Our House (NBC TV series)
Encyclopedia
Our House is an American television drama series
that aired on NBC
for two seasons from September 11, 1986 to May 8, 1988. The series centers on the Witherspoon family and the challenges they face adjusting to life with three generations living in the same house.
) invites his daughter-in-law Jessica 'Jessie' Witherspoon (played by Deidre Hall
) and her three children to move to California to live with him until they can get back on their feet financially.
Despite protests from her children, Jessie, along with 15-year-old daughter Kris (played by Shannen Doherty
), 12-year-old son David (played by Chad Allen
), eight-year-old daughter Molly (played by Keri Houlihan), and their Basset Hound
named Arthur leave Fort Wayne, Indiana
to start their new lives in California. As they settle in to life with Gus, they realize that he can be a difficult man to live with. Predictably, a major part of the plot each week was centered on the conflict that can arise when extended family tries to live together in the same house. As the man of the house, Gus imposed rules on the three grandchildren the same way he raised his own children, but later learned ways to convey his lessons to the kids without having to be gruff. Jessie and the kids learn that beneath Gus' stern facade is a man who is wise about the ways of the world and cares about them very much.
A unique feature of the show was that each segment of an episode ended with a freeze frame
moment, which would then occupy one of the rooms in the "house" on the screen just before the commercial break. As the episode unfolded, more rooms would be filled until finally, when the dilemma had been resolved, the final piece would be put in place, completing the house.
called the series "a family show suitable for framing." Despite good reviews, the show was not a ratings hit, only ranking 53rd in its first season, and 64th in its second season. NBC had positioned Our House to be aired on Sundays at 7pm. This was an experiment to move prime time television to the 7 o'clock hour from 8 o'clock.
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
that aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
for two seasons from September 11, 1986 to May 8, 1988. The series centers on the Witherspoon family and the challenges they face adjusting to life with three generations living in the same house.
Synopsis
After his son dies, Gus Witherspoon (a retired widower played by Wilford BrimleyWilford Brimley
Allen Wilford Brimley is an American actor. He has appeared in such films as The China Syndrome, Cocoon, The Thing and The Firm. He had a recurring role on the 1970s television series The Waltons...
) invites his daughter-in-law Jessica 'Jessie' Witherspoon (played by Deidre Hall
Deidre Hall
Deidre Ann Hall is a dramatic American actress best known for her portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on NBC's daytime drama Days of our Lives, which she played for over 29 years, and is to return to the role this summer. The character is considered an icon to the soap, and has been experienced some of...
) and her three children to move to California to live with him until they can get back on their feet financially.
Despite protests from her children, Jessie, along with 15-year-old daughter Kris (played by Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Maria Doherty is an American actress, producer, author and television director, known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers , as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff series 90210, and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed .-Early life and career:Doherty was born in Memphis,...
), 12-year-old son David (played by Chad Allen
Chad Allen (actor)
Chad Allen is an American actor. Beginning a prolific career as a child actor at the age of seven, Allen is a three-time Young Artist Award winner and GLAAD Media Award honoree, best known for rising to prominence as a teen idol during the late 1980s as David Witherspoon on the NBC family drama,...
), eight-year-old daughter Molly (played by Keri Houlihan), and their Basset Hound
Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt rabbits and hare by scent. Their sense of smell for tracking is second only to that of the Bloodhound....
named Arthur leave Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
to start their new lives in California. As they settle in to life with Gus, they realize that he can be a difficult man to live with. Predictably, a major part of the plot each week was centered on the conflict that can arise when extended family tries to live together in the same house. As the man of the house, Gus imposed rules on the three grandchildren the same way he raised his own children, but later learned ways to convey his lessons to the kids without having to be gruff. Jessie and the kids learn that beneath Gus' stern facade is a man who is wise about the ways of the world and cares about them very much.
A unique feature of the show was that each segment of an episode ended with a freeze frame
Freeze frame television
Freeze frame television: Television in which fixed images are transmitted sequentially at a rate far too slow to be perceived as continuous motion by human vision...
moment, which would then occupy one of the rooms in the "house" on the screen just before the commercial break. As the episode unfolded, more rooms would be filled until finally, when the dilemma had been resolved, the final piece would be put in place, completing the house.
Cast
- Wilford BrimleyWilford BrimleyAllen Wilford Brimley is an American actor. He has appeared in such films as The China Syndrome, Cocoon, The Thing and The Firm. He had a recurring role on the 1970s television series The Waltons...
- Gus Witherspoon - Deidre HallDeidre HallDeidre Ann Hall is a dramatic American actress best known for her portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on NBC's daytime drama Days of our Lives, which she played for over 29 years, and is to return to the role this summer. The character is considered an icon to the soap, and has been experienced some of...
- Jessica 'Jessie' Witherspoon - Shannen DohertyShannen DohertyShannen Maria Doherty is an American actress, producer, author and television director, known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers , as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff series 90210, and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed .-Early life and career:Doherty was born in Memphis,...
- Kris Witherspoon - Chad AllenChad AllenChad Allen may refer to:*Chad Allen , actor known for his role on Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman*Chad Allen , baseball outfielder formerly with the Minnesota Twins...
- David Witherspoon - Keri Houlihan - Molly Witherspoon
- Gerald S. O'LoughlinGerald S. O'LoughlinGerald Stuart O'Loughlin, Jr. is an American television, stage, and film actor and director who was primarily known for playing tough-talking and rough-looking characters.-Career:...
- Joe Kaplan
Reception
Upon its 1986 premiere, the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
called the series "a family show suitable for framing." Despite good reviews, the show was not a ratings hit, only ranking 53rd in its first season, and 64th in its second season. NBC had positioned Our House to be aired on Sundays at 7pm. This was an experiment to move prime time television to the 7 o'clock hour from 8 o'clock.