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The Education of Max Bickford

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The Education of Max Bickford
The Education of Max Bickford cast
GenreDrama
Created by
Starring
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes22
Production
Executive producers
  • Keith Addis
  • Joe Cacaci
  • Rod Holcomb
  • Dawn Prestwich
  • Nicole Yorkin
ProducerRichard Dreyfuss
Production locations
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 23, 2001 (2001-09-23) –
June 2, 2002 (2002-06-02)

The Education of Max Bickford is an American drama television series that aired Sundays at 8:00 pm (EST) on CBS from September 23, 2001, to June 2, 2002, during the 2001–02 television season. After a strong initial launch, the show's audience 'dropped sharply afterward' despite its prime time slot following 60 Minutes.[1] Within a month, two of its three executive producers were removed and reports claimed the show was being 'overhauled', though CBS denied this, preferring the term 'creative adjustments'.[2] In May 2002, Touched by an Angel was returned to its Sunday 8 pm slot, bumping the second-to-last episode of The Education of Max Bickford to Monday.[3] In June 2002, the final episode aired and the show was not renewed.

Overview

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The series starred Richard Dreyfuss as the title character, a college professor of American Studies at Chadwick College, an all-women's school in Massachusetts. The series follows Max, a recovering alcoholic trying to rebuild his life, as he tries to prove that his teachings still carry relevance to a generation far different from his own. Often Max finds himself challenged by the faculty over his unorthodox style and his often cantankerous personality. Also starring was child actor Eric Ian Goldberg, who portrayed the young Lester Bickford, Max's son. Max's colleagues included Marcia Gay Harden as Andrea Haskell, his former student (and lover) who had recently joined the faculty, and Helen Shaver as his best friend, Erica, previously known as Steve before her transition. Max's daughter, Nell, played by Katee Sackhoff, attended the college.

The series was one of the first to be produced in High-Definition. Cinematographer Michael Mayers was brought in to pioneer this move into Hi-Def.[4]

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected by [5]Written by [5]Original air dateProd.
code [5]
1"Pilot"Rod HolcombDawn Prestwich & Nicole YorkinSeptember 23, 2001 (2001-09-23)1AFB79
2"Herding Cats"Rod HolcombDawn Prestwich & Nicole YorkinSeptember 30, 2001 (2001-09-30)1AFB01
3"Who Is Breckenridge Long?"David LongJan OxenbergOctober 14, 2001 (2001-10-14)1AFB02
4"Hearts and Minds"Rod HolcombRob ThomasOctober 21, 2001 (2001-10-21)1AFB03
5"In the Details"Rod HolcombDawn Prestwich & Nicole YorkinOctober 28, 2001 (2001-10-28)1AFB04
6"Do It Yourself"David JonesTom GarrigusNovember 11, 2001 (2001-11-11)1AFB05
7"Revisionism"David PlattSharon Lee WatsonNovember 18, 2001 (2001-11-18)1AFB08
8"A Very Great Man"Martha MitchellDianne HoustonDecember 2, 2001 (2001-12-02)1AFB06
9"It's Not the Wrapping, It's the Candy"Elodie KeeneAnya EpsteinDecember 9, 2001 (2001-12-09)1AFB07
10"The Good, the Bad, and the Lawyers"Rob HolcombJan OxenbergJanuary 6, 2002 (2002-01-06)1AFB10
11"Save the Country"Don ScardinoDavid YorkinJanuary 13, 2002 (2002-01-13)1AFB09
12"The Cost of Living"David JonesTom GarrigusJanuary 20, 2002 (2002-01-20)1AFB11
13"I Never Schlunged My Father"Michael SchultzJoe CacaciJanuary 27, 2002 (2002-01-27)1AFB12
14"Money Changes Everything"Martha MitchellRichard DresserFebruary 24, 2002 (2002-02-24)1AFB13
15"Genesis"Don ScardinoDavid BlackMarch 3, 2002 (2002-03-03)1AFB14
16"An Open Book"Matthew PennStory by : Grace McKeaney & Kate Milliken
Teleplay by : Grace McKeaney		March 10, 2002 (2002-03-10)1AFB15
17"Past, Present, Future"David JonesTom GarrigusMarch 17, 2002 (2002-03-17)1AFB16
18"Murder of the First"Rob HolcombDavid YorkinMarch 31, 2002 (2002-03-31)1AFB17
19"The Bad Girl"David PlattLinda BurstynApril 14, 2002 (2002-04-14)1AFB18
20"The Egg and I"Michael FieldsStory by : Kate Milliken
Story & Teleplay by : Grace McKeaney		April 21, 2002 (2002-04-21)1AFB19
21"One More Time"Don ScardinoJoe CacaciMay 12, 2002 (2002-05-12)1AFB21
22"The Pursuit of Happiness"David PlattStory by : David Black & Lorin Dreyfuss
Teleplay by : David Black & Lorin Dreyfuss & Richard Dresser & Tom Garrigus & Joe Cacaci		June 2, 2002 (2002-06-02)1AFB20


Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an aggregated score of 79% based on 11 positive and 3 negative critic reviews. The website's consensus reads: "Bolstered by intelligent writing and a strong supporting cast, The Education of Max Bickfordfinds Richard Dreyfuss commanding the small screen with ease."[6]

References

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  1. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (8 November 2001). "'Max Bickford' Struggles To Earn Television Tenure". New York Times.
  2. ^ "The Re-Education of Max Bickford". People Magazine.
  3. ^ "Bartcop Entertainment 3 May 2002". Bartcop Entertainment (originally reported by Yahoo News).
  4. ^ Thompson, Patrricia (April 2002). "Lessons in Hi-Def". American Cinematographer: 58.
  5. ^ a b c From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Education of Max Bickford"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  6. ^ "The Education of Max Bickford - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
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