July 20, 1982

Filming begins this week in the Gold Rush country of northern California for the first season of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," to be broadcast Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Starring in the series, which will be shot entirely on location, are Richard Dean Anderson, Roger Wilson, Peter Horton, Drake Hogestyn, Bryan Utman, Tim Topper, River Phoenix and Terri Treas.

David Gerber is executive producer, Christopher N. Seiter is executive production supervisor, James H. Brown producer on location and Richard Fielder producer in Los Angeles.

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is a David Gerber Company, Inc., production in association with MGM/UA Television.

August 6, 1982

Grammy Award-winning songwriter Jimmy Webb and veteran choreographer Carl Jablonski -- names not usually associated with dramatic television series -- will contribute their considerable talents to "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," a new family drama with music and dance which will premiere this fall on the CBS Television Network, according to executive producer David Gerber.

Webb will write an original song for every episode of the upcoming series, now filming on location in the Gold Rush country of northern California, and Jablonski will stage the musical numbers.

The series, which is not a "musical" as such -- and set in the present-day -- will introduce each episode's song at a key moment in the dramatic storyline. Most of the cast members have sung, and several have danced, professionally. To facilitate the complex procedure of matching music to film, the production company has constructed a recording studio on location.

Webb has written such hit songs as "Up, Up and Away," "Wichita Lineman," "MacArthur Park," "Didn't We," "Galveston" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," among others. The latter won a Grammy Award in 1968 as Song of the Year. Those songs combined have been recorded more than 300 times. In addition, Webb is a highly regarded arranger and producer, film music writer and solo recording artist, with six albums to his credit.

Jablonski has choreographed a wide range of television programs, including "The Suzanne Somers Special" broadcast last February on the Network; the two-hour "Love Boat" special seen last season; the motion picture-for-television "Sizzle," starring Loni Anderson, and specials for Bob Hope, Loretta Lynn, Marie Osmond and Perry Como, among others.

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is a David Gerber Production in association with MGM/UA Television. James H. Brown is the producer.

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