Brewster Place

Last updated
Brewster Place
Genre Drama
Based on The Women of Brewster Place
by Gloria Naylor
Written by Maya Angelou
Paul W. Cooper
Earl Hamner, Jr.
Dianne Houston
Don Sipes
Directed by Ivan Dixon
Jan Eliasberg
Bill Duke
Helaine Head
Starring Oprah Winfrey
Brenda Pressley
Olivia Cole
Rachael Crawford
Kelly Neal
John Cothran Jr.
Oscar Brown Jr.
John Speredakos
Jason Weaver
Theme music composer David Shire
Opening themePerformed by Take 6
ComposerDavid Shire
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes11 (2 unaired)
Production
Executive producersEarl Hamner, Jr.
Don Sipes
Oprah Winfrey
Producers Reuben Cannon
Stan Kallis
EditorsDann Cahn
Quinnie Martin, Jr.
Joe Morrisey
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesAmanda Productions
The Don Sipes Organization
Harpo Productions
Hearst Entertainment
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseMay 1 (1990-05-01) 
July 11, 1990 (1990-07-11)
Related

Brewster Place is an American drama series which aired on ABC in May 1990. The series was a spinoff of the 1989 miniseries The Women of Brewster Place , which was based upon Gloria Naylor's novel of the same name. The series starred talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who also served as co-executive producer.

Contents

Plot

Set in 1967, the series begin with events following the end of the 1989 miniseries, The Women of Brewster Place . Mattie Michael (Oprah Winfrey) is fired from her job as a beautician, and agrees to purchase a neighborhood restaurant with her best friend Etta Mae (Brenda Pressley). Kiswana (Rachel Crawford), Abshu (Kelly Neal), and Miss Sophie (Olivia Cole) are still residents of Brewster Place, and various other individuals move onto the block as the series progresses.

The series was filmed entirely in Chicago, on the lot of Winfrey's Harpo Productions. It failed to capture the audience and critical acclaim of the miniseries, and was cancelled after a month. However, the full season of 11 episodes has since been released on both VHS and DVD.

Cast

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot"UnknownUnknownMay 1, 1990 (1990-05-01)
2"Open for Business"UnknownUnknownMay 8, 1990 (1990-05-08)
3"One Small Step at a Time"UnknownUnknownMay 9, 1990 (1990-05-09)
4"Spring Fever"UnknownUnknownMay 16, 1990 (1990-05-16)
5"Whatever Happened to Patience Jones?"UnknownUnknownMay 30, 1990 (1990-05-30)
6"Gone Fishing"UnknownUnknownJune 13, 1990 (1990-06-13)
7"Bernice Sands Comes Home"UnknownUnknownJune 20, 1990 (1990-06-20)
8"The Poet"UnknownUnknownJune 27, 1990 (1990-06-27)
9"Family Album"Helaine HeadJohnny DawkinsJuly 4, 1990 (1990-07-04)
10"Say It Loud"Roy Campanella, IIDianne HoustonJuly 11, 1990 (1990-07-11)
11"Partners"TBDTBDUNAIRED
12"County General"Helaine HeadKathy McCormick & Dianne HoustonUNAIRED

Ratings

Reception

Entertainment Weekly gave the series a grade of B−, and reviewed the show mildly favorably, stating, "There's something warm and comforting about Brewster Place, and something complacent and artificial as well." [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Oprah Winfrey Show</i> 1986–2011 American syndicated talk show

The Oprah Winfrey Show, often referred to as The Oprah Show or simply Oprah, is an American daytime syndicated talk show that aired nationally for 25 seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, from Chicago, Illinois. Produced and hosted by Oprah Winfrey, it remains the highest-rated daytime talk show in American television history.

<i>Nip/Tuck</i> 2003 American medical drama television series

Nip/Tuck is an American medical drama television series created by Ryan Murphy that aired on FX in the United States from July 22, 2003, to March 3, 2010. The series, which also incorporates elements of crime drama, black comedy, family drama, satire, and psychological thriller, focuses on "McNamara/Troy", a cutting-edge, controversial plastic surgery center, and follows the personal and professional lives of its founders Dr. Sean McNamara and Dr. Christian Troy. Each episode features graphic, partial depictions of the plastic surgeries on one or more patients, as well as developments in the doctors' personal lives. Focus is also given to McNamara/Troy's anesthesiologist Dr. Liz Cruz, Christian's many sexual partners, and Sean's family. With the exception of the pilot, each episode of the series is named after one of the patients scheduled to receive plastic surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Whitfield</span> American actress (born 1953)

Lynn Whitfield is an American actress. She began her acting career in television and theatre before progressing to supporting roles in film. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her breakout performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO biographical film The Josephine Baker Story (1991).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gayle King</span> American television personality and journalist

Gayle King is an American television personality, author, and broadcast journalist for CBS News, co-hosting its flagship morning program, CBS Mornings, and before that its predecessor CBS This Morning. She is also an editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine.

<i>The Women of Brewster Place</i> (novel) 1982 novel by Gloria Naylor

The Women of Brewster Place (1982) is the debut novel of American author Gloria Naylor. It won the National Book Award in category First Novel. It was adapted as the 1989 miniseries The Women of Brewster Place and the 1990 television show Brewster Place by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions.

The Women of Brewster Place is an American television miniseries that was broadcast on March 19 and 20, 1989 on ABC. The miniseries is based upon the critically acclaimed 1982 novel of the same name by Gloria Naylor. It was produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions with a teleplay by Karen Hall. The show's theme song was performed by American R&B singer Vesta Williams, who performed both the opening and closing credits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Cole</span> American actress (1942–2018)

Olivia Carlena Cole was an American actress, best known for her Emmy Award-winning role in the 1977 miniseries Roots.

Rachael Crawford is an actress best known for her roles in Brewster Place, Here and Now, and Show Me Yours, as well as guest appearances on various television series such as Cold Squad, Crossing Jordan, and more recently The Firm and Suits. Throughout her career, Crawford has received three Canadian Screen Award nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oprah Winfrey Network</span> American pay television network

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) is an American multinational basic cable television network which launched on January 1, 2011, effectively replacing the Discovery Health Channel. OWN is a joint venture between Warner Bros. Discovery and Harpo Studios, conceptualized largely by popular talkshow host, Oprah Winfrey—the name of Harpo Studios is Winfrey’s first name, spelled backwards.

"Believe in the Stars" is the second episode of the third season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock. The 38th overall episode of the series was written by executive producer Robert Carlock and directed by series producer Don Scardino. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 6, 2008. Guest stars in this episode include Remy Auberjonois, Todd Buonopane, Raven Goodwin, and Oprah Winfrey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oprah Winfrey</span> American talk show host, actress, producer, and author (born 1954)

Oprah Gail Winfrey, known mononymously as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which ran in national syndication for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011. Dubbed the "Queen of All Media", she was the richest African-American of the 20th century and was once the world's only black billionaire. By 2007, she was often ranked as the most influential woman in the world.

Kelly Neal is an actor. He was featured in Oprah Winfrey's series Brewster Place.

<i>Oprahs Master Class</i> American TV series or program

Oprah's Master Class is a primetime television program that airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The series premiered on the network's first day, January 1, 2011.

<i>Oprahs Lifeclass</i> American TV series or program

Oprah's Lifeclass is an American primetime television show hosted and produced by Oprah Winfrey, which aired on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The series premiered on October 10, 2011.

<i>Oprah Prime</i> American TV series or program

Oprah Prime is an American prime-time television series hosted and produced by Oprah Winfrey, airing on Oprah Winfrey Network. The series premiered on January 1, 2012, with a two-part episode featuring Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. The third season brought a new series title, Oprah Prime, and premiered on March 9, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11</span> 1st episode of the 5th season of Fringe

"Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11" is the first episode of the fifth season of the American Fox science-fiction/drama television series Fringe, and the show's 88th episode overall. The episode premiered in the United States on September 28, 2012.

<i>Finding Sarah: From Royalty to the Real World</i> American TV series or program

Finding Sarah is an American documentary television series on the Oprah Winfrey Network that debuted on June 12, 2011.

<i>Life with La Toya</i> American TV series or program

Life with La Toya is an American reality documentary television series on the Oprah Winfrey Network that debuted April 13, 2013 at 10:30/9:30c. It was announced on June 10, 2013, that the Oprah Winfrey Network ordered a twelve-episode second season.

Lindsay is an American docuseries that documents actress Lindsay Lohan's rehabilitation recovery and work following a public period of struggles in her personal life and career. The series premiered on March 9, 2014, on the Oprah Winfrey Network, and concluded on April 20, 2014. Premiere ratings were described as "modest" and then dropped, while critical reception was mixed.

Greenleaf is an American drama television series created by Craig Wright, and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate Television. Clement Virgo also serves as an executive producer and director. It stars Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, and Merle Dandridge. Greenleaf premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) on June 21, 2016.

References

  1. "Television reviews for week of May 11, 1990". Entertainment Weekly . 11 May 1990. Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2017.