NEWHART: THE GIRL FROM MANHATTAN (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedies about Dick and Joanna Loudon, who run a country inn in Vermont.
In this episode, Kirk pleads with George to borrow his car as Joanna attends a town meeting about the annual community play, surprised to learn that they perform "My Fair Lady" – without the songs – every single year. When she suggests that they branch out a bit, the others declare that Dick should write them a new play. Dick balks at the idea; Joanna urges him to dust off his first attempt at play writing, a work called "The Girl From Manhattan," written for Joanna herself at the beginning of their courtship. Dick, forced into the role of director as well, suffers through the awkward audition process and then announces his casting choices – with Stephanie in the role of Joanna and Joanna herself playing "Joanna's Mother."
Annoyed, Joanna questions Dick about the choice, and he gently points out that she is now "too darn old" for the role of a 22-year-old aspiring actress. She resentfully accepts the part as George attempts to build the New York City sets, haggling with a still car-less Kirk over the loan. As the final rehearsal approaches, Dick offers to compromise with Joanna and changes the role from mother to big sister, but on opening night, Joanna quickly realizes that the switch is "awful" and the script no longer makes sense. Stephanie and the other actors are flustered when the "sister," late for her cue, bursts onstage and informs "Joanna" that she is actually her mother, having lied all along to forge a bond with her daughter. The audience members are left baffled by the strange last-second plot twist. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 14, 1983 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:28
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:64902
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Theater; Vermont
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1982-1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barry Kemp … Executive Producer, Created by
- Stephen C. Grossman … Coordinating Producer
- Sheldon Bull … Producer, Developed by
- Jay Kleckner … Associate Producer
- Linda Day … Director
- Nat Mauldin … Writer
- Michael Vetrie … Writer
- Nelson Riddle … Music by
- Henry Mancini … Theme Music by
- Bob Newhart … Cast, Dick Loudon
- Mary Frann … Cast, Joanna Loudon
- Steven Kampmann … Cast, Kirk Devane
- Julia Duffy … Cast, Stephanie Vanderkellen
- Tom Poston … Cast, George Utley
- Thomas Hill … Cast, Jim Dixon
- William Lanteau … Cast, Chester Wanamaker
- Richard Venture … Cast, Doc Owens
- Lois de Banzie … Cast, Shirley Dixon
- Jackie Joseph … Cast, Myrna Peck