''Apple Pie'' is an American

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...

that aired for only two episodes on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

on September 23 and September 30, 1978.

Overview

Rue McClanahan Eddi-Rue McClanahan (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010) was an American actress and comedian best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on '' Maude'' (1972–78), Aunt Fran Crowley on '' Mama's Family'' (1983–84), and Blanche ...

starred as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock, a single and lonely hairdresser who lives in Kansas City, Missouri, during the Great Depression year of 1933. When Ginger-Nell places classified ads in the local newspapers, she recruits a group of wacky relatives – a con-man husband, Fast Eddie Murtaugh; a tap-dancing daughter, Anna Marie Hollyhock; a son who wanted to fly like a bird, Junior Hollyhock; and a tottering old blind grandfather, Grandpa Hollyhock – all of whom come to live together for the laughs.

Cast

as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock *

Dabney Coleman Dabney Wharton Coleman (born January 3, 1932) is an American actor. Coleman's best known films include ''9 to 5'' (1980), '' On Golden Pond'' (1981), ''Tootsie'' (1982), '' WarGames'' (1983), '' Cloak & Dagger'' (1984), ''The Beverly Hillbillies ...

as Fast Eddie Murtaugh * Jack Gilford as Grandpa Hollyhock * Caitlin O'Heaney as Anna Marie Hollyhock * Derrel Maury as Junior Hollyhock

Episodes

Reception

When the sitcom '' Maude'' ended in April 1978, producer Norman Lear created ''Apple Pie'' as a star vehicle for Rue McClanahan, who had played Vivian Harmon on ''Maude''. The show was not well received and was canceled after two episodes, though eight had been filmed under the direction of

Peter Bonerz Peter R Bonerz (, born August 6, 1938) is an American actor and director. Early life Bonerzwas born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Elfrieda (née Kern) and Christopher Bonerz. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Marquette Un ...

. ''Apple Pie'' was broadcast Saturday nights on ABC at 8:30 p.m. during its brief two-week run. It was videotaped before a live audience at Metromedia Square in

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

.Bob Leszczak
''Single Season Sitcoms 1948–1979: A Complete Guide''
(Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2012).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Apple Pie (TV Series) 1978 American television series debuts 1978 American television series endings 1970s American sitcoms American Broadcasting Company original programming Television shows set in Kansas City, Missouri Television series set in 1933 Television series by Sony Pictures Television Television series created by Norman Lear