ABC THURSDAY NIGHT MOVIE, THE: PLAZA SUITE (TV)

Summary

This televised comedy special is an adaptation of Neil Simon's 1968 triptych play, previously rendered as a feature film in 1971. Carol Burnett, who plays the female lead in all three scenes, introduces the program, and in the first scene, high-strung Karen Nash arrives in Suite 719 of the Plaza Hotel, determined to recreate her honeymoon night with her husband for their 24th anniversary. Her husband Sam arrives, distracted by his recent trip to the dentist and by his work, and when Karen accuses him of forgetting their special day, he informs her that their anniversary is actually the following day – and it is their 23rd, not 24th. Karen, admitting that she is not a whiz with numbers, tries to smooth things over and charm her husband into sharing a romantic evening, though Sam is preoccupied with concerns about aging and losing his looks. He points out that they spent their wedding night in Suite 819, not 719, and the pair soon begins to squabble over her annoying habits and his neglect of her in favor of his work.

Sam's attractive young secretary Miss McCormick stops by with some files, and Karen soon asks Sam if he is having an affair with her, suggesting that she is not bothering by it, as she knows him to be insecure about his age. Sam denies the affair but confesses his unhappiness with his seemingly idyllic life, wishing he could "do it all over again" and relive his youth, and he soon admits to a year-long dalliance with Miss McCormick. Karen is disgusted, though she refuses to give him the "satisfaction" of descending into hysterics, saying that she "expected more" of him than a clichéd affair with his secretary. Frustrated, Sam prepares to head into the office, but Karen changes her tune and begs him to stay so that they might talk through their problems, but Sam, sensing that something is irreparably damaged between the two, departs just as the waiter arrives with the would-be celebratory champagne.

In the second scene, Muriel Tate arrives at the Plaza Hotel, nervous about her reunion with her high-school boyfriend Jesse Kiplinger, whom she has not seen in twenty-five years and who is now a famous Hollywood movie producer. Jesse eagerly compliments her and invites her to join him for a drink, and though Muriel halfheartedly protests that she is now married, he soon kisses her and proclaims that he has "always been crazy about her." Muriel, flustered, questions him about his association with celebrities like Frank Sinatra and begs him not to gossip about her to Johnny Carson, but Jesse assures her that Hollywood types are not as glamorous as they seem. He explains that he has suffered through three "hellish and miserable" marriages and, upon seeing her photograph from their school's reunion, realized that she might be "his last hope." Muriel drinks several stingers as she begins to reveal her unhappiness with her boring husband, and despite her clear sense of conflict, she kisses Jesse again and agrees to stay for "just one more hour" as he regales her with tales of hobnobbing with celebrities at fancy Tinseltown events.

In the final scene, would-be mother-of-the-bride Norma Hubley flies into a panic when her daughter Mimsey suffers a particularly aggressive bout of cold feet and locks herself in the bathroom of Suite 719, refusing to emerge and go through with her wedding ceremony. Norma's husband Roy barges in and immediately blames Norma for their daughter's behavior, frustrated by the thought of many months of planning – and a great deal of money – going to waste. The two squabble as they debate what to do, and Roy injures himself when he attempts to break down the bathroom door. The parents wonder if they truly "did their best" with Mimsey, and when Norma laments that she cannot show her face in New York if the guests are left hanging, Roy rashly decides to climb out onto the window ledge and access the bathroom from the outside. When a thunderstorm hits, Norma despairs that Roy has surely fallen to his death, but he soon returns and berates Mimsey through the door for causing such mayhem. Mimsey passes a note under the door stating that she wishes to talk only with her father, which distresses Norma further, and Roy soon emerges from the bathroom and tells Norma that Mimsey is panicked over the idea of her marriage eventually souring like her parents'. The groom-to-be, Borden Eisler, then arrives and settles the entire problem with a simple "cool it," and Mimsey happily reappears, ready to become Mrs. Eisler. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: December 4, 1987 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:55:27
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:13348
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Romance; Hotels
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1987
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Alka-Seltzer antacid
  • TV - Commercials - Aviance Night Musk fragrance
  • TV - Commercials - Betty Crocker Pop Secret popcorn
  • TV - Commercials - Cadillac automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Clairol Loving Care hair color
  • TV - Commercials - Comtrex cold medication
  • TV - Commercials - DeBeers diamonds
  • TV - Commercials - Dove soaps
  • TV - Commercials - Duracell batteries
  • TV - Commercials - Flintstones vitamins
  • TV - Commercials - Florida orange juice
  • TV - Commercials - General Mills Cheerios cereal
  • TV - Commercials - Hanes underwear
  • TV - Commercials - Kitty Litter Brand cat box filler
  • TV - Commercials - MCI telephone services
  • TV - Commercials - Nabisco Oreo cookies
  • TV - Commercials - National Dairy Board cheeses
  • TV - Commercials - Orville Redenbacher's popcorn
  • TV - Commercials - Pam cooking spray
  • TV - Commercials - Pentax cameras
  • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Playtex 18-Hour brassieres
  • TV - Commercials - Pontiac automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Prudential-Bache Securities firm
  • TV - Commercials - Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo
  • TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Triaminic cold medication
  • TV - Commercials - Vaseline Intensive Care lotion
  • TV - Promos - "20/20"
  • TV - Promos - "Best Defense"
  • TV - Promos - "Dolly"
  • TV - Promos - "Full House"
  • TV - Promos - "Hotel"
  • TV - Promos - "Ohara"
  • TV - Promos - "Sable"
  • TV - Promos - "Spenser: For Hire"
  • TV - Promos - "Student Exchange"
  • TV - Promos - "The Barbara Walters Special"

CREDITS

• Carol Burnett … Executive Producer
• Kenny Solms … Executive Producer, Director
• George Sunga … Producer
• Roger Beatty … Director
• Neil Simon … Writer
• Peter Matz … Theme Music by
• Carol Burnett … Cast, Karen Nash / Muriel Tate / Norma Hubley
• Dabney Coleman … Cast, Jesse Kiplinger
• Richard Crenna … Cast, Roy Hubley
• Hal Holbrook … Cast, Sam Nash
• Tim Conway Jr. … Cast, Bellhop
• Erin Hamilton … Cast, Mimsey Hubley
• Beth Maitland … Cast, Jean McCormick
• Daren Powell … Cast, Borden Eisler
• Tim Owen … Cast
• Michael Stairs … Cast