On this day March 28 1986 the sitcom Mr. Sunshine premiered on ABC. The series starred Jeffrey Tambor as Paul Stark an optimistic and witty college professor who happened to be blind. The show explored his life on campus and his interactions with students and faculty while aiming to mix humor with heart.
Mr. Sunshine ran for just 1 season with a total of 11 episodes before it was canceled. Despite its short run it stood out for offering a rare lead role featuring a character with a disability portrayed in a positive and capable light.
80s insight: Jeffrey Tambor would later go on to greater fame with roles in The Larry Sanders Show Arrested Development and Transparent but Mr. Sunshine was one of his first major lead roles on television.