FRANK'S PLACE: FRANK RETURNS (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy-drama series about Frank Parrish, a Brown University professor who moves to New Orleans when he inherits his father's restaurant, Chez Louisiane. In this episode, Frank's return to Boston is plagued with a series of unusual troubles, including the theft of his car and his girlfriend's departure, thanks to Miss Marie's voodoo "spin," or curse. Defeated, Frank heads back to New Orleans, where he is eagerly greeted by the staff of The Chez. Miss Marie immediately interrogates him about his church plans, and Reverend Deal stops by with the attractive Miss July Brown, a gospel singer of questionable talent. Frank moves into the apartment upstairs, unchanged since his father's death, and Bubba soon arrives, offering to help him run the restaurant if need be. Everyone is excited when "Hank Aaron" – the feline version – turns up in the alley, and Miss Marie tells a nonplussed Frank that his return is a good omen, as the cat disappeared right after his father's death.
Later, Miss Marie happily tells Frank that a number of "fancy people" have turned up for his official opening night celebration, and he heads downstairs and immediately reconnects with Hanna as he greets a few notable celebrities, including Don King and the mayor of New Orleans. Hanna introduces Frank to her mother, and everyone is awed when Frank magically cures her of her physical ailments – but Frank then awakens from his dream and realizes that he is sleeping through his first night of work. He finds only a scant handful of guests downstairs, however, served by the dimwitted cook, Gregory, and though he is pleased when Hanna arrives for real, she informs him that she is engaged to someone else. She points out that he never contacted her after their sole date, though he attempts to explain that his calls and letters were hampered by Miss Marie's curse. Tiger informs him that weeknights are always slow at the Chez, as the working-class locals cannot afford to eat out frequently and the richer white people are "too afraid" to come to the neighborhood, and a dejected Frank spends the night watching television with Hank Aaron. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:23:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:67535
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy; Drama
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1987-1988
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Tim Reid … Executive Producer
- Hugh Wilson … Executive Producer, Director, Created by, Writer
- Max Tash … Producer
- David Chambers … Producer
- Tyrell Music Group … Music by
- Tim Reid … Cast, Frank Parrish
- Robert Harper … Cast, Bubba 'Si' Weisberger
- Daphne Maxwell Reid … Cast, Hanna Griffin
- Francesca P. Roberts … Cast, Anna-May
- Frances E. Williams … Cast, Miss Marie
- Virginia Capers … Cast, Bertha Griffin-Lamour
- Tony Burton … Cast, Big Arthur
- Charles Lampkin … Cast, Tiger Shepin
- Lincoln Kilpatrick … Cast, Reverend Deal
- William Thomas Jr. … Cast, Cool Charles
- Don Yesso … Cast, Shorty
- Joe Frazier … Cast, Himself
- Don King … Cast, Himself
- J.J. … Cast, Gregory
- Lisa Dinkins … Cast, Miss July Brown
- William Bronder … Cast, Plumber
- Ron Pinkard … Cast, The Mayor
- Stuart Mabray … Man Who Wants Wine
- Wayne Woodson … Happy Dinner Guest