Big Pic January 2002: Deirdre Lenihan

Our first Big Pic is of actress Deirdre Lenihan, as she appeared on the cover of TV Guide in November 1973. The cover story was on her new NBC sitcom Needles and Pins.

To me, there's excitement in the red hair and mystery in the dramatic lighting. More important, her eyes bespeak intelligent self-awareness; her proud chin, confidence. (Am I reading too much into this image?)

Fascinated by the picture above, I actually watched a few of the 14 episodes of Needles and Pins before it was canceled (after only 10 episodes had aired).

Here are three black-and-white publicity shots. Deirdre played a girl from Nebraska who found a job as a designer in the New York City garment district.

The two pictures below include costar Norman Fell as her boss. Four years later, he would begin a rather more successful series, Three's Company.

For more I've learned about this show and Dierdre's Southern connection, click here.

Miss Lenihan went on to The Waltons (her character Daisy was John-Boy's fiancé for a time) and other 1970s television dramas, such as Emergency! (on the right).

For an update, see the second half of this article.