Muddling Through

Muddling Through is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from July 9, 1994, to September 7, 1994.[1] The series starred Stephanie Hodge as an ex-convict trying to turn her life around, but is now perhaps better remembered for being the series which Jennifer Aniston (playing the daughter of Hodge's character) completed just before her star-making role on Friends began. Friends debuted just two weeks after Muddling Through aired its final episode, with one episode remaining left unaired. According to NBC program executive Preston Beckman ("The Masked Scheduler"), Aniston was in second slot but the first choice to play Rachel Green in Friends. Warren Littlefield, then NBC entertainment chief, ordered the show to be "killed" so that Aniston would be freed up to take on the role of Rachel, leading to NBC to schedule strong programming against it to hurt its ratings.[2]

For the political science article, see Charles E. Lindblom.
Muddling Through
GenreSitcom
Created byBarton Dean
Starring
ComposerFrank Fitzpatrick
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producerBarton Dean
Producers
  • Barbara Dorio
  • Nancy Blair (associate)
  • Clay Graham (supervising)
  • Daniel Palladino (supervising)
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseJuly 9 (1994-07-09) –
September 7, 1994 (1994-09-07)

Plot

Connie Drego is an ex-con, paroled after serving three years in prison for shooting her cheating husband, Sonny, in the buttocks. Connie returns home to work at Drego's Oasis, the family's diner/motel in rural Michigan. Other characters include Madeline, Connie's oldest daughter who is married to Duane Cooper, the cop who arrested Connie and whose testimony led to her conviction, and Kerri, Connie's youngest daughter.

Cast

Starring

Recurring
  • Hal Landon Jr. as Gidney (7 episodes)
  • Hank Underwood as Lyle (7 episodes)
  • Forry Smith as Zane Whitman (2 episodes)

Guest starring

Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110July 9, 1994 (1994-07-09)September 7, 1994 (1994-09-07)

Episodes
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same"James WiddoesBarton DeanJuly 9, 1994 (1994-07-09)
After two and a half years in prison, Drego family matriarch, Connie, has returned home to put her family back together.
2"Let It Be Normal"Robby BensonDaniel PalladinoJuly 16, 1994 (1994-07-16)
Connie's first full day of freedom brings a visit from her parole officer and disappointment from a friend.
3"Back by Demand"Andy AckermanBarton DeanJuly 23, 1994 (1994-07-23)
Kerri decides that school sucks and she can get by with her street smarts.
4"It's a Date"Andy AckermanBarton DeanJuly 30, 1994 (1994-07-30)
Connie and Sonny agree to date other people.
5"Second Time's the Charm"Robby BensonBarton DeanAugust 6, 1994 (1994-08-06)
Madeline and Duane decide to renew their vows but Connie refuses to attend.
6"Cabin Fever"Andy AckermanLarry SpencerAugust 13, 1994 (1994-08-13)
An old friend visits and sets his sights on dating Connie after hearing of her divorce from Sonny.
7"Dog Duty"Pamela FrymanLee AronsohnAugust 24, 1994 (1994-08-24)
Duane is assigned to a new beat and Kerri tries to persuade Connie to buy her a car.
8"Ooh, Maybe Baby"Pamela FrymanLarry SpencerAugust 31, 1994 (1994-08-31)
Madeline puts her husband Duane on ice (literally) in preparation of their fertility clinic visit. Once the two are told they are fertile, they return home with plans to procreate.
9"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"Pamela FrymanRobert BordenSeptember 7, 1994 (1994-09-07)
All Connie's dad wants for Father's Day is for her to leave him alone. When her parents drop by for an impromptu reunion, Connie and the rest of the family are thrilled. A problem arises which is that no one ever told her dad.
10"Take Any Job and Shove It"Philip Charles MacKenzieClay GrahamUNAIRED
An unwanted tax bill leads to boa dancing. When Sonny gets a $4,000 invoice from the IRS on his coffee shop property he is distraught. That is until his ex-wife Connie reminds him she was awarded the shop in their divorce.

References
  1. Muddling Through, Stephanie Hodge, D. David Morin, Jennifer Aniston, retrieved 2018-06-01{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "TV's "Masked Scheduler" Reflects on 35-Year Career: Nabbing Aniston for 'Friends,' Toying with Dick Wolf". Hollywood Reporter. September 2, 2015.
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