Breaking Away

In addition to being a smart sequel that explored questions that went begging in its source material, this was a smart show that anticipated the "dramedy" shows of the mid-80's, as well as shows like "My So-Called Life." The original movie left viewers hoping against hope that our hero would leave the world of the "cutters" for college, yet retain the delightfully delineated friendships with the other boys. Here we got to see that really could happen, and what's more, television explored issues of class in a way that is seldom seen on the small screen. The parents were a hoot, too. Although the IMDb credit list doesn't show it, the show also featured Dominique Dunne in a recurring role as the gal pal Shaun Cassidy met at college and provided further evidence that she would have become a great actress if she hadn't been murdered.

I loved the movie and never had a chance to see it when the series aired in 1980 and thought I'd never have a chance to see the series period and so I e-mailed people who made Shaun Cassidy websites and they directed me to someone who has all the shows Cassidy was involved in and I couldn't believe my luck!!! Only 8 episodes were made of this series and then it got axed! I know that when a movie is popular enough producer's try to make a TV series out of it with a different cast and it flops but some shows like M*A*S*H, Fame and The Highlander that were based on popular movies make more successful TV shows and I thought Breaking Away could be one of them. But this show aired during the writers strike so they should've waited till the strike was over cause I enjoyed the series, of course not as much as the movie but still enjoyable!!!!

Little known fact: there were two versions of the pilot. The one that aired on ABC was pretty similar in tone to the other episodes. But when the show was rerun on A&E, the pilot episode was recut: scenes cut, other scenes never seen before added. Plus it was given an opening credits sequence (the other episodes just opened with titles over the opening scene) and a new theme (not used in any of the other episodes). Plus the entire hour was rescored in a manner not consistent with the classical adaptations heard in the other episodes and in the movie. Don't know whose idea it was, but it didn't help matters. It was nice to see some new footage from the pilot, and I even made up a tape combining the footage from both versions for an expanded version.

Breaking Away had the unfortunate luck too have been scheduled for the Fall 1980 season, which just happened to coincide with the writers guild strike. As a result, it didn't make it to the airwaves until late NOV '80. I think only 8 episodes were produced before the show got the Axe. It's a shame, as it was wonderfully filmed in and around Athens GA, acted (by a young Shaun Cassidy and Jackie Earl Haley, as well as veteran Barbara Barrie), written and directed. The show in many ways picks up where the movie left off. The guys are out of High School, and are trying to find out what they are going to do with their lives. Its hard to understand what ABC was thinking when they axed this one! This show is truly a gem, and I hope it makes it way to DVD one day soon.

I was glad when TV Guide recently mentioned this show in passing as vastly underrated. I remember that back then it surprised me. I loved the movie and was well aware how TV series adapted movies into pablum. And Shaun Cassidy? You must be joking!

But he was absolutely terrific in the role. The others in the cast were also top-notch. Not only the premise but the earnestness and atmosphere of the movie was uncompromised during the course of the series. It was heart-warming, funny, and inspiring. (The only actor I didn't like was Jack Earl Haley, but I didn't like him in the movie, either -- or anywhere else, if I must tell the truth.) Barbara Barrie was (as usual) so wonderful, never enough air time for her, and Vincent Gardenia was an astonishingly great match to fill Paul Dooley's shoes!

When will this come out on DVD? I'd love to see it again! Magnifico!