I Know My First Name Is Steven
GenreDrama
Writer
DirectorLarry Elikann
Starring
ComposerDavid Shire
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Num episodes2
Executive producerAndrew Adelson
ProducerKim C. Friese
Editor
Runtime91–94 minutes
Company
NetworkNBC
First airedMay 22, 1989
Last airedMay 23, 1989

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.TitleAir dateTimeslot (ET)Rating/share
(households)		Viewers
(millions)		Ref(s)
1"Part 1"May 22, 1989Monday 9:00 p.m.21.6/3531.3[5]
2"Part 2"May 23, 1989Tuesday 9:00 p.m.27.3/4240.3[5]

Accolades

AwardYearCategoryResipian(s)Result
Casting Society1989Mini-Series CastingAlice Cassidy
Golden Globes1990Best Miniseries or Television Film
Parents' Choice Award1989Tv miniseriesAndrew Adelson
Primetime Emmy Awards1989Outstanding Miniseries
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a SpecialCorin Nemec
Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or a SpecialLarry Elikann
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series"His Suit Is Hirsute"[a]
Young Artist Award1990Best Family TV Movie Pilot or Special
Best Young Performer in a TV Movie, Pilot or SpecialCorin Nemec

Notes

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

References

  1. ^ MUBI
  2. ^ ‘Captive Audience’ recalls the awful aftermath when a kidnapped boy came home - Chicago Sun-Times
  3. ^ Golden Globes
  4. ^ "I Know My First Name is Steven". Emmy Awards. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "Everybody loved ABC's Baby". USA Today. June 1, 1989. p. 3D.