The Bad News Bears (TV series)

The Bad News Bears was a short-lived American sitcom that aired on CBS from March 26, 1979, to July 13, 1980. It was based on the popular 1976 film of the same name, following the misadventures of a ragtag Little League baseball team, the Bears, and their reluctant, often inebriated, coach, Morris Buttermaker.

The series starred Jack Warden as Coach Buttermaker, replacing Walter Matthau from the original film. Other cast members included Catherine Hicks as Dr. Emily Rappant, a child psychologist assigned to counsel the team, and Tricia Cast as Amanda Wurlitzer, the team's talented pitcher. The show featured a new cast of child actors playing the members of the Bears team, including Sparky Marcus as Rudi Stein, and Meeno Peluce as Tanner Boyle.

The television series attempted to capture the comedic spirit and underdog appeal of the film, but it received mixed reviews and ultimately failed to achieve the same level of success. While the show retained some of the film's edgy humor, it was toned down for a broader television audience.

The series lasted for two seasons, comprising 26 episodes. Despite its cancellation, The Bad News Bears TV series remains a footnote in the franchise's history, demonstrating the challenges of adapting a successful film for a different medium.