Cleghorne!

Cleghorne!
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Steve Pepoon David Silverman Stephen Sustaric
Directed by	Linda Day David Grossman Stan Lathan Terri McCoy John Sgueglia David Trainer
Starring	Ellen Cleghorne Garrett Morris Alaina Reed Hall Steve Bean Cerita Monet Bickelmann Michael Ralph Sherri Shepherd
Composer	Tom Rizzo
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No.of seasons	1
No.of episodes	15 (3 unaired)
Production
Executive producers	Steve Pepoon David Silverman Stephen Sustaric
Producers	Coral Hawthorne Adam I. Lapidus Nancylee Myatt
Running time	22–24 minutes
Production companies	Pepoon/ Silverman/ Sustarsic Productions 20th Century Fox Television
Original release
Network	The WB
Release	September 10(1995-09-10)– December 17, 1995(1995-12-17)

Cleghorne!is an Americansitcomtelevision series starring comedianEllen Cleghornethat aired onThe WBfrom September 10 to December 17, 1995.Garrett MorrisandAlaina Reed Hallcostarred as Ellen's character's parents, Sidney and Lena, with Steve Bean, Cerita Monet Bickelmann,Michael RalphandSherri Shepherd.

Among the first batch of original programming ordered by the newly launched WB network, the series was put on hiatus after 12 episodes in December 1995. The show was later cancelled with three episodes left unaired.

Synopsis

The series focuses on the life of Ellen Carlson (Cleghorne), a single mom who is raising her nine-year-old daughter Akeyla onManhattan's Upper West Side.Comedic situations arise as Ellen tries to balance raising her daughter, running a local production company inSoHo,and the interference her overbearing parents, Sidney and Lena, who live next door.

Cast

Main

• Ellen Cleghorneas Ellen Carlson, a single mother who runs a struggling television commercial production company
• Garrett Morrisas Sidney Carlson, Ellen's father, aU.S. Post Officeletter carrier and part-time building doorman
• Alaina Reed Hallas Lena Carlson, Ellen's mother, a part-time schoolteacher
• Steve Bean as Brad, Ellen's partner
• Cerita Monet Bickelmann as Akeyla Carlson, Ellen's daughter
• Michael Ralphas Tyrell Livingston, Ellen's ex-husband
• Sherri Shepherdas Victoria Carlson, Ellen's dim-witted sister who aspires to become a model

Recurring

• Cathy Silversas Coral, a waitress at Piccolo's, the local bar
• Dorien Wilsonas Jeff, a man Ellen dates who is the father of George, a student at Akeyla's private school

Development

Cleghorne was the third black woman to be credited onSaturday Night Live(1991–1995), afterYvonne HudsonandDanitra Vance,and the first woman of color to appear on the series as a full-fledged cast member for longer than a single season.She left to focus on her starring role in her own sitcom,Cleghorne!.In 1995,Cleghorne!was among the first batch of original programming ordered by the newly launched WB network, then run by formerFoxexecutives who had worked on shows likeIn Living Color,in which Cleghorne had also appeared.The sitcom was also the first time twoSaturday Night Livecast members of color (Cleghorne and originalSNLcast member Morris) had worked together on a show after appearing onSNL.The series was also the first television acting job for Shepherd,who would later appear again with Morris on another WB sitcomThe Jamie Foxx Show,and would eventually be known for her roles in the sitcomsLess than Perfectand30 Rock,and as co-host of theABCtalk showThe View.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
1	"Genesis"	Stan Lathan	Steve Pepoon& David Silverman & Stephen Sustarsic	September 10, 1995(1995-09-10)	3L01
Ellen reluctantly lets her parents and Victoria move into the apartment next door.
2	"Sister of the Bride"	John Sgueglia	Darryl J. Quarles	September 17, 1995(1995-09-17)	3L03
Facing deportation, Tyrell proposes to Ellen. She says no, but Victoria offers to marry him instead.
3	"My Daughter Attends the French School of New York (and Yours Doesn't)"	David Grossman	Mark Drop	September 24, 1995(1995-09-24)	3L04
Ellen enrolls Akeyla in an exclusive private school.
4	"All Grown Up and No Place to Go"	David Grossman	Rob Hanning	October 1, 1995(1995-10-01)	3L05
Ellen attends Akeyla's school dance and connects with another parent, Jeff.
5	"Adventures in Babysitting"	John Sgueglia	Adam I. Lapidus	October 8, 1995(1995-10-08)	3L02
Ellen's father will not let Ellen pay her mother babysit Akeyla, but Ellen does not want Lena to do it for free.
6	"The Parent Trap"	David Goldman	Nancylee Myatt	October 15, 1995(1995-10-15)	3L06
Ellen and Tyrell speak at Career Day at Akeyla's school.
7	"twenty-ninesomething"	Linda Day	Mindy Schneider	October 29, 1995(1995-10-29)	3L07
Ellen learns she is a year older than she thought.
8	"Losing Faith"	Terri McCoy	Michael Riedel	November 5, 1995(1995-11-05)	3L08
After the reverend she has encouraged Ellen to date confesses he is already married, a disillusioned Lena casts aside her religious beliefs and decides to live life in the fast lane for a while.
9	"Home Alone"	Terri McCoy	Amy Morland	November 12, 1995(1995-11-12)	3L09
With their parents out of town, Victoria feels neglected and clings to Ellen, who urges her to enjoy her independence. The advice backfires when Victoria throws a wild party that ends with a burglary.
10	"Girlfriendz"	David Grossman	Nancylee Myatt	November 19, 1995(1995-11-19)	3L10
Ellen cancels a meeting to tend to a friend who has left her husband, but winds up in a sticky situation when she runs into her client at a restaurant.
11	"This Magic Moment"	David Grossman	Rachel Lipman	November 26, 1995(1995-11-26)	3L11
Ellen tries to have a night alone with her boyfriend, but the family cannot stay away.
12	"Brother from Another Planet"	Linda Day	Nelson Costello	December 17, 1995(1995-12-17)	3L12
Ellen's therapist brother Rob comes home for Sidney and Lena's 35th-anniversary party, but his over-analysis of his parents' relationship causes Sidney to move out.
13	"Akeyla Doesn't Live Here Anymore"	TBD	TBD	UNAIRED	3L13
Ellen and Jeff take a ski trip with Akeyla and Jeff's son George, who are not getting along.
14	"Money for Nothing and Your Chicken for Free"	TBD	TBD	UNAIRED	3L14
Tyrell opens a restaurant.
15	"Sidney's Choice"	TBD	TBD	UNAIRED	3L15
Sidney enlists the family to help him win a bowling tournament.

Broadcast

Cleghorne!debuted onThe WBon September 10, 1995, but was put on hiatus in December 1995 having aired 12 episodes.The show was later cancelled with three episodes left unaired.Cleghorne later said, "I don't think I was ready. In terms of being strong and saying, 'I can write, this is what I do,' and feel confident in that. And to be able to say, 'No, this does not work, this works better.'"

Reception

Onreview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,Cleghorne!has an approval ratings of 40% based on 5 reviews, with an average score of 0.85/10.SlatecalledCleghorne!"part of a chapter in television history, a rare moment when black audience demographics were taken seriously by networks and advertisers. Aside from the 1970s, this period [in the 1990s] featured one of the highest concentrations of black scripted programming ever."

External links

• Cleghorne!atIMDb
• Cleghorne!atepguides.com
• Leszczak, Bob (August 31, 2018)."Cleghorne!".Single Season Sitcoms of the 1990s: A Complete Guide.McFarland. p. 42.ISBN9781476670775.RetrievedJune 4,2020– via Google Books.