Three for the Road

This new Sunday night drama series gets a head-start with this 90-minute pilot. It's well-produced, well-intentioned show, which may prove a bit sentimental for the more callous viewer. Rugged Alex Rocco scores in the leading role as a photographer-father of two sons (Vincent Van Patten and Leif Garrett) who take to the road after the death of Rocco's wife. Rocco's believable-and-easygoing style is a plus, and the on-location footage is beautiful. Tht story involves a romance between Rocco and guest star Julie Sommars, who, alas, is doomed, but it's the relationship between Rocco and his boys that's the heartbeat of the series.

Pete Karras, assigned to photograph the dangers and joys of hang gliding, becomes intrigued with the sport, as does his youngest son Endy, but they are unaware that son John has a deep fear of heights that compels him to perform a dangerous experiment to prove he can overcome it. Despite his deep-rooted fear, John goes along with Pete and Endy in taking flight instructions from a hang-gliding pilot. Unexpectedly, John likes the beginner's lessons. However, he doesn't realize that the advanced stages of the sport entail flying off 200-foot cliffs. Torn between his attraction to a young girl named Shelley, and her challenge to hang glide the cliffs, John feels he must either face up to or run away from, his acrophobia.

While his father is shooting a photo layout for a sports magazine, John Karras almost defeats tennis star Tom Aberling in a pick-up match, but Tom's father (guest star Gary Lockwood) feels the nonchalant game could ruin his son's reputation. Realizing he is good enough at tennis to be a challenge to a professional, John decides to enter the tournament against Tom, only to discover foul play before the tournament ever begins.

While covering an exhibit showcasing the works of a recently deceased young artist, Peter receives a strange request from her twin sister: she wants him to photograph the ghost of the deceased woman, who is reportedly haunting the family estate.

Pete's long-time friend, a hot-air balloon pilot, has a drinking problem that prevents him from assisting with an advertising photo layout Pete is doing for a soft drink company.

A mysterious man with a gun is stalking the father of a young girl.

Pete's wartime buddy Dan Marshall undertakes daring exploits in a huge, dark, and treacherous cave, with an admiring John Karras following close behind.

A young girl hitchhiker causes chaos for Pete Karras and his sons when she and her boyfriend steal the Karras family's motor home.

A friendship develops between Endy Karras and a bitter, street-wise youth in a detention home.

Pete and his sons stop to help a young mother whose car has broken down but find themselves giving Patti Hardy and her son more than just a lift to the next city.

One of man's most puzzling mysteries is the subject of Pete's photo assignment when he sets out to find the elusive Bigfoot. Scientists and tourists from miles around have been drawn to a small community where daily sightings have been reported of ‘the Wildman of the forest,' better known as Bigfoot. Among the inquisitive are the Karrases, also hoping to find out if this strange phenomenon really exists.

Pete has been given the assignment to photograph the daughter of an international shipping magnate during her visit to Los Angeles. However, upon his arrival, he discovers that the job has been assigned to someone else, and there have been threats made against the young girl's life.

While working on a photo assignment at a guest ranch, Pete falls from his horse and is rushed to the hospital, leaving John to comfort young Endy through his fright and confusion.