BIG HAWAII

DANGER IN PARADISE

Cliff Potts (right). Ina Balin and John Dehner star In 'Danger in Paradise.' in NBC World Premiere action-romance drama in which a headstrong son fights his stepmother for control of his ill father's vast ranch-estate in Hawaii The film will be colorcast Thursday. May 12

Mitch Fears learns that his father. Barrett, has suffered a stroke and his stepmother, Maria, Is planning on selling large segments of the huge ranch to a suspicious developer

The older Fears, a hard-driving tyrant who has become rich through brutal business dealings and convenient marriages, is close to death and unable to maintain control as he watches his young wife do battle with his defiant son for the destiny of his fortune.

Mitch's anger is further Inflamed when he learns that his father has engineered the marriage of Reva (Jean Marie Hon, left), the island beauty.

The pilot, which will air as a made-for-television movie on NBC at 9 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 1977, goes by the name 'Danger in Paradise." Paradise in this case is the name of a vast ranch on the big island of Hawaii. The best thing about the show is the 'Scenery’ which is "stunning? That includes not only ocean views of enormous beauty, but also Ina Balin of the dark hair and huge black eyes, and Jean Marie Hon, who combines a lovely Oriental face with a strictly "now" body. Even Cliff Potts, the star, looks good without his shirt.

The story line brings Mitch Fears, played by Potts, back to the Paradise ranch after five years exile when he is sent for by his buddy, Oscar, played by big Bill Lucking. Ina Balin, his wicked stepmother, is threatening to sell a portion of Paradise to mob-backed developers for |5 million over the almost dead body of Potts father, Barrett Fears, played by John Dehner. .

"At one point Potts must make a quick trip to Las Vegas. The contrast between the lush fields and blue and white ocean of Hawaii and the barren Nevada desert interrupted in this footage only by Vegas honky tonk is another example of a picture being worth a thousand words.

The plot is a hodgepodge, offering the audience both violence and sex.

Of the pilot cast, NBC says Potts, Balin and Dehner will return in the fall when "Big Hawaii" makes its debut. Nevertheless, the real star will be beautiful Hawaii.

Season 1 Episode Guide

You Can't Lose 'Em All

Season 1, Episode 7

November 30, 1977

A fading rodeo star's sidekick plans to manipulate a match between Mitch and the champ. Cal Seward: Richard Jaeckel. Derby O'Brian: David Wayne. Barrett: John Dehner. Oscar: Bill Lucking. Karen: Lucia Stralser. Announcer: Rap Reiplinger. Garfield: Moe Keale. Kimo: Remi Abellira.

Sarah

Season 1, Episode 6

November 23, 1977

The head of a home for wayward girls becomes emotionally involved with a self-destructive teenager. Mitch: Cliff Potts. Sarah: Pamela Bellwood. Teri: Mare Winningham. Barrett: John Dehner. Helen: Rosanna Huffman. Renee: Luella Costello. Brett: Lou Richards. Sinclair: Bill Fiddler. Kiramatsu: Jack Hisatake. Oscar: Bill Lucking.

Graduation Eve

Season 1, Episode 5

October 26, 1977

Mitch and Oscar (Bill Lucking) are deputized on the eve of the town's high-school graduation. Barrett: John Dehner. Susan Barlow: Marcy Lafferty. Charley Woodman: Sandy McPeak. Giles Webber: Walter Brooke. Ethel Page: Connie Sawyer. Mike: Michael Snedeker. Kimo: Remi Abillera. Garfield: Moe Keale. Karen: Lucia Stralser.

Red Midnight

Season 1, Episode 4

October 19, 1977

With his ailing father aboard, Mitch has to crash-land his plane near an erupting volcano. Reggie: Charles Peck. Brossman: Seth Sakai. Oscar: Bill Lucking. Karen: Lucia Stralser.

Pipeline

Season 1, Episode 3

October 12, 1977

Supervising pipeline construction and protecting a friend from her vicious ex-husband keep Mitch busy. Annie: Linda Gray. Max: Stephen Macht. Barrett: John Dehner. Karen: Lucia Stralser. Pappy: Sam Peters. Oscar: Bill Lucking.

Sun Children

Season 1, Episode 2

September 28, 1977

A typhoid epidemic is blamed on members of a new commune. Cliff Potts, John Dehner. Waltah Morrison: John Larch. Oscar: Bill Lucking. Joe Minho: Cal Bellini. Keke: Lucia Stralser. Dr. Ericka Bergen: Tricia O'Neil. Lulu: Elizabeth Smith. Moonstar: Ted Shackelford. Garfield Kalahani: Moe Keale.

Gandy

Season 1, Episode 1

September 21, 1977

A pilot cons Barrett's niece out of a large sum of money. Whipple: Peter Marshall. Barrett: John Dehner. Mitch: Cliff Potts. Brad Nagel: Kimo Kahoano. Oscar: Bill Lucking.

Big Hawaii Episode GuideDanger in ParadiseFirst aired: May/12/1977Writer: William WoodDirector: Marvin ChomskyGuest star: Ina Balin (Marla Fears), Peter Brandon (Unknown), Anthony Charnota (Unknown), Noel Conlon(Unknown), Wayne Heffley (Unknown), Jean Marie Hon (Reva), Richard McKenzie (Carson Fears), Denny Miller(Unknown), Harry Moses (Stephen), Michael Mullins (Bobby Fears), Richard Venture (Unknown), Lynette Chun(Unknown), Dave Clannon (Unknown), Sandy Will (Candy)

Paradise is the name of a vast ranch on the big island of Hawaii. Ina Balin and Jean Marie Hon play leading ladies in this ranch. The story line brings Mitch Fears, played by Cliff Potts, back to the Paradise Ranch after five years exile when he is sent for by his buddy Oscar, played by big Bill Lucking. Ina Balin, his wicked stepmother, is threatening to sell a portion of Paradise to mob backed developers for $5 million over the almost dead body of Potts' father, Barrett Fears, played by John Denher. Old Barrett, a tyrant in his time and is being left to die by his much younger wife, but he's too stubborn to criticize her to his son.

1 :01x01 - Gandy

First aired: Sep/21/1977Writer: Tim Maschler, Donald P. BellisarioDirector: Lawrence DohenyGuest star: Peter Marshall (Whipple), Kimo Kahoano (Brad Nagel), Don Johnson (Gandy), Bill Edwards (Ben Barnes)

Gandy, a helicopter pilot bilks Keke, Barrett's niece, out of a big sum of dollars to pay a greedy banker. Keke Fears refuses to allow a potentially ruinous sugar cane blight to spoil her 18th. birthday luau, particularly when it brings a handsome crop duster helicopter pilot into her life. Just turned 18, Karen Fears yearns for an expensive horse and a handsome crop dusting pilot. Cousin Mitch works it out so that she gets one, but loses the other.

The generation gap turns up with amazing regularity as a TV premise and tonight it goes Hawaiian with Cliff Potts starring as Mitch Fears, the heir-apparent to an Island empire, who's just beginning to come to terms with Daddy.

In tonight's premiere at 10 on Channels 7 and 5, a buddy from Mitch's rollicking past turns up as a crop duster. A real charmer. Gandy manages to con Mitch's 18-year-old cousin out of $2,500 she had earmarked for a beautiful horse.

Such rotten behavior from a houseguest can't be tolerated, of course, so after a cursory fist fight the two buddies go off to find a quick $2,500. Gandy earns the bulk of it in an oyster-eating contest.

In between there's a lot of horseplay, much tack-slapping and some of the most absurd gosh-golly dialog to air this season.

Potts and John Dehner, who plays his father, are both decent actors, who deserve far more than they've gotten from the writers of this opener. The remainder of the cast, labelled in the credits as "The Foreman,” "The Niece" and so on, may as well remain relatively anonymous.

On the off-chance that there's only room for one prime-time TV series from Hawaii, Jack Lord can rest easy. Big Hawaii isn't likely to have more than a little run.

BIG HAWAII (PREMIERE) “Gandy” Kiki Fears refuses to allow a potentially ruinous sugar cane blight to spoil her 18th birthday luau particularly when it brings a ...

Big Hawaii . ... A real charmer, Gandy manages to con Mitch's 18year-old cousin out of 2,500 she had earmarked for a beautiful horse. Such rotten behavior from…

2 :01x02 - The Sun ChildrenFirst aired: Sep/28/1977Writer: William Froug, Lisa Anne FrougDirector: Seymour RobbieGuest star: John Larch (Walter Morrison), Cal Bellini (Joe Minho), Tricia O'Neil (Dr. Ericka Bergen), Ted Shackelford(Moonstar)

When typhoid fever threatens to spread, a neighboring rancher (John Larch) blames a hippie commune squatting on Paradise Ranch. An epidemic of typhoid fever hits the Paradise Ranch and Barrett and Mitch Fears try to stop the spreading fever and the animosity of their neighbors toward a hippie commune that is suspected of causing the fever.

3 :01x03 - Pipeline

First aired: Oct/12/1977Writer: William WoodDirector: Burt KennedyGuest star: Linda Gray (Annie), Stephen Macht (Max), Sam Peters (Pappy)

Mitch must come to the rescue of a divorcee with whom he is romantically involved when Max, her brutal ex-husband, threatens to beat her, at the same time he's busy supervising a water pipeline construction.

4 :01x04 - Red MidnightFirst aired: Oct/19/1977Writer: Ken KolbDirector: Noel BlackGuest star: Seth Sakai (Brossman), Charles Peck (Reggie)

While Mitch, a newly licensed pilot, and his father are flying over the Mauna Loa volcano, which is threatening a big ranch, the plane develops engine trouble and they crash land just as the crater starts to erupt. Mitch (Cliff Potts) has just got his pilot's license, and asks his father to join him for a ride. The plane is circling the Mauna Loa Volcano when it develops engine trouble and Mitch has to crash land the plane. Just at that moment, the volcano provides a little trouble of its own

5 :01x05 - Graduation EveFirst aired: Oct/26/1977Writer: Joseph PolizziDirector: Harry FalkGuest star: Marcy Lafferty (Susan Barlow), Sandy McPeak (Charley Woodman), Walter Brooke (Giles Webber),Connie Sawyer (Ethel Page), Michael Snedecker (Mike)

A power failure plunges the island into darkness and Mitch Fears is deputized to help cope with what is expected to be widespread looting. It's graduation eve for the high school students. Li will need the best car of Mr. Flirts, but his father will deny him this favor. Meanwhile, a girl awaits for Mitch at home. Apparently, she is just a clueless tourist.Mitch Fears and ranch foreman Oscar Kalahani, temporarily deputised, are confronted with pre-graduation teenage waywardness and a bride with a missing dress.

6 :01x06 - YesterdaysFirst aired: Nov/02/1977Writer: William WoodDirector: Burt KennedyGuest star: Michael Parks (Terry Manhoff), Jack Starrett (Warden Bishop)

When Mitch yearns to go to the Surfing Finals with pro-surfers Terry Manhoff and Kay Stratton, Barrett, his father, advises him that living in the past is just another way of dying.

7 :01x07 - You Can't Lose 'Em All

First aired: Nov/09/1977Writer: Martin RothDirector: Ernest PintoffGuest star: Richard Jaeckel (Cal Seward), David Wayne (Derby O'Brian)

In high hopes of making a bundle, Derby O'Brian, the devious sidekick of Cal Seward, an ailing rodeo champion, persuades Mitch Fears to enter the competition facing the champ-then bets heavily against Mitch.Fears is coaxed info a Hawaii rodeo competition by a visiting champion, he is puzzled by the pro's decreased ability which also causes the rodeo clown to scheme for a guaranteed win for the champ.

8 :01x08 - The Trouble with TinaFirst aired: Nov/16/1977Writer: William FrougDirector: Richard MichaelsGuest star: Cindy Eilbacher (Tina Munson), Sandy Ward (Ed Munson), Patricia Herman (Judge Miller), Terence Knapp (Bryant)

When Mitch Fears rejects advances by a teenage country girl, she retaliates by accusing him of rape.

9 :01x09 - SarahFirst aired: Nov/23/1977Writer: Tim MaschlerDirector: Seymour RobbieGuest star: Pamela Bellwood (Sarah), Mare Winningham (Teri), Rosanna Huffman (Helen), Lou Richards (Brett),Jack Hisatake (Kiramatsu), Luella Costello (Renee), Bill Fiddler (Sinclair)

At a home for wayward girls, the director begins a relationship with Teri, a troubled girl. Sarah, Mitch's girlfriend, runs the home.

Mitch is keen on Sarah, who is in charge of the rehabilitation centre for female ex-cons. Teri, a trouble-maker at the centre, escapes one night and is not heard of and seen for some time.In the sub-plot, divorcee Renee (who is also Mitch'a friend) goes home to collect her child from ex-husband Brett and runs into an argument with him over the matter. Then Brett is found killed, and Renee is the prime suspect.

10 :01x10 - Blind RageFirst aired: UnairedWriter: Ken KolbDirector: William WiardGuest star: James Olson (Paul Canyon)

All the people of Paradise Ranch, except Keke go to town for the annual festival. During their absence a blind man, Paul Canyon, shows up. He comes accompanied by a fierce and dangerous dog. The mysterious stranger carries a briefcase that gets opened by accident. Inside there is a gun, a rope and a bottle with a liquid.

Revenge-filled and blind Paul Canyon kidnaps Mitch and Keke. He says Barrett is responsible for making his life miserable - taking his fiance and making him blind long ago - and now he wants to hit back.

11 :01x11 - The Sugar WarFirst aired: UnairedWriter: Sheldon Miles WillensDirector: Alf KjellinGuest star: John Larch (Walter Morrison), Robert Loggia (unknown), Marianna Hill (unknown)

A casual flirtation between Mitch Fears and a pretty sunbather leads to a half million dollar lawsuit that hampers his father obtaining a needed bank loan for the ranch. 

During his business trip in Honolulu, Mitch meets a pretty girl with higher aims. She's being stalked by an actor who never ceases to annoy. Mitch has no choice but to hit him, breaking his nose.

12 :01x12 - TightropeFirst aired: UnairedWriter: Tim MaschlerDirector: Robert Douglas

A bigoted tourist helps stir tensions that lead to an identity crisis for Oscar Kalahai when his nephew Kimo angrily challenges his place in the family. 

Aloni, a headstrong Hawaiian youth, is arrested for driving at high speed. Upon learning this, Acohi's boss fires him and the lad threatens his boss. The next day the boss is found murdered and Aloni is charged with homicide. A moustachioed tourist helps increase the tension that leads Oscar Kalahani to an identity crisis when his obfuscated nephew Kimo questions his place in the family. Oscar is forced to seek his heritage when he's caught in a racist mire in a murder investigation. He tries to help suspect Aloni but finds himself shut out by his people.