The Building (TV series)

The Building is an American sitcom television series which aired on CBS from August 20 to September 17, 1993. The series ran for five episodes. It starred Bonnie Hunt.

This article is about the American sitcom. For the 2005 French film, see Le Building. For the 1999 Vietnamese film, see The Building (film).
The Building
GenreSituation comedy
Created byBonnie Hunt
Written byBonnie Hunt
Directed byJohn Bowab
StarringBonnie Hunt
Mike Hagerty
Richard Kulhman
Don Lake
Tom Virtue
Holly Wortell
Opening theme"The Building" performed by Rob Kolson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producersBonnie Hunt
David Letterman
CinematographyJo Mayer
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesBob & Alice Productions
Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Columbia Pictures Television
CBS Entertainment Productions
Release
Original networkCBS
Picture format480i (SDTV)
Original releaseAugust 20 (1993-08-20) –
September 17, 1993 (1993-09-17)
Chronology
Related showsBonnie (1995)

Premise

Bonnie Kennedy, a commercial actress who was jilted by her fiancé (George Clooney) shortly before the show started, moves back to Chicago to pick up the pieces of her life in an apartment across from Wrigley Field. The story focuses on Kennedy's struggles and the characters who live in her apartment building.

Production notes

Making heavy use of The Second City alum, the show had a theatrical sensibility wherein minor mistakes, accidents, and forgotten lines were often left in the aired episode, and there was a loose improv feel to certain scenes. The Building was the first sitcom production of David Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company; Letterman appears (unbilled) in a character role in the second episode. Hunt created the show, and wrote four of the five broadcast episodes. A sixth episode was produced, but did not air.

Two years after this show was cancelled, cast members Hunt, Lake, Virtue and Wortell would return in the series The Bonnie Hunt Show. This follow-up series retained many of the distinguishing characteristics of The Building, including the Chicago setting, an improv/theatrical feel, and the essential nature of the character relationships between the principals (although they were playing different characters). As well, the follow-up series was produced by Worldwide Pants, written by Hunt, and mostly directed by John Bowab.

Cast
  • Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Kennedy. Bonnie is a struggling actress, best known as the "Randolph Carpet Girl" in a series of local ads.
  • Holly Wortell as Holly, Bonnie's best friend and fellow actress.
  • Don Lake as Brad, who lives downstairs. Brad often drops by to mooch coffee and meals from Bonnie.
  • Tom Virtue as Stan, Brad's roommate. An actor, he and Bonnie seem mutually attracted to each other.
  • Richard Kuhlman as Big Tony. Rough around the edges, but generally decent and friendly, Big Tony lives upstairs and maintains the building. His wife, Antionette, is often heard yelling loudly offstage but is never seen.
  • Mike Hagerty as Finley, a one-time firefighter who runs the nearby bar/hangout called "G&L Fire Escape".
  • Andy Dick as Joe Devane, a talkative casting agent Bonnie often deals with.

Guest Stars George Clooney as Sam David Letterman as Himself George Wendt as Peter Richard Kind as Tony Donald O’Connor as Mr. Harper Jim Belushi as Dave

Episodes
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot"John BowabBonnie HuntAugust 20, 1993 (1993-08-20)
Guest star: George Clooney
2"Damned If You Do"John BowabBonnie HuntAugust 27, 1993 (1993-08-27)
Guest star: David Letterman
3"The Waiting Game"Paul KreppelElaine ArataSeptember 3, 1993 (1993-09-03)
Guest star: George Wendt
4"Father Knows Best"John BowabBonnie HuntSeptember 10, 1993 (1993-09-10)
Guest stars: Richard Kind & Donald O'Connor
5"Father Knows Best"John BowabBonnie HuntSeptember 17, 1993 (1993-09-17)
Guest star: Jim Belushi

References
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