Empty Nest is an American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons on NBC from October 8, 1988, to June 17, 1995. The series, which was created as a spin-off of The Golden Girls by creator and producer Susan Harris, starred Richard Mulligan as recently widowed pediatrician Dr. Harry Weston, whose two adult daughters return home to live with him. The series was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions in association with Touchstone Television.
History
An early version of the series initially appeared in the 1987 Golden Girls episode "Empty Nests" that was intended to act as a backdoor pilot for the spin-off, which was to begin during the fall 1987 TV season.
In the episode, George and Renee Corliss (played by Paul Dooley and Rita Moreno), were introduced as the Girls' neighbors, a middle-aged couple suffering from empty nest syndrome. Their teenage daughter Jenny (Jane Harnick), who had left for college, and Renee's brother Chuck (Geoffrey Lewis), also appeared. The Corlisses also had an annoying neighbor played by David Leisure (although in this version his character was named Oliver). The series was, in part, conceived as a star vehicle for Leisure, whose portrayal of car salesman Joe Isuzu had made him a national celebrity.
Moreno later criticized the Empty Nest pilot, calling it a "very, very bad show."
Ultimately, the series did not go ahead as planned and the premise was later extensively revamped with a new cast before Empty Nest debuted in 1988. The set of the Corlisses' house, however, was exactly the same as the one that later became the Weston residence.
Premise
The show's story revolves around Miami pediatrician Dr. Harry Weston, whose life is turned upside down when his wife, Libby, dies and two of his adult daughters move back into the family home. Later estranged daughter Emily returns to the nest (Lisa Rieffel). Early episodes establish that the Golden Girls characters are neighbors of the Westons. Original Golden Girls actors, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White and Estelle Getty all guest-star as their Golden Girls characters, and Mulligan appears occasionally on The Golden Girls.
In the show, eldest daughter Carol is a highly-strung recent divorcée, while middle daughter Barbara is a tough undercover police officer. The two sisters frequently bicker and vie for the attention of their father, whom they call "Daddy". The Westons' large dog Dreyfuss also prominently features as a member of the household.
In 1992, Kristy McNichol, who played Barbara, left the show, and Lisa Rieffel joined the cast as the third Weston daughter, Emily. Her character had previously not been shown onscreen, but had been mentioned as being away at college. Rieffel left after one season, and for the show's final two seasons only eldest daughter Carol remained of the Weston children. Kristy McNichol returned for the series finale in 1995.
Another main character is the Westons' neighbor and friend, Charley Dietz (David Leisure), a womanizing cruise ship employee who frequently enters the house uninvited and takes food or makes sexist comments. Charley has a father-son relationship with Harry and a love-hate relationship with Carol. Charley's role increased in later seasons after Leisure's other role as Joe Isuzu was discontinued.
In the subsequent decade, the series did not air on American television. Hallmark Channel, which also licenses the rights to The Golden Girls, picked up the rights to the show in early 2011 and aired it from February 26 to June 26 of that year, but eventually removed it altogether.
Upon its launch on April 15, 2015, the new digital sub-channel Laff began airing the series and continued until March 30, 2018.
In Canada, the series was rerun on CBC Television during the 1990s.
In Italy, the series aired on Rai Uno (or Rai 1) under the name ' (Daddy's Dog) during the 1990s.
In the UK, the series was shown on Channel 4 during the 1990s.
Awards
In 1989, Richard Mulligan won both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The series received a number of other Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations over the years, especially for Mulligan and for Park Overall, who was nominated three times for a Golden Globe Award.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1989
| Golden Globe Awards
| Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy
| rowspan="2"| Richard Mulligan
|
|-
| Primetime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
|
|-
| Viewers for Quality Television
| Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series
| Park Overall
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1990
| rowspan="2"| Golden Globe Awards
| Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy
| Richard Mulligan
|
|-
| Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
| Empty Nest
|
|-
| Primetime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
| rowspan="2"| Richard Mulligan
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| Viewers for Quality Television
| Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series
|
|-
| Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series
| Park Overall
|
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1991
| rowspan="2"| Golden Globe Awards
| Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy
| Richard Mulligan
|
|-
| Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
| Park Overall
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| Primetime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
| Danny Thomas
|
|-
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
| rowspan="2"| Richard Mulligan
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| Viewers for Quality Television
| Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series
|
|-
| Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series
| Park Overall
|
|-
| 1992
| rowspan="2"| Golden Globe Awards
| rowspan="2"| Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
| rowspan="2"| Park Overall
|
|-
| 1993
|
|}
See also
- Dear John (1988)
- The Golden Girls
- Spinoffs