Paper Moon

The charm and success of the film PAPER MOON, with Ryan and Tatum O'Neal, was so immense that within just one year it had been adapted to TV. This version, with Christopher Connelly and Jodie Foster, was actually more appealing than the original movie. Foster was utterly charming in one of her first roles to be widely seen. Since Connelly died 25 years ago and only 14 years after the series was made, many have not seen his work, nor recognize his name, but he was a very talented and funny character actor. I believe that this series was the springboard for Foster to star two years later in TAXI DRIVER, opposite Robert DeNiro, which led to many more movie deals and eventually an Oscar. I saw all thirteen of these episodes, which were repeated only once during the same season and never seen again. It was scripted television at its absolute finest, but, as the old saying goes, I guess you had to be there.