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Early Edition: Season 1

1996 · 23 episodes · ★ 7.8

What Season 1 of Early Edition

Gary Hobson is a Chicago stockbroker who loses everything after an argument with his wife, who asks him to leave the house. Checked into a hotel, he receives a copy of the Chicago Sun-Times every morning, one day in advance, always accompanied by an orange tabby cat. Its pages describe accidents, crimes and disasters that have not happened yet, and Gary decides to step in and prevent them. The season forces him to decide which tragedies deserve his attention and how to explain what he knows without being labeled crazy. Chuck, Marcia and journalist Meredith cross his path. Kyle Chandler plays the lead role.

23episodes
Sep 28, 1996premiered
May 17, 1997latest episode
17.3 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

  1. Pilot

    1x01 Pilot

    Sep 28, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.4

    After being kicked out of his house by his wife, Gary Hobson is forced to move into a hotel room. It's a regular Monday morning - apart from a mysterious newspaper that is delivered to his door by an even more mysterious orange cat. At first, Gary doesn't pay much attention to the newspaper but, after a while, he realises that it isn't a regular newspaper, it's tomorrow's.

    Directing: Michael Dinner · Writing: Bob Brush · Starring: Milo O'Shea, Ron Dean, Tom Noonan, Marc Vann

  2. The Choice

    1x02 The Choice

    Oct 5, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 8.0

    Gary must choose between stopping a fatal plane crash or saving the life of one girl.

    Directed by: Michael Dinner · Written by: Bob Brush, John Romano · Starring: Rya Kihlstedt, Ron Dean, John Rubinstein, Mae Whitman

  3. Baby

    1x03 Baby

    Oct 12, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.0

    Gary helps Chuck deliver twins in an elevator after Chicago has a blackout due to Gary's inability to stop street workers to keep a water pump turned off. Meanwhile, Gary keeps chasing for a mysterious blonde woman while his ex-wife attempts to get back together.

    Directing: Randall Zisk · Writing: Bob Brush · Starring: Jane Krakowski, Rya Kihlstedt, James Deuter, Cynthia Nixon

  4. The Paper

    1x04 The Paper

    Oct 19, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.5

    While searching for answers about the paper, Gary becomes involved with a reporter who is suspicious of his apparent knowledge of a certain story.

    Starring: Leslie Hope, Joe Grifasi, James Deuter, John M. Watson Sr.

  5. Thief Swipes Mayor's Dog

    1x05 Thief Swipes Mayor's Dog

    Oct 26, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.3

    Lottery fever grips Chicago with the jackpot climbing every night. Meanwhile, Gary tries to understand why someone would want to steal the Mayor's dog.

    Directed by: Susan Seidelman · Written by: Bob Brush, John Romano · Starring: Max Wright, Kyle Colerider-Krugh, Fyvush Finkel, Philip E. Johnson

  6. Hoops

    1x06 Hoops

    Nov 2, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.5

    Gary tries to stop a popular basket-baller with a medical condition from risking his life on the court.

    Directing: Rick Rosenthal · Writing: Bob Brush · Starring: James Tolkan, Michael Warren, Sharrieff Pugh, Chuck Stubbings

  7. After Midnight

    1x07 After Midnight

    Nov 9, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.7

    Gary has to stop a 17 year-old single mother from abandoning her child. But as always, Gary gets more involved with her than he should, and finds out she left home pregnant and now works for a drug dealer. Meanwhile, Chuck uses the paper to get a date with an attractive woman he had to share a cab with.

    Directing: Michael Toshiyuki Uno · Writing: Deborah Joy LeVine · Starring: Peri Gilpin, Ron Dean, John F. O'Donohue, Keith Szarabajka

  8. Gun

    1x08 Gun

    Nov 16, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.6

    Gary poses as a social worker in order to stop a little boy from shooting his brother, but he gets more involved with the family than he should. Gary steals the gun, but has to give it back after the paper announces that the wife will be beaten to death. When the husband drops by, Gary shows up with the police, but little Tommy had already stolen the gun and almost killed his brother. Meanwhile, Chuck has a really hard time trying to get rid of the cat's fleas.

    Starring: Donna Jay Fulks, James Chisem, Ashley Crow, Tom O'Brien

  9. His Girl Friday

    1x09 His Girl Thursday

    Nov 23, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.8

    Meredith is back. She wants to pick things up with Gary where they left last time they met. But the paper seems to be in the way of Gary developing anything deeper with her, since he doesn't want her to have access to it. She promises not to read it, but Chuck walks in on her reading the paper. They make a deal, and Chuck wins over 15 million in the stock market. He gets in trouble and steals the paper to lose the 15 million, but Gary thinks Meredith stole it. After reconciliation, Meredith leaves for Washington.

    Directing: Stephen Cragg · Starring: Leslie Hope, Jim Zulevic, Joe Grifasi, Marc Vann

  10. The Wrong Man

    1x10 The Wrong Man

    Dec 7, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.7

    Gary has to stop a man from his old office from killing himself. Marcia visits him with the news that she's getting married. She won't reveal the identity of her soon-to-be husband, but Gary finds out it's Phil Pritchard, his old jerky boss. Gary is not happy about it and a series of accidents make it look like he's trying to purposely hurt Pritchard and get in the way of their wedding. When the paper brings the headline that Pritchard is going to be murdered, Gary refuses to help him, but Chuck convinces him to do so. He also must stop Sam (the office mailboy for the past 9 years) from killing Pritchard.

    Directed by: David Hugh Jones · Starring: Rya Kihlstedt, Time Winters, Marc Vann, Jim True-Frost

  11. Christmas

    1x11 Christmas

    Dec 21, 1996 · 45 min · ★ 7.6

    Gary has to stop a bomb from killing 20 ice skaters on a park. He goes to Det. Crumb for help, who still doesn't quite believe Gary. The headline on the paper changes to a department store, but still the bomber seems to be ahead of them. Meanwhile, Chuck is arrested for not paying 106 parking tickets. In his cell there's a man who thinks he's Santa, and he convinces Chuck to escape from jail and steal a car to deliver the gifts.

    Writing: Bob Brush · Starring: Ron Dean, M. Emmet Walsh, Mark Morettini, Stanley DeSantis

  12. Frostbit

    1x12 Frostbit

    Jan 11, 1997 · 45 min · ★ 7.6

    It's 20 below zero in Chicago but Gary still has to rescue people around the city, even if the paper doesn't bring any important news. Plus, Chuck temporarily moves in to Gary's place after the heat in his place goes down, which is just another reason for Gary to be out of the house. He keeps running into a homeless kid, who is later featured in paper saying he froze to death. Now Gary has to find the kid, who got stuck under a pipe of an abandoned building. They both get locked there after the door is blocked, and now they rely on Chuck to save them from freezing to death.

    Written by: Bob Brush, Deborah Joy LeVine · Starring: Jonathan Tucker, Caroline Aaron, Marge Kotlisky, James Deuter

  13. Mob Wife

    1x13 Mob Wife

    Jan 25, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary and Chuck get mistakenly involved with the mob after they save a gangster's ex-fiancé from being shot. They spend days trying to escape from trouble and death themselves, and to make it easier Chuck falls for the woman.

    Directed by: Rick Rosenthal · Written by: Dusty Kay · Starring: Leo Rossi, Pauley Perrette, Neil Flynn, Phillip Edward Van Lear

  14. The Wall (1)

    1x14 The Wall (1)

    Feb 1, 1997 · 45 min

    The paper reveals that the U.S. president will be murdered during his upcoming visit to Chicago - by Gary.

    Directing: Michael Dinner · Writing: Bob Brush · Starring: Josef Sommer, Ron Dean, Joe Grifasi, John M. Watson Sr.

  15. The Wall (2)

    1x15 The Wall (2)

    Feb 8, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary continues to try and stop the assassination of the president while eluding the FBI who is convinced Gary is the suspected assassin. His friends try to protect Gary from exposure.

    Written by: Bob Brush · Starring: Josef Sommer, Dick Cusack, Ron Dean, Lou Rawls

  16. Bat Masterson

    1x16 Bat Masterson

    Feb 22, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary meets an ex-cop who took the identity of Bat Masterson to continue his work against crime. The guy seems to be crazy, but helps Gary with his paper duties. As he learns more about Bat (or Mike Killebrew, his real identity), Gary discovers that he went crazy after his partner died.

    Directed by: Rick Wallace · Written by: Dusty Kay · Starring: Ron Dean, Philip Bosco, Joan McMurtrey, James Deuter

  17. The Jury

    1x17 The Jury

    Mar 8, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary is chosen to serve as a juror in the trial of a man accused of stealing money from his company. Since the defendant is defending himself, the judge has the jury sequestered, which means Gary can't get access to the paper.

    Directed by: Stephen Cragg, Matt Dearborn · Starring: Mike Starr, Victor Argo, Kevin McCarthy, James Deuter

  18. Psychic

    1x18 Psychic

    Apr 12, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary is unable to stop a child from being kidnapped and looks for help in Claire (a psychic who pursued him about opening a fortune telling business with her after he saved her from dying). She "felt" there was something wrong with the child, but Gary thought it was just a part of her act.

    Directed by: Mel Damski · Starring: Christine Dunford, Kathy Najimy, Jennifer Anglin, Gerard Prendergast

  19. The Cat

    1x19 The Cat

    Apr 13, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary takes the cat to the vet thinking he's not feeling good. He is obligated to leave him there overnight, but rushes to the clinic in the morning for the paper, only to find out it's not there (nor is the cat). The cat mysteriously appears at Eunice's (the vet's mother) house with the paper, and Gary wonders if the cat decided to abandon him. He later finds out that the cat only wants him to save Eunice, who was madly in love with Lucius Snow 40 years ago and is now dying from cancer.

    Starring: Roger Ebert, Talia Balsam, James Deuter, Marion Ross

  20. Phantom at the Opera

    1x20 Phantom at the Opera

    Apr 19, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary saves a woman named Emma Shaw from being murdered during an art robbery. Gary keeps helping Emma establish herself in the city and develops romantic feelings for her, but the paper keeps getting in his way and interrupting their dates.

    Starring: Adrienne Shelly, Eve Brenner

  21. Faith

    1x21 Faith

    Apr 26, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary and Chuck wait on a bridge to help a man who will be run over by a car, but they don't realize that the man is Gary, who is knocked unconscious. At he hospital, Gary meets a girl named Rachel, who is waiting for a compatible heart. Rachel questions Gary about his beliefs in God, a role the paper imposes him to play after announcing that Rachel will find a heart - from a young boy killed in a hold-up. Now Gary must choose between ignoring the boy and letting Rachel live or saving the boy, at the cost of Rachel's life.

    Directed by: John T. Kretchmer · Written by: Bob Brush · Starring: Robert Picardo, Tyra Ferrell, Emily Ann Lloyd, Billy O'Sullivan

  22. Dad

    1x22 Dad

    May 3, 1997 · 45 min

    Gary's father, Bernie, temporarily moves in with his son after his wife kicks him out. After learning about the paper, and enjoying helping others, Bernie decides to stay permanently.

    Directing: Randall Zisk · Writing: Bob Brush · Starring: Ron Dean, William Devane, Chelcie Ross, Heather Prete

  23. Love is Blind

    1x23 Love is Blind Season Finale

    May 17, 1997 · 45 min

    Marissa is at school when Gary saves her college professor from being killed. Marissa soon has dinner and a study date with a fellow student she meets during the incident.

    Directed by: Michael Lange · Starring: Tara Lipinski, Patricia Kalember, Jeffrey D. Sams

Season 1 Cast

Shanésia DavisShanésia DavisMarissa Clark23 episodes
Ron DeanRon DeanMarion Zeke Crumb, P.I.8 episodes
James DeuterJames DeuterBoswell7 episodes
Mark MorettiniMark MorettiniSergeant4 episodes
Joe GrifasiJoe GrifasiHarry Hawks3 episodes
Marc VannMarc VannPhil Pritchard3 episodes
John M. Watson Sr.John M. Watson Sr.Morris Sanford3 episodes
Stephen CinabroStephen CinabroAssistant Detective3 episodes
Mike HoulihanPete the Bartender3 episodes
Josef SommerJosef SommerJohn Dobbs2 episodes
Ken BradleyPete2 episodes
Robert KurczRobert KurczCabby2 episodes
Jim ZulevicJim ZulevicStockbrokerEpisode 1
Robert PicardoRobert PicardoDoctorEpisode 1
Leo RossiLeo RossiFrank PirelliEpisode 1
Milo O'SheaMilo O'SheaShermanEpisode 1

All Seasons

Where to Watch Season 1 of Early Edition

It is currently not available on the major streaming platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Episodes Are in Early Edition Season 1?

Early Edition Season 1 has 23 episodes.

When Did Early Edition Season 1 Premiere?

Premiered on September 28, 1996.

Where to Watch Early Edition Season 1

Currently not available on the major subscription platforms (availability may vary by country).

What is the best episode of Season 1?

According to TMDB audience ratings, episode 1x01, "Pilot", with a 7.4.