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Homefront (American TV series)

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Homefront
GenreDrama
Created by
Starring
Theme music composer
Opening theme"Accentuate the Positive" performed by Jack Sheldon
ComposerStewart Levin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes42 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerChristopher Chulack
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 24, 1991 (1991-09-24) –
April 26, 1993 (1993-04-26)

Homefront is an American television drama series created by former Knots Landing producers Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick in association with Lorimar Television. The show is set in the late 1940s in the fictional city of River Run, Ohio, and aired on ABC from September 24, 1991, to April 26, 1993.[1] The show's theme song, "Accentuate the Positive", was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer and performed by Jack Sheldon.[2]

Series overview

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Homefront begins in September 1945 and focuses on three families from different backgrounds, the Sloan, Metcalf and Davis families. The Sloans, Mike Sr. and Ruth (Ken Jenkins and Mimi Kennedy), own a steel manufacturing factory initially responsible for making tank parts in the war. They are coming to grips with the death of their only son, Mike Jr., a soldier, and the arrival of his Italian war bride, Gina (Giuliana Santini), a Jewish Holocaust survivor. The Metcalfs include widow Anne (Wendy Phillips) and her three children, Hank (David Newsom), Linda (Jessica Steen) and Jeff (Kyle Chandler). Anne and Linda are dealing with being displaced from their job at the plant for returning GIs, while Hank, a returning soldier, and Jeff, a baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, are involved in a love triangle with college student Sarah Brewer (Alexandra Wilson). Meanwhile, Linda's friend, Ginger Szabo (Tammy Lauren) is shocked when her boyfriend Charlie Hailey (Harry O'Reilly) returns from the war with a British war-bride, Caroline (Sammi Davis).

Abe (Dick Anthony Williams) and Gloria Davis (Hattie Winston) are descendants from slaves and work for the Sloans as a chauffeur and housekeeper respectively. Their son Robert (Sterling Macer, Jr.) is a decorated veteran who served in Europe with the 761st Armored Battalion. He lands a job at Sloan Industries but is isolated and belittled by his racist co-workers. In the second season, he is joined by Perrette (Perrey Reeves), his white French war bride. Later cast members include Al Kahn (John Slattery), a Jewish union organiser and possible former Communist sympathiser who seduces Anne, and Judy Owens (Kelly Rutherford), a widow working as a bartender who has an affair with Mike Sr.

While the show received critical praise, it struggled in the ratings and was close to being cancelled after its first season. An April 11, 1992 issue of TV Guide ran a S.O.S (Save Our Shows) campaign to save five series from cancellation, which included Homefront, and two other period pieces (set in the 1950s), Brooklyn Bridge on CBS and I'll Fly Away on NBC. Of the five, Homefront received the most votes – 99,591 – and was subsequently renewed. Abigail Van Buren of Dear Abby also dedicated a column to the show, urging fans to write into the network to save it.[3] However ratings did not improve in its second season, and after being moved around the schedule numerous times, the show was cancelled.

Cast and characters

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Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
124September 24, 1991 (1991-09-24)April 15, 1992 (1992-04-15)
218September 17, 1992 (1992-09-17)April 26, 1993 (1993-04-26)

Season 1 (1991–92)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
Viewers
(millions)
11"S.N.A.F.U."Ron Lagomarsino[4]Lynn Marie Latham & Bernard LechowickSeptember 24, 1991 (1991-09-24)447151[4]12.2[5]
22"Take My Hand"Lorraine Senna FerraraBernard LechowickJuly 13, 1992 (1992-07-13)[a]4471528.5
33"Bedsprings"David CarsonLynn Marie LathamOctober 1, 1991 (1991-10-01)44715311.5
44"So All Alone"Lorraine Senna FerraraBernard LechowickOctober 8, 1991 (1991-10-08)44715411.5
55"Patriots"Nicholas SgarroBernard LechowickOctober 15, 1991 (1991-10-15)44715510.2
66"Holier Than Thou, Too"Bruce Seth GreenBernard LechowickOctober 29, 1991 (1991-10-29)44715610.7
77"Toledo"Nicholas SgarroLynn Marie LathamNovember 12, 1991 (1991-11-12)44715712.2
88"Kids"Bruce Seth GreenDiane Messina StanleyNovember 19, 1991 (1991-11-19)4471589.1
99"Man, This Joint is Jumping"Félix Enríquez AlcaláLynn Marie LathamNovember 26, 1991 (1991-11-26)44715910.9
1010"Splitting Hairs"Bruce Seth GreenBernard LechowickDecember 3, 1991 (1991-12-03)44716011.0
1111"Szabo's Travels"Félix Enríquez AlcaláLynn Marie LathamDecember 10, 1991 (1991-12-10)4471619.4
1212"Sinners Reconciled"Lorraine Senna FerraraBernard LechowickDecember 17, 1991 (1991-12-17)44716210.8
1313"All Theses Things Will I Give to Thee"David CarsonLynn Marie LathamJanuary 7, 1992 (1992-01-07)44716310.4
1414"When It Rains, It Pours"Bruce Seth GreenBernard LechowickJanuary 14, 1992 (1992-01-14)44716410.9
1515"That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles"Anita AddisonLynn Marie LathamJanuary 28, 1992 (1992-01-28)4471658.8
1616"Bad Connection"Lorraine Senna FerraraBernard LechowickFebruary 4, 1992 (1992-02-04)44716611.0
1717"Getting to First Base"Bruce Seth GreenLynn Marie Latham & Bernard LechowickFebruary 18, 1992 (1992-02-18)44716711.6
1818"No Man Loyal and Neutral"David CarsonDavid AssaelMarch 4, 1992 (1992-03-04)44716810.3
1919"First Sign of Spring"Lorraine Senna FerraraBernard LechowickMarch 11, 1992 (1992-03-11)4471699.5
2020"At Your Age"David CarsonBernard LechowickMarch 18, 1992 (1992-03-18)44717010.7
2121"Obstinacy or Constancy?"Joseph L. ScanlanBernard LechowickMarch 25, 1992 (1992-03-25)4471719.0
2222"If You Want it Done Right..."Lorraine Senna FerraraBernard LechowickApril 1, 1992 (1992-04-01)44717210.3
2323"Spanish Moss"Joseph L. ScanlanLynn Marie Latham & James StanleyApril 8, 1992 (1992-04-08)4471739.3
2424"Songs Unsung Are Sweetest"Nicholas SgarroBernard LechowickApril 15, 1992 (1992-04-15)44717411.1
Note
  1. ^ This episode aired out-of-order after the show's initial run, as ABC felt it was "too depressing" for new viewers.

Season 2 (1992–93)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
Viewers
(millions)
251"By Popular Demand"Joseph L. ScanlanBernard LechowickSeptember 17, 1992 (1992-09-17)4477019.2
262"The Lemo Tomato Juice Hour"Sharron MillerLynn Marie LathamSeptember 24, 1992 (1992-09-24)4477028.3
273"Can't Say No"Roy Campanella IIDiane Messina StanleyOctober 1, 1992 (1992-10-01)4477038.7
284"Appleknocker to Wed Tomatohawker"Joseph L. ScanlanBernard LechowickOctober 8, 1992 (1992-10-08)4477049.8
295"A Nickel Plate Romance"Mike VejarLynn Marie LathamOctober 22, 1992 (1992-10-22)4477058.1
306"When the Stars Begin to Fall"Sharron MillerBernard LechowickOctober 29, 1992 (1992-10-29)4477068.7
317"The Traveling Lemo All-Stars"Lorraine Senna FerraraLynn Marie LathamNovember 11, 1992 (1992-11-11)4477078.1
328"First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage"Sharron MillerBernard LechowickDecember 3, 1992 (1992-12-03)4477087.7
339"Life Is Short"Mike VejarBernard LechowickDecember 17, 1992 (1992-12-17)4477097.2
3410"Signed, Crazy in Love"Christopher ChulackJames StanleyMarch 9, 1993 (1993-03-09)4477109.6
3511"On the Rebound"Mike VejarBernard LechowickApril 23, 2000 (2000-04-23)[a]447711unaired
3612"Like Being There When You're Not"Mike VejarBernard LechowickMarch 16, 1993 (1993-03-16)4477139.4
3713"Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How"Sharron MillerLynn Marie LathamMarch 23, 1993 (1993-03-23)44771411.0
3814"Garfield Slept Here"Mike VejarLynn Marie LathamMarch 30, 1993 (1993-03-30)44771510.0
3915"By Word or Act"Sharron MillerBernard LechowickApril 6, 1993 (1993-04-06)4477169.0
4016"The Lacemakers"Sharron MillerBernard LechowickApril 13, 1993 (1993-04-13)44771210.6
4117"Shabbat Shalom"Mike VejarDiane Messina Stanley & James StanleyApril 26, 1993 (1993-04-26)4477178.8
4218"All Good Things"Sharron MillerBernard LechowickApril 26, 1993 (1993-04-26)4477188.8
Note
  1. ^ This episode was never aired by ABC during its initial run, and premiered on April 23, 2000 as part of a Homefront marathon on TV Land.

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
1992 American Cinema Editors' Eddie Award Best Edited Episode from a Television Series Michael B. Hoggan and William B. Stich (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Nominated
Casting Society of America's Artios Award Best Casting for TV, Pilot Irene Mariano Nominated
Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Episodic Irene Mariano Nominated
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Sammi Davis Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite New TV Dramatic Series Homefront Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Made for Television Movie Christopher Chulack, David Jacobs, Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Ron Lagomarsino (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Nominated
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series Jerry Gugliemotto and Barbara Ronci (For episode "Man, This Joint Is Jumping") Won
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special Jerry Gugliemotto and Georgina Williams (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Nominated
Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special - Single-Camera Production Michael B. Hoggan and William B. Stich (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Nominated
Outstanding Costuming for a Series Chic Gennarelli and Lyn Paolo (For episode "At Your Age") Won
Outstanding Costuming for a Miniseries or a Special Nanrose Buchman, Chic Gennarelli and Lyn Paolo (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Nominated
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special Anne D. McCulley and Dean E. Mitzner (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Nominated
Television Critics Association Award Outstanding Achievement in Drama Homefront Nominated
1993 American Television Awards[6] Best Dramatic Series Homefront Nominated
Best Supporting Actress, Dramatic Series Mimi Kennedy Nominated
Golden Globe Award Best Television Series – Drama Homefront Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Drama Series Lynn Marie Latham, Bernard Lechowick, David Jacobs, Diane Messina Stanley, James Stanley and Christopher Chulack Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Bernard Lechowick (For episode "The Lacemakeres") Nominated
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series Jerry Gugliemotto and Georgina Williams (For episode "Life Is Short") Nominated
Outstanding Costuming for a Series Chic Gennarelli and Lyn Paolo (For episode "Like Being There When You're Not") Won
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special Dean E. Mitzner and Tom Pedigo (For episode "The Traveling Lemo All-Stars") Won
Television Critics Association Award Outstanding Achievement in Drama Homefront Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series Mimi Kennedy Nominated
Founder's Award Lynn Marie Latham, Bernard Lechowick, David Jacobs, Diane Messina Stanley, James Stanley and Christopher Chulack Won
Writers Guild of America Award Original Long Form Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick (For episode "S.N.A.F.U.") Won

References

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  1. ^ "Ultimate Homefront Episode Guide". homefront.html. Archived from the original on December 31, 2006.
  2. ^ "Music of Homefront". Homefrontondvd.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
  3. ^ "Tonight's 'lost' 'Homefront' is powerful drama". Baltimore Sun. July 28, 1992.
  4. ^ a b From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "I Had Three Wives"]". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  5. ^ Bruce B. Morris, Prime Time Network Serials: Episode Guides, Casts and Credits for 37 Continuing Television Dramas, 1964-1993, McFarland and Company, 1997.
  6. ^ Lowry, Brian (April 16, 1993). "CBS leads noms for Emmy rival". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
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