TRYING TIMES: DRIVE, SHE SAID (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series that offers a humorous look at life's "trying times." In this episode, an art history professor and Faberge egg expert, Robin, explains that she has always had a dream of accomplishing something great. She is then faced with a crisis when her boyfriend George unexpectedly leaves her for the female star of the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard" because, he says, she is more exciting and loves to drive cars. Stung, Robin makes a to-do list and decides that the first step toward taking control of her life and getting out of the rut she finds herself in is to learn how to drive. She admits to her therapist that she is afraid of learning the new skill, and when she goes to the driving school, the teacher Gerry is somewhat harsh with her. During her first lesson, however, he attempts to ease her tension and asks her about her life. In class, one of her students flirts with her and suggests that she should consider a younger man, but she is unconvinced. She continues practicing her driving skills, but always avoid turning left.
Robin then runs into George and "the Duchess" at a car dealership, fueling her desire to learn. She asks Gerry about his life and his love for driving, and he points out that she turns everything into a test and knows more about "old eggs" than real life. She finally admits that she is "stuck," and is surprised when he kisses her. She tells her therapist that she is unsure about him, and when she encounters George again on the road, she is so flustered that she ends up rear-ending a cop. Finally, on the day of her test, she tries dressing in "the Duchess'" sexy style, and the instructor actually mistakes her for the celebrity. He is lenient with her imperfect driving and terrible park job, and she is thrilled to find that she has not only passed the test, but is the school's 10,000th driver and the city's millionth licensed citizen, leading to a celebration in her honor. "The Duchess" explains how Robin's influenced change her life, and George seems to regret breaking up with her. Gerry reveals that he is actually highly educated and ended up marrying Robin, and Robin happily reports that she is no longer "stuck." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: October 25, 1987 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:74389
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Satire
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1987, 1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Philip Keatley … Executive Producer
- Phylis Geller … Executive Producer
- Ed Richardson … Producer
- Jon S. Denny … Producer, Developed by
- Crawford Hawkins … Associate Producer
- Derek Gardner … Line Producer
- Sheldon Larry … Director
- Wendy Wasserstein … Writer
- Brian Tate … Music by
- James Newton Howard … Theme Music by
- Teri Garr … Cast, Robin
- Lyman Ward … Cast, George
- Catherine Bach … Cast, "The Duchess"
- Ruth Springford … Cast, Dr. Iris
- Ron Silver … Cast, Gerry
- Jeff Shultz … Cast, The Student
- Jay Brazeau … Cast, The Driving Examiner