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'''''The 5 Mrs. Buchanans''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] that aired on [[CBS]] from September 24, 1994 to March 25, 1995. Set in the fictional town of Mercy, Indiana, the show centers on the small-town misadventures of four disparate women |
'''''The 5 Mrs. Buchanans''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] that aired on [[CBS]] from September 24, 1994 to March 25, 1995. Set in the fictional town of Mercy, Indiana, the show centers on the small-town misadventures of four disparate women able to reach consensus on one topic only: the monstrousness of their meddling mother-in-law whom they unanimously declare both an enemy and a bitch. |
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
Revision as of 20:51, 17 October 2018
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans | |
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Genre | Situation comedy |
Created by |
|
Starring | |
Composer | Steven Cahill |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 17 |
Production | |
Production location | Fox Television Center |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | September 24, 1994 March 25, 1995 | –
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 24, 1994 to March 25, 1995. Set in the fictional town of Mercy, Indiana, the show centers on the small-town misadventures of four disparate women able to reach consensus on one topic only: the monstrousness of their meddling mother-in-law whom they unanimously declare both an enemy and a bitch.
Overview
The unofficial leader of the group is Alex (Judith Ivey), a 1960s crusader who settled down and had a son soon after marrying future high school principal Roy Buchanan (John Getz). Everyone regularly convenes in their home and at the thrift store that she owns. Vivian (Harriet Sansom Harris) is trapped in a stagnant marriage to used car salesman Ed Buchanan (Richard Poe), which is exacerbated by their hellion twin sons. Delilah (Beth Broderick) is a sweet, ditsy former stripper from the South who fell in love with preacher Charles Buchanan (Mark Moses). These ladies are pulled together for various family and social functions, and they've forged deep bonds despite their distinctively different personalities. New to the family is Bree (Charlotte Ross), a perky, manipulative former Disneyland employee who had a whirlwind romance with Jesse Buchanan (Tommy Hinkley) during his vacation at the theme park. And always meddling in their lives is Mother Buchanan (Eileen Heckart), a gravely-voiced, stoic, passive-aggressive gargoyle of a woman who commands the ceaseless devotion and adoration of her four sons.
Cast
Main
- Judith Ivey as Alexandria "Alex" Isaacson Buchanan – A former feminist from a Jewish family in New York, she owns an antique store. Married to Roy Buchanan, the eldest son. She is the oldest of the four women, and usually the most level-headed and mature. Her relationship with Mother Buchanan ranges from the civil, to absolute hatred, which, when coupled with snide remarks on both parts, makes for an amusing battleground.
- Beth Broderick as Delilah Buchanan – Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, she is portrayed as a 'blonde' stereotype; ditzy, usually wearing lots of make-up and revealing clothing. She is married to Charles, the preacher, and becomes Head of the Ladies Auxiliary. Her dimness often evokes exasperation in the other women, however, she maintains a close relationship with each. Her past as a stripper often causes obstacles, but her caring nature serves to resolve them.
- Harriet Sansom Harris as Vivian Buchanan – A Republican housewife with two hooligan children (Lyndon and PJ), from her marriage to Ed Buchanan, she is shown as being rather neurotic, and narcissistic. She sometimes clashes with the politically liberal Alex but they generally get along. Her extreme antics (such as selling pints of her own blood to buy a dress for a Dan Quayle dinner) are often a point of humor. Her relationship with Mother Buchanan is shown to be the most antagonistic.
- Charlotte Ross as Bree Larson Buchanan – A Californian and ex-Disneyland worker, her whirlwind romance and marriage to Jesse serves as the opening of the series. Characterized as quite naive and childish, she displays overt vanity, which, when coupled with her superb performance skills and fascination with dead bodies, makes for comedy. Eventually becoming a core part of the family, she succeeds in gaining the ladies' respect by standing with them against Mother Buchanan.
- Eileen Heckart as "Mother" Emma Buchanan – A former aspiring doctor who was forced to raise her four sons alone after her husband left her, she uses this as a vehicle to fuel her manipulation and dislike of her daughters-in-law. While she is displayed as the hardened and merciless matriarch, her compassionate side is shown throughout the series, proving that under her tough exterior, she is ultimately a mother, something to which all the women can relate.
Recurring
- John Getz as Roy Buchanan
- Mark Moses as Rev. Charles Buchanan
- Richard Poe as Ed Buchanan
- Tommy Hinkley as Jesse Buchanan (episodes 2–15; played by Paul Johansson in the pilot)
Episodes
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans regularly aired on Saturday nights on CBS, though one episode of the series aired as part of CBS's Monday night comedy lineup, and another episode aired on a Wednesday.
No. | Title | Directed by [1] | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code [1] |
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1 | "Pilot" | David Trainer | Jamie Wooten & Marc Cherry | September 24, 1994 | 100 |
2 | "The Other Woman" | David Trainer | Jamie Wooten & Marc Cherry | October 1, 1994 | 101 |
3 | "Clyde and Vivian and Ed and Malice" | David Trainer | John Pardee & Joey Murphy | October 8, 1994 | 103 |
4 | "A Ring of Truth" | Linda Day | John Pardee | October 15, 1994 | 104 |
5 | "Nothing on Delilah" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | David Flebotte | October 22, 1994 | 102 |
6 | "The Mothers-in-Law" | Linda Day | Tracy Gamble & Richard Vaczy | October 29, 1994 | 105 |
7 | "Alex, Then and NOW" | Linda Day | Jenny Bicks | October 31, 1994 | 107 |
Note: Aired on Monday. | |||||
8 | "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Buchanan" | John Sgueglia | Nancylee Myatt | November 16, 1994 | 109 |
Note: Aired on Wednesday. | |||||
9 | "Five Buchanans and a Baby" | Linda Day | Tracy Gamble & Richard Vaczy | November 26, 1994 | 106 |
10 | "Emma in Love" | John Sgueglia | Tracy Gamble & Richard Vaczy | December 3, 1994 | 111 |
11 | "What Child Is This" | Linda Day | Michael Patrick King | December 10, 1994 | 112 |
12 | "The Incredible Journey" | Linda Day | Joey Murphy & John Pardee | December 17, 1994 | 113 |
13 | "All About Bree" | Linda Day | Lyn Greene & Richard Levine | January 7, 1995 | 114 |
14 | "The Heart of the Matter" | David Trainer | Nancylee Myatt | January 14, 1995 | 110 |
15 | "Becoming a Buchanan" | John Sgueglia | Nancylee Myatt | January 21, 1995 | 115 |
16 | "Never on the Road Again" | Linda Day | David Flebotte | March 11, 1995 | 116 |
17 | "Viv'acious" | Linda Day | David Flebotte | March 18, 1995 | 108 |
Production
The show was titled The Four Mrs. Buchanans in the original series pilot, referring to only the four daughters-in-law. The opening scene was completely revised and reshot and a pair of jokes about Delilah's skimpy dress were replaced with alternate one-liners about her heavy makeup when the pilot was broadcast as The 5 Mrs. Buchanans.
With an initial series order of 13 episodes, shortly after its premiere CBS announced it had given the series a five-episode pick-up. However, only 17 episodes were aired and are known to have been produced.
Eileen Heckart stated in an interview at the time that CBS had picked up more episodes of the show with the intention of moving it from Saturday nights, where it was faltering, to Mondays following Murphy Brown. The network ultimately changed its mind after ordering Cybill as a mid-season replacement, though the seventh episode of The 5 Mrs. Buchanans did air once in this timeslot as a "special preview" on October 31, 1994.
References
- ^ a b From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "5 Mrs. Buchanans"]"". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 2017-07-30.