Smilings
10-04-2013, 03:18 AM
I'd love to trade for AT YOUR SERVICE, a 1984 TV pilot.
Directed by James Burrows.
Written by sitcom writer David Lloyd.
Early role for Michard Richards before he became Kramer on Seinfeld.
Features Garret Morris of original Saturday Night Live.
The story follows the antics of the staff of a wealthy woman who take charge of her mansion when she is away. In the pilot episode, the servants attempt to conceal their money-making activities from the new butler.
Thanks.
NY TIMES TV REVIEW; 'AT YOUR SERVICE,' A COMEDY SPECIAL
By JOHN CORRY
Published: August 1, 1984
It is the time of year when, here and there, the networks slip into their schedules those half-hour comedy specials that once had a chance of becoming series, but presumably will expire now after a single showing.
As a rule, the comedies are painless, and often they have some small, even if very small, points of distinction. Consider, for example, ''At Your Service,'' an NBC comedy special at 9:30 tonight.
Originally, the program was called ''Grand Life.'' Then the title was changed to ''Help!'' Its premise was that it would be amusing to watch the household staff of a very rich widow concoct screwball money-making schemes and generally get into trouble while the widow was somewhere else. It is not a terrible premise.
Subsequently, an attractive cast was assembled. A sprightly theme song was written and then nicely orchestrated. ''At Your Service,'' in fact, does have some nice things going for it, but the game is up almost from the moment we hear the canned laughter at the start. The laughter sounds desperate.
The idea for the particular episode is that the widow, played by Barbara Rush, returns home unexpectedly, bringing with her a new butler, played by Joseph Maher. Mr. Maher, a fine actor, is an Irishman who often plays Englishmen on stage. On Broadway last season, he was in ''84 Charing Cross Road.''
Meanwhile, the Hispanic maid (Maria Duvall) is trying to hide her fatherless young son. The dimwit gardener (Michael Richards) has just driven a 1929 Dusenberg into the pool. The inept cook (Susan Kellermann, another fine actress) is lusting after the new butler. The conniving chauffeur (Derek McGrath) is hatching a new scheme. The eccentric handyman (Garret Morris of the old ''Saturday Night Live'') has wired the lights and burglar alarms improperly. The widow's niece (Megan Gallagher) is worried about everything.
It is all pretty silly, of course, but occasionally there is a witty, even sophisticated, joke. And amid the pratfalls, you may even see an actor acting.
Thus, when the chauffeur persuades Mr. Maher that he drove the Dusenberg into the pool while he was drunk, and Mr. Maher, who is supposed to be German, wonders how he could have done such a thing, Mr. Morris says, ''Did you ever hear the phrase 'Das Boot?' '' When Miss Kellermann, fixing her eyes sweetly on Mr. Maher, says, ''Compassion is one of the things that give my life meaning,'' she follows very quickly with, ''Another is lust.'' Miss Kellermann, who has also been on Broadway, is funny.
On the other hand, ''At Your Service'' is not on NBC's fall schedule, and so after tonight it will be only a memory. You may watch it if you want to see what might have been.
Directed by James Burrows.
Written by sitcom writer David Lloyd.
Early role for Michard Richards before he became Kramer on Seinfeld.
Features Garret Morris of original Saturday Night Live.
The story follows the antics of the staff of a wealthy woman who take charge of her mansion when she is away. In the pilot episode, the servants attempt to conceal their money-making activities from the new butler.
Thanks.
NY TIMES TV REVIEW; 'AT YOUR SERVICE,' A COMEDY SPECIAL
By JOHN CORRY
Published: August 1, 1984
It is the time of year when, here and there, the networks slip into their schedules those half-hour comedy specials that once had a chance of becoming series, but presumably will expire now after a single showing.
As a rule, the comedies are painless, and often they have some small, even if very small, points of distinction. Consider, for example, ''At Your Service,'' an NBC comedy special at 9:30 tonight.
Originally, the program was called ''Grand Life.'' Then the title was changed to ''Help!'' Its premise was that it would be amusing to watch the household staff of a very rich widow concoct screwball money-making schemes and generally get into trouble while the widow was somewhere else. It is not a terrible premise.
Subsequently, an attractive cast was assembled. A sprightly theme song was written and then nicely orchestrated. ''At Your Service,'' in fact, does have some nice things going for it, but the game is up almost from the moment we hear the canned laughter at the start. The laughter sounds desperate.
The idea for the particular episode is that the widow, played by Barbara Rush, returns home unexpectedly, bringing with her a new butler, played by Joseph Maher. Mr. Maher, a fine actor, is an Irishman who often plays Englishmen on stage. On Broadway last season, he was in ''84 Charing Cross Road.''
Meanwhile, the Hispanic maid (Maria Duvall) is trying to hide her fatherless young son. The dimwit gardener (Michael Richards) has just driven a 1929 Dusenberg into the pool. The inept cook (Susan Kellermann, another fine actress) is lusting after the new butler. The conniving chauffeur (Derek McGrath) is hatching a new scheme. The eccentric handyman (Garret Morris of the old ''Saturday Night Live'') has wired the lights and burglar alarms improperly. The widow's niece (Megan Gallagher) is worried about everything.
It is all pretty silly, of course, but occasionally there is a witty, even sophisticated, joke. And amid the pratfalls, you may even see an actor acting.
Thus, when the chauffeur persuades Mr. Maher that he drove the Dusenberg into the pool while he was drunk, and Mr. Maher, who is supposed to be German, wonders how he could have done such a thing, Mr. Morris says, ''Did you ever hear the phrase 'Das Boot?' '' When Miss Kellermann, fixing her eyes sweetly on Mr. Maher, says, ''Compassion is one of the things that give my life meaning,'' she follows very quickly with, ''Another is lust.'' Miss Kellermann, who has also been on Broadway, is funny.
On the other hand, ''At Your Service'' is not on NBC's fall schedule, and so after tonight it will be only a memory. You may watch it if you want to see what might have been.