''Brand New Life'' is an American

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...

starring

Barbara Eden Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead; August 23, 1931) is an American actress and singer, who starred as the title character in the sitcom ''I Dream of Jeannie'' (1965–1970). Her other roles included Roslyn Pierce opposite Elvis Presley in ...

and Don Murray and produced by

Walt Disney Television The first and original incarnation of Walt Disney Television was an American production company and the original/former television production division of the Walt Disney Company, which was active from April 18, 1983 to 2003. Productions from ...

and

NBC Productions Universal Television LLC (abbreviated as UTV) is an American television production company that is a division of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming#Universal Studio Group, Universal Studio Group, a division of NBCUniversal, which, in turn, is ...

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 ...

as part of ''

The Magical World of Disney The Walt Disney Company has produced an anthology television series since 1954 under several titles and formats. The program's current title, ''The Wonderful World of Disney'', was used from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1991 onward. The program mo ...

'' during the 1989–90 television season. The series originally premiered as a two-hour television movie pilot entitled ''Brand New Life: The Honeymooners'' on September 18, 1989, as part of ''

NBC Monday Night at the Movies ''The NBC Monday Movie'' was a television anthology series of films that debuted on February 4, 1963 (in the middle of the 1962-63 season). It was referred to as ''Monday Night at the Movies'' prior to the mid-1980s. Contrary to popular contem ...

'' and its ratings success led to the commissioning of a weekly series. Afterwards, the show's regular timeslot was on Sunday nights on NBC's ''The Magical World of Disney'' from October 1, 1989, to April 15, 1990. The series also marked Barbara Eden's first television series since ''

Harper Valley PTA "Harper Valley PTA" is a country song written by Tom T. Hall, which in 1968 became a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. Riley's record, her debut, sold over six million copies as a single, and it made her the fi ...

'' (1981–1982) and is also her third collaboration with Don Murray, having previously starred together in the television films ''

Return of the Rebels ''Return of the Rebels'' (working title ''The Eagle Rock Rebels Ride Again'') is a 1981 American made-for-television biker drama film starring Barbara Eden, Don Murray, Christopher Connelly, Robert Mandan, Jamie Farr and Patrick Swayze. It orig ...

'' (1981) and '' The Stepford Children'' (1987). The theme song "Brand New Life" was written by

Steve Tyrell Steve Tyrell (born Stephen Louis Bilao III, December 19, 1944) is an American singer and record producer. He won a 2004 Grammy Award as the producer of the Rod Stewart studio album '' Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III''. He also h ...

and performed by Jill Colucci.

Synopsis

Barbara McCray (Barbara Eden) is a struggling divorced mother of three teenagers working part-time as a waitress while studying to become a court reporter, who meets and marries Roger Gibbons (Don Murray), a wealthy attorney and widower with three teenagers of his own. Together, they set up housekeeping in his Bel Air home and stories follow the comedic and dramatic incidents of blending two families with contrasting social backgrounds.

Cast

as Mrs. Barbara McCray Gibbons * Don Murray as Mr. Roger Gibbons, Barbara's 2nd husband *

Shawnee Smith Shawnee Smith (born July 3, 1969) is an American actress and singer. She began her acting career at a young age, making her feature film debut at age 11 in '' Annie'' (1982). A few years later, she made her stage debut in '' To Gillian on Her 37 ...

as Amanda Gibbons, Roger's daughter *

Byron Thames Byron Thames (born April 23, 1969) is an American television and film actor and musician. Early life Born in Jackson, Mississippi, his family moved shortly after his birth to New Orleans, Louisiana. He moved to Hollywood, California, with his m ...

as Laird Gibbons, Roger's son *

Jennie Garth Jennifer Eve Garth (born April 3, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for starring as Kelly Taylor throughout the Beverly Hills, 90210 (franchise), ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' franchise and Val Tyler on the sitcom ''What I Like About You (TV ...

as Ericka McCray, Barbara's daughter *

Alison Sweeney Alison Ann Sweeney (born September 19, 1976) is an American actress, reality show host, director and author. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha "Sami" Brady on the NBC soap opera ''Days of Our Lives'', a role she played under c ...

as Christy McCray, Barbara's daughter *

David Tom Charles David Tom (born March 23, 1978) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the roles of Billy Abbott on ''The Young and the Restless'' (1999 to 2002, 2014) and Paul Cramer on ''One Life to Live'' (2004). He won a Daytime Emmy ...

as Bart McCray, Barbara's son * Eric Foster (movie) as Barlow Gibbons, Roger's son

Episode list

TV movie pilot

Series

References

External links

* (pilot) * (series) * {{TCMDb title, 456181, Brand New Life: The Honeymooners (pilot)
''Brand New Life'' at epguides.com
1989 American television series debuts 1990 American television series endings 1980s American comedy-drama television series 1990s American comedy-drama television series Television films as pilots Television series by Disney Television series about families Television shows filmed in Los Angeles Television shows set in Los Angeles American English-language television shows NBC comedy-dramas