# I'll Fly Away (TV series)

I'll Fly Away is an American television drama series that aired on NBC from October 7, 1991, to February 5, 1993. Set during the late 1950s and early 1960s, in an unspecified Southern U.S. state, it stars Regina Taylor as Lilly Harper, a Black housekeeper for the family of district attorney Forrest Bedford, played by Sam Waterston (the character's name is a twist on the name of Confederate Army General Nathan Bedford Forrest, an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan). As the show progresses, Lilly becomes increasingly involved in the Civil Rights Movement, which eventually pulls in her employer as well.

## Overview

I'll Fly Away won two 1992 Emmy Awards (Eric Laneuville for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Drama Series for the episode "All God's Children", and for series creators Joshua Brand and John Falsey for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Miniseries or a Special), 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 cancelled by NBC in 1993, despite widespread protests by critics and viewer organizations.
After the program's cancellation, a two-hour film, I'll Fly Away: Then and Now, was produced, to resolve dangling storylines from season two, 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 through 1995. The series also aired on PAX.
The series takes its name from a Christian hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley.
In 1999, TV Guide ranked Lilly Harper number 15 on its list of 50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time. In 2013 it ranked the series #9 on their list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".

## Cast
### Regular cast

| Actor | Character | Seasons | Seasons | Seasons |
| Actor | Character | 1 | 2 | Then and Now |
| Sam Waterston | Forrest Bedford | Main | Main | Main |
| Regina Taylor | Lilly Harper | Main | Main | Main |
| Jeremy London | Nathaniel "Nathan" Bedford | Main | Main | |
| Jason London | Nathaniel "Nathan" Bedford | | | Main |
| Ashlee Levitch | Francie Bedford | Main | Main | Main |
| John Aaron Bennett | John Morgan Bedford | Main | Main | Main |
| Kathryn Harrold | Christina LeKatzis | Main | Main | |
| Peter Simmons | Paul Slocum | Recurring | Main | Main |
| Bill Cobbs | Lewis Coleman | Recurring | Recurring | Main |
| Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly | Adlaine Harper | Recurring | Recurring | Recurring |
| Brad Sullivan | Coach Zollicofer Weed | Recurring | Recurring | |

### Recurring cast

* Mary Alice as Marguerite Peck
* Wayne Brady as Damon Rollins
* Roger Aaron Brown as Reverend Henry
* Cara Buono as Diane Lowe
* Vondie Curtis-Hall as Joe Clay and Howard Yearwood
* Michael Dolan as Francis Vawter
* Ed Grady as Judge Lake Stevens
* Dorian Harewood as Clarence "Cool Papa" Charleston
* Deborah Hedwall as Gwen Bedford
* Tommy Hollis as Oscar Wilson
* Rebecca Koon as Eileen Slocum
* Elizabeth Omilami as Joelyn
* Scott Paulin as Tucker Anderson
* Harold Perrineau as Robert Evans
* Amy Ryan as Parky Sasser
* Sonny Shroyer as Bobby Slocum
* N'Bushe Wright as Claudia Bishop

## Setting

The series takes place in the fictional town of Bryland, in fictional Bryland County.
The state in which Bryland is located is never specified. At various points, the District of Columbia and these Southern states were mentioned in ways that eliminate them as possible settings: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Mentions of "counties" in the state eliminate Louisiana, which instead has parishes.
In "Freedom Bus", Forrest Bedford is described as a new U.S. Attorney "in the Fifth District", presumably a reference to the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the federal court system. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Fifth Circuit comprised Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and the Panama Canal Zone. Because the first five states listed can be eliminated on the basis of statements made by characters throughout the series, the likeliest setting for the series is Georgia.

## Episodes
### Season 1 (1991–1992)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Joshua Brand | Joshua Brand & John Falsey | October 7, 1991 (1991-10-07) |
| Lilly is hired as the Bedfords' housekeeper as Forrest prosecutes a white man for a bus accident that killed three black people and John Morgan deals with his mother being in the hospital. ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Hat" | John David Coles | David Chase | October 8, 1991 (1991-10-08) |
| John Morgan's lost cowboy hat is found by Adlaine, while Forrest deals with verbal assault in a beating case arising from the demonstration. ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Rules of the Game" | Jack Bender | Barbara Hall | October 15, 1991 (1991-10-15) |
| Francie faces womanhood while Forrest is on a hunting trip and John Morgan grows worried over an errant arrow. ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Amazing Grace" | Kevin Rodney Sullivan | Henry Bromell | October 22, 1991 (1991-10-22) |
| Forrest joins the race for attorney general while Lilly considers going to a voting-rights meeting and Francie has writer's block. ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "All God's Children" | Eric Laneuville | Judi Ann Mason | October 29, 1991 (1991-10-29) |
| John Morgan is disappointed at not being invited to Lilly's party, while Forrest comes to realize that running for office will not be so easy. ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Beyond Here Dar Be Dragons" | Eugene Corr | Josef Anderson | November 5, 1991 (1991-11-05) |
| Christina and John Morgan are each haunted by the memories of the Ku Klux Klan. ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Parallel Lives" | Michael Fresco | Stuart Stevens | November 19, 1991 (1991-11-19) |
| Slocum and Evans clash over the brick-throwing incident, while Lewis wishes to relive his time in the Negro leagues. ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Coming Home" | Mark Sobel | Kevin Arkadie | November 26, 1991 (1991-11-26) |
| The Bedfords are propelled into conflict at Thanksgiving when Gwen visits and Lilly's brother returns from the North. ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Some Desperate Glory" | Ian Sander | Barbara Hall | December 10, 1991 (1991-12-10) |
| Nathan and Slocum compete in a game of chicken, while Francie turns to Lilly for help in singing at the church benefit. ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Desire" | Aaron Lipstadt | Henry Bromell and Judi Ann Mason | December 17, 1991 (1991-12-17) |
| As Lilly plans to divorce her husband, Nathan comes into conflict with a carnival worker and Forrest makes things for him worse when he arrests an upstanding citizen in the McDaniel murder case. ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Alice Oakley Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | Jack Bender | Josef Anderson | January 7, 1992 (1992-01-07) |
| John Morgan makes up a story about his mother joining the rodeo, while Forrest finds a witness and Slocum's father kicks him out of the house. ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "On the Road" | Barbara Amato | Frank Dandrolf | February 28, 1992 (1992-02-28) |
| Forrest lobbies for Francie's affections on his campaign trail, while Lilly tries registering to vote. ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Master Magician" | Eric Laneuville | David Chase | March 6, 1992 (1992-03-06) |
| John Morgan plans a postvictory magic show for Forrest, while Lilly considers the possibility that the gains earned by casting a vote could just be an illusion. ||||||
| 14 | 14 | "Hard Lessons" | Jack Bender | Barbara Hall | March 13, 1992 (1992-03-13) |
| The townspeople decide to teach Forrest a lesson, while Nathan wants to know the reason behind Forrest and Lake's falling-out. ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Cool Winter Blues" | Joe Napolitano | Judi Ann Mason | March 20, 1992 (1992-03-20) |
| As the demonstration gets serious due to an impromptu protest, Lilly betrays John Morgan and Nathan discovers a stunning truth about his girlfriend. ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "The Way Things Are" | Roy Campanella II | Henry Bromell | March 27, 1992 (1992-03-27) |
| As Lilly takes action due to Rev. Henry's latest protest, Nathan and Diane's status as a couple creates rather harsh comments and John Morgan fiddles with electricity. ||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Slow Dark Coming" | Michael Fresco | Karen Hall | April 3, 1992 (1992-04-03) |
| Diane's parents try to end her relationship with Nathan, while racial tensions rise with the department store boycott. ||||||
| 18 | 18 | "Toy Soldiers" | Michael Katleman | Marc Rubin | April 10, 1992 (1992-04-10) |
| As Lilly and Forrest witness police officers assaulting black children, Tucker sets his sights on a campaign worker. ||||||
| 19 | 19 | "The Kindness of Strangers" | Bruce Seth Green | Barbara Hall and Henry Bromell | April 24, 1992 (1992-04-24) |
| Forrest wants someone to pay for his incompetent opponent in a murder trial, while Lilly falls for a saxophone player and is glad to see Zollicofer. ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "Not Buried" | David Chase | David Chase | May 1, 1992 (1992-05-01) |
| As John Morgan tries to ease his guilt over the passing of an elderly neighbor, Forrest asks Christina to defend a black man accused of murder. ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "A Dangerous Comfort" | Michael Fresco | Barbara Hall and Henry Bromell | May 15, 1992 (1992-05-15) |
| A triangle develops between Lilly, Clarence and Lewis, while Christina faces her demons in helping Tucker face his. ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "The Slightest Distance" | Ian Sander | Paul Margolis | May 15, 1992 (1992-05-15) |
| As Lilly attempts to make peace between her father and Clarence, Nathan sees something he soon regrets. ||||||

### Season 2 (1992–1993)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
| 23 | 1 | "Hello and Goodbye" | Jack Bender | Barbara Hall | September 25, 1992 (1992-09-25) |
| As Lilly tries to respond to Clarence's proposal, Forrest decides to accept the job of U.S. attorney, despite Nathan confronting him about his affair with Christina. ||||||
| 24 | 2 | "Ruler of My Heart" | Michael Fresco | Kevin Arkadie | October 2, 1992 (1992-10-02) |
| The FBI questions Lilly, while Forrest receives news that Gwen may be coming home and Francie throws a party. ||||||
| 25 | 3 | "All in the Life" | Ian Sander | Henry Bromell | October 9, 1992 (1992-10-09) |
| As Forrest is forced to tell his children the bad news about Gwen on his first day as U.S. attorney, Slocum learns that Parkie could be pregnant. ||||||
| 26 | 4 | "Until Tomorrow" | Eric Laneuville | Henry Bromell | October 16, 1992 (1992-10-16) |
| The Bedfords mourn a friend's death, while Lewis takes Adlaine to a meeting. ||||||
| 27 | 5 | "Desperate Measures" | Allan Arkush | Barbara Hall | October 30, 1992 (1992-10-30) |
| Rev. Henry convinces Forrest to get involved in the trial of the men accused of killing Col. Launders. ||||||
| 28 | 6 | "Freedom Bus" | Michael Katleman | Rogers Turrentine | November 6, 1992 (1992-11-06) |
| One of a group of visiting Freedom Riders stays with Lilly, while Nathan takes his driving test. ||||||
| 29 | 7 | "Eighteen" | David Chase | David Chase | November 13, 1992 (1992-11-13) |
| Slocum takes a trip to a brothel with Nathan before proposing to Parkie, while Lily asks Forrest for a raise. ||||||
| 30 | 8 | "Fragile Truths" | Jack Bender | Karen Hall | November 20, 1992 (1992-11-20) |
| Slocum seeks legal advice from Forrest when the police interrogate him and Lilly clashes with her cousin. ||||||
| 31 | 9 | "Since Walter" | Sam Waterston | Lynn Siefert | November 27, 1992 (1992-11-27) |
| Just as Frankie discovers there was a third man in Col. Landers' murder, Slocum's trial begins and Lilly's ex-husband arrives in town. ||||||
| 32 | 10 | "The Third Man" | Kevin Hooks | Lonne Elder | December 11, 1992 (1992-12-11) |
| As Slocum's trial comes to an end, Lilly falls for a porter and Forrest faces the third man involved in the murder of Col. Landers. ||||||
| 33 | 11 | "Comfort and Joy" | Scott Paulin | Barbara Hall | December 11, 1992 (1992-12-11) |
| At Christmastime, Lilly is beaten by an opponent of the Freedom Riders, the Bedfords attend a Christmas party at Christina's and Slocum finds holiday cheer in a most unlikely place ||||||
| 34 | 12 | "Realpolitik" | Allan Arkush | Henry Bromell and Kevin Arkadie | January 8, 1993 (1993-01-08) |
| While Lilly becomes the leader of a boycott, Forrest debates dropping the Landers case as his relationship with Christina gets worse. ||||||
| 35 | 13 | "Small Wishes" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Dee Johnson | January 15, 1993 (1993-01-15) |
| Nathan gets arrested for possessing drugs, while the Landers trial comes to a close and John Morgan grows jealous of Lilly and Joe's relationship. ||||||
| 36 | 14 | "What's in a Name?" | James A. Contner | Marjorie David | January 22, 1993 (1993-01-22) |
| As Forrest finds himself being followed, Nathan starts to feel pressure over his relationship with Claudia and Lilly tries to get an old woman registered to vote. ||||||
| 37 | 15 | "Commencement" | Jack Bender | Rogers Turrentine | January 29, 1993 (1993-01-29) |
| Lilly tries to study for her high-school finals, while Forrest informs Christina he's being followed and a group of students set up a sit-in. ||||||
| 38 | 16 | "State" | Ian Sander | Josef Anderson | February 5, 1993 (1993-02-05) |
| Joe considers becoming a teacher for the new school, while Nathan unwillingly goes to a college interview arranged by Forrest. ||||||

## TV film

| Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
| "Then and Now" | Ian Sander | John Falsey | October 11, 1993 (1993-10-11) |
| In 1993, Lilly tells her 12-year-old grandson about a terrible incident that occurred during her last days as the Bedfords' housekeeper. ||||

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 1992 | American Cinema Editors' Eddie Award | Best Edited Episode from a Television Series | David Rosenbloom and Karen I. Stern (For the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1992 | American Society of Cinematographers Award | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/Pilots | William Wages | Nominated |
| 1993 | American Television Awards | Best Dramatic Series | | Won |
| 1993 | American Television Awards | Best Actor, Dramatic Series | Sam Waterston | Won |
| 1993 | American Television Awards | Best Actress, Dramatic Series | Regina Taylor | Won |
| 1993 | Casting Society of America's Artios Award | Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Episodic | Theodore S. Hann and Jay Binder | Nominated |
| 1992 | Directors Guild of America Award | Outstanding Directing – Drama Series | Eric Laneuville (For episode "All God's Children") | Won |
| 1993 | Directors Guild of America Award | Outstanding Directing – Drama Series | Roy Campanella II (For episode "The Way Things Are") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Golden Globe Award | Best Television Series – Drama | | Nominated |
| 1992 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Sam Waterston | Nominated |
| 1993 | Golden Globe Award | Best Television Series – Drama | | Nominated |
| 1993 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Sam Waterston | Won |
| 1993 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Regina Taylor | Won |
| 1992 | Humanitas Prize | 60 Minute Category | Henry Bromell | Won |
| 1992 | Humanitas Prize | 60 Minute Category | Kevin Arkadie (For episode "Coming Home") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Humanitas Prize | 90 Minute Category | Joshua Brand and John Falsey (For the pilot episode) | Won |
| 1993 | Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Award | Best Sound Editing – Television Episodic – Effects & Foley | Mace Matiosian | Won |
| 1994 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Television Movie | | Won |
| 1994 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Miniseries or Television Movie | Dorian Harewood | Won |
| 1995 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Drama Series | | Won |
| 1995 | NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Regina Taylor | Won |
| 1991 | Peabody Award | | Brand-Falsey Productions | Won |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Drama Series | Joshua Brand, David Chase, John Falsey, Barbara Hall, John Forrest Niss and Ian Sander | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Joshua Brand, John Falsey, John Forrest Niss and Ian Sander (For the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Sam Waterston | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Regina Taylor | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Mary Alice | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | David Chase (For episode "Master Magician") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Joshua Brand and John Falsey (For the pilot episode) | Won |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Eric Laneuville (For episode "All God's Children") | Won |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Joshua Brand (For the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Main Title Theme Music | W.G. Snuffy Walden | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special – Single-Camera Production | David Rosenbloom and Karen I. Stern (For the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costumes for a Series | Tom McKinley (For episode "The Slightest Distance") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Mina Mittelman (For the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special | James Hulsey and Joseph Litsch (For the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Peter Austin, Peter Bergren, John Bonds, Joe Earle, Frank Fuller, Gary Gelfand, Michael Gutierrez, Jim Hebenstreit, H. Jay Levine, Albert Lord, Bruce Michaels, Brian Thomas Nist, Ralph Osborn, Allan K. Rosen, Matthew Sawelson, Adam Sawelson, Richard Taylor, Randal S. Thomas, Patty Von Arx and Dave Weathers (For the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Drama Series | Joshua Brand, Henry Bromell, David Chase, John Falsey, Barbara Hall, John Forrest Niss and Ian Sander | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Sam Waterston | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Regina Taylor | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Mary Alice | Won |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Eric Laneuville (For episode "Until Tomorrow") | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Rosanna Carter | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Stephen James Taylor (For song "State Until You Come Home") | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costumes for a Series | Tom McKinley (For episode "The Third Man") | Nominated |
| 1994 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Sam Waterston (For special "I'll Fly Away: Then and Now") | Nominated |
| 1994 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Tom McKinley (For special "I'll Fly Away: Then and Now") | Nominated |
| 1993 | Producers Guild of America Award | Outstanding Producer of Television | David Chase and Ian Sander | Won |
| 1992 | Television Critics Association Award | Program of the Year | | Nominated |
| 1992 | Television Critics Association Award | Outstanding Achievement in Drama | | Won |
| 1993 | Television Critics Association Award | Outstanding Achievement in Drama | | Won |
| 1992 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1992 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series | Sam Waterston | Nominated |
| 1992 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Regina Taylor | Won |
| 1993 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1993 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series | Sam Waterston | Nominated |
| 1993 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Regina Taylor | Won |
| 1993 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | Henry Bromell (For episode "Amazing Grace") | Won |
| 1993 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | Kevin Arkadie (For episode "Coming Home") | Nominated |
| 1994 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | Barbara Hall (For episode "Comfort and Joy") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series | Ashlee Levitch | Nominated |
| 1992 | Young Artist Award | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Under 10 | John Aaron Bennett | Nominated |
| 1993 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series | Jeremy London | Won |
| 1993 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Ashlee Levitch | Won |
| 1993 | Young Artist Award | Outstanding Actor Under 10 in a Television Series | John Aaron Bennett | Won |
| 1993 | Young Artist Award | Outstanding Actress Under 10 in a Television Series | Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly | Won |
| 1994 | Young Artist Award | Best Youth Actress Leading Role in a Television Series | Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly | Won |