AMANDA'S BY THE SEA: ALL IN A DAY'S WORK {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The premiere of this comedy series, based on the popular British series "Fawlty Towers," about no-nonsense widow Amanda Cartwright and her struggles with the wacky staff and guests at her California hotel.
In this episode, Amanda tries to appease snooty Judge and Mrs. Peterson; and unscrupulous businessman Avril Krinsky stops by to nag her, yet again, to sell her hotel to him. She refuses, feeling that he ruins small businesses with his greed. Her son Marty warns her that a hotel critic will be making a surprise visit soon – just as their aged oven is likely to die. Guest Mrs. Davenport then banters with Amanda about her unsatisfactory "ocean view" room. Marty's ditzy wife Arlene obsesses over the perfect blouse, but Amanda is distracted by the arrival of the handsome David, and she quickly gives him a room despite not actually having any vacancies.
The oven finally conks out as a Mr. Jones arrives in search of his pre-booked room – which has been given to David. Meanwhile, Amanda is alarmed to realize that he is probably the critic. She hastily moves the guests' luggage around, hoping she can "trick" them for long enough to cover up the error. She announces that everyone, including the persnickety Mrs. Davenport, will be enjoying shrimp salad for a few days, as the oven is now unavailable. Avril observes Amanda's panic with amusement, and David catches Amanda and oddball bellboy Aldo trying to move his belongings. When David is joined by a "date," an annoyed Amanda tosses him out. Mr. Jones reacts with outrage to the chaos and Amanda begs him for another chance to prove the quality of her hotel – only to find that he is not the hotel critic; Mrs. Davenport is. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 10, 1983 Thursday 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T89:0196
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Hotels; California
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1983
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Len Rosenberg … Executive Producer
- Elliot Shoenman … Producer, Writer
- Tom Cherones … Associate Producer
- John Rich … Director
- Artie Butler … Music by
- Lois Walden … Theme Music by
- Beatrice Arthur … Cast, Amanda Cartwright
- Fred McCarren … Cast, Marty Cartwright
- Simone Griffeth … Cast, Arlene Cartwright
- Tony Rosato … Cast, Aldo
- Rick Hurst … Cast, Earl Nash
- Michael Constantine … Cast, Avril Krinsky
- David Hedison … Cast, David
- Natalie Core … Cast, Mrs. Davenport
- John C. Becher … Cast, Mr. Jones
- Gene Blakely … Cast, Judge Peterson
- Mary Betten … Cast, Mrs. Peterson