I Know My First Name Is Steven

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I Know My First Name Is Steven
GenreDrama
Written by
Directed byLarry Elikann
Starring
ComposerDavid Shire
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producerAndrew Adelson
ProducerKim C. Friese
Editors
Running time91–94 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseMay 22 (1989-05-22) –
May 23, 1989 (1989-05-23)

I Know My First Name Is Steven is a 1989 American television miniseries about kidnapping victim Steven Stayner.[1][2] The two-part miniseries was first broadcast by NBC on May 22 and 23, 1989. Screening rights were sold to a number of international television companies including the BBC, which screened the miniseries in mid-July of the following year; later still, it was released as a feature-length movie.

It was nominated as Best Miniseries or Television Film at the 47th Golden Globe Awards[3] and received four Emmy Award nominations.[4]

Plot

Steven Stayner, a seven-year-old boy, is kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell, with the help of his partner in crime, Irving Murphy. Parnell continues to molest and produce pornographic images of Steven for seven years.

When Steven is 14, Parnell kidnaps a boy named Timmy. As a result, Steven builds up the courage to prevent Timmy from going through the same thing that he went through when he was Timmy's age. He brings Timmy to the police and confesses that he was the victim of a kidnapping by his "dad", Parnell.

Steven later testifies in court on Timmy's behalf, and then later, in a hearing for the crimes Parnell committed against Steven. Parnell spends five years of a seven-year sentence in prison for the kidnapping and sexual abuse against Steven, while his accomplice Murphy spends less than two years in prison.

Cast

Main

Supporting

Guest

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of I Know My First Name Is Steven
No. Title Air date Timeslot (ET) Rating/share
(households)		 Viewers
(millions)		 Ref(s)
1 "Part 1" May 22, 1989 Monday 9:00 p.m. 21.6/35 31.3 [5]
2 "Part 2" May 23, 1989 Tuesday 9:00 p.m. 27.3/42 40.3 [5]

Accolades

Award Year Category Resipian(s) Result
Casting Society 1989 Mini-Series Casting Alice Cassidy Nominated
Golden Globes 1990 Best Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Parents' Choice Award 1989 Tv miniseries Andrew Adelson Won
Primetime Emmy Awards 1989 Outstanding Miniseries Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Corin Nemec Nominated
Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or a Special Larry Elikann Nominated
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series "His Suit Is Hirsute"[a] Nominated
Young Artist Award 1990 Best Family TV Movie Pilot or Special Won
Best Young Performer in a TV Movie, Pilot or Special Corin Nemec Nominated

Notes

  1. Written by Steven Bochco, David E. Kelley, Michele Gallery and William M. Finkelstein

References

  1. "MUBI". Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  2. Roeper, Richard (April 21, 2022). "'Captive Audience' recalls the awful aftermath when a kidnapped boy came home". Chicago Sun-Times.
  3. "I Know My First Name Is Steven".
  4. "I Know My First Name is Steven". Emmy Awards. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  5. "Everybody loved ABC's Baby". USA Today. June 1, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306225180.