Watch Blue Skies

Blue Skies is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from September 1994 to January 1995. It was created by David Manson, who had previously worked on such shows as Homicide: Life on the Street and NYPD Blue. The series follows the lives and work of the pilots and crew at the small airline company called the Blue Skies Airline. Set in Southern California, the show delves into the personal and professional lives of the pilots, flight attendants and ground crew and the everyday challenges they face in their roles.

The main character of the show is Ben Benedetti (played by Kevin Anderson), a veteran pilot and former Navy aviator who serves as the chief pilot at Blue Skies. He is married to Teri (played by Jennifer Hetrick), a flight attendant who works at the same airline. Ben faces many challenges in his job including handling the company's aging planes, managing a crew of pilots, working with other key people at the airline company, and balancing his work with his troubled personal life.

One of the most prominent supporting characters in the show is John Morgan (played by Rodney Eastman), a young pilot with the airlines who is ambitious and eager to prove himself. He clashes with Ben, who he sees as controlling and stubborn, though he learns from him as the series progresses. John's personal life is a bit of a mess, as he is in a relationship with another flight attendant at the airline, Kate (played by Cathryn de Prume), but is also involved in an illicit affair with another pilot.

Other prominent characters in the show include Mary Lee (played by Jennifer Hetrick), the director of customer service at Blue Skies, who is often at odds with Ben over their sometimes conflicting interests; and Beverly Strauss (played by Pat Musick), a pilot who has turned to alcohol to cope with her job and personal life.

The show also explores other recurring themes and characters such as the pressures of being a flight attendant and the challenges of balancing a work and personal life. As the characters navigate through their different difficulties, they often find comfort and support in each other and their shared passion for flying.

One notable aspect of the show is its portrayal of the airline industry, particularly the aviation industry in the United States during the 1990s. The series shows the industry as a struggling and unstable place, with many airlines facing financial difficulties and struggling to keep their fleets aloft amidst fierce competition and a changing regulatory environment.

Overall, Blue Skies is a well-written drama series that manages to pull off the difficult feat of making a show about the airline industry both interesting and compelling. Its strong performances, from a talented cast, helped to make it a standout in its genre, while its thoughtful exploration of key issues in the field made for some truly fascinating viewing. It is a shame that the series was cancelled after just one season, but it remains a classic of its time.