79 Park Avenue

79 Park Avenue, also known as Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue, is an American drama television miniseries developed and co-written by Richard De Roy, based on the 1955 novel of the same name by Harold Robbins. The miniseries stars Lesley Ann Warren as Marja Fludjicki, a poor but beautiful girl who is forced into prostitution despite sincere efforts to make a living and ultimately becomes New York City's most famous madam. It also stars Marc Singer and David Dukes.

Directed and produced by Paul Wendkos, the miniseries premiered on NBC on October 16, 1977, and concluded on October 18, 1977. Warren received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award for her performance.

Cast

Starring

Guest stars

Co-starring

Production

It stars Lesley Ann Warren as a prostitute and Marc Singer as a gangster struggling to survive in the 1930s. David Dukes, Barbara Barrie, Raymond Burr, and Polly Bergen co-starred.<ref name="careful">Buck, Jerry (14 October 1977). '79 Park Avenue' Book Needed Careful Editing For TV, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Associated Press story)</ref><ref name="happ1">Beck, Marilyn (28 September 1977). Warren is happy with hooker role, San Bernardino Sun (Gannett New Service story)</ref><ref name="onlyone">Sharbutt, Jay (5 October 1977). Only One Lesley Ann Warren, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Associated Press content)</ref><ref name="cinderpark">(16 October 1977). Cinderella on Park Avenue, The Boston Globe</ref>

The teleplay was split among three writers, with Richard DeRoy doing the first part, Jack Guss the second, and Lionel E. Siegel the third.<ref name="writers">(9 September 1977). 79 Park Avenue New Mini-Series, Dixon Evening Telegraph</ref>

Reception

The show was a ratings success. Part I (which debuted on Sunday October 16, 1977) was the 10th most watched show in the United States for the week (22.3 rating, 16.3 million homes)<ref name="part1">(21 October 1977). World Series Big Hit, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Associated Press story)</ref> and the ratings momentum jumped for the last two installments. Part II (Monday, October 17, 1977) was the second-most watched primetime show for the following week (29.9 rating, 21.8 million homes), and Part III (Tuesday October 18) was third. (27.7 rating, 20.2 million homes).<ref name="ratings1">(27 October 1977). ABC Tops in Television Ratings, Desert Sun (Associated Press content)</ref>

The critical reviews of the series were not positive, but not overly vicious, recognizing the series for what it was and no more. Tom Shales of The Washington Post called the series a "laughable tawdry throwback to movie eyebrow raisers of the '50s, though without any of their appealingly cheap panache. Television loves to raise the subject of sex and then avoid it like the plague."<ref name="shales">(15 October 1977). Imitating Life on 'Park Avenue', The Washington Post</ref> Joan Hanauer of UPI described the series as "what is usually called a 'woman's show'", meaning, "the romance is unrealistically sentimental and the moral tone is high, which in no way interferes with depicting the sleaziest kind of sex." She found the second installment to be strongest of the three.<ref name="joan">Hanauer, Joan (15 October 1977). Unhappy Hooker at '79 Park', Galesburg Register Mail (UPI content)</ref>

And although he credited the performances of the lead actors, John J. O'Connor of The New York Times was also underwhelmed by the series, calling it an "already tired story ... manufactured for mass consumption with all of the artistic concern afforded a can of baked beans."<ref name="nyt">O'Connor, John J. (23 October 1977). Pretenses Aside, It's Titillation As Usual, The New York Times</ref> O'Connor's year end review of 1977 television referred to 79 Park Avenue and Aspen as "dumb pot-boilers" which "tarnished considerably" the "promising concept of mini-series."<ref name="bestandworst">O'Connor, John J. (31 December 1977). Picking television's best -- and worst -- of 1977, San Bernardino Sun (The New York Times news service)</ref>

That the series might be somewhat controversial due to the sexual nature of the story was known from the beginning. Executive Producer George Eckstein admitted "broadcasting standards people got very apprehensive when it was announced that this property was going to be on TV."<ref name="eck1">Henninger, Paul (12 October 1977). Robbins' potboiler gets stirred by NBC, San Bernardino Sun (Gannett News Service story), p. C-6.</ref> And when Fred Silverman took over at NBC in June 1978, he promised to stop lurid programming like 79 Park Avenue. Silverman stopped plans for a sequel to the miniseries<ref name="sequel">Maurice, Dick (21 November 1978). No more beer in store for TV's Archie Bunker, Desert Sun</ref> and also halted a planned rerun in 1979.<ref name="reruncanned">(25 July 1979). Brokerage firm is enamored by films, San Bernardino Sun</ref>

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
1978	35th Golden Globe Awards	Best Television Actress – Drama Series	Lesley Ann Warren	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	30th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards	Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama or Comedy Series	Yvonne Wood	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

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