B. J. and the Bear

Overview

• Genre: Action comedy
• Created by: Glen A. Larson, Christopher Crowe
• Starring: Greg Evigan, Claude Akins, Mills Watson, Brian Kerwin, Dennis Burkley
• Theme Music Composer: Glen A. Larson
• Original Network: NBC
• Release Dates: February 10, 1979 – May 9, 1981
• Number of Seasons: 3
• Number of Episodes: 46
• Production Companies: Universal Television, Glen A. Larson Productions

Premise

• The series follows Billie Joe "B.J." McKay, a professional freelance itinerant trucker.
• Travels the highways in a Kenworth K-100 Aerodyne truck with his pet chimpanzee, Bear.
• B.J. is a Vietnam War veteran who was a medical helicopter pilot and a former prisoner of war.
• Storylines typically involve B.J. stumbling upon or being drawn into crime solving.
• Often helps a local resident, usually a young, beautiful woman.

Characters

• B.J. McKay: Main character, played by Greg Evigan.
• Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo: Frequent guest star in the first season, spinning off into his own show.
• Rutherford T. Grant: Antagonist in season three, head of the Special Crimes Action Team.
• Female Truckers: Hired by B.J. to work at Bear Enterprises due to harassment from Grant.

Notable Episodes and Story Arcs

• Pilot: "The Foundlings"
• Frequent guest appearances: Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo
• Notable Storylines:
  • Crossovers with "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo"
  • Attempts to launch spinoffs with episodes like "Eyes of Texas" and "The Girls on the Hollywood High"
• Season 3: Introduction of Bear Enterprises and the female truckers.

Production and Release

• Executive Producers: Glen A. Larson, Michael Sloan
• Not Released on Home Video: Only bootleg editions are available.

Cultural Context

• Produced during the CB radio and trucking craze in the U.S.
• Part of the late 1970s and early 1980s American television landscape.

Related Media

• Spinoffs and related shows: "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo"
• Guest appearances from characters in other series such as Quincy, M.E.

Additional Information

• No official home video release.
• The series played a role in popularizing the trucking theme in American pop culture during its airing.