Thanks
an Episode Guide
by Russell Wodell
Last updated:
Thu, 25 Oct 2018 21:00
Thanksan Episode Guide
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| aired from: Aug 1999 to: Sep 1999 | 6 eps, 1 unaired | CBS | 30 min | stereo | closed captioned |
regulars:
recurring characters:
"Pilgrims James and Polly Winthrop have just survived their first Massachusetts winter. Now, along with their fellow settlers, they must decide whether or not to remain in the uncivilized New World and face yet another year of disease-and each other. But don't be fooled-it's Puritan fun. There's the man who dreams of building a new nation (though he can't even build a house); the bumbling village idiot; a girl so smart she may be burned at the stake; and a Grammy with an eye for strapping young men."James, an affable young Pilgrim father, who always sees the glass as half full, wants to stay and fulfill the hopes and dreams of building a new nation, although he can't even build a house. James must also contend with his best friend, Cotton, the bumbling village idiot who wreaks more havoc than a New World winter. James' lovely, strong-minded wife, Polly, wants to stand by her man, but her patience is tried by his unwavering optimism as well as the 50 percent mortality rate. Meanwhile, their three young children -- boy-crazy Abigail, so-smart-she-may-be-burned-at-the-stake Elizabeth, and slow-witted William -- are entertained by their Grammy, a wizened senior citizen who has quite the eye for strapping young men. Even though they live in an era centuries apart from today, the issues they face have remarkable and humorous similarities to modern life." (CBS press materials)
Much better than this makes it sound, Thanks had no real chance at making it on network TV in 1999: a vicious satire on American pieties and religious bigotry? The air of cheerfully goofy anachronism was quite winning, as were the scene-stealing performances by veteran Leachman and newcomer Centner. But, in August, no one was watching except me...
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Production credits:
Mauretania Productions/Touchstone Television
Created by Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan
Produced by Brenda Hanes-Berg
Executive producers: Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan
Consulting producers: Bob Ellison, Kathy Green, Tracy Newman & Jonathan Stark, Robin Schiff
rc: Magistrate, Constable, Dr. Addington. Rev. Goodacre, Henry, Alice, Mrs. Sturges
Having barely survived their first winter, the entire population of the Pilgrim village decides to return to England. The only holdout is James, who argues fiercely for sticking it out -- and wins only because the relief ship from England arrives carrying plague.
b: 2 Aug 99 pc: 001 w: Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan d: Andrew D. Weymanrc: Magistrate, Constable, Rev. Goodacre, Mrs. Sturges
Polly's childhood nemesis, now married to a rich Virginia tobacco farmer, comes to visit and is less than impressed with Polly and James' "rural" lifestyle. When the visitors start giving out samples of their crop-tobacco-the townsfolk immediately embrace the new weed. James can't keep it on the shelves and realizes that selling tobacco could make him a fortune. Meanwhile, Abigail wants to go to the fur trappers' dance and James doesn't want her associating with "their kind."
b: 9 Aug 99 pc: 002 w: Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan d: Andrew D. Weymanrc: Dr. Addington, Alice, Henry, Mrs. Sturges, Rev. Goodacre
When Grammy complains about always feeling underfoot in their one-room house, James creates a social revolution in the village by building Grammy her own room.
b: 16 Aug 99 pc: 003 w: Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan d: Andrew D. Weymanrc: Dr. Addington, Magistrate, Rev. Goodacre, Alice, Henry
Lonely and desperate for companionship, Cotton answers an advertisement placed in the local paper by the London Bridal Exchange offering a warehouse of beautiful and obedient maidens for marriage. As the impending nuptials approach, Polly prepares the wedding feast and excitement in the colony mounts.
b: 23 Aug 99 pc: 004 w: Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan d: Brian K. Robertsrc: Dr. Addington, presumably others
The snow has finally thawed, flowers are in bloom and Grammy has spring fever. When the always mean and hostile Grammy suddenly becomes sweet and demure, James is immediately suspicious of his mother's new behavior. It soon becomes apparent that Grammy's new demeanor is due to the arrival of the handsome and single Burnaby Fitzhugh. James goes to great lengths to prevent Grammy from discovering Burnaby's promiscuous nature.
b: UNAIRED pc: 005 w: Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan d: Jay Sandrichrc: Constable, Rev. Goodacre, Dr. Addington, Henry, Alice
The colony's food supply is at an all time low and the settlers believe the soil in their new homeland is barren until they meet a native of the continent, Squanto, a member of the Wampanoag tribe, who teaches them the secret of growing corn. To show their appreciation, James and Polly decide to have a dinner for Squanto and his tribe. Just as it looks like the big feast is going to consist solely of corn, potatoes and cranberry sauce, James and Cotton return from the woods with three strange birds that, when stuffed and cooked, make the meal a huge success.
b: 6 Sep 99 pc: 006 w: Phoef Sutton & Mark Legan d: Jay Sandrich