Homefront (US TV series)
Encyclopedia
Homefront is an American
television drama series created and produced by Lynn Marie Latham
and Bernard Lechowick
in association with Warner Bros. Television
for ABC
. The show was set in the fictional city of River Run, Ohio
in 1945, 1946, and 1947. The show's theme song, "Accentuate the Positive", was written by Johnny Mercer
and performed by Jack Sheldon
.
Forty-two episodes were broadcast in the United States
over two seasons from 1991 to 1993. TV Guide
, Abigail Van Buren, and fans showed determination in getting ABC to continue the show for a third season before it was cancelled.
, Diane Messina Stanley
, Sharron Miller
, Bernard Lechowick
, Ron Lagomarsino
, Anita W. Addison
, David Assael, James Stanley
, David Carson
, Christopher Chulack
, Félix Enríquez Alcalá
on Sundays at 10pm Eastern but the network has since stopped airing the show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television drama series created and produced by Lynn Marie Latham
Lynn Marie Latham
Lynn Marie Latham is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer. Her initial foray into writing for television was as a story editor for the short-lived series Berrenger's in 1985...
and Bernard Lechowick
Bernard Lechowick
Bernard Lechowick is an American television writer and producer. He grew up in Mentor, Ohio and is a father of two sons, Richard Latham Lechowick and Vincent Latham Lechowick. Lechowick graduated from the University of Notre Dame...
in association with Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television is the television production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself part of Time Warner. Alongside CBS Television Studios, it serves as a television production arm of The CW Television Network , though it also produces shows for other networks, such as Shameless on...
for 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...
. The show was set in the fictional city of River Run, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1945, 1946, and 1947. The show's theme song, "Accentuate the Positive", was written by Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
and performed by Jack Sheldon
Jack Sheldon
Jack Sheldon is an American bebop and West Coast jazz trumpeter, singer, and actor. He is a trumpet player and was a comedian on The Merv Griffin Show, as well as the voice heard on several episodes of the educational music television series Schoolhouse Rock.-Biography:Sheldon was born in...
.
Forty-two episodes were broadcast in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
over two seasons from 1991 to 1993. TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, Abigail Van Buren, and fans showed determination in getting ABC to continue the show for a third season before it was cancelled.
Characters
- Sarah Brewer: College co-ed romantically torn between her soldier, Hank Metcalf, and his brother, Jeff, whom she dated during the war; Orphan; Resident of boarding house; Protestant; Studying to become a teacher.
- Abe Davis: Father whose confidence in the American dream is tested by his son's experiences with racism; Great-grandson of a slave; Son of Rebecca Davis, who was disappointed when he married a dark-skinned woman; Husband of Gloria Davis; Father of Robert Davis; Talented photographer; Once played baseball in the Negro Leagues; Employed by Mike and Ruth Sloan as a chauffeur and man-about-the-house; Shares apartment with his wife; Dreams of owning a restaurant; Attends Bethany Baptist.
- Gloria Davis: Housekeeper who aspires to own a restaurant; Wife of Abe Davis; Daughter-in-law of Rebecca Davis; Mother of Robert Davis; Employed by Mike and Ruth Sloan as a maid and cook; Only missed a single day of work when her son was born; Cared for Mike Sloan, Jr. throughout his childhood; Member of Bethany Baptist choir.
- Cpl. Robert Davis: Decorated veteran who lands a job "on the line" at Sloan Industries but is isolated and belittled by racist co-workers; Son of Abe and Gloria Davis; Grandson of Rebecca Davis; Great-great-grandson of a slave; Served in Europe with the 761st Armored Battalion.
- Caroline Hailey: British war bride determined not to have any children.
- Sgt. Charlie Hailey: Veteran who puts his battlefield skills to use for the local union.
- Al Kahn: No-nonsense union organizer who begins romancing Anne Metcalf; Divorced, Jewish, possible former Communist sympathies, originally is interested in Anne's daughter.
- Anne Metcalf: Widowed mother, displaced from work on the line at local steel manufacturer in September 1945; world is turned on end when she falls in love again.
- Lt. Hank Metcalf: Soldier who returns to River Run to find that everything has changed; Son of Stephen and Anne Metcalf; Older brother of Linda and Jeff Metcalf.
- Jeff Metcalf: Earnest young baseball player who finds romance where he least expects it; Son of Stephen and Anne Metcalf; Younger brother of Hank and Linda Metcalf.
- Linda Metcalf: Young woman who enjoys the fulfillment she finds in paying work; Daughter of Stephen and Anne Metcalf; Only sister of Hank and Jeff Metcalf; Best friend to Ginger Szabo.
- Judy Owen: Beautiful blonde bartender with a thing for baseball; Parents are no longer alive; Widowed when husband, Tom Owen, was shot down over the Pacific Ocean; Lives in Clearwater, Florida, in apartment over bar where she is employed.
- Gina Sloan: Italian war bride who arrives in the U.S. only to find that her husband, Mike Sloan, Jr., has been killed; Jewish Holocaust survivor.
- Mike Sloan, Sr.: Steel manufacturer dumbfounded by the inroads that unionization makes among his employees.
- Ruth Sloan: Icy River Run socialite coming to grips with her Italian daughter-in-law; her only son, Mike, dies on his way home to Ohio.
- Ginger Szabo: Passionate, fast-talking young woman with dreams of fame on stage or screen.
Cast
- Kyle ChandlerKyle ChandlerKyle Martin Chandler is an American film and television actor best known for his roles in the television shows Early Edition as Gary Hobson, Deputy Jackson Lamb in the film Super 8, and as Coach Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead...
as Jeff Metcalf - Sammi DavisSammi DavisSammi Davis is a British actress.She gained considerable praise for her performance in Ken Russell's The Rainbow...
as Caroline Hailey - Ken JenkinsKen JenkinsKen Jenkins is an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Bob Kelso, the Chief of Medicine on the American comedy Scrubs....
as Mike Sloan, Sr. - Mimi KennedyMimi KennedyMimi Kennedy is an American actress, author and activist.-Early life:Kennedy was born Mary Claire Kennedy in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Nancy Helen and Daniel Gerald Kennedy. She got her start in theater with the Rochester Community Players, appearing in Agatha Christie's "Spider Web"...
as Ruth Sloan - Tammy LaurenTammy LaurenTammy Lauren is an American actress who has appeared in film and television. She starred in Wishmaster, portraying Alexandra Amberson, a young woman who accidentally awakens the Djinn, a powerful spirit more commonly known as a genie.-Career:To date, Wishmaster is the only feature film in which...
as Ginger Szabo - Sterling Macer, Jr. as Cpl. Robert Davis (1991–1992)
- David NewsomDavid NewsomDavid Newsom is an American actor and fine-arts photographer. He is best known for his various critically acclaimed US television appearances, and for his work in 2005 and 2006 with Viggo Mortensen and Perceval Press.-Photography:...
as Lt. Hank Metcalf (1991–1992) - Harry O'Reilly as Sgt. Charlie Hailey
- Wendy PhillipsWendy PhillipsWendy Phillips is an American actress, noted for playing David Selby's last wife, Lauren Daniels, during the final season of Falcon Crest and for playing Gerald McRaney's wife, Claire Greene, on both Touched by an Angel and Promised Land...
as Anne Metcalf - Kelly RutherfordKelly RutherfordKelly Danne Melissa Rutherford is an American actress known for her roles of Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on Generations, Megan Lewis on Melrose Place from 1996 to 1999 and currently as Lily van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl...
as Judy Owen (1992–1993) - Giuliana Santini as Gina Sloan
- John SlatteryJohn SlatteryJohn M. Slattery, Jr. is an American actor and director, best known for his role as Roger Sterling on AMC's series Mad Men. He has been nominated for many awards, and has won two SAG Awards with the Mad Men ensemble....
as Al Kahn - Jessica SteenJessica SteenJessica Steen is a film and television actress, noted for her roles in Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, Homefront, Earth 2, Armageddon, Left Behind: World at War, NCIS, and Flashpoint....
as Linda Metcalf - Dick Anthony WilliamsDick Anthony WilliamsDick Anthony Williams is an American actor. Williams is known for his starring performances on Broadway in The Poison Tree, What the Wine-Sellers Buy and Black Picture Show. He is also remembered for playing the character of Pretty Tony in The Mack, which starred Max Julien and Richard Pryor...
as Abe Davis - Alexandra WilsonAlexandra WilsonAlexandra Wilson is an American actress, best known for being the original actress to play the role of "Josie Watts" on the soap opera Another World. Wilson played the role from 1988 to 1991...
as Sarah Brewer Metcalf (1991–1992) - Hattie WinstonHattie WinstonHattie Mae Winston is an American television, film and Broadway actress best known for her role as Margaret on Becker and as a prominent cast member of the PBS children's series The Electric Company.-Early career:...
as Gloria Davis - Katharine Roche'-Sudar and Lara Roche'-Sudar as Emma Sloan
Guest stars
Although Homefront operated largely around its main ensemble cast, guest stars were also featured. Notable repeat guests included:- John DiSanti as Sam Schenkkan
- Montrose HaginsMontrose HaginsMontrose Hagins is an African-American television actress. Hagins has starred and been a guest on popular shows such as: Seinfeld, Roc, 227, The Golden Girls, Sister, Sister, The Hughleys, The Jamie Foxx Show, What's Happening Now, The Sinbad Show, The Famous Jett Jackson...
as Grandmother Davis - Kevin Scott Allen as Ed
- Sylvia Short as Miss Watkins
- Fred Pinkars as Jonas
- Randy Harrington as Jack
- Charles FowlkesCharles FowlkesCharlie Fowlkes was an American baritone saxophonist, best known for his time with Count Basie, which lasted for more than twenty-five years....
as Royal - Courtenay McWhinney as Miss Ralston
- Robert Duncan McNeillRobert Duncan McNeillRobert Duncan McNeill is an American actor, producer, movie director, and television director who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on the television show Star Trek: Voyager.-Acting:...
as Bill Caswell - Jonathan TerryJonathan TerryJonathan Terry is a television and film actor. He is best known for his role as Starker in Halloween III: Season of the Witch and Colonel Glover in The Return of the Living Dead and Return of the Living Dead Part II.-Filmography:...
as Father Dreher - Geoffrey BlakeGeoffrey BlakeGeoffrey Blake may refer to:*Geoffrey Blake , Fourth Sea Lord*Geoffrey Blake , American film and television actor*Geoffrey Blake , English athlete...
as Jay Tweed - James GammonJames GammonJames Richard Gammon was an American actor, known for playing grizzled "good ol' boy" types in numerous films and television series.-Early life:...
as Coach Zelnick
Main crew members
Lynn Marie LathamLynn Marie Latham
Lynn Marie Latham is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer. Her initial foray into writing for television was as a story editor for the short-lived series Berrenger's in 1985...
, Diane Messina Stanley
Diane Messina Stanley
-Positions held:Strong Medicine, Judging Amy, Knots Landing, The Young And The Restless , Harper Valley P.T.A., House Calls, That's Life, Savannah, Homefront, Early Edition, Pacific Palisades, Army Wives, and Road To Avonlea...
, Sharron Miller
Sharron Miller
Sharron Miller is an American television and film director, producer, and screenwriter. She has also worked as a sound editor and film editor. Miller was the first woman ever to win the coveted Directors Guild of America Award for directing drama....
, Bernard Lechowick
Bernard Lechowick
Bernard Lechowick is an American television writer and producer. He grew up in Mentor, Ohio and is a father of two sons, Richard Latham Lechowick and Vincent Latham Lechowick. Lechowick graduated from the University of Notre Dame...
, Ron Lagomarsino
Ron Lagomarsino
-Life and education:Lagomarsino is from San Francisco, California. He is an alumnus of Santa Clara University and Tisch School of the Arts.-Directing credits:...
, Anita W. Addison
Anita W. Addison
Anita W. Addison was an American television and film director and producer.-Biography:Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Addison began working as a journalist before embarking on a directing and producing career. In the late 1980s, she worked as a senior VP of drama development at Lorimar before...
, David Assael, James Stanley
James Stanley (writer)
James Stanley is an American TV writer, producer and actor. He has also been credited as James Carl Stanley and Jim Stanley. He is married to Diane Messina Stanley, who is also a writer.-Positions held:...
, David Carson
David Carson (director)
David Carson is a British television director. He has directed episodes of many TV series, including The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Smallville, Doogie Howser, M.D., and L.A. Law...
, Christopher Chulack
Christopher Chulack
Christopher Chulack is an American television producer and director. He has worked extensively on ER and has won several awards.-ER:Chulack began working on the NBC medical drama ER as a director and producer with the first season. He was promoted to co-executive producer midway through the third...
, Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Félix Enríquez Alcalá
Félix Enríquez Alcalá is an American film and television director.-Career:...
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series | Jerry Gugliemotto and Barbara Ronci (For episode "Man This Joint Is Jumping") |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costuming for a Series | Chic Gennarelli and Lyn Paolo (For episode "At Your Age") | ||
| 1993 | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costuming for a Series | Chic Gennarelli and Lyn Paolo (For episode "Like Being There When You're Not") | |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series | Dean Edward Mitzner and Tom Pedigo (For episode "The Traveling Lemo All-Stars") | ||
| 1992 | People's Choice Awards People's Choice Awards The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett... |
Favorite New TV Dramatic Series | |
| 1993 | Viewers For Quality Television Award Viewers For Quality Television Viewers for Quality Television was an American nonprofit organization founded in 1984 to advocate network television series that members of the organization voted to be of the "highest quality." The group's goal was to rescue "...critically acclaimed programs from cancellation despite their... |
Founder's Award | Christopher Chulack Christopher Chulack Christopher Chulack is an American television producer and director. He has worked extensively on ER and has won several awards.-ER:Chulack began working on the NBC medical drama ER as a director and producer with the first season. He was promoted to co-executive producer midway through the third... , Lynn Marie Latham Lynn Marie Latham Lynn Marie Latham is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer. Her initial foray into writing for television was as a story editor for the short-lived series Berrenger's in 1985... , Bernard Lechowick Bernard Lechowick Bernard Lechowick is an American television writer and producer. He grew up in Mentor, Ohio and is a father of two sons, Richard Latham Lechowick and Vincent Latham Lechowick. Lechowick graduated from the University of Notre Dame... , Diane Messina Stanley Diane Messina Stanley -Positions held:Strong Medicine, Judging Amy, Knots Landing, The Young And The Restless , Harper Valley P.T.A., House Calls, That's Life, Savannah, Homefront, Early Edition, Pacific Palisades, Army Wives, and Road To Avonlea... , and James Stanley James Stanley (writer) James Stanley is an American TV writer, producer and actor. He has also been credited as James Carl Stanley and Jim Stanley. He is married to Diane Messina Stanley, who is also a writer.-Positions held:... |
| Writers Guild of America Award Writers Guild of America Award The Writers Guild of America Award for outstanding achievements in film, television, and radio has been presented annually by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West since 1949... |
Original Long Form | Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick (For episode "SNAFU") |
Syndication
Homefront was aired in the United States by the AmericanLife TV NetworkAmericanLife TV Network
Youtoo TV, formerly known as American Life TV Network , GoodLife TV Network, and Nostalgia Television, is an American cable-television channel launched on May 1, 1985. It now claims over 15 million subscribers throughout the U.S...
on Sundays at 10pm Eastern but the network has since stopped airing the show.