A reader asks;
“Didn’t Bronson have a TV show in the early 60’s called ‘Then Came Bronson?'”
Funny you should ask…
The original script for the pilot/feature was penned by Norman Mailer. He had envisioned it as a lighthearted romance centered on a smart, breezy young woman trying to make her way as a newspaper reporter in the big city. Bronson was an early sponsor, since it seemed like a natural fit to our core demographic. If nothing else, the name was the perfect vehicle to push the brand.
However, problems arose. MGM thought Mailer’s script was too heavy for a romantic half-hour weekly sitcom, dealing as it did with themes such as infant mortality, and sexually transmitted disease. After the 7th re-write, he abandoned the project, demanding his name be removed from anything to do with it. The project was taken over by Denne Bart Petitclerc, who significantly altered the central concept.
Once Martin Sheen was cast, things changed even further. Despite his minimal role, he exerted enormous influence over the entire production. What had begun as a fun, sexy comedy had mutated into a gritty, macho motorcycle-opera. At this point, Bronson’s board saw no potential for return-on-investment, and pulled sponsorship just before the pilot aired on American television.
Interestingly, Mailer’s original script was picked up by Mary Tyler Moore, who was widely rumored in Hollywood to be romantically involved with him at the time. After a few updates and tweaks, the result was The Mary Tyler Moore show, which went on to become one of the most acclaimed programs in US television history.