Blondie (1957 TV series)

Blondie is the first of two television series based on the comic strip by Chic Young. The show first aired on January 4, 1957 on NBC and ran for one season. Pamela Britton starred in the title role and Arthur Lake played Blondie's husband Dagwood Bumstead, reprising his role from the Blondie film series.

A pilot episode was filmed in 1954 with Hal Le Roy as Dagwood opposite Britton's Blondie. The series was released in its entirety on September 25, 2018 by ClassicFlix. As of 2024, it airs on Shout! TV.

Cast

 * Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead
 * Pamela Britton as Blondie Bumstead
 * Florenz Ames as J.C. Dithers
 * Ann Barnes as Cookie Bumstead
 * Stuffy Singer as Alexander Bumstead
 * Harold Peary as Herb Woodley
 * Elvia Allman as Cora Dithers
 * Lucien Littlefield as Mr. Beasley
 * Hollis Irving as Mrs. Woodley

Production
William Harmon was the producer, Hal Yates was the director, and John L. Greene was the director. The show was a Hal Roach Jr. production. Toni and Nestle sponsored it on alternate weeks. It was broadcast on Fridays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Critical response
A review in the trade publication Variety found little to like in the premiere episode. It said that the TV adaptation "adds no new dimensions, either in wit or humor, to the comic strip." In contrast, it added, "the comic strip humor is diluted, the cliched lines and situations standing out like sore thumbs."