Grand (TV series)

Series overview

Pamela Reed portrayed Janice Pasetti, a former homecoming queen living in a trailer with her daughter Edda (Sara Rue) and working as a housekeeper for the wealthy Weldon family. Harris Weldon (John Randolph), the patriarch and owner of Grand Piano Works, faced financial troubles due to foreign keyboard imports. Also residing in the Weldon mansion were Harris's dimwitted son Norris (Joel Murray) and his acerbic butler Desmond (John Neville), whom Harris kept because Desmond had once saved his life. Janice also worked for Harris's niece Carol Ann Smithson (Bonnie Hunt), who lived a middle-class life with her ambitious husband Tom (Michael McKean), who constantly sought an executive position at the factory. Janice additionally fended off advances from motorcycle cop Wayne Kazmurski (Andrew Lauer). The series ran for two shortened seasons in 1990: thirteen episodes from January to April and twelve from October to December, with one left unaired. The first season followed Harris's attempts to secure a date for a Carnegie Hall ceremony honoring him, Tom's efforts to hide his teenaged son from a previous marriage from Carol Ann, and Harris allowing Desmond to believe he was Norris's father, though Harris knew it was untrue. When NBC had not committed to another season by the first-season finale, the episode was titled "Blow Off," an apparent jab at NBC's indecision, and concluded with a tornado devastating the town and the entire cast disappearing except for Wayne.