TRUE COLORS {ORIGINAL PILOT} (TV)
Summary
The unaired pilot in this Baltimore-based comedy series, which was later reshot with Stephanie Faracy as Ellen and the character of Stephie renamed Katie, about an interracial marriage and the blended family it creates. The program begins at the wedding of African-American Ron Freeman and Caucasian Ellen Davis, both formerly married to other partners and already parents. Both Ron and Ellen's children and relatives are unhappy with the arrangement. Two months after marrying, Ron and Ellen are still elated, but Ellen's mother Sara feels that her life has been ruined. Ellen's daughter Stephie and Ron's older son Terry are constantly bickering about their differing ideologies. To cure his family's ills, Ron encourages them all to sit down that evening for a big turkey dinner. Later, Ron talks to Mr. Lukins, one of his dentistry patients who is a turkey rancher, to get a free bird in return for a free tooth filling. That afternoon, Mr. Lukins drops off a live turkey in Ron's backyard, which is found by Ron's youngest son, Lester. Ron says he thought the bird would already be killed and cleaned. Now, however, Lester has befriended the turkey, named it Ray, and thinks of it as a pet. Ron, Terry, and Sara want the turkey for dinner, but Katie and Ellen jump on Lester's side that the turkey should be kept alive. Thus, the family is deadlocked at three votes to three. Then, the doorbell rings and it is a delivery man. The Freemans force the man to vote on whether to kill the turkey. When the man refuses, Ron decides that the turkey will not be killed and the family meal is ruined. That night, Ron broods, complaining to Ellen that the living turkey symbolizes the problems of their new family. Then, Ron has Mr. Lukins return to take back the turkey. Later that night, Ron and the family hear noises in the kitchen and worry that it's an intruder. It ends up just being Ray, as Mr. Lukins granted Lester's wish to hold onto him one more day. The police answer Stephie's call about an intruder, and subsequently think Terry is a burglar. Stephie rallies to defend Terry, and the family members declare themselves a unit. Ron and Ellen then realize that their anniversary went pretty well after all. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: FOX
- DATE: November 30, 1989
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:81118
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: Fox - TV series, 1990-1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael J. Weithorn … Executive Producer, Writer
- Faye Oshima Belyeu … Producer
- Cathy Rosenstein … Associate Producer
- Will MacKenzie … Director
- Gordon Lustig … Music by
- Mercer Ellington … Theme Music by
- Frankie R. Faison … Cast, Ron Freeman
- Joan McMurtrey … Cast, Ellen Freeman
- Claude Brooks … Cast, Terry Freeman
- Brigid Conley Walsh … Cast, Stephie Davis
- Adam Jeffries … Cast, Lester Freeman
- Nancy Walker … Cast, Sara Bower
- Parley Baer … Cast, Mr. Lukins
- Ron Dean … Cast, Police Officer
- Rachel Bard … Cast, Minister
- Joey Miyashima … Cast, Delivery Man