I'll Fly Away(1991)
Drama
First Air Date: 1991-10-07
Average Runtime: 1h 0m
Rating: 7.5
Votes: 6
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 39
I'll Fly Away is an American drama television series set during the late 1950s and early 1960s, in an unspecified Southern U.S. state. It aired on NBC from 1991 to 1993 and starred Regina Taylor as Lilly Harper, a black housekeeper for the family of district attorney Forrest Bedford, whose name is an ironic reference to Nathan Bedford Forrest, the founder of the Ku Klux Klan. As the show progressed, Lilly became increasingly involved in the Civil Rights Movement, with events eventually drawing in Forrest as well. I'll Fly Away won two 1992 Emmy Awards, and 23 nominations in total. It won three Humanitas Prizes, two Golden Globe Awards, two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Drama Series, and a Peabody Award. However, the series was never a ratings blockbuster, and it was canceled by NBC in 1993, despite widespread protests by critics and viewer organizations. After the program's cancellation, a two-hour movie, I'll Fly Away: Then and Now, was produced, in order to resolve dangling storylines from Season 2, and provide the series with a true finale. The movie aired on October 11, 1993 on PBS. Its major storyline closely paralleled the true story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi. Thereafter, PBS began airing repeats of the original episodes, ceasing after one complete showing of the entire series.
Keywords
southern usacivil rightsracismperiod dramahousekeeperdistrict attorney1950sdomestic worker
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
Episodes: 22E01
I'll Fly Away (Pilot)
Air Date: 1991-10-07
Lawyer Forrest Bedford struggles to raise a family amid the civil-rights strife of the 1958 South, aided by Lily, a l...
E02
The Hat
Air Date: 1991-10-08
When John Morgan loses his cowboy hat out of the car window, Lilly finds it—but then so does her daughter—-while ...
E03
Rules of the Game
Air Date: 1991-10-15
With Forrest away on a weekend hunting trip, womanhood takes aim at Francie, who feels utterly alone; while worries a...
E04
Amazing Grace
Air Date: 1991-10-22
As Forrest joins the race for attorney general, Lilly considers attending a voting-rights meetings, while Francie ele...
E05
All God's Children
Air Date: 1991-10-29
John Morgan is upset when he doesn't get to go to Lilly's birthday party; the wrestlers aren't celebrating Zollicofer...
E06
Beyond Here Dar Be Dragons
Air Date: 1991-11-05
On Halloween, the specter of the KKK haunts Christina as she's asked to investigate Prevtiss Carver's death. It also ...
E07
Parallel Lives
Air Date: 1991-11-19
Slocum wrestles with his conscience—-and with-–Evans as Zollicfer applies pressure over the brick-throwing incide...
E08
Coming Home
Air Date: 1991-11-26
Thanksgiving brings family—and conflict—home: Gwen's visit from the mental hospital knocks the stuffing out of th...
E09
Some Desperate Glory
Air Date: 1991-12-10
A game of checkers turns deadly serious for Nathan and Slocum; Lilly helps Francie, who's afraid she'll lay an egg si...
E10
Desire
Air Date: 1991-12-17
Lilly expresses a burning desire to divorce her absent husband; sparks fly between Nathan and a carnival worker; Forr...
E11
Alice Oakley Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Air Date: 1992-01-07
John Morgan makes up a tall tale about his absent mother joining the rodeo; as the trial approaches, Forrest lassos a...
E12
On the Road
Air Date: 1992-02-28
On a campaign swing, Forrest lobbies for the affections of a difficult Francie, while Lilly faces a difficult test re...
E13
Master Magician
Air Date: 1992-03-06
As Election Day nears, John Morgan plans a post-victory show, but Forrest isn't sure he can pull a win out of his hat...
E14
Hard Lessons
Air Date: 1992-03-13
Forrest faces a test in courage when some of the townsfolk decide to teach him a lesson; Nathan is eager to learn why...
E15
Cool Winter Blues
Air Date: 1992-03-20
An impromptu lunch-counter protest leads to a more serious demonstration; Lilly has to chew out John Morgan and an un...
E16
The Way Things Are
Air Date: 1992-03-27
Forrest is shocked when Rev. Henry's latest protest sparks Lilly to action; Nathan and Diane's status as a couple gen...
E17
Slow Dark Coming
Air Date: 1992-04-03
Diane's father tries to put a damper on her and Nathan's passions; racial tensions heat up with the department-store ...
E18
Toy Soldiers
Air Date: 1992-04-10
Not realizing how deep town sentiment runs, Lilly and Forrest learn fast after witnessing a police attack on black ch...
E19
The Kindness of Strangers
Air Date: 1992-04-24
Lilly finds herself in time with a visiting sax player; a frustrated Forrest wants someone to face the music about hi...
E20
Not Buried
Air Date: 1992-05-01
John Morgan tries to put to rest his guilt and fear over an elderly neighbor's passing; Forrest asks Christina to ste...
E21
A Dangerous Comfort
Air Date: 1992-05-15
Lilly feels no pain when she's with Clarence, but Lewis isn't as intoxicated by his presence; Christina faces her own...
E22
The Slightest Distance
Air Date: 1992-05-15
Forrest ponders an offer for a challenging job; Lilly tries to make peace between her father and Clarence, who asks h...
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