Tuesday, September 17, 1963: 'The Fugitive'

The ABC show premieres with David Janssen starring as Dr. Richard Kimble, wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife. The series follows Kimble as he searches for the one-armed man who he believes killed his wife while at the same trying to stay one step ahead of police Lt. Philip Gerard (Barry Morse). The show would run through August 1967; at the time of its airing, the second episode in the two-part finale was the highest-rated show in the history of television.

* Video of first episode, "Fear in a Desert City": @ and @ and @

* Review of premiere (from United Press International): @

* Summary from Museum of Broadcast Communications: @

* Episode guide, from TV.com: @

* Producers Leonard Goldberg and Alan A. Armer talk about finale: @ and @

* " 'The Fugitive' broke new ground to become an unlikely hit" (from A.V. Club): @
* "The Fugitive Recaptured" (Ed Robertson, 1993): @
* "The Fugitive in Flight: Faith, Liberalism and Law in a Classic TV Show" (Stanley Fish, 2011): @

* The David Janssen Archive: @ 

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