BECKER: BECKER THE ELDER (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about a gruff neighborhood doctor working in the Bronx.
In this episode, Becker treats Jake and Reggie to his latest complaint – that "midgets" tend to bring him bad luck – and an elderly diner patron overhears the grumpy diatribe. At the office, Becker spots the water deliveryman, a little person, and instantly fears that misfortune is coming his way,. That is seemingly proven true when he is surprised by a visit from his father Fred, the man from the diner. Margaret is baffled to learn that the jocular Fred is actually related to her unpleasant boss; Becker tersely agrees to have lunch with his father. Back at the diner, Reggie and Jake are also charmed by Fred as he explains that he was "on the road a lot" during his son's childhood; Becker, sure that his dad has an ulterior motive, decides that the lunch was a mistake and departs.
Linda tries to bargain with Margaret to shorten their respective work hours, and Becker dodges Margaret's attempts to discuss Fred and meets with Walter, an eccentric homeless patient. When Reggie also questions him, Becker reveals that Fred essentially abandoned him and his mother and now attempts to reconnect during sporadic reappearances. Reggie urges him to accept Fred's efforts, noting that she still grapples with her own regret over arguing with her father shortly before his premature death. Later, Becker finds that his oddball neighbor Eddie has granted Fred access to his apartment; he finally confronts his father about his departure from the family. Fred explains that he felt obligated to leave the home when the marriage fell apart and Becker's mother expressed concern that he was a "bad influence." He adds that he attended his son's games and graduations where possible and now respects his capacity for blunt honesty. Becker seems unmoved, but he is later somewhat touched to find that his father has left him an affectionate, if belated, Christmas present. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: February 15, 1999 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:71571
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Doctors; New York City; Fathers and sons
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1998-2004
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dave Hackel … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Ian Gurvitz … Co-Executive Producer
- Russ Woody … Co-Executive Producer
- Tim Berry … Producer
- Andy Ackerman … Producer, Director
- Lori A. Moneymaker … Co-Producer
- Bruce Miller … Music by
- Ted Danson … Cast, Dr. John Becker
- Terry Farrell … Cast, Reggie Kostas
- Hattie Winston … Cast, Margaret Wyborn
- Shawnee Smith … Cast, Linda
- Alex Désert … Cast, Jake Malinak
- Dick Van Dyke … Cast, Fred Becker
- Jim Rash … Cast, Eddie Blatt
- Robert Arce … Cast, Walter
- Lombardo Boyar … Cast, Hector
- Darlene Kardon … Cast, Mrs. Fineman
- Arturo Gil … Cast, Water Man