The Blazing Saddles TV pilot so tame, Mel Brooks wouldn't even roast it.
A television series titled Black Bart was produced for CBS based on Andrew Bergman's original story for Blazing Saddles (Black Bart was the movie's original title). It featured Lou Gossett, Jr. as Bart and Steve Landesberg as his drunkard sidekick, a former Confederate officer named "Reb Jordan". The Humour was much more toned down than it's feature film predecessor Other cast members included Millie Slavin and Noble Willingham. Bergman is listed as the sole creator. CBS aired the pilot once on April 4, 1975 as a CBS Special Presentation. The pilot featured guest appearances by Gerrit Graham and Brooke Adams and was written by Michael Elias and Rich Eustis. Elias and Eutis later created and executive produced the ABC sitcom Head of the Class (1986-1991).
Acting
Lou Gossett Jr. deserved better than this watered-down Bart.
Production
The ghost of a bolder film haunts every sanitized scene.
Director
Robert Butler
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Head of the Class creators wrote this pilot, which explains... absolutely nothing.
This exists because CBS wanted Blazing Saddles' ratings without its controversy—a 1975 lesson in corporate cowardice.
US
