Chicken Soup (TV series)

Last updated
Chicken Soup
Genre Sitcom
Created by Saul Turteltaub
Bernie Orenstein
Written byPaul Perlove
Directed by Terry Hughes
Alan Rafkin
Starring Jackie Mason
Lynn Redgrave
Rita Karin
Kathryn Erbe
Johnny Pinto
Alisan Porter
Brandon Maggart
Cathy Lind Hayes
ComposerGordon Lustig
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12 (4 unaired) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersBernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub
Marcy Carsey
Tom Werner
ProducerGayle S. Maffeo
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production company Carsey-Werner Company
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseSeptember 12 (1989-09-12) –
November 7, 1989 (1989-11-07)

Chicken Soup is an American sitcom starring Jackie Mason and Lynn Redgrave. It aired on ABC from September 12 to November 7, 1989.

Contents

Overview

The series focuses on the interfaith relationship of a middle-aged Jewish man, Jackie (Mason), and an Irish Catholic woman, Maddie (Redgrave). Episodes centered around humorous situations and obstacles caused by the couple's different religions.

Controversy and cancellation

Chicken Soup was scheduled after the #1 primetime series Roseanne , [1] but was canceled because it could not hold a large-enough percentage of the audience from its lead-in and because of controversy over inflammatory remarks by Mason during the New York City Mayoral elections. [2]

Cast

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedRankRatingTied with
First airedLast aired
112 [lower-alpha 1] September 12, 1989 (1989-09-12)November 7, 1989 (1989-11-07)1317.7 Murder, She Wrote
  1. ↑ Episodes 9-12 never aired.
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot" Terry Hughes Bernie Orenstein
Saul Turteltaub		September 12, 1989 (1989-09-12)31.0 [3]
Jackie Fisher and Maddie Peerce meet and fall in love. The catch: Jackie is Jewish and Maddie is Irish Catholic.
2"The Dinner" Alan Rafkin UnknownSeptember 19, 1989 (1989-09-19)27.4 [4]
Jackie and Maddie meet some friends for a dinner full of mishaps; Donnie and Patricia are sure that the couple is doomed.
3"The Bartender"Alan RafkinUnknownSeptember 26, 1989 (1989-09-26)28.6 [5]
Jackie must play bartender when Maddie throws a girls-only party and the bartender fails to show up.
4"The Reservation"Alan RafkinUnknownOctober 3, 1989 (1989-10-03)27.7 [6]
Maddie and Jackie have problems at their favorite restaurant when neither makes a reservation.
5"Double Date"Alan RafkinUnknownOctober 10, 1989 (1989-10-10)27.8 [7]
Maddie and Jackie set their best friends up with each other and take them on a double date.
6"Take My Kids, Please"Alan RafkinUnknownOctober 24, 1989 (1989-10-24)24.3 [8]
After hearing her brother tell racist jokes, Maddie decides to make Jackie the godfather of her children.
7"Bea Moves Out"Alan RafkinUnknownOctober 31, 1989 (1989-10-31)23.3 [9]
Bea wants to be on her own and moves out of Jackie's apartment.
8"Almost Father Jackie"Alan RafkinUnknownNovember 7, 1989 (1989-11-07)22.4 [10]
Bea is upset that Jackie doesn't always act like a father.
9"The Ralph Hearns Story"Alan RafkinManny BasaneseUnaired (Unaired)N/A
10"Operation Jackie"Alan RafkinTBDUnaired (Unaired)N/A
Maddie is concerned when she learns that Jackie needs surgery.
11"Bea's Night Out"Alan RafkinTBDUnaired (Unaired)N/A
Jackie stays up all night waiting and worrying when Bea doesn't come home.
12"Community Service"Alan RafkinPaul PerloveUnaired (Unaired)N/A
Bea is sentenced to community service for her role in a school prank.

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References

  1. ↑ Oney, Steve (1989-09-10). "Jackie Mason Stirs Up a Chancy 'Chicken Soup'". New York Times.
  2. ↑ "Canned Soup". Time. 1989-11-20. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Hot Soup premieres at No. 2" . Life. USA Today . September 20, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
  4. ↑ "Cosby reclaims the top spot" . Life. USA Today . September 27, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ "NBC wins but loses viewers" . Life. USA Today . October 4, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
  6. ↑ "Baseball a base hit for NBC" . Life. USA Today . October 11, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
  7. ↑ "ABC muscles way to the top" . Life. USA Today . October 18, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ "NBC's hits beat ABC baseball" . Life. USA Today . November 1, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
  9. ↑ "NBC sweeps the week, 1-2-3" . Life. USA Today . November 8, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
  10. ↑ "Brokaw still 3rd despite coup" . Life. USA Today . November 15, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020– via ProQuest.
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