Supercarrier (TV series)

Supercarrier is an American military drama television series that aired on ABC from March 6 until May 14, 1988. It features US Navy Pilots aboard the fictional aircraft carrier USS Georgetown. It suffered from low ratings against CBS's Murder, She Wrote and NBC's Family Ties, and only lasted eight episodes before being cancelled.

Supercarrier
GenreDrama
Created byStanford Whitmore
Steven E. de Souza
Based onSupercarrier by George C. Wilson
Written bySteven E. de Souza
Stanford Whitmore
Joel Wilf
Michael Part
Directed byWilliam A. Graham
Corey Allen
Jackie Cooper
Peter Crane
Theme music composerCraig Safan
Mark Mueller
Opening theme"Living on the Edge"[1]
ComposersJack Eskew (pilot ep.)
Craig Safan
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producerSteven E. deSouza
ProducerChuck Bowman
CinematographyJack Beckett
Robert Steadman
Frank Raymond
EditorsRonald J. Fagan
Gregory F. Plotts
Noel Rogers
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesRichard Maynard Productions
Real Tinsel Productions
Fries Entertainment
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 6 (1988-03-06) –
May 14, 1988 (1988-05-14)[2]

Cast

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Production

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The series was partly filmed on board the USS Vandegrift (FFG-48) which is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate rather than an aircraft carrier.[3] Part of the filming was conducted on the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), between September and November 1987, while the ship was undergoing a period of upkeep.[4]

The Department of the Navy pulled its support for the show in March 1988, with a spokesperson citing dissatisfaction with the plots of upcoming episodes in which the carrier "just becomes a backdrop" for stories unrelated to the U.S. Navy.[5] The producer, Charles Fries, said in response that the Navy "wanted a sleepy show about life on a Supercarrier" and that he was "happy to be relieved of the cooperation because naval personnel were stifling our writers relationships and dialogue".[6]

Episodes

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No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Deadly Enemies"UnknownUnknownMarch 6, 1988 (1988-03-06)
In the series pilot, the search for a downed jet fighter focuses attention on a hot-dogging flyer (Alex Hyde-White) and brings on the arrival of female forces.[7]
2"All in the Game"Jackie CooperJoel M. WilfMarch 13, 1988 (1988-03-13)
War games bring out the best and the worst: Rosie becomes an unlikely heroine, while tension escalates between pilots BeeBee and Sierra.[8]
3"Common Ground"UnknownUnknownMarch 20, 1988 (1988-03-20)
Anzac and Sierra get an unexpectedly friendly salute from a defecting Soviet pilot, flying a high-tech MiG 28 stealth fighter plane that both sides are after.[9]
4"Ring of Fire"Peter CraneMichael PartMarch 27, 1988 (1988-03-27)
Family duties may upset Sierra, and sink Cruz's Navy and boxing careers as he battles to keep his sister out of the gangs.[10]
5"Rest and Revolution"Peter CraneJim TrombettaApril 10, 1988 (1988-04-10)
BeeBee, Sierra and Anzac are staying in a small Latin nation of Val Verde training its fighter pilots, and while they're on liberty, the revolution starts without them.[11]
6"Give Me Liberty..."Harry HarrisJeri Barchilon & Michele GendelmanApril 17, 1988 (1988-04-17)
Anzac and Sierra hook up with attractive but deadly arms dealers; Rivers tangles with a lawyer; Coleman's wife undergoes surgery for a lump in her breast.[12]
7"Exodus"Corey AllenPaul AratowApril 24, 1988 (1988-04-24)
Madigan evacuates China Sea villagers from impending war; and Willoughby befriends a pregnant refugee.[13]
8"Vector"Chuck BowmanUnknownMay 17, 1988 (1988-05-17)
Anzac succumbs to the charms of a sassy Aussie woman, rescued from a disabled research vessel, while a mysterious plague caused by poison from a crate of Nazi gold sweeps the George.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Supercarrier Theme at Copyrightencyclopedia.com
  2. ^ "TV Listings for - May 14, 1988 - TV Tango".
  3. ^ "Let Me Clear This Up". IMDb. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  4. ^ "John F. Kennedy (CVA-67)". Naval History and Heritage Command. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  5. ^ "'Supercarrier' Torpedoed by the U.S. Navy". Los Angeles Times. 10 March 1988. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  6. ^ "'Torpedoing 'Supercarrier'". Los Angeles Times. 12 March 1988. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  7. ^ Supercarrier Ep 1: Deadly Enemies
  8. ^ Supercarrier Ep 2: All in the Game
  9. ^ Supercarrier Ep 3: Common Ground
  10. ^ Supercarrier Ep 4: Ring of Fire
  11. ^ Supercarrier Ep 5: Rest and Revolution
  12. ^ Supercarrier Ep 6: Give Me Liberty
  13. ^ Supercarrier Ep 7: Exodus
  14. ^ Supercarrier Ep 8: Vector
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