Bless This House (US)

recurring characters:

Bless This House... or The Honeymooners revisited, Roseanne-style. Instead of Ralph and Alice, we get Burt and Alice, and very few laughs. The two stars are so much more powerful than their conventionally written roles that this is one sitcom which seemed perpetually on the verge of actual domestic violence; however, nothing that interesting happened.

Production credits:
Mohawk Productions/Warner Bros.
Executive producers: Bruce Helford, Billy Van Zandt, Jane Milmore
Co-executive producers: Barbara Gale, Michael Rotenberg
Supervising producer: Matt Ember
Producers: Bill Masters, Susan Cridland Wick, Joey Gutierrez & Diane Burroughs
Produced by Frank Pace
Associate producers: Brenda Bos, Jean Zuhorski
Creative consultant: Sam Simon
Executive story editor: Lona Williams
Story editor: Jeff Lowell

1st Season 1995

1. "Pilot"
   gs: Randy Graff [ Marion ], Mimi Kennedy [ Mrs. Elkins ], Arneta Walker [ Judy ]

   rc: Cuba, Vicki, Jane

   The Claytons consider buying a house; Danny's friend Jane is sleeping over frequently -- because her mother is sleeping around.

   b: 11 Sep 95 pc: 475098 w: Bruce Helford d: Barnet Kellman

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2. "A Woman's Work is Never Done"
   gs: Matt Carey [ Matthew ], Bruce Kirby [ Bill ], Lorraine Toussaint [ Lorraine ]

   rc: Cuba, Vicki

   Alice applies for a job as a legal secretary, then is fired from her head cashier position when her boss learns of the interview; Danny brings home Matthew, her first boyfriend (who is 14, two years older than she is), then is crushed when her schoolmates spread lewd speculations.

   b: 13 Sep 95 pc: 457551 w: Bruce Helford d: Barnet Kellman

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3. "Company Loves Misery"
   gs: Dorah Barton [ Sammy ]

   rc: Cuba, Vicki

   Ever-bickering Lenny and Phyllis hope to inject some romance into their marriage by tagging along for Burt and Alice's anniversary celebration.

   b: 20 Sep 95 pc: 457552 w: Diane Burroughs & Joey Gutierrez d: Barnet Kellman

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4. "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"
   Alice and Burt are divided over whether to let 12-year-old Danny go to the movies alone with Matthew; meanwhile, everyone's plans are stalled when the family car is stolen while Alice is in an ATM.
   b: 27 Sep 95 pc: 457553 w: Susan Cridland Wick d: Barnet Kellman

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5. "I Am Not My Sister's Keeper"
   gs: Rosie O'Donnell [ Peg ], Michael Rispoli [ Unknown ]

   rc: Cuba

   Burt has never been fond of his sister's boyfriend, and the latest one is no exception.

   b: 11 Oct 95 pc: 457555 w: Matt Ember d: Barnet Kellman

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6. "Where There's Smoke, You're Fired"
   gs: Michael Manasseri [ Todd ]

   Frustrated by her jerk of a teenage boss at her temporary job, Alice starts smoking again -- and catches Danny in the mall washroom with a pack of cigarettes; Burt tries to resist Vicki's amorous advances.

   b: 18 Oct 95 pc: 457554 w: Bill Masters d: Barnet Kellman

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7. "The Road to Hell is Paved With Good Intentions"
   gs: Neal Lerner [ Unknown ]

   Burt's dogged by a guilty conscience when he forgets to pick up Sean from school, so he tries to make amends by getting him a puppy.

   b: 25 Oct 95 pc: 457556 or 7 w: Jeff Lowell d: Barnet Kellman

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8. "A Fight a Day Keeps the Doctor Away"
   gs:

   rc:

   The Claytons resume their house hunting and also decide to get a new life-insurance policy, but Burt fears he won't pass the required physical exam.

   b: 1 Nov 95 pc: 457556 or 7 w: Diane Burroughs & Joey Gutierrez d: Barnet Kellman

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9. "Fish and Guests Stink After Three Days"
   gs: Alan Blumenfeld [ Louise ], Pierre Epstein [ Hotel Manager ], Magda Harout [ Mrs. Lewis ]

   rc: Jane, Vicki

   As the Claytons prepared to move into their new home, Lenny -- still feuding with his wife -- assumes he's coming along.

   b: 8 Nov 95 pc: 457558 w: Susan Cridland Wick d: Barnet Kellman

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10. "The Postman Always Moves Twice"
    gs: Burt Young [ Mr. Riveto ], Brad Dourif [ Jimmy ]

    Before moving into their new home, the Claytons trash their apartment to get back at their landlord.

    b: 15 Nov 95 pc: 457559 w: Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore d: Barnet Kellman

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11. "Neither a Borrower Nor a Landlord Be"
    gs: Patty Ross [ Joy ], B.D. Wong [ Johnny Chen ], Ralph Ahn [ Uncle Lou ], Terri Garber [ Mrs Rasmussen ], Jeffrey King [ Mr. Rasmussen ], Beulah Quo [ Old Woman ], Stephen Rowe [ Mr. Noah ]

    rc: Cuba

    Forced to choose between having a deranged neighbor of having "our house foreclosed on before we even make the first mortgage payment," the Claytons decide to rent out their new home.

    b: 22 Nov 95 pc: 457560 w: Matt Ember d: Barnet Kellman

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12. "If It Ain't Broke, Break It"
    gs: Jay Thomas [ Ted ]

    rc: Cuba

    Burt buys an expensive reclining chair from an obnoxious salesman.

    b: 13 Dec 95 pc: 457561 w: Lona Williams d: Pamela Fryman

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13. "Misery on 34th Street"
    gs: Richard Fancy [ Dr. Hayman ], Elaine Stritch [ Sheila ]

    It's a joyless Christmas at the Claytons' when Alice's mother Sheila arrives with unwanted advice on how to discipline Danny, leaving Burt to play referee for the feuding females.

    b: 20 Dec 95 pc: 457562 w: Bill Masters d: Shelley Jensen

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14. "The Bowling Method"
    gs: Patty Ross [ Joy ], Charlayne Woodward [ Charlene ]

    After one pregnancy scare too many, Burt and Alice decide that one of them will have to undergo surgery.

    b: 3 Jan 96 pc: 457563 w: Janice Jordan d: Pamela Fryman

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15. "One Man's Ceiling is Another Man's Stereo"
    gs: Jane Carr [ Margo ], Robert Harper [ Thad ], Patricia Healy [ Vicki ], Jack Shearer [ Cop #1 ], Monte Russell [ Cop #2 ], Cody McManis [ Hunter ], Dustin Voigt [ Will ]

    rc: Vicki

    b: 10 Jan 96 pc: 457565 w: Bruce Rasmussen d: Pamela Fryman

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16. "Natural Born Parents"
    gs: Don Fischer [ Prison Guard ], Monica Schneider [ Annie ]

    rc: Vicki, Jane

    When Danny gets an A in English, Burt and Alice are understandably proud, but then they discover it was because of her school project -- corresponding with a pen pal who happens to be a mass murderer.

    b: 17 Jan 96 pc: 457566 w: Diane Burroughs & Joey Gutierrez d: Shelley Jensen