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I MARRIED DORA: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)

Summary

The pilot in this comedy about a widower with two young children who marries his illegal immigrant housekeeper to solve problems for them both. This episode begins as Peter Farrell tries to leave for a job interview while his wife Janet cries about not being a good mother. By 11:33 a.m., Pete has been hired at a prestigious architectural firm. However, Janet has skipped town to Rome, in a plane that was hijacked to Syria and virtually disappeared. Five years later, Peter's children, Kate and Will, return from school and housekeeper Dora tries to take care of them. Will has just been bullied after defending his sister. Dora gives the children an explanation of hormones. Later, Dora receives a letter from immigration threatening her with deportation. Meanwhile, at work, Peter and co-worker Dolf work on blueprints as Dolf bemoans how a recent stock market change affected him. Then, Dora arrives at Peter's office, needing help with her immigration problem. Peter's boss, Hughes Whitney Lennox, overhears their conversation and offers to help. After some time has passed, Peter has exhausted all his legal means to keep Dora from getting deported. At the same time, he struggles to find a potential replacement for Dora. Thus, Will comes up with a plan: Dora should just marry an American, like the local -- though elderly -- green grocer. Later, Kate asks Peter to marry Dora so that she can stay in America. In fact, Peter's children have already informed Dora of this scheme. Peter goes to speak with Dora to learn of her plans once back in Central America. Then, Dora breaks down and tells a story to Peter about a death squad killing her sister. Further, Dora's political muckraking makes her a potential target for the murderers. Touched by her story, Peter asks Dora to marry him. Dora doesn't see how they can marry, as they have no real relationship. However, by the next morning, Dora and Peter are getting hitched, for better or for worse. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: September 22, 1987 Tuesday 9:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:28:33
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:23447
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1987-1988
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Keebler Tato Skins chips
    • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Raisin Squares cereal
    • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury brownie mix
    • TV - Commercials - Snickers candy bars
    • TV - Commercials - Sprite soft drinks
    • TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Wrigley's Extra gum
    • TV - Promos - "ABC News: Capital to Capital"
    • TV - Promos - "Dynasty"
    • TV - Promos - "Ghostbusters"
    • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
    • TV - Promos - "Moonlighting"

CREDITS

  • Michael Leeson … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
  • Chick Mitchell … Co-Executive Producer
  • Geoffrey Neigher … Co-Executive Producer
  • Wendy Blair … Producer
  • Jace Richdale … Producer
  • Vic Rauseo … Producer
  • Linda Morris … Producer
  • Mark Masuoka … Co-Producer
  • Lee Shallat … Director
  • Glenn Jordan … Theme Music by
  • Daniel Hugh Kelly … Cast, Peter Farrell
  • Elizabeth Pena … Cast, Dora Calderon
  • Sanford Jensen … Cast, Dolf Menninger
  • Juliette Lewis … Cast, Kate Farrell
  • Jason Horst … Cast, Will Farrell
  • Henry Jones … Cast, Hughes Whitney Lennox
  • Wendel Meldrum … Cast, Janet Farrell
  • Kristen Lowman … Cast, Gerta
  • John Ingle … Cast, Justice of the Peace
  • Ivy Broya White … Cast, Sita
  • Patricia Huston … Cast, Mrs. Casey