I remember watching Bridget Loves Bernie when we moved from New Jersey to Minnesota in 1972. It was an outstanding comedy that CBS put in its Saturday night lineup between two classics All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It had the potential to be a hit.
Unfortunately, viewer protests.over interfaith marriage and complaints from religious groups contributed to the network axing the show after one season.
The show had an outstanding cast anchored by David Birney as Bernie and Meredith Baxter as Bridget. Portraying Bernie's parents were Harold J. Stone and Bibi Osterwald. Bridget's parents were played by David Doyle and Audra Lindley. There was Robert Sampson as Bridget's brother Michael, a priest and William Elliott as Bernie's friend Otis.
Even the show lasted only one season, Birney and Baxter fell in love in real life and got married. Unfortunately, they got divorced. Baxter Birney would go on to play Elyse Keaton in Family Ties.
If you have never seen Bridget Loves Bernie, you can find it on Crackle. Though interfaith marriage was controversial in the 1970s, it's much more accepted today and you'll enjoy seeing a sitcom that got cancelled too soon.
