Frank's Place
Encyclopedia
Frank's Place is an American comedy-drama
series which aired on CBS
for 22 episodes during the 1987-1988 television schedule. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and executive produced by Wilson and series star (and fellow WKRP in Cincinnati
alumnus) Tim Reid
.
, an Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island
, who inherits a restaurant, Chez Louisiane. In the premiere, Frank travels to New Orleans intending to sell the restaurant. But when Frank returns to New England, the life he's known there suddenly goes inexplicably haywire. Waitress Emeritus (she waits only on customers of twenty years or more of patronage) of Chez Louisiane, Miss Marie (Frances E. Williams) has a voodoo
spin (curse) put on Frank ensuring that he will come back to carry on his family's business. Feeling he has no choice, Frank returns to New Orleans and makes many discoveries about Black culture in New Orleans, the differences between northern and southern lifestyles, and himself.
On its surface, Frank's Place was a fish-out-of-water story, like The Beverly Hillbillies
or Green Acres
. However, the series' storylines featured weightier topics such as race and class issues.
.
's classic "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?". The look of the restaurant was inspired by
Austin Leslie's Chez Helene restaurant in New Orleans.
has said that, due to the prohibitive costs of the music rights, a new musical score will be recorded that will "recreate the mood of the music." He adds, "it has to be the mood of the show or I'd rather not do it." No date has been yet given for a release.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
series which aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
for 22 episodes during the 1987-1988 television schedule. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and executive produced by Wilson and series star (and fellow WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
alumnus) Tim Reid
Tim Reid
Timothy L. "Tim" Reid is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for his roles in prime time American television programs, such as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati , Marcel "Downtown" Brown on Simon & Simon , Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister and William Barnett on That 70's Show...
.
Plot
Set in New Orleans, Frank's Place chronicles the life of Frank Parrish (Tim Reid), a well-to-do African-American professor at Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, an Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, who inherits a restaurant, Chez Louisiane. In the premiere, Frank travels to New Orleans intending to sell the restaurant. But when Frank returns to New England, the life he's known there suddenly goes inexplicably haywire. Waitress Emeritus (she waits only on customers of twenty years or more of patronage) of Chez Louisiane, Miss Marie (Frances E. Williams) has a voodoo
New Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
spin (curse) put on Frank ensuring that he will come back to carry on his family's business. Feeling he has no choice, Frank returns to New Orleans and makes many discoveries about Black culture in New Orleans, the differences between northern and southern lifestyles, and himself.
On its surface, Frank's Place was a fish-out-of-water story, like The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
or Green Acres
Green Acres
Green Acres is an American television series starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm...
. However, the series' storylines featured weightier topics such as race and class issues.
Supporting cast
- Daphne Maxwell Reid (Tim Reid's real-life wife) as Hanna Griffin
- Tony BurtonTony BurtonAnthony "Tony" Burton is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Tony "Duke" Evers in the Rocky series, and is one of three actors who have appeared in all six Rocky films....
as Big Arthur - Virginia CapersVirginia CapersEliza Virginia Capers was an American actress.-Early life:Born in Sumter, South Carolina, Capers attended Howard University and studied voice at the Juilliard School in New York City. She made her Broadway debut in Jamaica in 1957...
as Mrs. Bertha Griffin-Lamour - Robert HarperRobert Harper (actor)Robert Harper is an American actor. He is perhaps most well known for his role as Sharkey in Once Upon a Time in America. He has also portrayed Charlie Gereson in Creepshow and Bubba 'Si' Weisberger in the CBS sitcom Frank's Place...
as Bubba Weisberger - Lincoln KilpatrickLincoln KilpatrickLincoln Kilpatrick was an American film, television, and stage actor.-Career:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Kilpatrick attended Lincoln University and earned a degree in drama before he began acting. Encouraged by Billie Holiday, Kilpatrick began his career in 1959 in the Broadway production of A...
as Reverend Deal - Charles Lampkin as Tiger Shepin
- Francesca P. Roberts as Anna Mae
- Don Yesso as Shorty La Roux
- William Thomas, Jr.William Thomas, Jr.William Thomas, Jr. is an African American actor. He is known for his recurring role as Vanessa Huxtable's fiancé Dabnis Brickey on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show...
as Cool Charles
Production
Unlike most sitcom productions of the era, Frank's Place was filmed with a single camera and used no laugh trackLaugh track
A laugh track is a separate soundtrack invented by Charles "Charley" Douglass, with the artificial sound of audience laughter, made to be inserted into television programming of comedy shows and sitcoms.The term "laugh track" does not apply to the genuine audience laughter on shows that shoot in...
.
Theme song
The series theme song was Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's classic "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?". The look of the restaurant was inspired by
Austin Leslie's Chez Helene restaurant in New Orleans.
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Primetime Emmy Award Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming... |
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Hugh Wilson For episode: "The Bridge" |
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special | Michael Ballin, Marty Church, Lenora Peterson, and M. Curtis Price For episode "Food Fight" |
||
| Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series | Beah Richards Beah Richards Beah Richards was an American actress of stage, screen and television. She was a poet, playwright and author.... For the role of Mrs. Varden in "The Bridge" |
||
| 1988 | Humanitas Prize Humanitas Prize The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious... |
30 Minute Category | Hugh Wilson |
| 1990 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series:-Stats:*Most Wins**Bernie Mac & Steve Harvey- 4 wins*Most Nominations**1. Bernie Mac- 6 nominations... |
Tim Reid |
| 1988 | Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | |
| 1988 | Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series | Tim Reid |
DVD release
In October 2008, CNN.com reported that because of music clearance issues, a DVD release would be unlikely. However, on November 11, 2008, TV Shows on DVD reported that plans are underway for an eventual DVD release, although Tim ReidTim Reid
Timothy L. "Tim" Reid is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for his roles in prime time American television programs, such as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati , Marcel "Downtown" Brown on Simon & Simon , Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister and William Barnett on That 70's Show...
has said that, due to the prohibitive costs of the music rights, a new musical score will be recorded that will "recreate the mood of the music." He adds, "it has to be the mood of the show or I'd rather not do it." No date has been yet given for a release.