1st & Ten (HBO TV series)

1st & Ten is an American situation comedy that aired between December 1984 and January 1991 on the cable television network HBO. Featuring series regulars Delta Burke and veteran Reid Shelton, it was one of cable's first attempts to lure the lucrative sit-com audience away from the "Big Three", by taking advantage of their freedom to include occasional cursing and nudity.

 

 

 

Plot synopsis

The series follows the on-and off-field antics of the California Bulls, a team that played in the fictional North American Football League, (NAFL for short). The team changes owners throughout the series history, with the premise that a woman is in charge.

During the first season Diane Barrow, played by Delta Burke, becomes the owner of her husband's football team as part of a divorce settlement after he has gay sex with a player on the team (fittingly, the team's tight end.) She quickly learns the ups and downs of pro football. In one episode, she is forced to coach the team herself after the head coach, Ernie Denardo, is placed in the hospital. She also has constant battles with her General Manager/husband's nephew, who has dealings with the local mob, and fights off advances made by her quarterback played by Geoffrey Scott.

The second season dealt with two themes: training camp and the playoffs. Barrow was dealing with her players taking recreational drugs during training camp. During this season, O. J. Simpson joined the cast as T.D. Parker, a veteran running back who is forced to make the transition from player to coach. Two real life football stars made cameo appearances. Marcus Allen portrayed a rookie who was taking over T.D.'s spot on the team. And Vince Ferragamo played "Mainstreet" Manneti, a veteran quarterback. Jason Beghe joing the cast to play Tom Yinessa, a walk-on quarterback who deals with his overnight celebrity.

Delta Burke left the show mid-way through the third season. Her character loses control of the Bulls to Teddy Schraeder, her former lover, who manipulates everyone to his own ends. His antics include having T.D. fire Ernie as coach, Yinessa practice without a contract, and ignoring the steroids that John Matuszak's character is using. Legal issues force him to leave the country and turn control over to his daughter, played by Leah Ayres.

Season 4 was briefly renamed 1st and Ten: The Bulls Mean Business. Shanna Reed joins the cast as the team's new female president, representing the new owners, the Dodds Corporation. Her attempts to innovate include bringing a female soccer player in to kick, and signing an Olympic sprinter as wide receiver. Joe Namath has a cameo appearance. Shannon Tweed would replace her in Season 5, and remain with the show to the end. The show was renamed 1st and Ten: Do it Again for the fifth season. The final season was 1st and Ten: In Your Face.

Cast

    * Ellen: Mariann Aalda
    * Frederick 'Miracle Miles' Coolidge: Keith Amos
    * Dr. Doc Phillips: Jim Antonio
    * Jill Schrader: Leah Ayres
    * Tom Yinessa: Jason Beghe
    * Johnny Valentine: Sam J. Jones
    * Diane Barrow: Delta Burke
    * Jethro Snell: Cliff Frazier
    * Leslie 'Dr. Death' Crunchner: Donald Gibb
    * Elvin Putts: Jeff Hochendoner
    * Buford "Bubba" Kincaid: Prince Hughes
    * Jamie Waldren: Jeff Kaake
    * Zagreb Shkenusky: John Kassir
    * Mac Daniels: Jay Kerr
    * Roger Barrow: Clayton Landey
    * Rona Gold: Ruta Lee
    * Mad Dog Smears: Tony Longo
    * Deacon: John Benjamin Martin
    * John Manzak: John Matuszak
    * Johnny Gunn: Christopher Meloni
    * Carl Witherspoon: Sam Scarber
    * Bob Dorsey: Geoffrey Scott
    * Coach Ernie Denardo: Reid Shelton
    * Police officer: Ron Shipp
    * T.D. Parker: O. J. Simpson
    * Marco "Mainstreet" Manneti: Vince Ferragamo
    * 'Tombstone' Packer: Lawrence Taylor
    * Mace Petty: Marshall R. Teague
    * Rick Lambert: Marcus Allen
    * Billy Cooper: Michael Toland
    * Kristy Fulbright: Shannon Tweed
    * Bull's lineman: Arthur Avant
    * Bull's wide receiver: A. J. DiSpirito
 

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