ShelleyHack: 40th Anniversary of Jack and Mike

Shelley with Tom Mason in a promo pic

for their 1986 TV series Jack and Mike

Series Overview:

HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY!!! September 16 is the 40th Anniversary of Shelley's third TV series, Jack and Mike. In the mid-1980s, Emmy winning TV producer David Gerber believed that Shelley Hack deserved her own TV series. He believed in her talent and star power. The series developed for her was called Jackie O'Shea and it was going to be a star vehicle for Shelley. She was going to play the title role of a woman journalist who has a supportive husband waiting at home - kind of like a reverse gender role thing, which was a fresh idea in the 1980s. Tom Mason, who played Shelley's boyfriend in the 1985 TV movie Kicks, was offered the role of Mike Brennan, Jackie's husband. He and Shelley had great on-screen chemistry. Initially, Tom Mason turned down the role as it was merely window dressing for the title character - a sort of stay-at-home cheerleader for Jackie. But after lots of talks with David Gerber, the husband was developed into a more well-rounded character... and Tom Mason was on board. The series was then retitled Our Kind of Town. When it aired, it was again retitled Jack and Mike, with both Shelley and Tom given equal billing.

In an interview, Shelley said, "It's about a modern woman who is doing something her contemporaries are doing - holding down a job and keeping a relationship." She added, "This is a couple with a growing relationship that becomes an adventure. And that's not easy." Tom Mason said that the focus of the show was "on the marriage and how two people who work cope and how their professional entanglements affect them."

screen captures of the opening credits

of Jack and Mike, 1986

Original Series Run:

In the series, Shelley played Jackie Shea, a star columnist at The Mirror, a widely-circulated Chicago paper. Her column was awaited by everyone every week. Tom Mason played Jackie's husband Mike Brennan, a successful restaurateur about to open his third restaurant. Hence, the title Jack and Mike. The other regular characters were: Nora Adler (played by Jacqueline Brookes), Jackie’s editor at The Mirror; Anthony Kubecek (played by Kevin Dunn), Jackie's assistant; Carol (played by Holly Fulger), the head waitress at Mike's restaurant, Brennan's Grill; and Rick Scotti (played by Vincent Baggetta), an attorney who appeared occasionally. Later in the series, Barbara (played by Tricia O'Neil) becomes Jackie’s co-worker and friend.

The pilot episode was originally aired in September 16, 1986 right after the hit TV series Moonlighting; and debuted to decent ratings. It also received decent reviews, with a few scathing writeups here and there. One critic said Shelley and Tom were "terrific as a modern, married couple attempting to mix the opening of his new restaurant, her journalism career and their marriage," and compared Jack and Mike to Nick and Nora, saying it was "a charming mix of The Thin Man (a 1934 film starring William Powell and Myrna Loy) mystery and conflict." Another critic said, "Rather than becoming a pale copy of the more popular Moonlighting, Jack and Mike developed its own character and style and became an endearing companion piece to Moonlighting." Even detractors grudgingly admitted that Shelley Hack and Tom Mason were very good in the show. After a first order of a pilot and 12 episodes, the ABC network (which aired the series) ordered more episodes; and the series looked like it was in for a long run. Then, it was suddenly canceled to the disappointment of fans, with the final episode aired on Mar 24, 1987.

In 2023, the Cracked website listed Jack and Mike as one of the Great Chicago Dramadies. It said that following the success of the TV series Moonlighting (starring blonde Cybill Shepherd and brown-haired Bruce Willis), the ABC network greenlit the hour-long dramady Jack and Mike which was about another blonde woman (Shelley Hack as Jack/Jackie) and her brown-haired husband (Tom Mason as Mike), but with a twist... they liked each other. The idea of having a show that showcased a happy couple was revolutionary for the time, for that pre-Mad-About-You time (Mad About You, a TV series that starred Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser, debuted in 1992).

Let's hope Jack and Mike is finally released on Blu-Ray or DVD or is finally featured on one of the streaming platforms.

Series Episodes:

(and air dates)

1. Jack and Mike (pilot episode)

(aired Sept 16, 1986)

screen captures from the pilot episode,

"Jack and Mike"

guests:

Gary Cole as Chris Sykes

Rosalind Chao as Holly Sykes

Carol Eve Rossen as Charlotte Branigan

Dawn Arnemann as Ann Pulaski

Dennis Farina as Councilman Kazan

Ann Dowd as Rose Panico

plot:

Jackie is a popular Chicago columnist and her husband Mike is a successful restaurateur. They are the toast of Chicago until Jackie becomes involved in a case where a man claims he has been unjustly convicted of rape. Jackie goes out to find the real rapist and, with the help of Mike, uncovers a corruption scheme that goes to the highest of government ranks.

2. Change of Heart

(aired Sept 23, 1986)

screen captures from episode 2,

"Change of Heart"

guests:

James Sloyan as Louie

Byrne Piven as Nelson Kimball

plot:

Jackie suspects a heart-transplant patient may have been passed over on the operating list for a man who donated a new wing to the hospital. Meanwhile, an old musician friend of Mike's makes himself an unwelcome house guest.

3. Personal Foul

(aired Sept 30, 1986)

screen captures from episode 3,

"Personal Foul"

guests:

Anthony Griffin as Andrew Taylor

Marleen Paulette as Professor Powell

Greg Noonan as Coach Cyril Brock

Noelle Bou-Sliman as Belinda

Jack McLaughlin-Gray as Ben Galloway

Gwen E. Davis as Mrs. Taylor

plot:

A college professor is suspended for trying to flunk the school's star basketball player, and Mike is upset that Jackie's covering the story, since it's his alma mater and he's the team's No. 1 supporter.

4. Ready or Not

(aired Oct 21, 1986)

screen captures from episode 4,

"Ready or Not"

guests:

Steven Keats as Matthew Pearson

William Dick as Gil Taffet

Isabella Hofmann as Dede Taffet

Gerry Becker as Jerry

Jim Ortlieb as Bob

plot:

Jackie finds out she's pregnant just as a radical who's been a fugitive for 14 years agrees to sell her the exclusive rights to his story. He's hoping that publicity will lead to his exoneration.

5. Quality of Mercy

(aired Oct 28, 1986)

screen captures from episode 5,

"Quality of Mercy"

guests:

Stuart Whitman as Malcolm Travis

Lara Flynn Boyle as Leslie

Tom Irwin as Hogan

plot:

Mike's friend is on trial for killing his terminally ill wife, which he contends was a mercy killing, but Jackie doesn't believe the man's story.

6. High Anxiety

(aired Nov 11, 1986)

screen captures from episode 6,

"High Anxiety"

guests:

John Scott Clough as Ben

Lycia Naff as Sam/Samantha

Lew Schneider as Noah

Noelle Bou-Sliman as Belinda

Ross Salinger as Andy

Bobbi Panter as Bobby

E.J. Murray, Jr as Lucia de las Rosas

James Kall as Kenny

plot:

A promising young comedian dies of a suspected cocaine overdose behind Mike's restaurant, and Mike blames himself for not being tougher on the kid when he caught him snorting. Jackie tries to convince a graffiti artist to go legit.

7. Cry Uncle

(aired Nov 18, 1986)

screen captures from episode 7,

"Cry Uncle"

guests:

Chris O'Donnell as Evan

Carol Potter as Kathleen

Al Nuti as Brian Moore

plot:

Jackie and Mike find themselves in the role of parents when Mike's separated sister abandons her 15-year-old boy to their care. They discover that the boy is actually a missing child being sought by his father.

8. Mentor

(aired Nov 25, 1986)

promo pics from episode 8,

"Mentor"

guests:

Jack Bannon as college teacher/journalist

Vince Viverito as Stan Danzig

Marcella Tate as Amy

plot:

A famous journalist and former college teacher that Jackie greatly admires is cited for contempt of court when he refuses to reveal his sources to a grand jury. Meanwhile, Mike agrees to be a judge in a local beauty competition.

9. Taste of Chicago

(aired Dec 9, 1986)

screen captures from episode 9,

"Taste of Chicago"

guests:

Cesare Danova as Jake Tompkins

Harry Gorsuch as Manny Pinero

Ernie Winstanley as Artie

plot:

Jackie gets an exclusive interview with a gangster released from prison after 30 years. Meanwhile, the mayor's office makes Mike an offer he can't refuse, chairman of the city's annual restaurant festival.

10. Separate Lives

(aired Jan 6, 1987)

the 1st of two parts

screen captures from episode 10,

"Separate Lives"

guests:

Rosemarie Thomas as Alex

Tricia O'Neil as Barbara (new series regular)

plot:

Jackie is offered a TV job in New York City: and Mike is unhappy that Jackie is interviewing for the job. Mike is expanding his business with a restaurant franchise on the West Coast; and Jackie is upset about it.

11. Come Together

(aired Jan 13, 1987)

the 2nd of two parts

screen captures from episode 11,

"Come Together"

guests:

Tricia O'Neil as Barbara

plot:

Jackie and Mike find it difficult to cope after their separation, especially since the news of their breakup became public. Mike tries hard to hide his financial woes from Jackie, who endures their separation by playing matchmaker for Barbara and Scotti.

12. Charity Ball

(aired Jan 20, 1987)

screen captures from episode 12,

"Charity Ball"

guests:

Mary Ann Burger as Constance

Richard Baird as Cassidy

Tom Towles as Maxie

plot:

Jackie, Mike, a chaperone-service owner and an unscrupulous local politician help raise funds to build a shelter for abused children. Jackie is puzzled by the odd behavior of a wealthy sorority sister. Mike contemplates his own mortality after a contemporary dies of a heart attack.

13. Till Death Do Us Part

(aired Feb 3, 1987)

screen captures from episode 13,

"Till Death Do Us Part"

guests:

Valerie Mahaffey as Colleen

John Mueller as Durbin

Chelsie Ross as Polaski

plot:

Jackie is against Mike getting a shotgun for protection. But when a prowler begins stalking their neighborhood and she suddenly starts receiving attention from a psychotic secret admirer who keeps calling her, Jackie changes her mind.

14. Fire and Ice

(aired Feb 24, 1987)

screen captures from episode 14,

"Fire and Ice"

guests:

Joe Regalbuto as Vaander

Terry Green as Damion

Jack Callahan as Barrett

plot:

A notorious mobster attempts to coerce Mike into a partnership in Mike's restaurant business... he plans use the restaurant as a base for a money-laundering operation. Mike agrees to help Federal agents nab the drug kingpin.

15. Light My Fire

(aired Mar 3, 1987)

screen captures from episode 15,

"Light My Fire"

guests:

Jeremy Slate as Max

Joel Bailey as Reid

Tricia O'Neil as Barbara

plot:

A former '60s activist throws a theme party at Mike's restaurant where a time capsule is scheduled to be opened prematurely. Mike isn't the only anxious person who put something inside figuring it wouldn't be seen for a hundred years. The time capsule opening shocks the party-goers.

16. Spirits in the Night

(aired Mar 10, 1987)

screen captures from episode 16,

"Spirits in the Night"

guests:

Beatrice Straight as Mike's mother

James Green as Mike's father

Mills Watson as Max Firestone

plot:

Mike has to put his mother up and bail his alcoholic father out of jail. Meanwhile, Jackie adjusts to a hard-nosed new editor.

17. Dreamland

(aired Mar 17, 1987)

a description of episode 17,

"Dreamland"

guests:

Harry Groener as Johnson

Fern Persons as Elsie

Alex Sopenar as Barney

Dorothy Hutton as Alice

plot:

Jackie looks into a dance studio (Dreamland) which is allegedly swindling elderly women out of their life savings. A city inspector pressures Mike to make Jackie drop her probe. Meanwhile, Mike faces building-code violations for his restaurant.

18. Reluctant Hero

(aired Mar 24, 1987)

screen captures from episode 18,

"Reluctant Hero"

guests:

Steve Marachuk as Stevens

Bert Remsen as Dalton

Meg Thalken as Rachel

plot:

Jackie tries to identify a mystery man who saved a boy's life but doesn't want anything, especially publicity, for what he did. Jackie blows the cover. Meanwhile, Mike befriends a street bum who gives him investment tips and demonstrates considerable expertise in trading commodities.

Airdates: