The Bad News Bears was a short-lived television series that aired on CBS from March 24, 1979 until July 26, 1980. It was based on the 1976 hit movie The Bad News Bears, that was followed by two sequels in 1977 and 1978.

In the television version, Jack Warden portrayed former minor-leaguer Morris Buttermaker, the coach of the Hoover Junior High Bears, a sorry bunch of youthful misfits and bumblers.

Catherine Hicks played Hoover Junior High principal Dr. Emily Rappant. Phillip R. Allen played Roy Turner, the coach of the dreaded rival Lions.

Corey Feldman, Billy Jayne (then credited as Billy Jacoby) and Meeno Peluce were cast amongst the team's players, and Tricia Cast played Amanda Wurlitzer, the Bears' star pitcher.

In the late 1980s, the show was occasionally rerun on Nick at Nite. In the early 1990s, it was rerun on Comedy Central.