The bizarre TV series Tom Hanks was obsessed with: “It was a very odd television show”
Even if you were the most casual movie-goer in the 1990s, you still would’ve found yourself in a dark movie theatre on at least one occasion with Tom Hanks’ face illuminated on the screen in front of you. He appeared in everything from family-friendly comedies to emotionally devastating dramas, becoming an American icon in the process. Whether you were charmed by his down-to-earth persona or were sick of seeing him everywhere, it’s hard to deny the monopoly Hanks seemed to have over Hollywood during this time.
Winning two ‘Best Actor’ Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump in 1993 and 1994, respectively, Hanks became known for being a movie star, but it is sometimes easy to forget that he has appeared in quite a few television shows, too. Before Hanks received his big break from appearing in movies like Splash, Big, The Money Pit, and Dragnet, he starred in several television shows, starting with The Love Boat. However, he landed a regular role in Bosom Buddies between 1980 and 1982, starring in 37 episodes.
After appearing in episodes of shows like Happy Days and Family Ties, he started to earn more movie roles, only occasionally appearing on television over the coming years. In 2001, he co-created Band of Brothers with Steven Spielberg, which felt like a natural collaboration following the success of Saving Private Ryan a few years earlier. The show gave many up-and-coming stars roles, like James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Simon Pegg, and Tom Hardy.
So, while Hanks might be considerably more accomplished in the world of cinema, like most people, he loves to get lost in a good television show. In an interview on NPR’s radio show Fresh Air, the actor revealed the “odd” show he once became rather obsessed with. Hanks explained his love for the ‘60s adventure series Then Came Bronson, stating, “It was on for one year. It starred Michael Parks as an iconoclastic reporter who gives up everything and rides across the country on a motorcycle. It was like a one-man version of Route 66.”
The show aired in 1967 and emerged at a time when motorcycle-themed media exploring themes of disillusionment, anti-establishment, and the need for freedom were incredibly popular. Bronson, played by Parks, decides to quit his job after his best friend commits suicide, leading him on a one-man journey across the United States. The character proves to be an important figure in many people’s lives as he meets a variety of individuals on his travels, many of whom live completely different lives to him.
Hanks added, “It was a very odd television show that was on for one season on NBC, and I just thought it was the hippest thing in the world because sometimes there’d be no dialogue in one of the shows. It was not like an episode of Mannix or Medical Center or Gunsmoke. It was something else.”
The show was short-lived, but for Hanks, it had enough of an impact to leave a lasting impression on him.
