Melba (TV series)
Melba is an American sitcom which aired on CBS from January 28, 1986, until September 13, 1986. The series was a vehicle for singer/actress Melba Moore.
| Melba | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Barry Harman Marshall Karp |
| Written by | Larry Balmagia Laurie Gelman |
| Directed by | Mel Ferber |
| Starring | Melba Moore Jamilla Perry Gracie Harrison Barbara Meek Lou Jacobi Evan Mirand |
| Opening theme | "We're Sisters" performed by Melba Moore |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Saul Ilson |
| Producer(s) | Larry Balmagia Bob Peete |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Saul Ilson Productions Columbia Pictures Television |
| Distributor | Sony Pictures Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | January 28 – September 13, 1986 |
Summary
The show was about the home and work life of Melba Patterson (Moore), a divorced mother who was the director of New York's Manhattan Visitors Center. Melba was raising her 9-year-old daughter Tracy (Jamilla Perry) with the help of her mother Rose (Barbara Meek) and her white "sister", Susan Slater (Gracie Harrison). Melba and Susan had been close since childhood, since Rose was Susan's family's housekeeper when they were growing up. Jack (Lou Jacobi) and young Gil (Evan Mirand) worked for Melba at the visitors' center.
Cancellation
The show premiered on January 28, 1986, the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Perhaps in part due to the tragedy, the premiere episode ranked as one of the lowest-rated programs of the week, and CBS immediately pulled the show from its schedule. The remaining episodes were later aired during the summer.
Cast
- Melba Moore as Melba Patterson
- Jamilla Perry as Tracy Patterson
- Gracie Harrison as Susan Slater
- Barbara Meek as Mama Rose
- Lou Jacobi as Jack
- Evan Mirand as Gil
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Manhunt" | TBA | TBA | January 28, 1986 |
| 2 | "Mother and Other Strangers" | TBA | TBA | August 2, 1986 |
| 3 | "The Triangle" | TBA | TBA | August 9, 1986 |
| 4 | "Mother Knows Best" | TBA | TBA | August 16, 1986 |
| 5 | "My Shadow and Me" | TBA | TBA | September 6, 1986 |
| 6 | "The Girls Are Back in Town" | TBA | TBA | September 13, 1986 |