The Grand

If you never got the chance to see Grand when it first aired, you really missed on a clever and witty show. You also aren't alone. Although it was a major ratings surprise its first season (NBC actually had canceled not expecting its strong ratings), its second season dropped off. This was partly a result of NBC's cancelling the show. In an unusual step, the show filmed and aired a series finale which was notoriously final. The second season was mostly spent trying to explain the dramatic events of the series finale. At least they didn't cop out and make it a dream.

Bonnie Hunt and Pamela Reed offered stand-out performances. The beautiful Sara Rue was possibly the funniest cast member. You may remember her from any number of small supporting roles in any number of things. Its a shame her size have kept her from getting more desirable roles. She's still playing teen-agers 10 years later!

Overall, this show was always very funny and was a favorite of mine in its time. If you get a chance to see some episodes, jump at the chance! You won't be disappointed.

Why hasn't anyone yet put this out? (NBC?) I loved it but missed the "final" episode, which was never shown again in my area (my VCR was broken at the time, but I figured, "Hey, I'll watch it in reruns"), and have been waiting lo this many years to see it. Surely it's worth it for NBC to pop it onto a DVD and put it out there.

There have been so few shows that merit keeping forever -- and now that I have children and want to introduce them to my favorites from the past, Nick shows only "Beaver" and ABC Family shows only "Fresh Prince," when what I really want to show them is "Grand" and "Dinosaurs" and "Max Headroom" and shows like that.

During the first season, the opening credits featured the cast lip synching the opening song. I thought it was a hilarious parody of MTV. The show never took itself too seriously, and that's what made it so refreshing. I don't ever expect to see anything like it again.

I believe that Ed Marinaro played Janice Pasetti's (ex-)husband. I forgot who played Norris Weldon's mother, Viveca, but she was really funny. You have to see it to appreciate it. I have to give a lot of credit to the writers of the show for making cutting social commentary so funny.

I saw every episode of the first season twice, but it just got weird during the second season. I only saw a couple of second season episodes. They had a different version opening song, but the cast stopped lip synching it. It was probably for the best that the show was canceled before it went on too long.

In this case, the "company town" is a town built not around a coal mine or a lumber mill, but around a piano factory.

What do I mean by "soap operetta"? Well, just as an operetta is a comedy in somewhat scaled-down opera form, "Grand" was (far more than outright soap opera spoofs like "Soap" or "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman") a comedy in scaled-down soap opera form. Also, like a typical operetta, and unlike a typical soap opera spoof, the humor was gentle, witty, and largely suitable for a family audience.

I never even knew there WAS a second season of the show, or that the second season mostly threw out the "soap operetta" format, but what I saw of the series, I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were the sort of people you actually would want to meet, something sadly lacking in an awful lot of television.

And the open used throughout the first season was certainly one of the best sitcom opens ever constructed.

I didn't have a TV at the time, (Grad Student) but would offer to baby sit for my sister the nights it was on.Put the kids away, pop some corn and enjoy! I would love to see it on DVD. It's a shame you can't just call somewhere and request these great old shows. So many were great, but canceled too soon. Designing Women comes to mind as one of the few I'm aware of that came back due to public outcry. I especially loved the opening credits and the wonderful theme song. I've always wondered- Who wrote that song? It was terrific. It was right up there with Soap and Taxi for me. Bonnie Hunt sticks out in my mind, a great actress but never got the kind of roles she deserved. Totally wasted in "Cheaper by the Dozen". Same thing with Pamela Reed.