Honestly Celeste

1 9 5 4 (USA)
8 x 30 minute episodes

This show replaced The Man Behind the Badge on the CBS schedule on 10 October 1954.

Celeste Holm played Celeste Anders, a former Minnesota college journalism professor who sought some real-life journalism experience, and took a job at an east coast newspaper called The New York Express.

She rented an apartment in Greenwich Village and instantly garnered the attention of the newspaper publisher’s son, Bob Wallace (Scott McKay). The two quickly became an item.

Bob’s father, Mr Wallace, was played by Geoffrey Lumb; Mary Finney played Mary, Mr Wallace’s secretary; and Mike Kellin played cabbie Marty Gordon, who had recently been released from prison.

Celeste and Marty became friends from the moment she arrived at Grand Central Station.

Ratings troubles came quickly for this show, and so writers Larry Gelbart and Hal Collins were replaced by Ed Simmons and up-and-coming Norman Lear. That didn’t help very much and the show disappeared after only eight episodes on 5 December 1954.

Celeste Holm died on 15 July 2012 at the age of 95.

Celeste Anders
Celeste Holm
Bob Wallace
Scott McKay
Mr Wallace
Geoffrey Lumb
Mary
Mary Finney
Marty Gordon
Mike Kellin