We haven’t posted much this past year because of a tumultuous work situation, but it was notable for being the 50th anniversary of the series’ end. In November and December, we had the following birthdays and anniversaries: • 30 November: Birth anniversary of Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (1918);• 1 December: Anniversary of the passing of Stephen…
19 September 1965
Getting Inspector Erskine out of bed.
8 September 1974
The sendoff from ABC—and a historic day … The FBI ended its nine-year run on ABC on a Sunday night, 8 September 1974, when a rerun of the 17 February 1974 episode, “The Animal,” aired. As a sendoff episode, the series ended on a truly high note. At that time, The FBI was the longest-running…
Fifty years ago: The final new episode
“Survival,” the 241st episode of The FBI, marked the final time that ABC would air a new episode, on 28 April 1974. When it aired, the United States was still in the middle of the Watergate controversy. The series was reaching the end of the road in part because of the scandal, though it faced…
RIP Lynn Loring (1943-2023)
Lynn Loring, who play Barbara Erskine in Season One of The FBI, and who went on into television production, passed away on 23 December 2023 at age 80. She passed away after a series of illnesses. Ms. Loring’s passing was announced on 2 April by her family. Born Lynn Eileen Zimring on 14 July 1943…
Celebrating Philip Abbott
The OTHER male lead was born 100 years ago this week!!! Phillip Abbott, who played FBI Assistant Director Arthur Ward, made his entry into the world 100 years ago this week. Born 20 March 1924 as Philip Abbott Alexander in Lincoln, Nebraska, he attended Fordham University and the Pasadena Playhouse after serving in World War…
Happy New Year INDEED!!!
Fans of The FBI have much to look forward to in 2024!!! The show is finally streaming on Tubi TV. Unlike its airing on GoodLife/American Life TV in the 2000s, where only the first six seasons were available, all nine seasons and all episodes are available on demand 24/7. Today (10 January) marks the 80th…
1973: Changes … and nearing its end
The FBI would witness many changes 50 years ago this year. Season Eight was finishing, and so was William Reynolds’ tenure as Special Agent Tom Colby (though he would appear as a guest on Season Nine). As Season Nine approached, Shelly Novack was tapped to play Special Agent Chris Daniels for the series’ 23 episodes…
Happy Birthday Ralph Senensky!!!
Veteran director turns 100 today!!! Ralph Senensky, who directed 16 episodes of The FBI, is celebrating a very special milestone. Born 1 May 1923 in Mason City, Iowa, he turns 100. Mr. Senensky began his career with directing stage plays before landing a position in 1958 as a production supervisor for Playhouse 90. He then…
Fifty years ago tonight …
After seven years, finally a Christmas episode!!! Christmas Eve 1972. J. Edgar Hoover, who had been FBI director for 48 years, had been dead and buried for seven months. Richard Nixon had been re-elected the previous month in a landslide, but Watergate was just beginning to rear its ugly head. And finally, The FBI had…