1 / 10
Cleavon Little's role as "Dr. Jerry Noland" was not originally intended for a black actor.
2 / 10
Actors such as Frankie Avalon and John Rubinstein were considered for the main character role before Cleavon Little.
3 / 10
Elizabeth Montgomery recommended Cleavon Little to her husband William Asher after seeing him in an episode of All in the Family.
4 / 10
Nancy Fox was also recommended to William Asher by Elizabeth Montgomery after spotting her in a toothpaste commercial.
5 / 10
Due to racial tensions, some ABC-affiliated stations in the southern and midwestern U.S. refused to air 'Temperatures Rising' or moved it to a different time slot.
6 / 10
The first season featured James Whitmore as the kind doctor, but in the second season, Paul Lynde took over as the lead character, and the series was retitled 'The New Temperatures Rising Show'.
7 / 10
The second season adopted a "black comedy" approach similar to the film 'The Hospital' and was plagued by poor ratings, leading to its hiatus after 13 episodes.
8 / 10
The third format of the series aired as a summer replacement in 1974, with Paul Lynde and Cleavon Little remaining while the supporting characters were dropped.
9 / 10
Alice Ghostley became a regular in the third format, playing the head nurse and Paul Lynde's sister, with William Asher returning as producer.
10 / 10
The series underwent yet another format change in July, with William Asher producing and a new supporting cast. This version reverted to the original title of Temperatures Rising but ran for only seven episodes before being permanently canceled.
'Temperature Rising', the medical sitcom experienced a series of transformations and challenges during its brief but eventful run from 1972 to 1974. From casting dilemmas to format changes, the show weathered a storm of alterations, including shifts in key characters and themes.
Join us as we delve into the behind-the-scenes drama, cast adjustments, and the evolution of this series, which sought to bring humor to the hospital ward.