Excellent but underrated film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

I was a TV junkie in the 70's and 80's, devouring as many of the shows and made-for-TV movies as I possibly could. Unfortunately, time has erased the total experience of some of these programs, and this is one of those cases. I can't recall each episode, no. But what I DO remember is that, despite the quality behind the show - and it was, if anything, well-produced - it still managed to elude the best part of the film which inspired it: the undeniable chemistry between the film's cast members. In the film, which I watched just yesterday (on cable), you really could believe this group of actors - and not just the character they're playing - had been best friends for years and years. THAT, in addition to solid writing and directing by Alan Alda, are what drove the film and turned it into such a success in theatres and on cable. Alas, three years down the road someone decided to turn it into a TV show and, with none of the leads from the film (save for Jack Weston), they came up with something forced, leaden, with a cast devoid of much chemistry. I've never been a fan of Tony Roberts and particularly remember him being a pretty sorry substitute for Alan Alda. Sad to say, unlike the network (which I believe was CBS), I gave up on this show just several episodes into its run. As it is, it seems to have lasted just half a season. Call it an end-of-'Season' clearance.