KAREN VALENTINE PROGRAM, THE {UNARIED PILOT} (TV)
Summary
The unaired pilot of this comedy series about a woman newly separated from her husband attempting to explore life on her own.
Karen Springfield moves back into her house in Portland, Oregon after a three week trip around Europe, and is greeted by her new upstairs neighbor Earl Kellerher, a professional baseball catcher. Her parents also arrive to see her, happy that she has returned. Earl feels awkward about being around the family and tries to leave, especially after learning that Karen is to be meeting with her estranged husband Tom. Her mother is concerned, since her separation from Tom is considered a secret, especially from the rest of her family. Karen intends to talk over the whole matter with Tom, and asks that her family support her no matter the outcome. Later Tom arrives, although their reunion is awkward and they have to rush to make their dinner reservations. It soon becomes clear that Tom has not been nearly as emotionally affected by their separation as Karen has. They arrive at the restaurant and Karen’s attempts to have a frank discussion about the problems in their marriage are constantly interrupted by various things. Tom notes that he is totally happy with their marriage, but Karen feels as though he does not listen to her, and that she is sometimes lonely and depressed; they have known each other since they were children, and Karen believes that may be contributing to their problems. They decide to leave the restaurant and resume their conversation at Tom’s apartment.
They go to Tom’s apartment and sleep together before Karen brings up their marital difficulties again. The next day, Karen tells her mother about the previous night and says that they ultimately have decided to get a divorce. Her mother panics and suddenly arrives at Karen’s place along with her father. They are distressed about the news and struggle to find the right thing to say to her about it. Her father tells her that he trusts her decisions and wants her to be happy. Karen believes that she needs to fully explore her life, and contemplates getting a job or going back to school. Karen and Tom visit their friend Richard, a ramshackle lawyer, to begin divorce proceedings. He is shocked to learn that they are getting a divorce and refuses to go through with the proceedings, believing that he is too close to the case. Karen proposes that she and Tom do things separately from here on out and not see so much of each other anymore. Tom is concerned about how Karen will get along, but Karen asserts that she can support herself without his aid, and that she can make her own decisions. That night, Richard visits Karen and offers her a job at his law firm, and she accepts. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:23
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:50377
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lorenzo Music … Producer, Created by, Writer, Theme Music by
- David Davis … Producer, Created by, Writer
- Budd Cherry … Associate Producer
- Jay Sandrich … Director
- Peter Bonerz … Director
- Lenny Stack … Music by
- Henrietta Music … Theme Music by
- Karen Valentine … Cast, Karen Springfield
- Dena Dietrich … Cast, Karen's Mother
- Garry Walberg … Cast, Karen's Father
- Vern Rowe … Cast, Earl Kellerher
- Archie Hahn … Cast, Tom Bluth
- Jon Korkes … Cast, Richard Bailey
- Henry Corden … Cast, Maitre d'
- Barbara Minkus … Cast, Receptionist
- Shirley O'Hara … Cast, Mrs. Houston
- Helen Page Camp … Cast, Friend
- Carol Worthington … Cast, Model
- Sally Marr … Cast, Model
- Kathi Picard … Cast, Waitress