''Aaron's Way'' is an American family television
drama series
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular su ...
that aired on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
from March 9 to May 25, 1988. It stars
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen (; September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010) was an American professional football player, announcer, and actor. For his entire 15-year professional football career he was a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams in the Nationa ...
as Aaron Miller, the husband and father of an
Amish
The Amish (, also or ; ; ), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church fellowships with Swiss people, Swiss and Alsace, Alsatian origins. As they ...
family that moves to California and follows the family's attempts to adapt to Californian culture while retaining their personal values. Also appearing on it were
Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis (born May 12, 1970) is an American actress and trade union leader who served as the Vice President, Actors/Performers of SAG-AFTRA from 2015 to 2019. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in '' Pump Up ...
and
Belinda Montgomery.
Synopsis
Aaron Miller's eldest son Noah has left the Amish community for ''the world'', but Aaron keeps in touch with him using a post office box. When Aaron learns that Noah died in a surfing accident, he goes to California for his funeral, where he learns that Noah had been living with a woman named Susanna Lo Verde, who owns a vineyard and is pregnant by Noah.
Aaron returns to Pennsylvania to consider what to do. Soon a relative of Susanna's arrives by motorcycle and relates her difficulties, and Aaron tells his wife, who had been surprised that Aaron had kept in touch with Noah, that they need to go help her.
To Susanna's surprise, the family arrives and begins helping out while trying to cope with the unfamiliar society and technology. The three Miller children are enrolled in the public school system.
Subsequent episodes of this short-lived series deal with the continuing clash (and sometimes complementary meeting) between the Millers and their worldly hosts and neighbors. Aaron's dedication to the values of integrity and justice bend a few dishonest people their way.
Cast
*
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen (; September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010) was an American professional football player, announcer, and actor. For his entire 15-year professional football career he was a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams in the Nationa ...
as Aaron Miller
*
Belinda Montgomery as Sarah Miller
*
Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis (born May 12, 1970) is an American actress and trade union leader who served as the Vice President, Actors/Performers of SAG-AFTRA from 2015 to 2019. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in '' Pump Up ...
as Roseanne Miller
*Erin Chase as Martha Miller
*Scott Curtis as Frank Miller
*
Kathleen York as Susannah Lo Verde
*
Jessica Walter as Connie Lo Verde
*
Christopher Gartin
Christopher Gartin is an American actor and producer, known for ''Black Swan
The black swan (''Cygnus atratus'') is a large Anatidae, waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Withi ...
as Mickey Lo Verde
*
Pierrino Mascarino
Pierrino Mascarino (September 22, 1939 – June 2, 2017) was an Italian actor perhaps best known for his lead performance in the film '' Uncle Nino''.
Mascarino was also known for such films and television series as '' Tears of the Sun'', '' Nip ...
as Mr. Benvenuto
*
Tiffany Lamb as CeeJay
Episodes
{{Episode table , overall= , title= , director= , writer= , airdate= , prodcode=, overallT=No. , episodes=
{{Episode table , overall= , title= , director= , writer= , airdate= , prodcode=, overallT=No. , episodes=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=1
2
, Title=The Harvest: Parts 1 & 2
, DirectedBy=Noel Nosseck
, WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay, s= Rena Down, t=
William Blinn
William Frederick Blinn (July 21, 1937 – October 22, 2020) was an American screenwriter and television producer.
Life and career
Blinn was born in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Clare Allen and Pearl Ariel (Schaeffer) Blinn. Blinn began his career i ...
& Rena Down
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 3, 9
, ProdCode=TBD
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=3
, Title=New Growth
, DirectedBy=
Robert Scheerer
Robert Scheerer (December 28, 1929 – March 3, 2018) was an American film and television director, actor, and producer.
Scheerer was born in Santa Barbara, California, on December 28, 1929.
Scheerer's work in films began with his dancing, inc ...
, WrittenBy=William Blinn
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 3, 16
, ProdCode=TBD
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=4
, Title=A Plain Path
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 3, 23
, ProdCode= 186207
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=5
, Title=A Healing Power
, DirectedBy=Noel Nosseck
, WrittenBy=William Blinn
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 3, 30
, ProdCode=186206
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=6
, Title=Patches of Lights
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 4, 6
, ProdCode = 186214
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=7
, Title=High Note
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 4, 13
, ProdCode=TBD
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=8
, Title=The Men Will Cheer and the Boys Will Shout
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 4, 20
, ShortSummary=
, ProdCode= 186217
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=9
, Title=Man and Boy at the Crossing
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 4, 27
, ProdCode= 186216
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=10
, Title=Teachers
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 5, 4
, ProdCode=186202
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=11
, Title=Strong Foundations
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 5, 11
, ProdCode=TBD
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=12
, Title=Invisible People
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 5, 15
, ProdCode=186210
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=13
, Title=Solid Ground
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 5, 18
, ProdCode=186215
, ShortSummary=
, LineColor=
{{Episode list
, EpisodeNumber=14
, Title=New Patterns
, DirectedBy=
, WrittenBy=
, OriginalAirDate={{Start date, 1988, 5, 25
, ShortSummary=
, ProdCode= 186209
, LineColor=
References
{{reflist
External links
* {{IMDb title, 0094410
* {{epguides, id=AaronsWay
1980s American drama television series
1988 American television series debuts
1988 American television series endings
Television shows set in California
Amish in popular culture
Television series by Lorimar-Telepictures
NBC television dramas