes." Walter enters the party, apparently having gotten over his anger towards Bernie. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: October 7, 1972 8:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:22:34
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:61443
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1972-1973
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Douglas S. Cramer … Executive Producer
  • Arthur Alsberg … Producer
  • Don Nelson … Producer
  • Ralph Riskin … Associate Producer
  • Richard Kinon … Director
  • Bernard Slade … Created by, 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
  • Bill Elliott … Cast, Otis Foster