MARCUS WELBY M.D.

An ABC Movie Of The Week on March 26, 1969 would launch a very successful series for the ABC network. It would serve as a pilot for the great medical drama called Marcus Welby, M.D.
Starring Robert Young as a gentile family doctor with his young good looking partner Steven Kiley (James Brolin) the duo drew audiences from all age groups.
An interesting twist in the show was the fact that Marcus Welby, the older doc, was the “out of the box” thinker while James Brolin’s younger character was the “by the book” guy.
The show tackled many medical “touchy” topics including impotence, depression, brain damage, venereal diseases, rape and breast cancer. It’s “smart” writing sent it to number one in the 1970-71 season. It was the first number one for the ABC television network.
That same year Robert Young AND James Brolin won Emmys. The show won the same year for Outstanding Dramatic Series.
But by the mid 70’s the ratings began to fall off and it was cancelled in 1976 after 169 episodes. Another classic TV series for the record books!