{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = SonnySpoon.jpg | runtime = 48 minutes | genre = [[Crime drama]] | creator = {{Plainlist| * Michael Daly * Dinah Prince * [[Stephen J. Cannell]] * [[Randall Wallace]] }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Mario Van Peebles]] * [[Melvin Van Peebles]] * Jordana Capra }} | country = United States | language = English | company = {{Plainlist| * Stephen J. Cannell Productions * [[NBC|NBC Productions]] }} | network = [[NBC]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1988|2|12}} | last_aired = {{End date|1988|12|16}} | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 15 }}
'''''Sonny Spoon''''' is an American [[crime drama]] television series that aired on [[NBC]] [[television network]] from February 12 to December 16, 1988. The series was created by Michael Daly, Dinah Prince, [[Stephen J. Cannell]], and [[Randall Wallace]], and was a joint production of [[Stephen J. Cannell|Stephen J. Cannell Productions]] in association with [[NBC|NBC Productions]].
==Overview== ''Sonny Spoon'' stars [[Mario Van Peebles]] as Sonny, a hip, [[Black people|black]] [[private investigator]] who uses his street smarts and "cool" persona to solve crimes. He often assists, and is assisted by, Carolyn Gilder (Terry Donahoe), an attractive assistant [[district attorney]]. Additionally, Sonny was a master of disguises, and might spend part of any given episode dressed as a clergyman, an Arab tourist, or an old lady. He used his many connections on the streets and relationships with friends and informants (who were apparently attracted to him mostly by his vibrant personality, as he had little cash to share with them) to further his ends, and also the insights of his father, Mel, a bar owner (played by [[Melvin Van Peebles]], Mario's real-life father).
==Cast== * [[Mario Van Peebles]] as Sonny Spoon * [[Melvin Van Peebles]] as Mel Spoon * Terry Donahoe as Carolyn Gilder * Jordana Capra as Monique * [[Bob Wieland]] as Johnny Skates * Larry Friel as Det. Bartlett
==Episodes== ===Series overview=== {{Series overview | color1 = #535a60 | link1 = #Season 1 (1988) | episodes1 = 7 | start1 = {{Start date|1988|2|12}} | end1 = {{End date|1988|4|12}}
| color2 = #9ae6e6 | link2 = #Season 2 (1988) | episodes2 = 8 | start2 = {{Start date|1988|10|7}} | end2 = {{End date|1988|12|16}} }}
{{no plot|section|date=May 2017}}
===Season 1 (1988)=== {{Episode table |background=#535a60 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=18 |director=14 |writer=24 |airdate=30 |aux4=10 |aux4T=Rating/share<br />(households) |episodes=
{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 1 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Sam's Private Eye | DirectedBy =Corey Allen | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1988|2|12}} | Aux4 = 12.0/21<ref>{{cite news|date=February 17, 1988|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|id={{ProQuest|306012742}}}}</ref> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 535a60 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = Wizard of Odds | DirectedBy =Rob Bowman | WrittenBy =Stephen J. Cannell | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1988|2|19}} | Aux4 = 11.3/19<ref>{{cite news|date=February 24, 1988|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|id={{ProQuest|305993630}}}}</ref> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 535a60 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 3 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Crimes Below the Waist | DirectedBy = Robert Iscove | WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|t=Stephen J. Cannell|s=Stephen J. Cannell & Randall Wallace & Michael Daly & Dinah Prince}} | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1988|2|26}} | Aux4 = 11.2/20<ref>{{cite news|date=March 2, 1988|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|id={{ProQuest|306042747}}}}</ref> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 535a60 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Who's Got Tonsillitis? | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1988|3|4}} | Aux4 = 12.3/22<ref>{{cite news|date=March 9, 1988|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|id={{ProQuest|306024044}}}}</ref> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 535a60 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 5 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = Semper Fi | DirectedBy =Alan Cooke | WrittenBy =Randall Wallace | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1988|3|11}} | Aux4 = 11.7/21<ref>{{cite news|date=March 16, 1988|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|id={{ProQuest|306030149}}}}</ref> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 535a60 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 6 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Tough Habit | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1988|3|18}} | Aux4 = 12.1/22<ref>{{cite news|date=March 23, 1988|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|id={{ProQuest|306010273}}}}</ref> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 535a60 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 7 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Title = Too Good to Be True, Too Smart to Get Caught | DirectedBy = Roy Campanella II | WrittenBy = Stephen J. Cannell & Randall Wallace | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1988|4|12}} | Aux4 = 11.6/20<ref>{{cite news|date=April 20, 1988|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|id={{ProQuest|306035713}}}}</ref> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 535a60 }} }}
===Season 2 (1988)=== {{Episode table |background=#9ae6e6 |overall=5 |season=5 |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=30 |viewers=8 |Aux4=8 |aux4T=Rating/share<br/>(households) |episodes=
{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 8 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Never Go to Your High School Reunion | DirectedBy = Roy Campanella II | WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|t=Stephen J. Cannell & Jo Swerling, Jr.|s=Stephen J. Cannell}} | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|10|7}} | Viewers=15.7<ref name="2.01">{{cite news |date=October 12, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306106992}}}}</ref> | Aux4=11.3/21<ref name="2.01"/> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 9 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = Cheap & Chili | DirectedBy = Mario Van Peebles | WrittenBy = Randall Wallace | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|10|14}} | Viewers=13.1<ref name="2.02">{{cite news |date=October 19, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306123175}}}}</ref> | Aux4=8.8/16<ref name="2.02"/> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 10 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Blind Justice | DirectedBy = Dennis Dugan | WrittenBy = Jack Bernstein | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|10|28}} | Viewers=11.7<ref name="2.04">{{cite news |date=November 2, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306129406}}}}</ref> | Aux4=8.3/15<ref name="2.04"/> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 11 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Papa Rozzi | DirectedBy = Randy Roberts | WrittenBy = Robert Bielak | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|11|4}} | Viewers=11.8<ref name="2.05">{{cite news |date=November 9, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306136856}}}}</ref> | Aux4=8.1/14<ref name="2.05"/> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 12 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = Ratman Can | DirectedBy = Dick Miller | WrittenBy = Randall Wallace | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|12|2}} | Viewers=12.8<ref name="2.06">{{cite news |date=December 7, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306146398}}}}</ref> | Aux4=9.0/15<ref name="2.06"/> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 13 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = Deuces Wild | DirectedBy = Bruce Kessler | WrittenBy = Stephen J. Cannell | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|12|9}} | Viewers=12.9<ref name="2.07">{{cite news |date=December 14, 1988 |title=Nielsen ratings |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306143538}}}}</ref> | Aux4=8.5/14<ref name="2.07"/> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 14 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Title = Diamonds Aren't Forever | DirectedBy = Bruce Kessler | WrittenBy = Jonathan Glassner | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1988|12|16}} | Viewers=14.7<ref name="2.08">{{cite news |date=December 21, 1988 |title=A very 'Brady' ratings hit |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |page=3D |id={{ProQuest|306159082}}}}</ref> | Aux4=9.2/16<ref name="2.08"/> | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 15 | EpisodeNumber2 = 8 | Title = The Final Exam | DirectedBy = | WrittenBy = | OriginalAirDate = Unaired | Viewers= | Aux4= | ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per WP:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. --> | LineColor = 9ae6e6 }} }}
==Production== ''Sonny Spoon'' began its run as a mid-season replacement in February 1988, and was renewed for a second season. It did not sustain its early momentum and was canceled in December 1988.
==Broadcast history== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Season !! Time slot (ET) |- | [[1987–88 United States network television schedule|1987–88]] || Friday at 10:00 pm |- | [[1988–89 United States network television schedule|1988–89]] || Friday at 8:00 pm <small>(Episodes 1–4)</small><br/>Friday at 9:00 pm <small>(Episodes 5–7)</small> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
'''Sources''' * Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, ''[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows]]''
==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=0094552}}
{{StephenJCannellshows}}
[[Category:1988 American television series debuts]] [[Category:1988 American television series endings]] [[Category:1980s American crime drama television series]] [[Category:English-language American television shows]] [[Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television]] [[Category:Television series by Stephen J. Cannell Productions]] [[Category:Television series by Universal Television]] [[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]] [[Category:NBC crime dramas]] [[Category:Long stubs with short prose]]
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