THIRTYSOMETHING: BUSINESS AS USUAL (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas about the personal and professional dilemmas confronting a close-knit group of friends -- urban baby boomers in their thirties -- living in Philadelphia. In this episode, a visit from Michael's father, Leo, and his wife, Linda, becomes an emotional trial for Michael when Leo reveals that he is dying from cancer and has come to Philadelphia for an experimental series of blood treatments. Further complicating matters is Michael and Elliot's costly spec work developing a new logo for a conglomerate, which falters when a similar logo appears on the market. Michael is torn between the the responsibilities of saving the campaign, which is most likely doomed, and the effort of caring for his father, whose painful treatments promise only negligible results. Michael's strained relationship with his stepmother also comes to a head when she confronts him on his long-standing rude behavior toward her. Leo leaves the hospital to live out his remaining time at Michael and Hope's house, enabling the sick man to help his son understand the cyclical nature of life, which paradoxically makes love and commitment necessary in a world where nothing lasts and eveyone dies. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 9, 1988 Tuesday 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:47:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:17701
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Cancer - Drama; Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1987-1991
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Edward Zwick … Executive Producer, Created by
- Marshall Herskovitz … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Paul Haggis … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Scott Winant … Producer
- Ellen S. Pressman … Associate Producer
- Claudia Weill … Director
- W.G. Snuffy Walden … Music by
- Stewart Levin … Music by
- Timothy Busfield … Cast, Elliot Weston
- Polly Draper … Cast, Ellyn Warren
- Mel Harris … Cast, Hope Murdoch Steadman
- Peter Horton … Cast, Gary Shepherd
- Melanie Mayron … Cast, Melissa Steadman
- Ken Olin … Cast, Michael Steadman
- Patricia Wettig … Cast, Nancy Krieger Weston
- Steven Hill … Cast, Leo Steadman
- Barbara Rhoades … Cast, Linda
- Faith Ford … Cast, Janine
- David Wohl … Cast, Dr. Turlow
- Bebe Drake-Massey … Cast, Nurse Jenkins
- Andrea Covell … Cast, the Waitress
- Brittany Craven … Cast, Janey
- Lacey Craven … Cast, Janey
- Linda Hanna … Cast, the Nurse
- Susan Merson … Cast, the Admissions Nurse