(ABC Primetime, 1980) [This series had a lot of money and muscle behind it, but had not a lot going for it other than interesting casting a lot of whoopla promotion, so it never got off the ground after an ambitious two-part debut. It had begun as a conception of ABC-Paramount television called "Operation Prime Time"; Based upon an Irwin Shaw book, and produced by a number of competent producers who assembled a competent cast and production crew. It was in the mold of other serial dramas wherein a jaded executive gave up his big-city life for a dream life running a ski lodge. Not even the presence of veteran TV actors and other characters like Adrenne Barbeau, Sonny Bono, Peter Brown, Paula Prentiss, Mel Ferrer, Gary Lockwood and Macdonald Carey could save the lack of credible premise. And despite lead actor Wayne Rogers -- who had played a doctor in "M*A*S*H", the audience wasn't ready for this operation of "Operation Primetime"...Even the presence of the shapely Mz. Sommer and Mz. Barbeau weren't enough to keep audiences interested. So after the debut of the 2-part made-for-TV pilot (a total of three hours over two evenings), it laid a big "ho-hum" ratings egg, and was instantly cancelled as a series -- despite a theme written by George W. Duning and Stanley Styne, two veteran composers of the big and small screens. This is not to be confused with the 1989 CBS Political Drama of the same name which starred William Katt as an idealistic young congressman in Washington.]
[above is the title as originally filed for copyright; aka: "Top Of The Hill Theme"; vocal title: "Top Of The Hill"] Composers: music by George W. Duning (ASCAP) with lyric added by Stanley Herbert Styne (ASCAP) 1979 Publisher: Addax Music Company, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o Paramount T.V. Productions 2002 Publisher: Addax Music Company, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o Famous Music Corporation of New York, NY Instrumental Copyright Date: Dec. 17, 1979; PAu-162-389. Instrumental Renewal Date: Vocal Copyright Date: Feb. 5, 1980; PAu-174-875. Vocal Renewal Date: Recordings: