The Tortellis aired from January until May 1987 on NBC.
In this spin-off from Cheers, slimy Nick Tortelli ( Dan Hedaya), one-time husband of Carla, moved to Las Vegas to try to reconcile with his new wife, a spaced-out blonde named Loretta ( Jean Kasem) who was trying to launch a show-biz career there. He swore he'd turn over a new leaf but Loretta's level-headed sister Charlotte ( Carlene Watkins), who lived with them was skeptical. Anthony ( Timothy Williams) was Nick's dumb teenage son, who helped him in his Tv repair business and Annie ( Mandy Ingber) was Anthony's young bride. They both lived with Nick and Loretta too. Mark ( Aaron Moffat) was Charlotte's young son.
A Review from The New York Times
TV REVIEWS; NBC PRESENTS 'THE TORTELLIS,' A 'CHEERS' SPINOFF
By JOHN CORRY
Published: January 22, 1987
FAMILIES, extended or nuclear, are big on television these days. Comes now ''The Tortellis.'' He's unscrupulous; she's dumb; everyone lives in Las Vegas, Nev. The new NBC series, a spinoff from ''Cheers,'' begins tonight at 9:30. It's not great, but here and there it has moments.
The moments, even if fleeting, are provided by Dan Hedaya. He played the ex-husband of Rhea Perlman on ''Cheers.'' Ms. Perlman, as Carla, appears briefly tonight. Mr. Hedaya, in a dream sequence, stands at the gates of Heaven, applying for admission. Various people from his life, among them Ms. Perlman, appear as character witnesses. Everyone agrees he was a louse.
Mr. Hedaya awakens then. He's on a bus for Las Vegas, and like Scrooge after meeting the spirits, he's ready to begin a new life. The question is, is he truly repentant or is he still a louse? The question, presumably, will be asked on all episodes of ''The Tortellis.''
Why is this taking place in Las Vegas? Tonight's episode doesn't quite tell us, although the producers - Glen Charles, Les Charles, James Burrows and Patricia Nardo - must see comic possibilities. Gambling, divorce and flashy stage shows; Mr. Hedaya's Nick Tortelli, a television repairman, hasn't discovered any of this yet. It is likely that later he will.
Tonight, Mr. Hedaya shows up at the apartment of his estranged wife, played by Jean Kasem, and asks for a reconciliation. They separated after she discovered him taking a shower with an Avon Lady. ''I've changed completely,'' Mr. Hedaya says. ''The shirt is different, but the pants are the same,'' Ms. Kasem thoughtfully replies. Ms. Kasem, tall and statuesque, is supposed to be in the Marie Wilson-Suzanne Somers-dumb blonde tradition.
Miss Kasem is living with her sister (Carlene Watkins), who is divorced and has a small son. More comic possibilities then: the small son, an adorable moppet, and Mr. Hedaya will not get along. Anyway, Mr. Hedaya moves into the apartment. Then his son (Timothy Williams) by his first wife and the son's new teen-age wife (Mandy Ingber) move in, too. Welcome to television's new misshapen family.
Mr. Hedaya has a comic presence; he can add weight to an otherwise slapstick joke. Save that, however, ''The Tortellis'' seems to be only a trifle. Maybe it will get going when it leaves the apartment and moves around Las Vegas.
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