Home Free (TV Series)
Encyclopedia
Home Free is an American sitcom that aired on ABC
for 13 episodes in the spring of 1993. It was a starring vehicle for Matthew Perry
, who at this point was making his mark in Hollywood and was just over a year away from his landmark role as Chandler Bing
on Friends
. Among the well-known co-stars were Marian Mercer
and Diana Canova. The series was created by Tim O'Donnell
and Richard Gurman.
) and nephew Lucas (Scott McAfee
), with whom he had particularly close bond. Matt's struggle to maintain his wild, free-living lifestyle while facing his new realities were the focus of most episodes. At the newspaper where he worked as a cub reporter, Matt's other world included co-worker and best friend Walter Peters (Dan Schneider
), foxy photographer Laura (Brooke Theiss
), of whom Matt was especially attracted to; and their gruff editor, Ben Brookstone (Alan Oppenheimer
).
(which was about to end its run) and Home Improvement. After only five episodes, the show relocated to the 9:30/8:30c timeslot of ABC
's TGIF
, in order to boost its ratings. The show remained there until it was cancelled in July 1993.
.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
for 13 episodes in the spring of 1993. It was a starring vehicle for Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry is Canadian-American television and film actor.Matthew Perry or Matt Perry may also refer to:*Matthew C. Perry , American naval officer who forcibly opened Japan to trade with the West...
, who at this point was making his mark in Hollywood and was just over a year away from his landmark role as Chandler Bing
Chandler Bing
Chandler Muriel Bing is a fictional character on the popular U.S. television sitcom Friends, portrayed by Matthew Perry.-Background:Chandler Muriel Bing was born on April 8, 1968, the son of an erotic novelist mother and a cross-dressing Las Vegas star and is of Scottish ancestry. Chandler was Ross...
on Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. Among the well-known co-stars were Marian Mercer
Marian Mercer
Marian Ethel Mercer was an American actress and singer.Born in Akron, Ohio, she graduated from the University of Michigan, then spent several seasons working in summer stock. She made her Broadway debut in the chorus of the short-lived musical, Greenwillow in 1960...
and Diana Canova. The series was created by Tim O'Donnell
Tim O'Donnell (director)
Tim O'Donnell is an American television director, producer and writer.He began his career as a writer, writing episodes of Gloria, Diff'rent Strokes, Growing Pains and Just the Ten of Us. He made is directorial debut with the television series Home Free starring Matthew Perry, a series he...
and Richard Gurman.
Synopsis
Matt Bailey (Perry) is a free-spirited, if somewhat lazy, 22-year-old freelance journalist enjoying the good life at home with his indulgent mom Grace (Mercer). He wasn't so concerned about completing his ascent into full-fledged adulthood, nor was he ever in a hurry to get out on his own, until his older, recently divorced sister Vanessa (Canova) returned home with her two kids so they could pick up the pieces and start their lives over. The unexpected arrangements forced Matt to take some crash courses in responsibility, to not only help out around the house, but to provide a good role model to his niece Abby (Anndi McAfeeAnndi McAfee
Anndi Lynn McAfee is an American actress, voice actress and the older sister of Scott McAfee.-Biography/Career:McAfee was born in Los Angeles, California. She started performing on stage when she was 7 years old and began working on film projects a year later...
) and nephew Lucas (Scott McAfee
Scott McAfee
Scott McAfee is an American voice actor and the one to voice Littlefoot from the The Land Before Time films II-IV. He is the younger brother of Anndi McAfee, who is the current voice for The Land Before Time character Cera....
), with whom he had particularly close bond. Matt's struggle to maintain his wild, free-living lifestyle while facing his new realities were the focus of most episodes. At the newspaper where he worked as a cub reporter, Matt's other world included co-worker and best friend Walter Peters (Dan Schneider
Dan Schneider (TV producer)
Daniel James "Dan" Schneider is an American songwriter, actor, writer, and producer of films and television. He is the co-president of his own production company called Schneider's Bakery....
), foxy photographer Laura (Brooke Theiss
Brooke Theiss
Brooke Theiss-Genesse is an American actress who has starred in film and on television.Her first film role was in 1988's Little Nikita, but later that year, Brooke's big role came in the hit horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master as Debbie Stevens, where the character was...
), of whom Matt was especially attracted to; and their gruff editor, Ben Brookstone (Alan Oppenheimer
Alan Oppenheimer
Alan Oppenheimer is an American character actor and voice actor. He has performed numerous roles on live-action television since the 1960s, and has had an active career doing voice work in cartoons since the 1970s.-Early life:...
).
Reception
Home Free premiered in a cushy time slot of Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c, between The Wonder YearsThe Wonder Years
The Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC from 1988 through 1993. The pilot aired on January 31, 1988 after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXII....
(which was about to end its run) and Home Improvement. After only five episodes, the show relocated to the 9:30/8:30c timeslot of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's TGIF
TGIF
TGIF is an initialism for the phrase "Thank God It's Friday", celebrating the last day of the work/school week before the weekend. Its origin dates to the 1960s. It was first popularized by the restaurant T.G.I. Friday's which was founded in 1965. However, it became mainstream by the late 1970s,...
, in order to boost its ratings. The show remained there until it was cancelled in July 1993.
Theme song
The theme song for Home Free was a soft-rock ballad performed by Christopher CrossChristopher Cross
Christopher Cross is an American singer-songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. His debut album earned him five Grammys. He is perhaps best known for his Top Ten hit songs, "Sailing", "Ride Like the Wind", and "Arthur's Theme ", the last of which he performed for the film Arthur starring Dudley Moore...
.