Frank's Place

This show was a victim of CBS. As other posters here have so adroitly put it, this was a wonderful, well done show about a New Orleans restaurant. The setting, the characters, the little touches throughout were positively intoxicating. The episodes I remember are "The Bum Out Front" and "Dueling Voodoo". The "Voodoo" episode was especially memorable because the lead character literally had to use magic powder to undo a curse. I remember when the show aired, it did have low ratings, but I thought they would renew it and give it another shot, because the show was of such high quality. I thought CBS would do what NBC did when it renewed the low rated but high quality "Cheers" and "Hill St. Blues" and gave them the time to find their audience. It was canceled by CBS and I have never forgotten how disappointed I was at that decision. Part of the reason it was taken off of the air, was so that the leads actors in the series, Tim Reid and his wife Daphne Maxwell Reid could do a forgettable hour long detective show called "Snoops". "Frank's Place" truly was a victim of CBS, I'd love to see the series on DVD or on Nick at Night again.

This show was so unique and so classy and so very well done in every way, that there are many many people who still rave about it to this day. If any show ever deserved to have all of its episodes on a DVD - - this is absolutely the one. The dialog was perfectly written. The music was wonderful and appropriate. It goes without having to elaborate that each one of the actors was talented and a joy to see and hear.

And, one of this show's most unique and classy perks was something that was pure class. There was NO LAUGH TRACK.

Frank's place was truly one of the greatest. This kind of quality is sorely missed. If only this show would be repeated now on any channel, anywhere- - that would be a wonderful thing. And if word got out that indeed it could be seen again on TV, it would not only instantly attract the viewers who still miss it very much; it would most likely establish a significant number of new loyal fans.

Somehow, someone, anyone, PLEASE create a DVD of it.

I still so miss this show. Even more now that there is so little of quality on network television. I rank it with Barney Miller and Frasier in the superiority of its comedy writing. Far and away one of the most intelligent shows ever produced. But then so much more than comedy. So deep and true and human. With wonderful performances by the entire, quirky cast. With real essence of place, which seemed to figure as another character in the overall mix. Such conscience, compassion and heart.

It is very dispiriting that such high quality entertainment is choked off as very possibly too black, but is followed by such a host of "black" shows so dumbed down, stereotypical, canned and downright silly as to only be able to aspire to mediocrity.

What a blessing it would be to be able to acquire the episodes on DVD. And/or to get the same dream team together for another stellar effort. I know the characters were only [?] fictional, but they felt so much like friends. COME BACK!!!

Going on twenty years later, and it was one of a kind. Best show hands down.

Too funny, without being sexually explicit with adult material. Brilliant.

Beah Richards would deservedly win the guest actress Emmy as the widow of the man who "may" have killed himself, but to this day I enjoy fellow nominee Conchata Farrell from the same episode as the lawyer representing Richards. The lines "I spit up on her. My mother died in her arms" is a chilling, stunning setup.

"In other words, gentlemen, I am your worst nightmare come true."

Fantastic.

The Rosalind Cash-Lynne Thigpen episode. Subtle, yet memorable. Cash was the old voodoo ways, Thigpen was the updated voodoo ways. Too classic.

Loved the "spell" being carried in by Thigpen in a paper bag covered in aluminum.

I had forgotten about the dead body being removed from the funeral home. The "body" would tip his hat and smile at the very end after credits rolled.

The boxing match. Sensational.

I suppose my fave was the restaurant episode with the country band, the drag queens, the white family and "Pick a bale of cotton." Around the same time, Robin Williams had pulled the same joke on a special "Carol, Carl, Robin & Whoopi" but it was still funny here.

My brother managed to record most of the episodes, only missing a two parter dealing with drugs.

I still think about this grand show.

Daphne Maxwell-Reid and Virginia Capers. Hilarious when she got mad and was in that wheelchair.

And the reverend! How could I forget him! "But the Lord loves me!"

He would have a quick scene in the boxing match that was too funny.

Toward the end, Frank would be told that Daphne was getting married to a football player and he would meet the guy, who had a voice like a cartoon character. Frank felt vindicated. At the very end, he mimicked MIckey Mouse giving football calls.

This show would be replaced with that horrendous retirement community show that starred Glynis Johns, Alan Young and the fellow who played Wimpy in the Robin Williams-Shelly Duvall Popeye movie.

Was Frank's Place ahead of its time? Who knows?

It would receive numerous nominations in the only year it was on, and other than Richards' guest win, it would only receive writing.

Yes, it seemed to be because they were Black. Even in the eighties it could be too much. It was a shame.

But thankfully the show was done for that year.

Fantastic show. As everyone else seems to note, canceled way too soon. Puts shows like NYPD Blue, Six Feet Under, and other critical darlings to shame -- had more depth, cleverness, backwards humor and good, understated acting in a single show than a year's worth of Six Feet Under.

Definitely leads off the list of "why don't the networks spend the six hours it would take to hire some intern to transfer the tape to DVD and release this oblivion" shows.