Une nounou d'enfer

I never watched this show when it was on network television--I don't really know why, but, as of this comment, it is on the Lifetime Network and that is where I watch the show. I initially thought I would watch one episode, then never watch it again. How wrong I was on that one!! Okay, that nasal voice of Fran Drescher may irritate some, but heck, it works for the character and besides, that is her real voice. The entire cast was great all throughout the series, except the oldest daughter. For some reason, her character was the worst of the lot.

Renee Taylor was especially funny, as it seemed Sylvia was always eating or thinking about food and Ann Morgan Guibert was superb as Yetta. It is hard to imagine that this is the same woman who was "Millie" on "The Dick Van Dyke Show"!! I read somewhere that this show was the 90's version of "I Love Lucy" and in a way, I can see the comparisons. Wish the powers that be would release this show on DVD.

The one liners from Fran Dresser as Ms. Fine are classic 90's sitcom. Thank you HBO max for the trip down memory lane. For those who have never seen The Nanny, it's worth the watch. The theme song tells you everything you need to know about the show. Excerpt below:

She was working in a bridal shop in Flushing Queens Til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes.

What was she to do? Where was she to go? She was out on her fanny.

So over the bridge from Flushing to the Schefields door, she was there to sell makeup but the father saw more... She had style! She had flair! She was there!

That's how she became the nanny.

I watched this show growing up and missed on a lot of the humour. Now, in my mid thirties this show is purely genius.

Fran Fine (Fran Drescher, Saturday Night Fever) was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens, 'till her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes.

What was she to do? Where was she to go? She was out on her fanny. So over the bridge from Flushing to the Sheffield's door, she was there to sell make up, but the father saw more.

She had style, she had flair, she was there, that's how she became the nanny.

In case you haven't already clicked, I had just typed out that most part of the beginning theme to 'The Nanny' - and that's exactly how the story was set. A make-up seller ends up at the door of a Broadway producer and becomes the nanny for his 3 children.

The English producer Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessey, Days Of Our Lives) hates Andrew Llyodd Webber, and is known to say "I love you" before taking it straight back, again.

He has his faithful butler, Niles (Daniel Davis), and his arch-enemy and Maxwell's associate, Chastity-Claire Babcock (Lauren Lane) - these two are known for their sniping remarks and catty coments.

Fran helps the three kids Maggie, Brighton and Gracie (Nicole Tom, Beethoven; Benjamin Salisbury and Madeline Zima, Mr. Nanny) through boyfriends, girlfriends and the usual teenage stuff.

Adding to the mix is Fran's food-loving mother, Sylvia. Syvia's mom, Yetta and Fran's best friend, Val (Rachel Chaggal).

For 6 years, 'The Nanny' was a hilarious sitcom that never stopped being funny. With guest appearances like Elizabeth Taylor and Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop, its no wonder this show caught the attention of millions around the world! It will be missed. 8½/10.

I am not usually a fan of most sitcoms. I just don't find them funny. The Nanny however had just the right mix of funny and heartwarming to make the show worthwhile. That being said it is also straight out of the 90s which means a lot of the situations and jokes might not work for people watching it for the first time today. Fran Drecher's character's obsessed with marriage may not fit in with today's sensibilities. Also the snarky comment by the butler Niles to his bosses/friends female business associate might strike some as misogynistic but the strange relationship between Niles and CC is one of the most fluid relationships of the series. Also the children actors acting ability is not always top notch but it is hardly horrible either.

The Nanny is definitely a show built for the 90s but if you like a fun comedy that doesn't overstay it's welcome you should give this a try.