Veronica's Closet
| Veronica's Closet | |
|---|---|
 Inter-title | |
| Created by |
David Crane Marta Kauffman |
| Starring |
Kirstie Alley Dan Cortese Daryl Mitchell Wallace Langham Kathy Najimy Ron Silver Lorri Bagley Robert Prosky |
| Opening theme |
"She's Got Everything" (season 1)"Bodyrock" by Moby (season 3) |
| Composer(s) | Giorgio Bertuccelli |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 66 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Kevin S. Bright Marta Kauffman David Crane |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions Warner Bros. Television |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | September 25, 1997 – December 7, 2000 |
Veronica’s Closet is an American sitcom which aired on NBC for three seasons, from September 25, 1997, to December 7, 2000.
The show stars Kirstie Alley as Veronica “Ronnie” Chase, the head of her own lingerie company in New York City.
Plot
Season one
As the country’s leading romance expert and owner of Veronica’s Closet, purveyor of lingerie and books designed to keep romance alive, Veronica Chase seems to have it all. Her only problem has been a rocky marriage to a womanizing husband, Bryce, (Christopher McDonald) whom she finally gathered the strength to leave. Having written The Guide to a Fairy Tale Marriage and built an empire as the foremost authority on relationships, Ronnie must now confront the charade she’s been living in the public eye as the perfect wife and career woman. Helping Ronnie run the company and her personal life is her top executive, Olive, who is always ready with solid business advice or a shoulder to cry on.
Season two
In the second season, Ron Silver joins the cast as Alec, Ronnie’s new business partner and nemesis who buys controlling interest of the company she built. Robert Prosky, who played Ronnie’s father in season one, was written out of the show (no explanation is ever given).
Season three
In the third and final season, Alec was killed off the show as it was shown that audiences did not like Ron Silver’s character. His widow, June, took over his role in the company and later admitted to pushing Alec into a volcano. Although the final few episodes of Veronica’s Closet did not air in the U.S. on NBC, they were later aired on the USA Cable Network during its syndicated run. In the final episodes, Veronica ends up dating Perry, Olive sells her Internet company and buys June’s half of Veronica’s Closet, making her a co-owner with Veronica, and Josh finally accepts the fact that he is gay and starts dating his neighbor and friend, Brian.
History
The series premiered on Sept 25, 1997, after Seinfeld, to 35 million viewers. Its title was derived from the “real life” lingerie company, Victoria’s Secret. The show was a top 10 hit, although the initial ratings died down later in the first season. The sitcom spent the first two seasons on Thursdays at 9:30 (after Seinfeld in season 1 and after Frasier in season 2). NBC moved the show to Mondays after Suddenly Susan for the 1999–2000 season. Ratings fell more than 50 percent, and NBC put it on hiatus with Suddenly Susan. The show returned on Tuesdays at 9:30 (after Will & Grace) with only a slight boost in ratings. NBC canceled the series in 2000, along with Suddenly Susan, due to low ratings. Reruns were shown on USA Network for a short time in 2000–2001 and on TV Guide Network from 2011–2012.
The show was taped Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, on soundstage 25.
Broadcast and ratings history
| Season | TV season | Timeslot (ET) | Season premiere | Season finale | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997–98 | Thursdays @ 9:30/8:30 central (NBC's Must See TV Thursdays) | September 25, 1997 | May 9, 1998 | #3[1] | 24.4[1] |
| 2 | 1998–99 | September 24, 1998 | May 6, 1999 | #5[2] | 19.3[2] | |
| 3 | 1999–2000 | Mondays @ 8:30/7:30 central | September 20, 1999 | December 7, 2000[a] | #86[3] | 7.97[3] |
^[a] End of the series' original broadcast run. Last four episodes were aired on the USA Network five months later.[4]
Cast
- Kirstie Alley as Veronica “Ronnie” Chase
- Dan Cortese as Laird "Perry" Rollins, former underwear model and publicist
- Wallace Langham as Josh Nicolé Blair, Veronica’s assistant, a man whose sexual identity is unclear
- Daryl Mitchell as Leo Michaels, Veronica’s harried marketing manager
- Kathy Najimy as Olive Massery
- Robert Prosky as Pat Chase (Season 1)
- Ron Silver as Alec Bilson, Veronica’s business partner and rival (Season 2)
- Lorri Bagley as June Bilson Anderson (Season 3)
Episode list
Season one
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series premiere | Series finale | ||
| 1 | 22 | September 25, 1997 | May 9, 1998 |
| # | Total | Title | Director | Writer | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Bob Berlinger | David Crane & Marta Kauffman | September 25, 1997 | |
| 2 | 2 | "Veronica's Woman Friend" | James Burrows | Rob Ulin & Sarah Dunn | October 2, 1997 | |
| 3 | 3 | "Veronica's Husband Won't Leave" | Bob Berlinger | David Crane & Marta Kauffman | October 9, 1997 | |
| 4 | 4 | "Veronica's Not Happy About the Book" | Alan Rafkin | Sarah Dunn | October 21, 1997 | |
| 5 | 5 | "Veronica's First Date" | Robert Berlinger | Eric Weinberg | October 30, 1997 | |
| 6 | 6 | "Veronica's Best Buddy" | Alan Rafkin | Alexa Junge | November 5, 1997 | |
| 7 | 7 | "Veronica's a Doll" | Alan Rafkin | John Frink & Don Payne | November 13, 1997 | |
| 8 | 8 | "Veronica's First Thanksgiving" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Doty Abrams | November 20, 1997 | |
| 9 | 9 | "Veronica's Brotherly Love" | Robert Berlinger | John Frink & Don Payne | December 11, 1997 | |
| Guest starring Eric McCormack | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Veronica's Christmas Song" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Sherry Bilsing & Ellen Plummer | December 18, 1997 | |
| 11 | 11 | "Veronica's Got a Secret" | Robert Berlinger | Eric Weinberg | January 8, 1998 | |
| 12 | 12 | "Veronica's Fun and Pirates Are Crazy" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Steve Joe & Greg Schaffer | January 15, 1998 | |
| Guest starring Zooey Deschanel | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Veronica's Night Alone" | Kevin S. Bright | Sherry Bilsing & Ellen Plummer | January 29, 1998 | |
| 14 | 14 | "Veronica's $600,000 Pop" | Robert Berlinger | Sarah Dunn | February 5, 1998 | |
| Guest starring Ted Danson | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Veronica's a Drag" | Robert Berlinger | Teleplay by: Sherry Bilsing & Ellen Plummer Story by: Eric Weinberg | February 26, 1998 | |
| 16 | 16 | "Veronica's Divorce Papers" | Robert Berlinger | Charlotte Brown | March 5, 1998 | |
| 17 | 17 | "Veronica's Blackout" | Robert Berlinger | John Frink & Don Payne | March 12, 1998 | |
| 18 | 18 | "Veronica's Bridal Shower" | Robert Berlinger | Teleplay by: Sarah Dunn Story by: Sherry Bilsing & Ellen Plummer | April 2, 1998 | |
| 19 | 19 | "Veronica's Man in a Suitcase" | Robert Berlinger | Teleplay by: Brian Boyle & Rich Fox Story by: Steve Joe & Greg Schaffer | April 9, 1998 | |
| 20 | 20 | "Veronica's All Nighter" | Robert Berlinger | Teleplay by: Brian Boyle & Rich Fox Story by: Lang-Ni Landrum | April 16, 1998 | |
| 21 | 21 | "Veronica's Mole" | Robert Berlinger | Teleplay by: Steve Joe & Greg Schaffer Story by: Sarah Dunn | April 30, 1998 | |
| 22 | 22 | "Veronica's Silent Partner" | Robert Berlinger | Teleplay by: John Frink & Don Payne Story by: Steve Joe & Greg Schaffer | May 9, 1998 | |
| Robert Prosky's final episode | ||||||
Season two
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series premiere | Series finale | ||
| 2 | 22 | September 24, 1998 | May 6, 1999 |
| # | Total | Title | Director | Writer | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | "Veronica Gets Her Closet Back" | Kevin S. Bright | Amy Sherman-Palladino | September 24, 1998 | |
| Ron Silver joins the regular cast | ||||||
| 2 | 24 | "Veronica's a Partner Now" | Robert Berlinger | Eric Weinberg | October 1, 1998 | |
| 3 | 25 | "Veronica's Great Model Search" | Robert Berlinger | Josh Bycel & Jon Fener | October 8, 1998 | |
| 4 | 26 | "Veronica's Dog Day Afternoon" | Robert Berlinger | Sherry Bilsing & Ellen Plummer | October 15, 1998 | |
| 5 | 27 | "Veronica's Crushed" | Michael Lembeck | Tom Spezialy & Alan Cross | October 29, 1998 | |
| 6 | 28 | "Veronica's on the Herb" | Shelley Jensen | Richard Goodman | November 5, 1998 | |
| 7 | 29 | "Veronica's Breast Efforts" | Amanda Bearse | Michael Poryes | November 12, 1998 | |
| 8 | 30 | "Veronica's Thanksgiving That Keeps on Giving" | Jeff Melman | Mark J. Kunerth | November 19, 1998 | |
| 9 | 31 | "Veronica's Cheating Partners" | Alan Rafkin | Teleplay by: Sherry Bilsing & Ellen Plummer Story by: Mike Gandolfi | December 10, 1998 | |
| 10 | 32 | "Veronica's Secret Santa" | Shelley Jensen | Eric Weinberg | December 17, 1998 | |
| 11 | 33 | "Veronica's from Venus/Josh's Parents Are from Mars" | Alan Rafkin | Barry Vigon & Tom Walla | January 7, 1999 | |
| 12 | 34 | "Veronica's Desk Job" | Shelley Jensen | Alan Cross & Tom Spezialy | January 21, 1998 | |
| 13 | 35 | "Veronica's Wedding Bell Blues" | Alan Rafkin | Michael Poryes | February 4, 1999 | |
| Guest starring Anna Nicole Smith | ||||||
| 14 | 36 | "Veronica Plays House" | Joe Regalbuto | Josh Bycel & Jon Fener | February 11, 1999 | |
| 15 | 37 | "Veronica's Favorite Year" | Shelley Jensen | Amy Sherman-Palladino & Mike Gandolfi | February 18, 1999 | |
| 16 | 38 | "Veronica's Little Tribute" | Dana de Vally Piazza | Sherry Bilsing & Ellen Plummer | February 25, 1999 | |
| 17 | 39 | "Veronica Falls Hard" | Shelley Jensen | Seth Friedman | March 11, 1999 | |
| 18 | 40 | "Veronica's Big Date" | Michael Lembeck | Teleplay by: Alan Dybner & Helen Pai Story by: Jason Firestein | March 25, 1999 | |
| 19 | 41 | "Veronica's Big Homecoming" | Michael Lembeck | Eric Weinberg | April 1, 1999 | |
| 20 | 42 | "Veronica's Little Ruse" | Joe Regalbuto | Barry Vigon & Tom Walla | April 22, 1999 | |
| 21 | 43 | "Veronica's Night at the Theater" | Joe Regalbuto | Amy Sherman-Palladino | April 29, 1999 | |
| 22 | 44 | "Veronica Says Goodbye" | Shelley Jensen | Mike Gandolfi | May 6, 1999 | |
| Ron Silver's Final Episode | ||||||
Season three
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series premiere | Series finale | ||
| 3 | 22 | September 20, 1999 | December 7, 2000 |
| # | Total | Title | Director | Writer | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | "Veronica's New Boss" | Alan Rafkin | Jeffrey Astrof & Mike Sikowitz | September 20, 1999 | |
| Lorri Bagley replaces Ron Silver in the regular cast | ||||||
| 2 | 46 | "Veronica's June Swoon" | Shelley Jensen | Christopher Vane | September 27, 1999 | |
| 3 | 47 | "Veronica's Construction Worker" | Paul Miller | Eric Weinberg | October 4, 1999 | |
| 4 | 48 | "Veronica's Office – Bigger, Longer and Cuter" | Shelley Jensen | Alison Adler | October 11, 1999 | |
| 5 | 49 | "Veronica's New Cat" | Shelley Jensen | Teleplay by: Eric Weinberg Story by: Jeffrey Astrof & Mike Sikowitz | October 18, 1999 | |
| 6 | 50 | "Veronica's Long Walk Home" | Alan Rafkin | Monica Piper | October 25, 1999 | |
| 7 | 51 | "Veronica's Got All the Right Stuffing" | J.D. Lobue | Richard Goodman | November 22, 1999 | |
| 8 | 52 | "Veronica's Sliding Doors" | Shelley Jensen | Johs Bycel & Jonathan Fener | November 29, 1999 | |
| 9 | 53 | "Veronica's New Year" | Shelley Jensen | Teleplay by: Jason Firestein Story by: Monica Piper | December 13, 1999 | |
| 10 | 54 | "Veronica's Perfect Man" | Shelley Jensen | Mark J. Kunerth | January 4, 2000 | |
| 11 | 55 | "Veronica's Record" | Paul Miller | Teleplay by: Alan Dybner Story by: Mark J. Kunerth | January 11, 2000 | |
| 12 | 56 | "Veronica's Tattooed Man" | Alan Rafkin | Tiffany Zehnal | January 18, 2000 | |
| 13 | 57 | "Veronica's Candy Panties" | Dana de Vally Piazza | Eric Weinberg | January 25, 2000 | |
| 14 | 58 | "Veronica's New Bookshelves" | Shelley Jensen | Mark J. Kunerth | February 1, 2000 | |
| Guest starring Scott Baio | ||||||
| 15 | 59 | "Veronica's Sleepover" | Shelley Jensen | Richard Goodman | June 6, 2000 | |
| Guest starring Scott Baio | ||||||
| 16 | 60 | "Veronica's Girls' Night Out" | Joe Regalbuto | Josh Bycel & Jonathan Fener | June 13, 2000 | |
| 17 | 61 | "Veronica Helps Josh Out" | Stuart Ross | Jeffrey Astrof & Mike Sikowitz | June 20, 2000 | |
| 18 | 62 | "Veronica Sets Josh Up" | Joe Regalbuto | Alan Dybner & Jason Firestein | June 27, 2000 | |
| 19 | 63 | "Veronica's Clips" | Wallace Langham | Tiffany Zehnal | December 4, 2000 | |
| 20 | 64 | "Veronica Loses Her Olive Again" | Joe Regalbuto | Christopher Vane | December 5, 2000 | |
| Ronnie's and Olive's feud continues when Olive returns to clear out her stuff. Olive discovers Neil exaggerated about his business; it's actually located in his parents' restaurant. Ronnie screens replacements for Olive, and subconsciously fills the position with an Olive lookalike, Olivia. Josh tries to get Ronnie to make up with Olive. Ronnie treats Olivia as if she were Olive, and Olivia gets so freaked out by Ronnie's drinking buddy manner with her that she quits too. Disappointed with her new job, Olive soon realizes she wants to return to Veronica's Closet. Josh meets with Olive for lunch and relays this news to Ronnie, who's busy looking for yet another C.F.O. replacement. Just when Ronnie and Olive are ready to work out a deal where Olive would quit working for Neil and return to work for Ronnie in exchange for a part of the company, Neil announces that they've been bought out by a conglomerate - to the tune of 20 million dollars for each of them. So Olive quits Veronica's Closet. | ||||||
| 21 | 65 | "Veronica's Doing the Nasty With Perry" | Sheldon Epps | Allison Adler | December 6, 2000 | |
| Veronica invites Perry over to tell her about his sex life in hopes that this will give her inspiration for her third book. After they've had one too many, they fall into bed together. Later, Perry tells all to Leo but refuses to reveal the identity of his new lover. Leo guesses that its June. Ronnie thinks that Perry is sleeping with June from rumors that she's hearing. Perry goes to her to explain, and they end up sleeping together again. Josh tries to impress Brian by learning to play basketball but only succeeds embarrassing Brian front of his friends. | ||||||
| 22 | 66 | "Veronica Checks Out" | Dana de Vally Piazza | Eric Weinberg | December 7, 2000 | |
| Ronnie and Perry encounter trouble in their new relationship and break up. Later, Perry confesses that he did not really want to break up with Ronnie, and they get back together. Brian and Josh move in together. Olive persuades June to sell her half of the company, and now Olive and Ronnie are partners | ||||||
References
- 1 2 "The Final Countdown". Entertainment Weekly Published in issue #434 May 29, 1998. May 29, 1998. Retrieved 02-12-2010. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - 1 2 "TV Winners & Losers: Numbers Racket A Final Tally Of The Season's Show (from Nielsen Media Research)". GeoCities. June 4, 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. Retrieved 02-12-2010. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - 1 2 "Top TV Shows For 1999-2000 Season". Variety. August 6, 2000. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
- ↑ "Veronica's Closet (an Episode Guide)". May 15, 2005. Retrieved 2010-01-09.