Sable (TV series)
Sable is an American mystery crime drama television series that aired on ABC from November 7, 1987 to January 2, 1988, during the 1987–1988 season, and is based on the comic book, Jon Sable: Freelance, by Mike Grell.[1] Seven episodes of the series aired.
Sable | |
---|---|
Genre | Crime Action Adventure Neo-noir Mystery |
Based on | Jon Sable: Freelance by Mike Grell |
Developed by | Gary Sherman |
Starring | Lewis Van Bergen |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 7 |
Production | |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies | Sherman-Rosetti Productions Taft Entertainment Television |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Original release | November 7, 1987 – January 2, 1988 |
The show was a one-hour adventure/drama about mercenary and vigilante Jon Sable (Lewis Van Bergen), who by day was children's book author Nicholas Fleming. The program ran on Saturdays at 8:00, and aired its final episode on January 2, 1988. Rene Russo had her first television role on the series.[2] Lara Flynn Boyle also had one of her first acting roles playing a kidnapped girl in the series pilot.[3]
KISS frontman Gene Simmons is a fan of the comic and purchased the rights to the series earlier in his career with the hope of turning it into a big action movie with Pierce Brosnan as the lead.[4] Simmons even starred in the lead role in an un-aired pilot for the eventual TV show.[5]
Cast
- Lewis Van Bergen as Jon Sable
- Rene Russo as Eden Kendell
- Ken Page as Joe "Cheesecake" Tyson
- Holly Fulger as Myke Blackmon
- Marge Kotlisky as Cynthia
- John Harkins as Thomas Watertson
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Toy Gun" | Gary Sherman | Gary Sherman[6] | November 7, 1987 | |
Series pilot. Sable helps a toy manufacturer whose kidnapped granddaughter's captors are trying to force him to commit suicide in exchange for her life. But as Sable investigates, he finds more going on than he realized. | |||||
2 | "Hunt" | Ron Rapiel | Story by : Allan R. Folsom Teleplay by : Steve Feke & Gary Sherman & Allan R. Folsom | November 14, 1987 | |
The son of the man Sable killed comes to Chicago with the intent to kill Sable. | |||||
3 | "Evangelist" | Robert Becker | Jim Trombetta | November 21, 1987 | |
The discovery of a young orphan girl in the apartment of a client leads to Sable uncovering a baby selling scheme at the orphanage...and a murder tied to it. Zelda Rubinstein guest stars. | |||||
4 | "Serial Killer" | Gary Sherman | Story by : Michael Halperin & Steve Feke & Gary Sherman Teleplay by : Judy Burns | November 28, 1987 | |
Sable is asked to protect the latest target of a serial killer...by the killer himself. | |||||
5 | "Copycat" | Robert Becker | Arthur David Weingarten & Steve Feke & Gary Sherman | December 5, 1987 | |
Someone posing as Sable begins taking down those he deems "garbage". | |||||
6 | "Watchdogs" | Kees Van Oostrum | Story by : Gary Sherman Teleplay by : Steve Feke | December 12, 1987 | |
Cheesecake turns to Sable for help when a neighborhood watch group beings going after minorities, just as Sable's estranged stepmother comes to town. | |||||
7 | "Mob" | Gary Sherman | Story by : Ron Koziol Teleplay by : Steve Feke | January 2, 1988 | |
An old friend, who also happens to be a thief, needs Sable's protection when a mobster whose safe was robbed begins targeting other thieves. |
References
- Cronin, Brian (October 22, 2018). "Comic Legends: Did the Sable TV Show Block a Pierce Brosnan Sable Movie?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- Price, Matthew (February 25, 2005). "Mercenaries GrimJack, Jon Sable brought back". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- Cassell, Dewey; Messer, Jeff (2018). Mike Grell: Life Is Drawing Without an Eraser. TwoMorrows Publishing pg. 94. ISBN 978-1-6054-9088-5.
- "GENE SIMMONS WANTS TO BRING FLOP COMIC JON SABLE BACK TO SCREENS," World Entertainment News Network, May 11, 2013.
- Age of TV Heroes: The Live-Action Adventures of Your Favorite Comic Book Characters by Jason Hofius and George Khoury, TwoMorrows Publishing, 2010, page 13.
- Rosenberg, Howard (November 7, 1987). "Television Reviews : 'Sable' Debuts on ABC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 5, 2021.