Coming of Age

1 9 8 8 – 1 9 8 9 (USA)
15 x 30 minute episodes

Dick Hale (Paul Dooley) was an airline pilot forced into an unwanted retirement at 60 by company policy. He and his wife Ginny (Phyllis Newman) moved to The Dunes, an Arizona retirement community (owned by the Walnut Corporation), to begin a new life in Condo 7C.

Ginny had a positive outlook, but grumpy Dick found it difficult to adjust. He didn’t like retirement, he didn’t like the climate, he didn’t like condescending young Brian Binker (Kevin Pollak), who managed The Dunes, and he wasn’t particularly fond of many of his fellow residents.

Their next-door neighbours at Condo 9C were perpetually perky retired chiropractor Ed Pepper (Alan Young) and his wife Trudie (Glynis Johns) –  and the walls between the apartments were so thin you could hear right through them.

Ed was president of the community’s Duffer’s Club, Lapidary Club and the Floating Tanner’s Club. Dick headed up the Residents’ Association.

Trudie and Ginny were members of the Theater Club, but only the plays Oklahoma and Paint Your Wagon could be staged because of the limited backdrops at the Dunes.

Among the other regulars were Wilma (Lenore Woodward), who worked in the management office, and Pauline (Ruta Lee), The Dunes’ resident sexpot, who was nicknamed “The Black Widow” for her knack for marrying and burying husbands.

Cindy Krainik (Nada Despotovich) was Dick and Ginny’s married daughter; Tom (Jim Dougham) was Cindy’s husband, and Nancy (Taylor Fry) and Scott (Jarrett Lennon) were their children. Red Pepper (Van Johnson) was Ed’s brother.

Coming of Age was an unmitigated disaster and was pulled from the CBS schedule after only three weeks. It was given two more chances and failed to last more than a month in each outing.

Dick Hale
Paul Dooley
Ginny Hale
Phyllis Newman
Dr Edward “Ed” Pepper
Alan Young
Trudie Pepper
Glynis Johns
Brian Brinker
Kevin Pollak
Pauline Spencer
Ruta Lee
Wilma Salzgaber
Lenore Woodward

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