Wed 24 Apr 2019
A TV Series Overview by Michael Shonk: REBOUND / COUNTERPOINT (1952-53).
Posted by Steve under TV mysteries[2] Comments
Introduction: In my review of Jack Finney’s short story, “It wouldn’t Be Fair,” I noted that it had been adapted for TV as am episode of a series totally unknown to me, one called Rebound.” Michael has done some research on the series, and this is was he has found so far:
REBOUND (COUNTERPOINT). Syndication. TV Film. 30 minutes. Produced by Bing Crosby Productions. Sponsored by Packard automobiles. There were at least 26 episodes (2 seasons – 1952-53) of this suspense/mystery themed anthology series. Produced and Directed by Bernard Girard. Dick Dorso (PERRY MASON) was also involved in the production.
The following information is from various issues of BROADCAST magazine.
The series was scheduled to start airing the first week of February, 1952. Among the reported 24 stations carrying the syndicated program were the five ABC Owned and Operated stations that scheduled it at Friday at 9pm (Eastern). This lead to the show being called an ABC show, despite ABC having nothing to do with the production of the series.
On November 21,1952 DuMont agreed to air it on alternate weeks. This added DuMont to the list of 18 stations carrying REBOUND, the stations included KTTV (Hollywood), WABD (New York) and WGN (Chicago). And yes, this is when it is considered a DuMont TV series, despite DuMont having nothing to do with the production of the series.
REBOUND had three titles. The original title, according to BROADCASTING) was CRY OF THE CITY and it was replaced by REBOUND before the series aired (more about this later). United Television Programs (UTP) had the rerun rights and aired it under the title COUNTERPOINT. The ads for COUNTERPOINT (REBOUND) claimed “a national award winner with tremendous adult appeal.†I don’t know what the award was or what it was for.
Over at IMDB you can find a few more details. For the episode called “It Wouldn’t Be Fair,†the teleplay was by Jackson Stanley, the story by Jack Finney and was directed by Harve Foster. In the he cast were Frank Ferguson as Lt. Ryan, Jeff Donnell as Annie and Todd Karns as Moss.
IMDB claims there were 32 episodes, and “It Wouldn’t Be Fair†is one with no known airdate. IMDB also includes an episode called “Cry of the City†without details. CRY OF THE CITY was the series original title and might not have existed as an episode or more likely it could have been the series pilot.
While UTP syndicated 26 episodes of reruns as COUNTERPOINT, more original REBOUND episodes might have been made. From BROADCASTING – the series was filmed in six episode bunches.
In the July 21, 1952 issue the sale of Bing Crosby Production to CBS TV-Film (CBS’s syndication company). REBOUND was included.
United Television Programs that had the distribution rights to REBOUND for the 26 episodes kept the right to sell the second run episodes of REBOUND and renamed the series COUNTERPOINT.
April 25th, 2019 at 9:49 am
One of the questions facing today’s television researchers is what makes a DuMont series or a ABC series.
CASES OF EDDIE DRAKE is often called a DuMont series when it was syndicated by CBS TV-Film and appeared on other stations before DuMont bought the syndicated package.
BROADCASTING magazine called REBOUND an ABC TV series even when it was only on the network’s owned stations (5 stations) and not on the network. When DuMont bought the syndicated series, in BROADCASTING eyes it became a DuMont series despite also being on TV stations not part of DuMont.
TV-Film syndication was considered second class to the networks. Perhaps that is why they attached a series to a network whenever possible.
April 25th, 2019 at 10:10 am
It’s the early days of any new endeavor that go the most unrecorded. At least we have the results of your research now on record, Michael. Thanks again!
And by the way, there is one User Review for the series on IMDb. I hope no one minds my reproducing it here. It’s by someone who actually remembers watching the program:
Obscure, but Worthwhile
dougdoepke10 December 2011
Sorry I can’t supply much detail from my long ago viewing; also, I recall the series at the time being entitled “Counterpoint”. I don’t believe the series has been re-run under either name since those initial showings. But I do still have a distinctly favorable impression from those early years and remember looking forward to the series weekly. Each installment was a self-contained story, and I believe strove for ironical endings, a big attraction to me during that particularly bland period of TV programming.
Take a look at the featured cast; it’s outstanding. I recall being really impressed by John Doucette who didn’t look or sound like a Hollywood actor. But there are a number of other notable names, suggesting someone in production with a sharp eye for talent. Anyway, I’m glad to return a favor to the show, even after so many years.