The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
Four daughters-in-law united by their loathing of one mother-in-law.
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 24, 1994 to March 25, 1995. Set in the fictional town of Mercy, Indiana, the series follows four women who share a common bond: their intense dislike for their overbearing mother-in-law.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Sitcom
- Creator
- Marc Cherry; Jamie Wooten
- Starring
- Judith Ivey
- Beth Broderick
- Harriet Sansom Harris
- Charlotte Ross
- Eileen Heckart
- Composer
- Steven Cahill
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 17
Facts from the source article.
Overview
The group is led by Alexandria, a former New York feminist who owns a thrift store and is married to high school principal Roy Buchanan. Vivian is stuck in a stagnant marriage to used car salesman Ed Buchanan and has twin sons. Bree, a Californian and ex-Disneyland employee, recently married Jesse Buchanan. The women gather at Alexandria's home and thrift store, forming deep bonds despite their different personalities. Mother Emma Buchanan, a passive-aggressive matriarch, constantly meddles in their lives.
Cast
She is the most level-headed of the four women and has a contentious relationship with Mother Buchanan. Her dimness exasperates the others, but she remains close to each. Harriet Sansom Harris plays Vivian Buchanan, a Republican housewife with twin sons from her marriage to high school sweetheart Ed Buchanan. She is neurotic and narcissistic, often clashing with the liberal Alex. Charlotte Ross plays Bree Larson Buchanan, a naive, vain Californian and ex-Disneyland worker who marries Jesse Buchanan. She gains the other women's respect by standing up to Mother Buchanan. Eileen Heckart plays Emma Buchanan, a former aspiring doctor abandoned by her husband, who uses her past to manipulate her daughters-in-law. John Getz plays Roy Buchanan, Mark Moses plays Rev. Charles Buchanan, and Richard Poe plays Ed Buchanan.
Production
The original pilot was titled The Four Mrs. Buchanans, referring to the four daughters-in-law. The opening scene was revised and reshot, and jokes about Delilah's dress were replaced with lines about her makeup when the pilot aired as The 5 Mrs. Buchanans. CBS initially ordered 13 episodes, then added a five-episode pick-up. Seventeen episodes were aired and produced. Eileen Heckart stated that CBS planned to move the show from Saturdays to Mondays following Murphy Brown, but changed its mind after ordering Cybill as a mid-season replacement. The seventh episode aired once in that Monday timeslot as a special preview on October 31, 1994.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created The 5 Mrs. Buchanans?
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans was created by Marc Cherry and Jamie Wooten.
Who stars in The 5 Mrs. Buchanans?
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans stars Judith Ivey, Beth Broderick, Harriet Sansom Harris, Charlotte Ross and Eileen Heckart.
How many episodes of The 5 Mrs. Buchanans are there?
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans has 17 episodes across 1 season.
More in Television Series by 20th Century Fox Television
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