Frank's Place

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the XM Satellite Radio channel formerly called "Frank's Place", see High Standards (XM).
Frank's Place

Tim Reid (center) in Frank's Place
Format Comedy-drama
Created by Tim Reid, Hugh Wilson
Starring Tim Reid
Daphne Maxwell Reid
Tony Burton
Virginia Capers
Robert Harper
Lincoln Kilpatrick
Charles Lampkin
William Thomas, Jr.
Frances E. Williams
Don Yesso
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
No. of episodes 22
Production
Running time approx. 0:30 (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Original run September 14, 1987 – March 22, 1988

Frank's Place was a CBS comedy-drama series which aired for 22 episodes in 1987 and 1988. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and executive-produced by Wilson and star Tim Reid.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Set in New Orleans, Frank's Place chronicled the life of Frank Parrish (Tim Reid), a well-to-do Boston college professor who inherits a restaurant, Chez Louisiane. In the premiere, Frank travels to New Orleans intending to sell the restaurant. But when Frank returns to Boston, the life he's known there suddenly goes inexplicably haywire. The viewers know the reason: Waitress Emeritus (she waits only on customers of twenty years or more of patronage) of the Chez Louisiane, Miss Marie (Frances E. Williams) has a voodoo spin (curse) put on Frank ensuring that he will come back to carry on his family's business. Feeling he has no choice, Frank returns to New Orleans and makes many discoveries about working-class Black culture, the differences between northern and southern lifestyles, and himself.

[edit] Supporting cast

Daphne Maxwell Reid (Tim Reid's real-life wife) played Hanna Griffin, Frank's love interest. Tony Burton, Virginia Capers, Robert Harper, Lincoln Kilpatrick, Charles Lampkin, Francesca Roberts, Don Yesso, and William Thomas Jr. rounded out the cast.

[edit] Look and feel

Unlike most sitcom productions which are videotaped, Frank's Place was filmed with a single camera and used no laugh track.

It used Louis Armstrong's classic "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?" as its theme song. The look of the restaurant and Tim Reid's character was inspired by Austin Leslie's Chez Helene restaurant in New Orleans.

[edit] Praise

Frank's Place received the Television Critics Association award for outstanding comedy series in 1987. In 1987, it won an Emmy for best writing in a comedy series. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of southern black culture.

[edit] External links