The Griswalds

[blondie44]

The Griswalds

From the big screen to a TV sitcom, here's a sitcom starring the Griswald family. From movies: National Lampoons Vacation, National Lampoons European Vacation, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, and National Lampoons Vegas Vacation.

Starring Chevy Chase as the infamous Griswald patriarch, Clark Griswald. Clark Griswald still lives in his Chicago home with his loving wife of 25 years, Ellen Griswald (Beverly D'Angelo). Clark and Ellen's two twentysomething children (Rusty and Audrey) still are living at home, much to Ellen's delight and Clark's dismay. Clark is still an advertising executive, as Ellen remains an office manager for a law firm. Rusty is currently "between jobs" and "trying to find the real Rusty" now since he dropped out of college. Audrey is currently working at Fergusons Department Store, and has been recently devastated by her former fiancee breaking off their short-lived engagement. As briefly mentioned before, Clark can't wait until their kids move out on their own, as where Ellen fears "cutting her apron-strings" anytime soon.



CAST:
Chevy Chase as Clark Griswald
Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Smith-Griswald
Ethan Embry as Rusty Griswald
Marisol Nichols as Audrey Griswald

[blondie44]

Ep1: Pilot Episode:
It's Clark and Ellen's 25th wedding anniversary. With help from the kids, they are planning a party. Clark becomes upset when his parents inform him that they are going on their nonrefundable weeklong Caribbean cruise that weekend (instead of coming to the party). Also, Ellen encourages the kids to bring dates, they decide on a whim to set each other up with one of their friends. Rusty sets Audrey up with one of his slacker buddies, as Audrey sets Rusty up with one of her college friends. Both matches turn out to be very unsuccessful.

Ep2: Ellen's Sister:
The family gets a surprise visit from Ellen's slightly younger sister, Carrie (Patricia Wettig), who announces her divorce from her longtime husband. The family is stunned by her news. Ellen fears Carrie has something up her sleeve once again--and she's right: Carrie wants to move in with Ellen and family until she gets back onto her feet. Clark and the kids love the idea yet Ellen is unwilling to let her flaky, unstable sister move in. After Carrie leaves out of rage and frustration, Ellen begins to feel guilty--yet Clark is there to support her in her decision. Meanwhile, Rusty learns his unemployment is running out soon, and decides to start looking for another job real soon.

Ep3: Work, Work, Work:
Clark gets assigned to work on a big advertising project at work- which is thrilled about yet the stress levels are more than he expected. Also, Ellen gets the courage to ask her boss for her well-deserved raise--and gains one unlike her co-workers (who were denied). Meanwhile, Audrey is asked to help out at work and work double shifts to fill in for a co-worker on maternity leave. Yet the overtime is killing her social life and her freetime, but she ends up loving the extra money she is making---(causing jealousy in a jobless, broke Rusty).

Ep4: Off-Duty Mom:
Ellen gets sick and tired of doing "everything" around the house for Clark and the kids. Then, Ellen decides to become "an off-duty mom" (a phrase she learned from her co-worker), meaning she does nothing and they are left to step in and do things around the house. At first, the trio think nothing of it--until things become too hectic and out of control for them to handle. Ellen enjoys her "time off", yet is getting upset about how things aren't "up to Ellen's standards".

Ep5: Poker Night:
Clark and his buddies have their weekly Friday Poker Night, and its Clark's time to host. Ellen convinces Clark to let Rusty join in for tonight. At first, Clark disagrees yet then gives in to letting his son play "with the big boys". But Rusty turns out to be a good first-time poker player, which impresses the men--until he ends up beating them one-too many times causing the guys to want Clark to tell Rusty to leave the table. Meanwhile, Audrey gives in and lets Ellen join her and a few of her girlfriends to a night at the bars. Audrey's friends love how Ellen is recieving attention from single guys-yet Audrey isn't happy when Ellen gets more attention from the guys than she does.

Ep6: Halloween Griswald-Style:
Clark and Ellen attend a costume party at one of their neighbors. They go as Herman and Lily Munster. Meanwhile, Rusty decides to go to a haunted house with his buddies after a few rounds of drinks--and ends up at police station after a drunken (and terrified) Rusty beats up a guy dressed as a zombie working at the haunted house. Meanwhile, Audrey decides to stay home and pass out candy, and a few of her girlfriends come over with scary movies in tow. Ellen and Clark are anything but pleased when they must leave the party early to pick up a drunken, arrested Rusty.

Ep7: Once In A Lifetime:
Audrey discovers a letter dated her senior year, informing her she was accepted into a prestige foreign study aboard program in Italy (that she had her heart set on, and thought she never heard from then-when in reality, her parents hid the letter from her). Audrey is anything but speechless when she informs her parents that she knows about the letter. Meanwhile, Rusty is torn between a huge pool party with all of his buddies or a date with a cute girl who has a crush on him. He chooses the girl, much to his friends' dismays.

Ep8: Chipper Rusty's Younger Gal:
Rusty's new-found happy attitude and cheeriness sickens Audrey and his friends, due to him having a real girlfriend for the first time. Clark and Ellen want to meet his new girlfriend, Lauren (Ashley Johnson). During a special dinner for the meeting of Lauren, the Griswald family is thrown for a slight loop at news of Lauren's only 19 (as Rusty is 23)--when Rusty and family figured she was his age too. Yet, the four year age difference is going to interfere with Rusty and Lauren's dating.

Ep9: Turkey Day:
The Griswald clan is all together: Clark, Ellen, Rusty, Audrey, Clark's parents, and Ellen's parents. Rusty is eagerly awaiting after the meal to go visit with Lauren and her family on Thanksgiving, yet his grandparents have shocking news for them. Clark's parents are moving from Indiana to Florida, and Ellen's dad has a heart condition, that was oblivious to Ellen and family.
(Guest Stars: Doris Roberts, E.G. Marshall, Diane Ladd, and John Randolph)



! ~ * ~ ! more episodes to come later on ! ~ * ~ !

[needles1987]

This is good. I would watch it. I see you used the kids from Vegas Vacation. Good choice.

[PlayOn]

I love the 'Vaction' movies. Good idea on turning it into a series.
P.S: I'm more of a fan of the kids we saw in 'Christmas Vaction.' But your show.

[needles1987]

I always felt that Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki were poor choices for Rusty and Audrey. Don't get me wrong. They're both good actors.