The Byrds of Paradise

Wow, I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who really liked this short-lived TV series. At the time it was actually running, I was the only person out of my group of friends that even knew it existed. I thought it was brilliant. I think my friends just couldn't relate to it or something. Around this time One West Waikiki started running, although it had a little more staying power, Byrds was still my favourite of the two. I was greatly disappointed when Byrds was cancelled and even more disappointed that I can't find it on any form of media (DVD, VHS, etc.) no matter how hard I search. I guess only people who taped it on VHS and then transferred it to DVD have it. Anyone know if it's available?

I'm glad I'm not the only person that remembers this show. I loved that it took place in Hawaii. And the cast was actually quite well picked for this show as far as I can remember. It was also one of the first series' that I would actually wait all week for the next episode. I was so disappointed when it was canceled. It was a great show, and i thought it would have survived longer than that. I wish they would have some reruns of it. Though I guess because it was only one season that will never happen. I can't believe it has really been 12 years since it first aired. If anyone can find this on DVD or tape, I would definitely encourage them to check it out.

As far as I can remember this was a great show. Weird to some content, maybe? I call that originality. And believe me that's exactly what's missing in TV-shows today in the same category.. errmm... family soap for teens(?). ;)

If it was up to me I'd rather watch Byrds of Paradise than Party of Five. Don't get me wrong. PoF is watchable for the most parts, but I considered BoP had some real potential... Well, I suppose we get what we deserve.

Check this out if you ever get the chance.

I wholesome family show that looked a healing from a family tragedy, the duality in Hawaiian culture, and beautiful settings. Timothy Busfield starred, with Seth Green and Jennifer Love Hewett as two of his children. Bruce Weitz and Arlo Guthrie were regulars. Steven Bochco responded to a comment that there were no family shows any more: "I made Byrds of Paradise, and nobody watched it."

Another Steven Bochco-branded hit which delved (perhaps too deeply) into modern day Hawaiian island's culture. My wife and I lived on Maui and the Big Island, the later destination where we resided during this great show's tragically short life. The issues were wonderfully relevant to families from "the mainland (USA)" trying to live in the duality of Hawaii's very complex cultures. So many see Hawaii from the balcony of the hotels or the beaches, the bike rides down Haleakala.

A few also see it when faced by some local people who speak pidgin English - that's right - If you're really one of "da kine",(a local) how 'ya talk-story' counts. And that is apparently one of several factors "language", and cultural / historical ignorance by many 'viewers') that got the show canceled.

Hawaii is a 'melting pot' of Native Hawaiians, many generations of Japanese-Americans, Chinese, Portuguese and Filipino-Americans as well as the 'perceived late-comers' known by the racist term "HAOLE" to some of the less-educated locals. Actually, people of European & British decent arrived well before the Japanese-Americans and people of Russian descent colonized Hawaii prior to that.

Mr. Bochco and crew (I am not sure who conceived the plot), combined the positive and negative to show a true-life Hawaii and a 'model- mainland' family struggling to adapt. Too bad so many people can't handle the reality of it. It was a show that should have been re- considered. Shame on you network hatchet-people - Hawaii's 'balcony dwellers' 2 weeks a year!