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| The Nanny - 1993 |
Our next installment of TV Tuesday features a very popular TV show. "The Nanny", debuting in 1993, introduced us to Fran Fine, that "flashy girl from Flushing" who turned a stuffy New York mansion upside down by becoming an unlikely nanny and eventual spouse of her employer.
The first episode's cast includes Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis, Lauren Lane, Nicholle Tom, Benjamin Salisbury, Madeline Zima, Renee Taylor, Rachel Chagall, James Marsden, and Dee Dee Rescher.
She was workin' in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens, 'til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes. What was she to do? Where was she to go? She was out on her fanny.
So over the bridge from Flushing to the Sheffields' door, she was there to sell makeup, but the father saw more.
She had style! She had flair! She was there! That's how she became "The Nanny"!
Who would've guessed that the girl we described was just exactly what the doctor prescribed? That's how it all began. As soon as she's hired and moves into the Sheffield mansion, she quickly shakes things up, including appearing at breakfast wearing her bathrobe.
Fran also quickly gets under Mr. Sheffield's assistant C.C.'s skin. When Fran arrives dressed to impress at a business party, C.C. asks Maxwell, "What's that?" Shocked at her appearance, Maxwell says, "That's...the nanny".
Fran makes the party a huge success by making sure the Sheffield children (Maggie, Brighton, and Gracie) are included in the proceedings.
She's also there to have a good time, camera in hand. She takes a picture of the buffet table to show off to her mother.
However, eldest Sheffield child Maggie's antics with a waiter named Eddie have Fran and Maxwell in opposite corners. Fran doesn't hold back, and tells Maxwell exactly what she thinks, which results in her being fired.
Fran packs her things and moves in with her mother. After some reflection, Maxwell realizes that the children need Fran, and he comes to her mother's home to ask her back.
Fran excitedly jumps up and down screaming, "Ma! Ma! Pack my things! He wants me back!" Naturally, Fran's mother, Sylvia, is thrilled. She pops out from around the corner with a command of "Smile" as she whips out a camera to capture the moment forever, and Fran leaps into Maxwell's arms.
Cast rundown:
Fran Drescher....................................Fran Fine
Charles Shaughnessy..........................Maxwell Sheffield
Daniel Davis......................................Niles
Lauren Lane......................................C.C. Babcock
Nicholle Tom......................................Maggie Sheffield
Benjamin Salisbury............................Brighton Sheffield
Madeline Zima...................................Grace Sheffield
Renee Taylor.....................................Sylvia Fine
Rachel Chagall...................................Val Toriello
James Marsden..................................Eddie
Dee Dee Rescher................................Dottie
And that's it for The Nanny. In the first episode, the Sheffield mansion is much different from the rest of the series. It's essentially flip-flopped. In the second episode, we see everything on a much grander scale, including an impressive staircase.
