Café Americain

Café Americain is an American television sitcom starring Valerie Bertinelli that aired on NBC from September 18, 1993, to February 8, 1994, with two leftover episodes shown on May 28, 1994.[1] It was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.

Café Americain
Main cast
GenreSitcom
Created byPeter Noah
StarringValerie Bertinelli
Lila Kaye
Sofia Milos
Maurice Godin
Jodi Long
Graham Beckel
ComposerRoger Bellon
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producerJack Grossbart
ProducersPamela Grant
Peter Noah
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesPeter Noah Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Release
Original networkNBC
Picture formatNTSC (480i)
Original releaseSeptember 18, 1993 (1993-09-18) –
May 28, 1994 (1994-05-28)

Overview

Bertinelli played a young American woman, Holly Aldrige, who finds a job working as a waitress in a small café in France. The cast consisted of an assortment of eccentric characters from around the world who regularly visited the café, interacting in many hilarious circumstances. Madame Ybarra, a former dictator's wife, was a thinly veiled spoof of Imelda Marcos. Fabiana Borelli, the tempestuous Italian model, and her perpetually jealous Italian lover Carlo, regularly sparred and reconciled, with Carlo declaring of any real or imagined rival, "I kill him! I kill him bad! I kill him two times!" Marcel's on and off relationship with Holly set the stage for comedic interference by several guest star suitors.

Cast

Production and casting

Although Lila Kaye played the role of Margaret in the series pilot, the role was re-cast with Happy Days actress Marion Ross when the series was picked up. Within a month, Ross was gone and Kaye agreed to reprise the role.[2] The role of Margaret Hunt was also offered to Rue McClanahan, but she turned it down.[3]

At the time of filming, Valerie Bertinelli was married to guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Eddie appeared in the 7th episode, "Home Alone," as a street musician that Bertinelli's character Holly Aldridge chases out of the cafe. Van Halen spoke one line, "Praat je tegen mij?" The line is Dutch for "Are you talking to me?" [4]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"James BurrowsPeter NoahSeptember 18, 1993 (1993-09-18)
2"Le Confidence Game"Robert BerlingerPeter NoahSeptember 25, 1993 (1993-09-25)
3"Weekend at Holly's"James BurrowsSarit Catz & Gloria KettererOctober 2, 1993 (1993-10-02)
4"The Language of Really Good Friends"Robert BerlingerBruce RasmussenOctober 9, 1993 (1993-10-09)
5"Happy Birthday to Moi"James BurrowsEric CohenOctober 16, 1993 (1993-10-16)
6"Every Picture Tells a Story...Don't It?"Robert BerlingerBill BarolOctober 23, 1993 (1993-10-23)
7"Home Alone"Robert BerlingerBruce RasmussenNovember 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)
8"There's No Business Like Show Business"Robert BerlingerSarit Catz & Gloria KettererNovember 13, 1993 (1993-11-13)
9"...And Giblets for All"Robert BerlingerBill BarolNovember 20, 1993 (1993-11-20)
10"Toast of the Town"Robert BerlingerBruce RasmussenNovember 27, 1993 (1993-11-27)
11"Mommy Dearest"Robert BerlingerSarit Catz & Gloria KettererDecember 11, 1993 (1993-12-11)
12"Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly"Robert BerlingerEric CohenDecember 18, 1993 (1993-12-18)
13"The Dating Game"Robert BerlingerSarit Catz, David Silverman, Gloria Ketterer & Marcy Gray RubinJanuary 4, 1994 (1994-01-04)
14"Le Date"Robert BerlingerPeter NoahJanuary 11, 1994 (1994-01-11)
15"All About Kelly"Robert BerlingerSarit Catz & Gloria KettererJanuary 18, 1994 (1994-01-18)
16"Love the One You're With"Matthew DiamondBruce RasmussenFebruary 8, 1994 (1994-02-08)
17"Oh, Brother"Pamela FrymanSarit Catz & Gloria KettererMay 28, 1994 (1994-05-28)
18"The Fashion Show"Robert BerlingerEric CohenMay 28, 1994 (1994-05-28)

References
  1. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 181. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  2. Lowry, Brian (August 26, 1993). "Ross leaving NBC's 'Cafe'".
  3. "Rue McClanahan Interview Part 5 of 5 - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG" – via www.youtube.com.
  4. "Eddie Van Halen on "Cafe Americain"" – via www.youtube.com.
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