The Nanny
Thursday, January 13th, 2000SEASON 1 – CBS
Theme song: “The Nanny Named Fran” written by Ann Hampton Callaway, performed by Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway. NOTE: The pilot lead-in utilized the song “If My Friends Could See Me Now” as performed by Gwen Verdon, which was subsequently dropped and replaced in syndicated releases of the pilot episode
- 001. Pilot – 11/3/1993
- Outspoken Jewish woman Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) is employed as a bridal consultant in Flushing, New York until her boss and boyfriend Danny Imperiali (Jonathan Penner) breaks up with and fires her. Fran begins selling door-to-door cosmetics and stumbles onto the home of widowed British Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy). The butler Niles (Daniel Davis) mistakes Fran for a nanny applicant, and although she is exposed as having no credentials, Sheffield gives her a shot for the weekend since he is hosting a party, and his business partner C.C. Babcock (Lauren Lane), who is clearly interested in Maxwell beyond work, doesn’t want the kids around for it. Fran immediately moves into the mansion and tries to blend into the family by eating at the breakfast table with Sheffield and his three children, the timid Maggie (Nicholle Tom), the impudent Brighton (Benjamin Salisbury), and the youngest Grace (Madeline Zima), who is already in therapy. Her first act is to ignore the wishes of their father and C.C. by getting them prepared to attend the party. Sheffield is initially shocked when they show up, but their polished behavior quickly wins him over and he admits that the party went well. However when he catches Maggie kissing Eddie (James Marsden), one of the catering company’s workers, he blows his top, and ends up firing Fran when she tries to interfere. Maxwell later visits Fran at the home of her mother Sylvia (Renee Taylor) and asks Fran to come back with the stipulation that each of them try to understand the other’s viewpoints on things a little better. Rachel Chagall is Fran’s friend Val Toriello. Dee Dee Rescher is Dottie. 1/17/16