Open House (1989 TV series)

Open House is an American sitcom that aired Sunday at 9:30 on Fox from August 27, 1989 to July 21, 1990. The series is a spin-off of the Fox series Duet.

Open House
GenreSitcom
Created byRuth Bennett
Susan Seeger
Written byBruce Ferber
Directed byDwayne Hickman
Philip Charles MacKenzie
Arlene Sanford
David Semel
Lee Shallat Chemel
Michael Zinberg
StarringAlison LaPlaca
Mary Page Keller
Chris Lemmon
ComposerJohn Beasley
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes24
Production
Executive producersRuth Bennett
Susan Seeger
ProducersDeborah Leschin
Linda Nieber
Barry Vigon
Tom Walla
Running time2224 minutes
Production companiesUbu Productions
Paramount Television
DistributorCBS Television Distribution
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseAugust 27, 1989 (1989-08-27) 
July 21, 1990 (1990-07-21)
Chronology
Related showsDuet

Synopsis

Open House starred Alison LaPlaca as Linda Phillips, the former studio executive who brought the same zeal pushing costly houses for Juan Verde Real Estate as she did working at World Wide Studios. The series also starred Mary Page Keller and Chris Lemmon continuing their roles as Laura Kelly and Richard Phillips. Newly separated from her writer husband Ben Coleman, Laura also quit catering, and became an apprentice agent. Richard, Linda's husband, was a pianist at Jasper's, but left the hangout and his wife by mid-season. Among Linda's eccentric co-workers were Ted Nichols (Philip Charles MacKenzie), her main rival; Scott Babylon (Danny Gans), a talented impressionist; Margo Van Meter (Ellen DeGeneres), the sassy, man-hungry secretary; and Roger McSwain (Nick Tate), the manager of Juan Verde.

The premise of the series had originated in the series finale of Duet, in which Linda was introduced to Ted, who brought her to Juan Verde to start her new career. LaPlaca and MacKenzie had been dating for several years by the time they worked opposite each other on Duet and Open House (they first worked together on a 1985 episode of MacKenzie's former series, Brothers). In 1992, two years after the cancellation of Open House, LaPlaca and MacKenzie were married.

Cast

ActorRole
Alison LaPlacaLinda Phillips
Mary Page KellerLaura Kelly
Chris LemmonRichard Phillips
Philip Charles MacKenzieTed Nichols
Danny GansScott Babylon
Ellen DeGeneresMargo Van Meter
Nick TateRoger McSwain
Ginger OrsiAmanda Phillips

Episode list

,

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Fish Out of Water"Dwayne HickmanBruce Ferber (Teleplay), Vic Rauseo & Linda Morris (Story)August 27, 1989 (1989-08-27)
John Green is looking for someone to head up the new Sherman Oaks office, so Ted and Linda each vie for the job, but neither is pleased when they join Mr. Green on a fishing trip. Also, Laura is hired to provide catering for the company's open houses.
Guest Stars: Ginger Orsi (Amanda Phillips), Arleen Sorkin (Geneva), Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes), Jon Cypher (John Green)
Note: Linda sold her home to Dave Hayes in the series finale of Duet, but that plot point was completely ignored in this episode, in which Linda still resides in the same home and Dave is still desperately in search of a house that he'll be happy with.
Songs: Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Danny Gans)
2"Scenes from an Office Marriage"David SemelVic Rauseo & Linda Morris (teleplay), Bruce Ferber (story)September 3, 1989 (1989-09-03)
Mr. Green becomes sick of Ted and Linda's continuous quarrels, so he sends them to a marriage counselor.
Guest Stars: Ginger Orsi (Amanda Phillips), Arleen Sorkin (Geneva), Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes), Jon Cypher (John Green), Judith-Marie Bergen (Dr. Weber), Karen Salkin (Phyllis Hayes), Eric Nieber (Mr. Nieber)
Songs: To All the Girls I've Loved Before (Danny Gans), Fever (Chris Lemmon & Mary Page Keller)
3"Going for Broker"Michael ZinbergBruce FerberSeptember 10, 1989 (1989-09-10)
Laura's marriage to Ben imploded and she's sick of catering, so she decides to become a realtor. Also, Roger McSwain replaces John Green, who joined the witness relocation program.
Guest Stars: Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes)
Songs: Angst (Chris Lemmon)
4"Whodunnit?"Michael ZinbergCharlene SeegerSeptember 17, 1989 (1989-09-17)
Laura's client dumps her just after Mr. McSwain gives her an ultimatum: sell a house or leave the firm. When Linda gets wind of the situation, she enlists Ted to try to help.
Guest Star: Angelo Tiffe (Tony)
5"Second Honeymoon, Anyone?"Michael ZinbergBarry Vigon & Deborah LeschinSeptember 24, 1989 (1989-09-24)
Richard and Linda's marriage is on the rocks, so Ted and Laura individually drag them to a hotel to rekindle their romance, but hijinks ensue revolving around a confused newlywed couple.
Guest Stars: Diana Georger (Jean), John Lavachielli (Jack),
6"Dome Sweet Dome"Lee Shallat ChemelBruce FerberOctober 1, 1989 (1989-10-01)
Ted and Linda head to a remote locale in the woods to check out an unusual dome house, but they discover the owner's nowhere to be found and there's a bear outside the door.
Guest Star: Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes)
7"Let's Get Physicals"Lee Shallat ChemelBarry Vigon & Deborah LeschinOctober 8, 1989 (1989-10-08)
When the staff gets physical examinations, Linda decides to play a prank on Ted by switching his medical records.
Guest Stars: Jennifer Darling (Dr. Janet Baylor), Barbara Alyn Woods (Noreen), Jerry Hauk (The Doctor), Jay Arlen Jones (The Internist), Ellis Levinson (The Cardiologist)
8"Married Without Children"Lee Shallat ChemelTom WallaOctober 22, 1989 (1989-10-22)
Ted's condescending mother comes for a visit and has an instant rapport with Linda, whom he assumes is his wife. Linda hesitantly plays along, but complications arise when each of their coworkers also claims to be his bride.
Guest Star: Marian Mercer (Dorothy Nichols)
9"Torn Between Two Houses"Arlene SanfordCharlene SeegerOctober 29, 1989 (1989-10-29)
Dave's fed up with Ted's shenanigans, so he turns to Linda to find him a home. Meanwhile, Scott fixes up Margo with an exotic foreigner who finally takes her virginity.
Guest Stars: Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes), Dore Keller (Lenny Maroni),
10"Murder, He Wrote"Arlene SanfordAdam MarkowitzNovember 5, 1989 (1989-11-05)
Laura becomes wary of the creepy new client Linda and Ted have been schmoozing, so she investigates and discovers he was recently released from a mental institution and has a homicidal dislike of realtors.
Guest Stars: Ernie Sabella (Jack Doe), Aaron Lustig (Fred Fagey), Monica Burnett (Freida Fagey)
11"In Vegas ... With Showgirls!: Part 1"Arlene SanfordBarry Vigon, Deborah Leschin & Bruce FerberNovember 12, 1989 (1989-11-12)
When the gang heads to Las Vegas for a real estate convention, Margo masquerades as a princess, Mr. McSwain schmoozes with showgirls, Laura gets hooked on the slot machines, Linda and Richard flaunt their wealth, and Ted temporarily becomes a high roller but loses it all.
Guest Stars: Walter Olkewicz (Stan), Mark Lonow (Marty), Carmine Caridi (Fred)
12"In Vegas ... With Showgirls!: Part 2"Arlene SanfordTom Walla & Charlene SeegerNovember 19, 1989 (1989-11-19)
Ted creates such a disturbance at the casino that the owner tries to put a hit on him, so he, Linda and Richard dress up like showgirls to make their escape.
Guest Stars: Mark Lonow (Marty), Carmine Caridi (Fred), Gina Raymond (Tina), Harry Johnson (The Reporter), James Edson (The Announcer)
13"Parade of Homes"Dwayne HickmanHollis RichNovember 26, 1989 (1989-11-26)
Everyone hopes to host Mr. McSwain's new TV show, but the job goes to Geneva, whom Ted bribes to give him additional promotion.
Guest Stars: Arleen Sorkin (Geneva), Laurie Faso (Delivery Man)
14"Bye, Bye Boris"David SemelRuth BennettJanuary 7, 1990 (1990-01-07)
Margo's coworkers reluctantly offer support when her beloved cat dies, which includes not only a funeral but a seance.
Guest Stars: Mary Hamill (The Woman), Freddy (Francine)
Note: He was credited for one additional episode, but this is the final appearance of Chris Lemmon as Richard Phillips.
15"Who Framed Roger McSwain?"Phillip Charles MacKenzieTom Walla & Charlene SeegerJanuary 14, 1990 (1990-01-14)
Linda suspects Mr. McSwain's new fiancee has dubious intentions, so the ladies investigate her and discover she's had multiple marriages to wealthy men.
Guest Star: Debra Sandlund (Chloe), Jeff Silverman (The Clerk)
16"An Unmarried Woman"Sam WeismanBarry Vigon, Deborah Leschin & Bruce FerberFebruary 4, 1990 (1990-02-04)
After Richard leaves her for a flight attendant named Pippy, Linda finds herself in a group therapy session and is taken aback when Ted makes a late arrival. He agrees to keep her secret, but their coworkers make it difficult, as Laura plans a surprise anniversary party for Richard and Linda.
Guest Stars: Lyman Ward (Dr. Parker), Jeff Garlin (Brian), Rebeccah Bush (Sherry), Allan Fudge (Jeff)
17"The Bad Seed"Arlene SanfordRuth Bennett & Susan SeegerFebruary 11, 1990 (1990-02-11)
Mr. McSwain's daughter Chloe arrives from Australia and quickly puts the moves on every man in the office. As the staff scrambles to protect the boss, Chloe clashes with Linda and sets her sights on getting Ted into bed.
Guest Star: Sherrie Krenn (aka Sherrié Austin) (Chloe McSwain)
18"Lost Weekend"Arlene SanfordDava SavelFebruary 18, 1990 (1990-02-18)
Margo makes arrangements and invites herself along on Linda's and Laura's single cruise, but she goofed and they find themselves aboard a cruise for mourners who are dropping the remains of their loved ones in the sea. Meanwhile, the guys go on a war games retreat in which Ted is literally tortured by his nemesis.
Guest Stars: Jay Thomas (Evan Gimble), Rick Lieberman (Fred), Ralph Bruneau (Greg) Rod McCary (Ernie), George O. Petrie (Lester)
19"Dumbstruck"Michael ZinbergBruce Ferber & Charlene SeegerFebruary 25, 1990 (1990-02-25)
Ted become concerned when Linda has a torrid romance with a hunky young moving man, so she throws a dinner party to show her coworkers that everything's fine, but it further proves that the couple is incompatible.
Guest Stars: Tom Silardi (Bobby), Perrey Reeves (Vicki), Robin Greer (The Moving Lady)
20"Brother, Can You Spare a Grand?"Michael ZinbergScott GordenMarch 18, 1990 (1990-03-18)
Margo's conman brother comes into the office and tries to swindle Ted and Linda, not knowing that Margo has pooled an investment with them.
Guest Stars: Ted Shackleford (Peter Van Meter), Sal Viscuso (Ray)
Note: Sal Viscuso previously appeared on Duet as Richard's sleazy coworker whom Laura slept with.
21"New Kid in Town"David SemelBarry Vigon, Deborah Leschin, Tom WallaApril 1, 1990 (1990-04-01)
22"The Real Estate Thing"David SemelTom Walla & Bruce FerberApril 8, 1990 (1990-04-08)
23"The Roast"Philip Charles MacKenzieDeborah Leschin, Barry Vigon, Charlene SeegerApril 29, 1990 (1990-04-29)
24"First Impression"David SemelDeborah Leschin, Barry Vigon, Charlene SeegerMay 6, 1990 (1990-05-06)
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