Run, Buddy, Run

Run, Buddy, Run is an American situation comedy starring Jack Sheldon (1931-2019), which aired sixteen episodes on CBS from September 12, 1966, to January 2, 1967. Ted Knight (1923-1986) was the narrator of the series.

Overview

Sheldon, a jazz trumpet player and singer in real life, portrayed Buddy Overstreet, an "ordinary guy," an accountant, on the run from a group of comical gangsters. As the plot unfolds, while he is taking a steam bath, Buddy overhears mobster "Mr. Devere" or "Mr. D", played by Bruce Gordon (1916-2011) plotting the death of a "Chicken Little." Jim Connell played Gordon's bumbling son, "Junior." Gregg Palmer appeared in the recurring role of Harry, a gunman in Chicago, Illinois. a

In a typical segment, Buddy Overstreet enters a new town trying to establish employment, and Mr. D arrives and forces Buddy into a narrow exit. In the ninth episode, Buddy is working as a welder in a factory when he tells a coworker Devere Enterprises has put a price on his head. The colleague double-crosses Buddy, and phones Mr. D's office long-distance.

Among guests on the series were Jack Albertson, Sid Melton, Burt Mustin, J. Pat O'Malley, Julie Sommars, and Vaughn Taylor.

In his production of the short-lived Run, Buddy, Run," Leonard B. Stern (1922-2011) used many of the same technical persons behind his Get Smart series on NBC. The program aired on Monday nights at 8 p.m. Eastern, sandwiched between the last season of Gilligan's Island starring Bob Denver and The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball. It failed to garner sufficient ratings and was dropped at midseason after sixteen episodes were produced. Its competition was I Dream of Jeannie on NBC and the second half of The Iron Horse, an ABC Western about the railroad.

The first thirteen episodes

Episode #	Episode title	Original airdate	Plot
1-1	"Steam Bath and Chicken Little"	September 12, 1966	While in a steam room, Buddy Overstreet overhears a group of mobsters plot a murder, forcing him to go on the run.
1-2	"Wild, Wild Wake"	September 19, 1966	Devere poses as a corpse at a faux wake in order to lure Buddy into his grasp.
1-3	"Win, Place and Die"	September 26, 1966	Buddy hitches a ride with a temperamental race horse, then is recruited to serve as its jockey in a big race.
1-4	"Down on the Farm"	October 3, 1966	Buddy is hired as a harvest hand, and then goes to a square dance with a milkmaid who saves him from Devere's men.
1-5	"Grand Mexican Hotel"	October 10, 1966	Buddy stages a fiesta for a struggling Mexican hotel and ends up attracting some unwanted customers.
1-6	"The Death of Buddy Overstreet"	October 17, 1966	While riding in a boxcar in Florida, Buddy's fellow passenger devises a plan to film his death to convince Devere that Buddy is dead,
1-7	"Bank Holdup"	October 24, 1966	After leaving a Connecticut diner, Buddy unknowingly hitches a ride in bank robber's getaway car.
1-8	"I Want a Piece of That Boy"	October 31, 1966	Buddy takes a job as a boxer's sparring partner, then competes in a match in which Devere is wagering on him.
1-9	"Buddy Overstreet, Forgive Me"	November 7, 1966	While working in a factory as a welder, Buddy makes the mistake of telling a co-worker of his plight.
1-10	"Mr. D's Revenge"	November 14, 1966	Devere sets up a plan to trap Buddy, but a mix-up with identities causes Wendell to inadvertently become the target.
1-11	"Goodbye, Wendell"	November 21, 1966	After Wendell seems to disappear, one of the people that ends up looking for him is Buddy.
1-12	"The Sky is Falling"	November 28, 1966	Buddy makes the mistake of once again over-hearing the second part of Devere's plan for murder.
1-13	"Buddy Overstreet, Please Come Home"	December 5, 1966	When tax auditors put their focus on Devere Enterprises, Devere gives up looking for Buddy.

External links

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