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Breaking Away

1980

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1

EP1 The Cutters Nov 29, 1980

This series pilot is based on the 1979 film, but opens a year earlier as Dave Stohler (Shaun Cassidy) and his three close friends graduate from high school and resolve to stick together.

EP2 The American Dream Dec 06, 1980

A fraternity uses a pretty co-ed to lure Mike into playing for its football team. Meanwhile, Dave decides to audit a college course.

EP3 Knowing Her Dec 13, 1980

Moocher lands a job as a movie-theater usher. Mrs. Stohler enrolls in a real-estate course taught by an attractive widower. And romance enters Cyril's life in the form of a co-ed.

EP4 King of the Quarry Dec 20, 1980

Townsfolk won't let Stohler forget that he lost his poise as a guest lecturer at the college. Meanwhile, Moocher is offered a well-paying job in Chicago.

EP5 Heart Like a Wheel Dec 27, 1980

Moocher asks Nancy to move in with him. Mike readies for a drag race with a collegian. Dave's friendship with a co-ed may blossom into a romance.

EP6 Rainy Night in Georgia Jan 03, 1981

Mrs. Stohler wants her husband to buy land she thinks the university will eventually need--and pay handsomely for when they need it. Meanwhile, the guys land a job painting a hardware store. Dave's treasured bicycle is stolen.

EP7 La Strada Jan 10, 1981

Mrs. Stohler wants her husband to buy land she thinks the university will eventually need--and will pay handsomely for when they need it. Meanwhile, the guys land a job painting a hardware store. Dave's treasure bicycle is stolen.

EP8 The Grand Illusion Jan 01, 0001

Unaired episode, upon cancellation of series.
7.6| 0h30m| en
Synopsis

Breaking Away is a 1980 American comedy-drama television series that was based on the 1979 film of the same name. It was created by Steve Tesich, who wrote the original film, and the film's director Peter Yates served as Executive Producer. As a prequel, the series was set during the year prior to the events of the film. Shaun Cassidy took over the role of Dave Stohler, a young man mad about bicycle racing and all things Italian. Barbara Barrie, Jackie Earle Haley and John Ashton reprised their roles from the film. The television series was set in Bloomington, Indiana, but was actually shot in Athens, Georgia. The show was caught up in the 1980 Screen Actors Guild Strike and did not begin production until that fall. While heavily promoted by ABC, it was overlooked by TV audiences once it got on the air and suffered low ratings. It was cancelled after eight episodes were filmed, though only seven episodes aired during its original run. ABC showed reruns of the show during the summer of 1981, and it was also rerun by the Arts & Entertainment cable channel during 1985–1987.

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Reviews

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies
Clarissa Mora The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
Gibbs52 If my mom hadn't recommended I watch this movie when it came on TV for the first time, I never would have seen it. My mother's taste in movies was the only reason I watched it at all. A movie about a bicycle race? No way, Hose. Well, what a treat it was. I do not understand ,however, why they would make a TV show out of it. The role was made for Christopher and he only. Christopher and Paul Dooley made the movie what it was. Out of the four friends I thought Dennis Quaid's was the weakest character. He of course went on to a great career in Hollywood (due mostly to his good looks and being the real life brother of the more talented Randy.) I believe Christopher's career was Sabatoged due to his homosexuality. He never did much of anything after this worth talking about with the exception of playing the father and son role with Paul Dooley 2 other times.Once on Law and Order CI and the other in another movie "The Wedding). Cryil and the Mooch, played by the recently resurrected Jakie Earl Haley and John Stern also were great in this movie. Quaid did a good job with the role of Mike but the other three were all better. Make a TV show out of "Breaking Away" didn't work because it was a dumb idea. The movie ended the way it should have, with Dave having changed his dad's look at life and him going to college instead of being doomed to remain a "cutter". Shaun Cassidy? Come on now. I actually found out that I attended grade school with Christopher for 2 years at St. Philomena's parochial school. He was 5 years ahead of me so he is age is bogus in this site. I was born in 1955 and I will be 53 next month. Sorry David,but as we learned in catholic school, it's a sin to tell a lie. This movie was nominated for best picture and should have won. Cristopher deserved a best actor nomination while we are on the topic but didn't get it.
CarrieSpicoli I have never seen this show but I love the movie and since it didn't get a sequel, I think it should've made a TV Show, maybe it failed for the reason many sequels/spin-offs fail: Lack of cast. The only original cast members returning were Jackie Earle Haley (Moocher) and Barbara Barrie (Mrs. Stohler). John Ashton returned as well, but he had a smaller part as Mike's brother. Shaun Cassidy did play Dave though, where as the original actor Dennis Christopher, did hardly anything after this. But Moocher is a guy that could be replaced, but he was the only one who wasn't, I mean, I like Jackie Earle Haley and all, but I just didn't like him in this. Maybe cause I'm a die-hard Bad News Bears fan. Yep. that's probably why.
carol-177 I was glad when TV Guide recently mentioned this show in passing as vastly underrated. I remember that back then it surprised me. I loved the movie and was well aware how TV series adapted movies into pablum. And Shaun Cassidy? You must be joking!But he was absolutely terrific in the role. The others in the cast were also top-notch. Not only the premise but the earnestness and atmosphere of the movie was uncompromised during the course of the series. It was heart-warming, funny, and inspiring. (The only actor I didn't like was Jack Earl Haley, but I didn't like him in the movie, either -- or anywhere else, if I must tell the truth.) Barbara Barrie was (as usual) so wonderful, never enough air time for her, and Vincent Gardenia was an astonishingly great match to fill Paul Dooley's shoes!When will this come out on DVD? I'd love to see it again! Magnifico!
Jim Hannaford (sp27343) Breaking Away had the unfortunate luck too have been scheduled for the Fall 1980 season, which just happened to coincide with the writers guild strike. As a result, it didn't make it to the airwaves until late NOV '80. I think only 8 episodes were produced before the show got the Axe. It's a shame, as it was wonderfully filmed in and around Athens GA, acted (by a young Shaun Cassidy and Jackie Earl Haley, as well as veteran Barbara Barrie), written and directed. The show in many ways picks up where the movie left off. The guys are out of High School, and are trying to find out what they are going to do with their lives. Its hard to understand what ABC was thinking when they axed this one! This show is truly a gem, and I hope it makes it way to DVD one day soon.