The Fugitive

by David P. Pierson

Overview

A social, cultural, historical, and institutional analysis of the classic original series The Fugitive.

Television’s longest-running chase story, The Fugitive was a dramatically charged show that followed Dr. Richard Kimble on his quest to prove his innocence and find his wife’s one-armed killer. A product of veteran television producer-writer Roy Huggins (Maverick, The Rockford Files) and Quinn Martin, a newcomer producer, the series aired for four seasons between 1963 and 1967 on the ABC network. In The Fugitive, author David P. Pierson examines the creation of the series and its dominant social discourses and themes, along with the industry producers, writers, and actors who made it one of the most memorable and influential shows in 1960s American television.

In The Fugitive, Pierson discusses the context of the series’ creation at a time when federal regulators were forcing the three major television networks to broadcast adult programs with less physical violence. Pierson also offers a unique analysis of the major themes represented in The Fugitive’s episodes, such as individualism, love and marriage, the culture of professionalism, modern science and technology, and social justice and authority, along with how these themes connected to ongoing social and cultural struggles taking place in American society in the 1960s. The book explores the reasons why The Fugitive was so popular with audiences of the 1960s, and suggests that one of the strongest appeals of the series is the memorable, poignant performance by David Janssen as Richard Kimble. Pierson also argues that The Fugitive established the narrative and thematic grounds for the "wanderer-redeemer television tradition," whose influence he links to later series like Run for Your Life, Then Came Bronson, The Incredible Hulk, Highway to Heaven, Quantum Leap, and Touched by an Angel. Pierson concludes by examining the similarities and differences between The Fugitive and the 1993 feature film based on the series.

After a finale that held the record for the highest share of American homes with television sets tuned in, the series ended, but not without creating a cultural and programming legacy. Fans of the show and scholars of television history and American popular culture will enjoy this informative study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814334294
Publisher:	Wayne State University Press
Publication date:	11/15/2011
Series:	TV Milestones Series
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

David P. Pierson is associate professor of media studies at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. He is the author of book chapters and journal articles on C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation, The Discovery Channel nature programming, Mad Men, Seinfeld, and Turner Network Television made-for-TV westerns.

What People are Saying About This

2007) Walter Metz of Bewitched (Wayne State University Press

Pierson makes a major contribution to the study of American dramatic television in the 1960s. The Fugitive is well researched and makes use of both television studies and sociology literature quite well."

Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia and Author of Equal Time: Television and the Civi - Aniko Bodroghkozy

This volume's significant contribution s its careful contextualization of The Fugitive's themes and preoccupations with the socio-cultural anxieties percolating in 1960s America. The author argues that The Fugitive gave a rather dark vision of American society in a period often marked by liberal optimism about the possibilities of institutional reform. Through careful historical contextualization and close textual analysis, the author places this iconic series back into its time and place."

Editorial Reviews

Nostalgia buffs and avid TV watchers who recall watching the record breaking two-part finale of 'The Fugitive' back in 1967 will be eager to crack open this new book. The Fugitive by USM professor David Pierson, takes a fresh look at the show. It also looks at how it echoes socio-cultural anxieties of the 1960's.

Fox 23 Maine

This volume's significant contribution s its careful contextualization of The Fugitive's themes and preoccupations with the socio-cultural anxieties percolating in 1960s America. The author argues that The Fugitive gave a rather dark vision of American society in a period often marked by liberal optimism about the possibilities of institutional reform. Through careful historical contextualization and close textual analysis, the author places this iconic series back into its time and place."

associate professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and author of Equal Time: Television and the Civil Ri - Aniko Bodroghkozy

Pierson makes a major contribution to the study of American dramatic television in the 1960s. The Fugitive is well researched and makes use of both television studies and sociology literature quite well."

author of Bewitched (Wayne State University Press, 2007) - Walter Metz