The Young Rebels

I was an eleven-year-old history buff when "The Young Rebels" premiered in September 1970. Haven't seen it, of course, in nearly 40 years; but I sure LOVED all 15 episodes of this show.

"TYR" was part of a let's-attract-the-young movement by the networks in the late 1960s and early 70s, with dramas featuring youthful characters. Others in this venue that I recall include "The Storefront Lawyers" and "The Young Lawyers." "TYR" was apparently based on the following premise: what the heck, there were teens and early 20-somethings with long hair who were committed to the American Revolution, so let's have a show about them and try to get contemporary kids to watch. Didn't work, unfortunately. Those other youth-oriented dramas didn't last long either.

I would certainly love to see "TYR" again. Of the cast, only Lou Gossett went on (justifiably) to a major career -- -

The short-lived series "The Young Rebels" was ABC's answer for its replacement to the Irwin Allen fantasy/action-adventure series "The Land Of The Giants",which ended its two year-run in the spring of 1970. For the network's fall schedule of new shows for the 1970-1971 season,this series was supposed to allow the youthful social rebels of the late 1960's and early 1970's to relate to the times of the American Revolution. In other words,"The Young Rebels",was basically the Mod Squad set in the 1700's at the time of the Revolutionary War. This was part history lesson and part adventure as well with a hint of Fess Parker's frontier adventure show "Daniel Boone" added in as a measure at the time this show premiered was off the air after an astounding six year run. In other words,"The Young Rebels" was part "Daniel Boone" meets "The Mod Squad" with a bit of "Mission:Impossible".

"The Young Rebels",consisted of four young leads who were members of the fictional Yankee Doodle Society,based in Chester,Pennsylvania,in the year 1777. Their goal was to harass the British behind their lines and to serve as spies for the American forces. Everyone was under 30,and British rule was the "system" they sought to overturn. In perspective,you had kids ratting on other kids or adults who were against society....just like "The Mod Squad". As for the kids themselves you had Jeremy(Rick Ely),the son of the town's mayor and was the leader of the group;Elizabeth(Hilary Thompson)his teenage girlfriend and helper;Isak(Louis Gossett,Jr.)an ex-slave,and Henry(Alex Henteloff)the brains of the outfit. General Lafayette(Philippe Forquet)was a French nobleman who had come to aid the rebels in various missions. The characters were just like the kids on "The Mod Squad",with Jeremy(as Pete),Elizabeth(as Julie),Isak(as Linc),and General Lafayette(as Lt. Tige). Henry was the kid with the brains and the specials expert(on the same ground as Barney Collier on Mission:Impossible).

The show had a lot of action,high-adventure and consisted of various guest stars that became youthful patriots(one of them consisted of Brandon De Wilde as Nathan Hale). The show produced 27 episodes for ABC-TV and it ran for one season from September 20,1970-January 3,1971. The show was on Sunday nights at the 7:00 hour,and it when up against "The Wonderful World of Disney",and "Lassie" in the ratings,which clobbered it. It was preceded by the network's most successful show,"The FBI". The executive producer of this series was none other than Aaron Spelling (who was also behind ABC's most successful show,"The Mod Squad",which was a huge hit was young audiences). When the show went off the air in the winter of 1971,the show that replaced it became one of the shortest variety shows ever to grace the early part of the 1970's.... "Howard Cosell Presents"-aka "The Howard Cosell Show".

As a young teen and history buff, I loved THE YOUNG REBELS and recall not wanting to miss one episode when it aired in the 1970s. I somehow was able to watch every First Run episode as I don't think any were repeated before its cancellation. Watching first run episodes of any show in 1970 was tricky as you had to plan to be home for it! Unlike today, when you can watch it on Hulu or buy it on DVD. I was able to videotape all but 2 episodes off the old CBN Channel, but they infuriated me when they edited out the main title sequence and substituted their own 4-second "banner" title sequence to allow more commercial time to air during the broadcast. At least the end credits were intact as I loved the robust, upbeat Yankee Doodle-like music score. The other thing I loved about this show was its serious nature. Unlike shows of today, there was no stupid witty banter between its characters. The 2 paperback novels based on this series were good reads as well.

2016 UPDATE: Most recently, it was announced that all episodes of THE YOUNG LAWYERS which also aired on ABC in 1970 and was promoted in tandem with THE YOUNG REBELS would be released on DVD. So maybe there is hope for fans of THE YOUNG REBELS yet.

I remember watching this show when it originally aired and later when it was show on one of the cable stations--TVLand maybe? I can't remember.

I was a fan of both Rick Ely and Lou Gosset, Jr.

It was interesting seeing events that I'd learned about in history class get a new and different look through the eyes of young people in the 1700's. And there was always a bit a factual trivia at the end of every show.

My favorite episode was the one about the Liberty Bell and I also remember one about Patrick Henry. The wove actually history into the episodes very well.

As a history buff , I really enjoyed this short lived series. I wonder if it might have fared better if the powers that be had waited until 1976 to put it on.

The young(at that time) cast was excellent, especially Louis Gossett , Alex Henteloff, and Phillip Foulquet at Lafayette. It also featured some terrific guest appearances over its short run.(Brandon DeWilde, in one of his last appearances as Nathan Hale comes to mind.

Also Eric Braeden as a mad(as in crazy) Hessian officer(no typecasting there)Gary Lockwood as a friend of the Larkins who turned out to be a traitor, and Frank Converse as Jeremy's hero brother, who was killed off in the first episode. And who could forget Will Geer as the crusty mayor. If this comes around on DVD I think I'll buy it.