The Ellen Burstyn Show

Last updated
The Ellen Burstyn Show
Ellen Burstyn Show.jpg
GenreSitcom
Created byNorman Steinberg
David Frankel
Written byRobert Bruce
Howard Gewirtz
Bob Rosenfarb
Norman Steinberg
Martin Weiss
Directed byNorman Steinberg
Dolores Ferraro
Sam Weisman
Starring Ellen Burstyn
Elaine Stritch
Megan Mullally
Barry Sobel
Jesse Tendler
Opening theme"Nothing in the World Like Love" performed by Rita Coolidge
ComposerArtie Butler
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producerNorman Steinberg
Producers David Frankel
Ronald E. Frazier
CinematographyGeorge Spiro Dibie
Editors Andy Ackerman
Jimmy B. Frazier
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesEllen Burstyn Productions
P.S. 235 Productions
Touchstone Television
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseSeptember 20, 1986 (1986-09-20) 
September 5, 1987 (1987-09-05)

The Ellen Burstyn Show is an American sitcom starring Ellen Burstyn. The series was produced by Touchstone Television and debuted on ABC on September 20, 1986. The series was canceled after 13 episodes.

Contents

Synopsis

Burstyn played Baltimore college professor Ellen Brewer, who sometimes had to deal not only with the students she has to tutor, but also with her meddling mother, Sydney (played by fellow veteran Broadway/film actress Elaine Stritch, who was only 7 years older than Burstyn), her divorced daughter, Molly (Megan Mullally) and her 512 year old grandson, Nick (played by Jesse Tendler).

Cast

ActorRole
Ellen Burstyn Ellen Brewer
Megan Mullally Molly Brewer Ross
Elaine Stritch Sydney Brewer
Barry Sobel Tom Hines
Jesse TendlerNick Ross
Timothy BigginsMike Brewer

Cancellation

The series debuted on September 20, 1986, and ran until November 15, 1986. It was cancelled after eight episodes but returned in August of 1987 to burn off the remaining five episodes. The final episode aired on September 5, 1987, ranking as the third-lowest-rated series on network television (81st out of 83 shows, with a 7.6/13 rating/share). [1]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot"Norman SteinbergStory by: Norman Steinberg & David Frankel
Teleplay by: David Frankel
September 20, 1986 (1986-09-20)
2"Monkey Business"UnknownUnknownSeptember 27, 1986 (1986-09-27)
3"Where There's a Will"UnknownUnknownOctober 4, 1986 (1986-10-04)
4"The Guest Lecturer"UnknownUnknownOctober 18, 1986 (1986-10-18)
5"Crime and Punishment"UnknownUnknownOctober 25, 1986 (1986-10-25)
6"Sydney's Night Out"UnknownUnknownNovember 1, 1986 (1986-11-01)
7"Reading Between the Lines"UnknownUnknownNovember 8, 1986 (1986-11-08)
8"Family Affair"Norman SteinbergBob RosenfarbNovember 15, 1986 (1986-11-15)
9"Molly Sings the Blues"UnknownUnknownAugust 8, 1987 (1987-08-08)
10"Writer, Wronger"UnknownUnknownAugust 15, 1987 (1987-08-15)
11"The Box"UnknownUnknownAugust 22, 1987 (1987-08-22)
12"Writes of Passage"UnknownUnknownSeptember 5, 1987 (1987-09-05)
13"I'm Dancing Faster Than I Can"TBDTBDUNAIRED

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References