Archie - excerpt from unsold TV pilot

An excerpt from the unsold TV pilot for a live-action version of ARCHIE (1964), based on the popular comic book, with John Simpson (Archie Andrews), Cheryl Holdridge (Betty), Mikki Jamison (Veronica), Jerry Brite (Jughead), Roland Winters (Mr. Weatherbee), Mary Grace Canfield (Miss Grundy), Wayne Adams (Reggie), William Schallert (Mr. Andrews), and Jean Vanderpyl (Mrs. Andrews).

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Archie
• tv
• pilot
• betty
• veronica
• jughead
• Weatherbee
• Grundy
• Reggie
• Andrews

[BigJonB36]

"I bet not even Rock Hudson has problems like yours, eh Archie?"

Dear God, if only they knew how funny that was...

[OcTorthed]

lolololol rock hudson certainly didnt have those kinds of problems

[MrWilliamtom]

@Malc2311

Mikki Jamison was the first Jean Reed on the first two seasons of Adam-12.

After that, she sort of got lost into oblivion.

[Malc2311]

Anyone have anymore info on Mikki Jamison ?? IMDB has very little more about her ...

[fromthesidelines]

Schallert also appeared regularly as high school/college teacher Leander Pomfritt in "DOBIE GILLIS", 'gym'.

[newstart2009]

@gymnastix oooh i gotta find that epidsode... This is great. Jean was wonderful. I wish she was still around :(

[gymnastix]

John Simpson really doesn't resemble "Archie Andrews." It would have been better to have cast a teenage boy with red hair.

Too bad this couldn't have waited about a decade, because Ronnie Howard, as he looked on "Happy Days," would have been perfect in the role of "Archie."

The late Cheryl Holdridge is perfect casting as "Betty," though.. She was an original "Mouseketeer," and frequent girlfriend-type on many 1950s and early '60s sitcoms (including of "Wally" on "Leave It To Beaver").

[gymnastix]

Mary Grace Canfield played "Ralph Monroe," the female half of the inept pair (the male being Sid Melton's "Alf Monroe") of carpenters on TV's "Green Acres."

[gymnastix]

@fromthesidelines Schallert also played a teacher on at least one episode of "Leave It To Beaver," I think.

He's one of those great presences on TV sitcoms we don't see much anymore.

And his distinctive voice was also put to use on many TV commercials. I always confuse Schallert's voice with those of Casey Kasem and Mason Adams, all voice-over actors..

[gymnastix]

@fromthesidelines Yes, and that would have been a great loss. Although I'm sure "The Patty Duke Show" producers would have found another, suitable actor to portray "Martin Lane," perhaps Richard Denning, Don Porter, William Windom, or some such.

Schallert seemed to be the perennial TV dad or teacher. On "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," he played a teacher, and "Natalie Lane" (Jean Byron) a guidance counselor.

[gymnastix]

@newstart2009 Both Reed and Van Der Pyl resembled their animated characters of "The Flintstones"; Van Der Pyl with her hair in a bun, Reed stocky and with a big nose.

So Hanna-Barbera must have drawn the characters with their portrayers in mind.

[gymnastix]

@newstart2009 Alan Reed, the voice of "Fred Flintstone," actually had a more extensive TV sitcoms resume, was a regular cast member of "Life With Luigi" (adapted from the radio version), and had many guest stints as well.

I recall Reed playing an auctioneer on an episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show."