Princesses
Cast photo
GenreSitcom
Created byBarry Kemp
Mark Ganzel
Robin Schiff
Directed byLee Shallat-Chemel
Starring
Opening theme"Someday My Prince Will Come", performed by The Roches
ComposerJ. A. C. Redford
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8 (3 unaired) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 27 (1991-09-27) –
October 25, 1991 (1991-10-25)

Princesses is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 27 to October 25, 1991. The series was produced by Universal Television and lasted five episodes. The series theme song, "Someday My Prince Will Come" (from Disney's animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), was performed by The Roches.

Synopsis

The series chronicles the lives of three female roommates in New York City, each with a different background and upbringing, thus the series' title: Tracy Dillon (Julie Hagerty), a ditzy English teacher who dumps her fiancé after learning about his previous two marriages; Tracy's longtime best friend Melissa Kirshner (Fran Drescher), an outspoken Jewish-American who sells cosmetics at a department store; and Georgina "Georgy" de La Rue (Twiggy), a naive, recently widowed English princess (and whose previous occupation was that of a showgirl) who arrives in the U.S. to challenge her late husband's contested will. The idea of the three being roommates in the same apartment happened accidentally because the apartment's owner Tony promised Tracy and Georgy the use of the rent-free building without telling either one who would use it or to whom he had loaned it.

Cast

Recurring

Notable guest stars

  • James Read as Michael Decrow, Tracy's fiancé (in "Pilot")
  • Leann Hunley as Andrea Sussman, Mike's business partner and ex-wife (in "Pilot")
  • Peter Hobbs as the Reverend (in "Pilot")
  • Bradford Tatum as Mike, Tracy's student (in "Luv Leddahs")
  • Richard Kind as Dr. Len Kleckner, Melissa's dentist brother-in-law (in "My Price Will Gum")
  • William Daniels as Harrison Fadiman (in "The Snob Who Came to Dinner")
  • Charles Dennis as Charles Hawkenberry (in "The Snob Who Came to Dinner")
  • Rod Loomis as Edward (in "Tall, Dark, and Hansom")

Production and cancellation

Before the show's premiere, entertainment media outlets such as Entertainment Tonight began publicizing the show's behind-the-scenes woes. In an effort to downplay the behind-the-scenes turmoil on Princesses, CBS execs initially touted the series as "promising" to advertisers. However, upon its premiere, Princesses received negative reviews and placed last in the Nielsen ratings for its timeslot.

On October 14, Universal Television and Hagerty announced that Hagerty had departed the series in a mutual decision.[1][2] While producers were planning to create a storyline to write off and replace Hagerty's character, CBS cancelled the series and pulled it from the air.

Following the series cancellation, Drescher and Twiggy remained good friends as the latter returned to England. While going to visit Twiggy in England, Drescher accidentally ran into CBS programming head Jeff Sagansky on her flight, and he gave Drescher a chance to pitch her own series. While visiting Twiggy, Drescher came up with the idea of what became The Nanny.[3][4]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"Lee Shallat-ChemelMark Ganzel & Robin SchiffSeptember 27, 1991 (1991-09-27)
After a six-week relationship, English teacher Tracy Dillon prepares to marry businessman Mike Decrow. While he secures the two a sublet for a penthouse from a friend, they discover Princess Georgina de La Rue has also been sublet the apartment due to her being left penniless amidst a lawsuit from her late husband's children. After discovering Mike has hidden two ex-wives from her – one of them being his business partner – Tracy breaks off the engagement, agreeing to share the penthouse with Georgy and inviting her best friend Melissa.
2"Her Highness for Hire"Lee Shallat-ChemelSally Lapiduss & Pamela EellsOctober 4, 1991 (1991-10-04)
Needing some money to pay off debts, Georgy decides to return to her roots as a showgirl for financial support.
3"Luv Leddahs"Lee Shallat-ChemelMarion GrodinOctober 11, 1991 (1991-10-11)
Tracy becomes intrigued by a student's written essay, which reads more like a love letter than an assignment. But when Melissa and Georgy encourage her to write one back, it ends up backfiring as she becomes embroiled in the student's marriage.
4"My Prince Will Gum"Lee Shallat-ChemelJohn BowmanOctober 18, 1991 (1991-10-18)
Melissa is reluctant to attend the "Periodontist's Ball" so her snooty sister can set her up with her husband's new associate. Melissa decides to see her date for herself by pretending to be a patient, but discovers her prince of a brother-in-law may be too charming with his hygienist.
5"Georgy Sings the Blues"Lee Shallat-ChemelMark Ganzel & Robin SchiffOctober 25, 1991 (1991-10-25)
Georgy hopes to come to the rescue by tracking down a suicidal talent agent, whom she lets in to the apartment as a way to get him to see her showbiz talents. Meanwhile, Tracy passes up a chance to go on a blind date with a person much shorter than her.
6"The Snob Who Came to Dinner"Lee Shallat-ChemelMark Ganzel & Robin SchiffUnaired
Melissa and Tracy use Georgy to throw a party in an attempt to meet eligible bachelors in the building. However, all they get is a snooty columnist (William Daniels) with a habit of chasing people away – but captures Tracy's attention.
7"Showuhs in Yonkuhs Fall Mainly on Flowuhs"Lee Shallat-ChemelJohn BowmanUnaired
Melissa turns to Georgy for speech lessons in an effort to impress a Greek tycoon.
8"Tall, Dark and Hansome"Lee Shallat-ChemelRobin Schiff & Mark GanzellUnaired
Tracy and Melissa take Georgy out for a night on the town to help her move on from her late husband.

Reception

The show received negative reviews. It ranked 118th out of 132 shows that season, averaging a 6.3 household rating.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "A Star Quits 'Princesses,' CBS Series". The New York Times. October 14, 1991. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  2. ↑ Kleid, Beth (October 15, 1991). "TELEVISION". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ Epstein, Lawrence J. (2008). The Haunted Smile: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America. p. 268. ISBN 9780786724925.
  4. ↑ Cooper, Brenda (October 1994). "Diva: Dazzling Fran Drescher Runs the Show on Her CBS Hit The Nanny". Orange Coast. pp. 45–46. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  5. ↑ "The Season's Top-Rated Shows for 1991-92 With AM-Nielsen-Season Ratings". AP NEWS.
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