David Cassidy: Man Undercover

David Cassidy: Man Undercover (the word "undercover" in the series title appeared at various times written as one word or two) is an American police drama starring David Cassidy, four years after his run starring in The Partridge Family, his first starring role since that series was cancelled. The series was spun off after Cassidy starred in a special two-hour episode of Police Story, titled "A Chance to Live", which aired in May 1978; this episode served as the pilot for Man Undercover.

David Cassidy: Man Undercover
GenrePolice drama
Created byRichard Fielder
Written bySean Baine
Stephen Downing
Richard Fielder
Rick Kelbaugh
Chester Krumholz
Mark Rodgers
Directed byEdward M. Abroms
Virgil Vogel
StarringDavid Cassidy
Simon Oakland
Wendy Rastatter
ComposerHarry Betts
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producerDavid Gerber
ProducersMark Rodgers
Mel Swope
CinematographyAl Francis
John V. LaBarbera
Jack Whitman
Running time45–48 min
Production companiesColumbia Pictures Television
David Gerber Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseNovember 2, 1978 (1978-11-02) –
July 12, 1979 (1979-07-12)

In A Chance to Live, Cassidy portrayed undercover police officer Dan Shay, a cop who successfully infiltrates a high-school drug ring as a fellow student. Cassidy earned an Emmy Award nomination for Best Dramatic Actor for the role. He reprised the role of Officer Shay for the Man Undercover series, which aired on NBC from November 2, 1978 to July 12, 1979. Only ten episodes of the show aired prior to its cancellation.

The role of Shay's wife, portrayed in "A Chance to Live" by Dee Wallace, was recast with actress Wendy Rastatter for the actual series.

This show is the last new filmed series from Columbia Pictures Television to display a copyright notice at the beginning under the show's logo in the opening credits.[citation needed]

Synopsis

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Set in Los Angeles, the series stars Cassidy as undercover police officer Dan Shay. Each episode featured Shay going undercover in a different case. Simon Oakland starred as the head of Shay's undercover team.

The plot of a twenty-something cop going undercover in high school would be used more popularly the following decade in 21 Jump Street.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Running the Hill"Bernard McEveetySean BaineNovember 2, 1978 (1978-11-02)
2"Baby Makes Three"Vince EdwardsDallas L. BarnesNovember 9, 1978 (1978-11-09)
3"Cage of Steel"Sam WanamakerWalter DallenbachNovember 16, 1978 (1978-11-16)
4"Deadly Convoy"Alvin GanzerE. Arthur KeanNovember 23, 1978 (1978-11-23)
5"Flashpoint"Alexander SingerMark RodgersDecember 7, 1978 (1978-12-07)
6"RX for Dying"Don MedfordSean BaineDecember 21, 1978 (1978-12-21)
7"Firestorm"Edward M. AbromsMark RodgersDecember 28, 1978 (1978-12-28)
8"Teammates"Alf KjellinRichard KelbaughJanuary 4, 1979 (1979-01-04)
9"Nightwork"Edward M. AbromsStory by : Kendelle J. Blaire
Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz
July 5, 1979 (1979-07-05)
10"Death is a Close Friend, Too"Virgil W. VogelStory by : Sy Salkowitz
Teleplay by : Chester Krumholz
July 12, 1979 (1979-07-12)
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