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     David Cassidy: Man Undercover (1978-79)   Eischied (1979-80)
David Cassidy:
Man Undercover (1978-79)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
With Contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
------------------------------
DAVID CASSIDY - MAN UNDERCOVER
------------------------------
David Gerber Productions, Inc.
in association with  Columbia Pictures Television,
a division of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
for
NBC (Thursdays 10:00 pm ET)
Produced by Mark Rodgers and Mel Swope (series)

US Police series 1978-79 2 hr pilot + 10 episodes x 60 min color
2Nov78-18Jan79

Starring
David Cassidy as Officer Dan Sheay.
Simon Oakland as Lt. Abrams, his commanding officer

Michael Salcido as Officer Paul Sanchez
Wendy Rastatter as Joanne Shay, Dan's wife
Elizabeth Reddin as Cindy, their younger daughter
Ray Vitte as T.J. Epps

Title song performed by David Cassidy /Music by Harry Betts
Premise/Background:
After phenomenonal success on "The Partridge Family" and before his successful
comeback in music and on stage during the 80s and 90s, David Cassidy
starred in what has to be the low point of his career: "David Cassidy -
Man Undercover". Originally, it looked like a great idea. The series was a
spin-off of a two-hour "Police Story" TV movie called "A Chance to Live"
(original title: Narc) that featured David as an undercover cop infiltrating
high school drug rings. It was David's first post-Partridge TV role, one
that still had a PF-connection. Mel Swope, one of the Police Story
producers, was a producer on "The Partridge Family" as well. "A Chance to Live"
aired Sunday, May 28, 1978, and finished fifth in the Nielsens. David was
nominated for his role as best dramatic actor, but didn't win. NBC,
impressed by the high-ratings and critical acclaim for the "Police Story"
episode, quickly commissioned a series based on the movie. Unfortunately,
the television series that followed was marred by terrible writing and some
pretty cheesy acting. Not that the storylines were all that terrible, but
the show suffered from too much Cassidy; he is made to be the hero in every
situation and it just gets too corny after a while.
The series centered around the cases of Dan Shay, a policeman in his late
20s working as part of an LAPD undecover team headed by Sgt. Abrams. Much
like "The Mod Squad" before him, Dan generally played the youth angle,
infiltrating a gang of young bank robbers, posing as a college student to
crack an illegal adoption racket, pretending to be a drug addict to nail a
doctor selling narcotics prescriptions.
At home, Dan's wife Joanne and daughter Cindy were as supportive as they
could be, making Shay's burden just a bit easier to bear. Joanne worried
constantly, and often got jealous of the girls Dan would look after in
the line of duty. While the writers could have used this 'undercover cop
at home' angle to great advantage, they instead used it apparently to
give Susan Rastatter a weekly opportunity to act like a whiner, with the
same complaints week in and week out with no development or resolution
(beyond the simple 'kiss and make up' at the end of the episodes).
As a result, the series never grew to be more than a pale imitation of
"A Chance to Live". It lasted only eight weeks as a midseason Thursday-night
(between 10:00 - 11:00) replacement for "W.E.B." and was pulled off the air
after the eighth episode on Jan. 4, 1979. Two additional episodes aired in
July 1979 with the repeats.
Still, despite its problems, the show was a groundbreaker in many ways.
It's rock 'n' roll infused score (which included the DC-Jay Gruska penned
"Hard Times, Hard Times" title tune), gritty themes and hip young cast
would go on to influence "21 Jump Street" (this show, in fact, was created
by people who had worked on Undercover) and "Miami Vice".

###### David Casidy - Man Undercover #########
################ pilot TVM #################
##############################################

Spin-off from POLICE STORY

 [--] Police Story <episode> 5.07 [95] A CHANCE TO LIVE  (aka NARC) (2 hrs)
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 181346
28May78
pilot for "David Cassidy - Man Undercover")
Produced by Mel Swope, Larry Brody
Story by Richard Fielder
Teleplay by Larry Brody
Directed by Corey Allen
Director of photography: Emmett Bergholz
Film editor: Ronald LaVine.
starring
David Cassidy ...... Officer Dan Shay
Elvira Roussel ..... Jill
Don Stark .......... Ron
Gloria DeHaven
Dewey Martin
Dee Wallace ........ Sharon
Mark Wheeler ....... Rich
Ty Henderson ....... T.J.
Stefan Arngrim ..... Eddie
Perry Lang ......... Al
Wendy Hoffman ...... Barbie
Sean Roche ......... Stanky
Joseph Perry ....... Uslan
Don Dubbins ........ Farley
Len Lesser ......... Mr. Marcovicci
Scott Kimble ....... Davey
David Eibel ........ Teenager
Josh Davis ......... Jeff
Jordan Suffin ...... Pete
Paul Sorenson ...... Mr. Gordon
John Shay .......... Dr. Rose
Michael Regan ...... 1st Officer
Lloyd Bremseth ..... 2nd Officer
Arthur Roberts ..... Mr. Androwitz
with
Anne Lockhart
Zina Bethune
and
Dane Clark .......... Mr. Martin
Special guest star
Vince Edwards ....... Walt Abrams
Synopsis:
Officer Dan Shay goes undercover to a high school to break up a drug ring after one of the
students OD's.

###### David Casidy - Man Undercover #########
############## season 1978-79 ###############
##############################################
NBC (Thursdays 10:00 pm ET) (02Nov78-18Jan79)

1.1 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: RUNNING THE HILL [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 1
02Nov78 NBC Thur
Written by Sean Baine
Directed by Bernard McEveety
Director of photography: Al Francis
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Cast:
Joe Santos .......... Lt. Mitchell
Alan Vint ........... Pauly
Brian Kerwin ........ Ernie
Brad Reardon ........ Simpson
Joseph Hacker ....... Cranberry Crawford
Christina Hart ...... Bobbi
Wendy Rastatter ..... Joanne Shay (Dan's wife)(recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Shay poses as a hot-rod enthusiast to infiltrate a gang of supermarket
thieves.
Synopsis 2:
Dan pursues a trio of murderous supermarket bandits. [RF]

1.2 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: BABY MAKES THREE [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 2
09Nov78 NBC Thur
Produced by Mark Rodgers and Mel Swope
Written by Dallas L. Barnes
Directed by Vincent Edwards
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Cast:
Maggie Cooper ....... Jill Roberts
William Kirby Cullen ..... Jason Fleming
Ty Hardin ........... Neil Bowen
Robin Dearden ....... Carol Sommers
Julie Hill .......... Shelley Martin
Randi Oakes ......... Diane Marsh
Craig Stevens ....... Meyers
*
(end credits)
Bonnie Johns ........ Mrs. Winslow
David Boyle ......... Mr. Winslow
Gerald Evans ........ Emergency Room Doctor
Peg Stewart ......... Mrs. Price
Michael Salcido ..... Officer Paul Sanchez
Peter Nyberg ........ Hanes
Robert Gray ......... Dave
Ernie Brown ......... Security Guard
Elizabeth Reddin .... Cindy Shay
Jeff Eagle .......... Student
*
Art Directors: Ross Bellah & Russell Menzer
Director of photography: Al Francis, A.S.C.
Film Editor: Stanley Wohlberg
Unit Production Manager: Leonard Bram
Assistant Director: John D. Benson
Second Assistant Director: Alain Silver
Associate Producer: Robert Mintz
Set Decorators: Audrey Blasdel-Goddard and James Van Leeuwen
Camera Operator: Ronald Francis
Property master: Allan Gordon
Stunt Coordinator: Fred Lerner
Sound Mixers: Don Rush & Charles Knight
Casting: Diane Lomond
Location Coordinator: Cass Martin
Gaffer: James Lott
Key Grip: John Englert
Make-up Supervision: Ben Lane
Wardrobe by: Eilish Zebrasky
Special Effects: Ray Klein
Titles design: Burke Mattsson
Synopsis 1:
Posing as a college student, Shay infiltrates a baby-selling ring.
Synopsis 2:
When a pregnant beaten teenager shows up at the hospital, Dan goes to the
college she attended to find about a baby-selling racket. [RF]

1.3 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: CAGE OF STEEL [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 3
16Nov78 NBC Thur
Produced by Mark Rodgers and Mel Swope
Written by Walter Dallenbach
Drected by Sam Wanamaker
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Starring:
Frank Converse ...... El Lobo
Val De Vargas ....... Commanchero
Philip Brown ........ Jeff
Troas Hayes ......... Belinda
Walter Barnes ....... Wiley
H.M. Wynant ......... Warden
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Hank Brandt ......... Lou Jenkins
Vince Howard ........ Kevin
George Caldwell ..... Kicker
Joe A. Nicassio ..... Richie
Laurence Haddon ..... Con #1
Dominic De Fazio .... Sal
Tonyo Melendez ...... Luis Ramirez
Ron Castro .......... Roberto Corona
Vincent Bufano ...... Cleary
Sandy Serrano ....... Fran
Ray Camacho ......... Guard #1
Ed Deemer ........... Guard #4
Rawn Hutchinson ..... Priest
Joseph X. Flaherty .. Con #2
Todd Martin ......... Detective
Anthony J. Thomas ... Guard #2
Cathryn Lokey ....... Lisa
*
Art Directors Ross: Bellah & Russell Menzer
Director of photography: Al Francis
Film Editor Arthur: D. Hilton
Unit Production Manager: Leonard Bram
Assistant Director: Charles H. Norton
Second Assistant Director: Alain Silver
Associate Producer: Robert Mintz
Set Decorators: Audrey Blasdel-Goddard and James Van Leeuwen
Camera Operator: Ronald Francis
Property Master: Eugene Anderson
Stunt Coordinator: Edward Hice
Sound Mixers: Don Rush
Casting: Diane Lomond
Location Coordinator: Cass Martin
Gaffer: James Lott
Key Grip: John Englert
Make-up: Supervision Ben Lane
Wardrobe by: Eilish Zebrasky
Special Effects: Ray Klein
Titles design: Burke Mattsson
Synopsis 1:
Shay goes to prison in an attempt to avenge the murder of a close
friend and fellow officer.
Synopsis 2:
Dan goes behind bars to nab the corrupt director (Frank Converse)
of a prison rehab center. [RF]

1.4 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: DEADLY CONVOY -aka- Biker's Convoy [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 4
23Nov78 NBC Thur
Produced by Mark Rodgers and Mel Swope
Written by E. Arthur Kean
Directed by Alvin Ganzer
Director of photography: Jack Whitman
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Stars:
Gary Graham ......... Otis
Lane Binkley ........ Clio
W.K. Stratton ....... Cabin John
Dean Santoro ........ Sgt. Calhoun
Paul Koslo .......... Max
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Ed Harris ........... Ben
Fil Formicola ....... Paul
Eddra Gale .......... Beulah
Leigh Webb .......... Paramedic
Ron Stokes .......... Officer
Don Pulford ......... Horse
Mike Tillman ........ Varney
Synopsis:
Dan infiltrates a gang of bikers involved in grand theft, narcotics peddling and murder. [RF]

1.5 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: FLASHPOINT [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 5
07Dec78
Produced by Mark Rodgers & Mel Swope
Written by Mark Rodgers
Directed by Alexander Singer
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Stars:
Heather Thomas ...... Caryl Manning
John Durren ......... Frank Damano
Christopher Stone ... Sgt. Ostrow
Michael Bell ........ Sgt. Morgan
*
Co-Starring: (end cedrits)
Kevin O'Brien ....... Ted Marshall
Jenny Sherman ....... Kathy
William Bronder ..... Assistant Manager
Rod Masterson ....... The Man
Marianne Marks ...... Toni
Barbara Tarbuck ..... May
Donald Petrie ....... Andy Miller
Sherril Lynn Katzman ... Marie Danner
Stephen Powers ...... Young Detective
Bobbie Bresee ....... The Blonde
Lee Anthony ......... Man Jogging
*
Art Directors: Ross Bellah & John Beckman
Director of photography: Jack Whitman
Film Editor: Stanley Wohlberg
Unit Production Manager: Leonard Bram
Assistant Director: Charles H. Norton
Second Assistant: Director Richard M. Hinds
Associate Producer: Robert Mintz
Set Decorators: Audrey Blasdel-Goddard and James Van Leeuwen
Camera Operator: Bill Battersby
Property Master: Gary L. Isbell
Stunt Coordinator: Edward Hice
Sound Mixers: Don Rush
Casting: Diane Lomond
Location Coordinator: Buck Edwards
Gaffer: William Huffman
Key Grip: Dan Riley
Make-up Supervision: Ben Lane
Wardrobe by: Eilish Zebrasky
Special Effects: Ray Klein
Titles design: Burke Mattsson
Synopsis 1:
Shay poses as a drifter to track down the killer of two prostitutes.
Synopsis 2:
Dan investigates the murders of several prostitutes. [RF]

1.6 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: RX FOR DYING [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 6
21Dec78 NBC Thur
Produced by
Written by Sean Baine
Directed by Don Medford
Director of photography: Jack Whitman
Film editor: Arthur D. Hilton
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Stars:
Barry Nelson ........ Dr. Dewhurst
Randy Powell ........ Matthews
Ed Nelson ........... Densmore
Frank Aletter ....... Cross
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Carl Weintraub ....... Zeke
Clifford H. Turknett .. Turnbold
Joseph Clark ........ Jeff Pierce
Deborah Ryan ........ Melinda
Ella Raino Edwards ... Second Doctor
Jack Wells ........... Dr. Samuel Taylor
Scorpio .............. Tommy
Synopsis 1:
Posing as a patient, Shay makes an office call on a crooked doctor.
Synopsis 2:
Dan's target is a doctor who is pushing drugs to teenagers. [RF]

1.7 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: FIRESTORM [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 7
28Dec78 NBC Thur
Produced by Mel Swope
Written by Mark Rodgers
Directed by Ed Abroms
Director of photography: Jack Whitman
Film editor: Richard A. Freeman
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Cast:
Frank Campanella .... Detective Norlund
Livia Genise ........ Lidia Dantone
Royce D. Applegate .. Joel Hill
Jacques Aubuchon .... Garibaldi
Carla Borelli ....... Joy Clayton
Special Guest Star
Don Reid ............ Jack Lansing
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Jerome Guardino .... Dantone
Renata Vanni ....... Mrs. Dantone
Synopsis 1:
Shay becomes a produce truck driver to nab an organized -crime arsonist
and the Mob's top man.
Synopsis 2:
Dan tries to link an arson ring to a string of warehouse fires. [RF]

1.8 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: TEAMMATES [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 8
04Jan79 NBC Thur (repeat 19Jul79 NBC Thursday at 10:00pm)
Produced by Mel Swope
Written by Richard Kelbaugh
Directed by Alf Kjellin
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Stars:
J. Jay Saunders ..... Holman
James Whitmore Jr ... Spanner
Jenny O'Hara ........ Vickie
Norman Alden ........ Golden
Tom Simcox .......... Dixon
*
Co-Starring (end credits)
Justin Lord ........ Terry "T"
Mark Carlton ....... Donovan
Richard S. Fullerton .. Fremont
Lynn Seibel ........ Officer
*
Director of photography: Jack Whitman
Film editor: Stanley Wohlberg
Art Directors: Ross Bellah & John Beckman
Unit Production Manager: John Anderson
Assistant Director: Leonard Bram
Second Assistant Director: Steven Saeta
Associate Producer: Robert Mintz
Set Decorators: Audrey Blasdel-Goddard and Michele Guilol
Camera Operator: Bill Battersby
Property Master: Steve Johnson
Stunt Coordinator: Eddie Hice
Sound Mixers: Don Rush
Casting: Diane Lomond
Location Coordinator Eric Klosterman
Gaffer: William Huffman
Key Grip: Dan Reilly
Make-up Supervision: Ben Lane
Wardrobe by: Eilish Zebrasky
Special Effects: Ray Klein
Titles design: Burke Mattsson
Synopsis 1:
Working with a federeal agent, Shay poses as a weapons buyer to make a case
against an arms dealer.
Synopsis 2:
Dan teams with Federal agents to nab a murderous seller of illegal arms. [RF]

1.9 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: NIGHTWORK [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 9
11Jan79 NBC Thur (canceled) (shown with repeats  05Jul79 NBC)
Produced by Mel Swope
Teleplay by Chester Krumholz / Story by Kendelle J. Blair
Directed by Ed Abroms
Director of photography: Jack Whitman
Film editors: Jim Benson & Jack Kampschroer.
*
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
with:
Wendy Rastatter ..... Joanne Shay, Dan's wife (appearance to be verified)
Guest Stars:
Vincent Baggetta .... Malloy
Patsy Rahn .......... Francine
Eddie Egan .......... Detective
Mel Carter .......... Lucas
Mark Lonow .......... Pastorini
*
Co-Starring: (end credits)
Judy Bohannon ....... Clara
Ron Stokes .......... Detective Dugan
Lindsay V. Jones .... Dan's Girl
Mindi Miller ........ Sandy
Patti Ann Carr ...... Call Girl
Adrienne Panter ..... Theresa
Samantha Caulfield .. Mrs. Malloy
Augie Tribach ....... Sergeant
Albert Able ......... Patrolman
Peter Nyberg ........ Maitre D'
Arnold Stoltz ....... Old Man
Heather Marburgh .... Sizzy
Synopsis:
Her husband's safety is not Joanne's only concern when Dan joins with a madam to
trap a crime boss dealing cocaine. [RF]

1.10 [--] David Cassidy-Man Undercover: DEATH IS A CLOSE FRIEND, TOO [verified -RF]
Columbia Pictures Television-David Gerber prod. no. 10
18Jan79 NBC Thur (canceled)   (shown with repeats 12Jul79 NBC)
Teleplay by Chester Krumholz
Story by Sy Salkowitz
Directed by Virgil Vogel
Director of photography: Jack Whiteman
Film editors: Stanley Wohlberg, John V. LaBarbera.
Starring:
David Cassidy ....... Officer Dan Shay
Guest Cast:
John Lisbon Wood .... Ben
Tony Crupi .......... Jake
Ken Swofford ........ Koster
Lana Wood ........... Pearl
Rita Taggart ........ Helen
Madison Arnold ...... Armitage
Cliff Emmich ........ Louis
M.E. Lorange
Synopsis 1:
Dan pursues bank robbers who visit hookers after each heist. [RF]

###### David Casidy - Man Undercover #########
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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