| Based On: | Freebie and the Bean |
| Starring: | Héctor Elizondo Tom Mason |
| Composer: | Dominic Frontiere |
| Num Episodes: | 9 (2 unaired) |
| Producer: | Norman Jolley Robert Sherman |
| Cinematography: | Ric Waite |
| Runtime: | 60 minutes |
| Company: | Warner Bros. Television |
Freebie and the Bean was an American action comedy television series about two off-beat plainclothes[1] police detectives in San Francisco. Based on the 1974 film of the same name,[2] [3] it starred Tom Mason and Héctor Elizondo in the title roles and was broadcast on CBS on Saturday nights at 9:00 PM[4] in December 1980 and January 1981.[5] [6]
The show ran opposite The Love Boat, which overshadowed it in viewer polls.[10] In their book The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present, authors Tim Brooks and Earle F. Marsh write, "Unfortunately this series was such as mishmash of comedy and drama, slapstick and reality, that it soon sank without a trace. The fact that it was scheduled opposite ABC's The Love Boat-which had no trouble defining what it wanted to be-probably didn't help."[4]