Jennifer Slept Here
A ghostly actress mentors a teenage boy in a 1980s sitcom.
Jennifer Farrell, a once-popular movie actress, died in 1978 after an ice cream truck backed over her near her Los Angeles home. Six years later, the Elliot family—father George, a lawyer who had handled Jennifer’s estate; mother Susan; eight-year-old daughter Marilyn; and teenage son Joey—moved into the house. Jennifer’s ghost haunted the property, but she only appeared to Joey, mentoring and befriending him. Joey struggled to convince his family and friends of her existence; they often thought he needed help. In one episode, they hired a fake exorcist (played by Zelda Rubinstein, parodying her *Poltergeist* role) to trap Jennifer’s spirit in a jar. The series ran for one season on NBC from October 21, 1983, to April 7, 1984, produced by Larry Larry production in association with Columbia Pictures Television. The theme song, also titled “Jennifer Slept Here,” was written by Joey Murcia, Bill Payne, and Clint Holmes, and performed by Joey Scarbury. Critical reception was mixed; Tom Ensign of *The Toledo Blade* called it “not funny, not witty,” and Baird Searles dismissed it as a “shameless re-echo of *Topper*.” The show faced tough Friday night competition from *The Dukes of Hazzard* and *Webster*, leading to low ratings. Summer 1984 Wednesday repeats occasionally reached the Top 30, but not enough for a second season.
- run
- October 21, 1983 – April 7, 1984
Lore & Background
The series follows Jennifer Farrell, a once-popular movie actress who died in 1978 after being accidentally run over by an ice cream truck near her Los Angeles home. Six years later, the Elliot family—father George, mother Susan, daughter Marilyn, and teenage son Joey—moves into her house. George, a lawyer, had handled Jennifer's posthumous affairs, including the sale of the house. Jennifer haunts the house and makes herself visible only to Joey, mentoring and befriending him. Joey struggles to convince his family and friends of her existence, often leading them to suggest he needs psychiatric help. In one episode, the family hires a phony exorcist, played by Zelda Rubinstein in a parody of her Poltergeist character, to capture Jennifer's spirit in a jar.
Reader's Guide
Jennifer Slept Here is notable as a short-lived fantasy sitcom from the early 1980s, airing on NBC during a competitive Friday night time slot against The Dukes of Hazzard on CBS and Webster on ABC. The series received mixed critical reviews and low ratings, though summer 1984 Wednesday night repeats occasionally reached the Top 30. Critics such as Tom Ensign of The Toledo Blade called the show 'not funny, not witty,' and Baird Searles dismissed it as 'a shameless re-echo of Topper.' Despite its brief run, the series is remembered for its premise of a ghostly mentor and for featuring Ann Jillian in the lead role. The theme song, also titled 'Jennifer Slept Here,' was co-written by series star Ann Jillian and performed by Joey Scarbury.
Did You Know?
- The series ran for one season on NBC from October 21, 1983, to April 7, 1984.
- Ann Jillian played Jennifer Farrell, a ghost who died after being run over by an ice cream truck in 1978.
- In one episode, a phony exorcist played by Zelda Rubinstein parodied her Poltergeist character Tangina Barrons.
- The theme song was written by Joey Murcia, Bill Payne, and Clint Holmes, and performed by Joey Scarbury.
More in American fantasy comedy television series 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record