The Grand

"32,000" people inhabit Grand. This is the story of eight or nine of them."

"Grand" was my favorite show of 1990! It ran only 25 episodes (although there was a 26th episode filmed which never aired). Pamela Reed and Bonnie Hunt hit their peak in this quirky series! It was a psuedo-soap opera revolving around the lives of a piano manufacturer (Harris Weldon), his family (reformed pyromaniac son Norris, neurotic neice Carol Anne and her get-rich-quick-scheming husband, Tom), and his servants (butler Desmond and cleaning lady Janice Pasetti--a former homecoming queen raising a daughter in a travel tailer!). With a handful of other quirky characters (Janice's ex-husband Eddie and policeman Wayne Kazmusky, most notably), the show seemed destined to go down in the annals of TV history before "Twin Peaks" began airing opposite it. NBC didn't hold out much hope for the series from the begining, apparently, and the first season finale was a tour-de-force intended to end the show's brief run. It's unexpected ratings caused them to renew the show in the fall, but the soap opera format was dropped for much of the season. Sadly, just as the show returned to its soap opera format, it was cancelled, leaving Janice and Carol Anne trapped at the bottom of an abandoned well. The dream sequence Janice has while in the well was one of the classics of TV! I would have loved to see this one go on and on!

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.

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.

I absolutely agree with Riverstone. This was a wonderful show..one I too planned to follow with high hopes. I never knew why it was pulled and I didn't even remember it being reworked...I guess by that point I was so disgusted with the network that I gave up. It was a clever, witty show that could have made T.V. history. Fortunately, most of the actors did end up with successful careers, but this certainly would have been a feather in their caps had it been given a chance. Any chance that the few shows they filmed could be found on tape?

All I can remember about the theme was, "If you want to play it, play it Grand"...

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.