Uncle Buck (1990 TV series)

This article is about the 1990 TV series. For the 2016 series, see Uncle Buck (2016 TV series).
Uncle Buck
The characters of Uncle Buck.
GenreSitcom
Based onCharacters
by John Hughes
Developed byTim O'Donnell
Directed byJames Widdoes
John Tracy
Art Dielhenn
StarringKevin Meaney
Dah-ve Chodan
Jacob Gelman
Lacey Chabert
Audrey Meadows
Dennis Cockrum
Thomas Mikal Ford
Opening theme"Uncle Buck"
performed by Ronnie Milsap
ComposerSteve Dorff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes22 (6 unaired)
Production
Executive producerRichard Gurman
ProducerRick Newberger
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes (inc. commercials)
Production companiesVerbatim Productions
Universal Television
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 10, 1990 (1990-09-10) –
March 9, 1991 (1991-03-09)
Related
Uncle Buck

Uncle Buck is an American surreal humour television series starring Kevin Meaney, based on the 1989 film of the same name. The series aired on CBS from September 10, 1990 to March 9, 1991 during the 1990–91 season.

Synopsis

Buck Russell is a slob and the brother of Bob Russell who drinks, smokes, and gambles. He is also the uncle of Bob's children Tia, Maizy, and Miles. One day, Buck is named the guardian of Tia, Maizy, and Miles after Bob and Cindy are suddenly killed in a car accident. Buck is sometimes assisted in raising his nieces and nephew by their maternal grandmother Maggie Hogoboom.

Cast

  • Kevin Meaney as Buck Russell (the paternal uncle of Tia, Miles & Maizy)
  • Dah-ve Chodan as Tia Russell, Buck's paternal niece and Maggie's maternal granddaughter
  • Jacob Gelman as Miles Russell, Buck's paternal nephew and Maggie's maternal grandson
  • Sarah Martineck as Maizy Russell, Buck's paternal niece and Maggie's maternal granddaughter
  • Audrey Meadows as Maggie Hogoboom (the maternal grandmother of Tia, Miles & Maizy)
  • Lacey Chabert as Nancy

Episodes

NOTE: The production codes were taken from the United States Copyright Office.
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		 Viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"John TracyTim O'DonnellSeptember 10, 1990 (1990-09-10)8355916.1[1]
2"Nine-to-Five"James WiddoesJohn HughesSeptember 17, 1990 (1990-09-17)6670219.6[2]
3"The Gray Fox"James WiddoesTim O'Donnell & Richard GurmanSeptember 24, 1990 (1990-09-24)6670518.1[3]
4"Cub Fever"James WiddoesRick NewbergerOctober 1, 1990 (1990-10-01)6670316.1[4]
5"Buck to School"Art DielhennKevin AbbottOctober 8, 1990 (1990-10-08)6670415.8[5]
6"Yes, But Will It Fly?"James WiddoesJohn HughesOctober 15, 1990 (1990-10-15)6670616.6[6]
7"Teacher's Pet"Art DielhennWarren BellOctober 22, 1990 (1990-10-22)6670717.6[7]
8"Fire Sale"UnknownUnknownNovember 5, 1990 (1990-11-05)6670817.7[8]
9"Tia's Tutor"UnknownUnknownNovember 12, 1990 (1990-11-12)6671117.8[9]
10"A Day at the Races"UnknownUnknownNovember 16, 1990 (1990-11-16)667109.6[9]
11"Bluebell Buck"UnknownUnknownNovember 23, 1990 (1990-11-23)667018.3[10]
12"In Tia We Trust"UnknownUnknownJanuary 26, 1991 (1991-01-26)667129.7[11]
13"Pig-malion"UnknownUnknownFebruary 2, 1991 (1991-02-02)6671510.6[12]
14"Buck to the Future"UnknownUnknownFebruary 9, 1991 (1991-02-09)667217.9[13]
15"Movin' Out"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 1991 (1991-03-02)667098.7[14]
16"The People's Half Court"UnknownUnknownMarch 9, 1991 (1991-03-09)667146.9[15]
17"The Music Man"TBDTBDUnaired (Unaired)66716N/A
18"Fame"TBDTBDUnaired (Unaired)66713N/A
19"Sixty Candles"TBDTBDUnaired (Unaired)66717N/A
20"My Right Foot"TBDTBDUnaired (Unaired)66718N/A
21"Danny"TBDTBDUnaired (Unaired)66719N/A
22"The Big Picture"TBDTBDUnaired (Unaired)66720N/A

Critical reception

The show was panned by critics. The pilot caused a minor controversy because of a scene where Maizy tells Uncle Buck: "You suck!"; this is believed to be the first time this phrase had been used on network television. After airing on Monday nights for two months, due to competition with MacGyver and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the latter of which premiered on the same day, it was moved to Friday, in an attempt by CBS to establish a comedy night swapping with Evening Shade. The ratings dropped from there with strong competition from ABC's Top 20 hit Full House, and it was cancelled shortly after, having aired only 16 episodes and leaving several filmed episodes unaired.

References

  1. ^ Donlon, Brian (September 19, 1990). "NBC wins yearly crown". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  2. ^ Donlon, Brian (September 26, 1990). "CBS has its eye on first". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  3. ^ Donlon, Brian (October 3, 1990). "NBC wins; CBS still surprises". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  4. ^ Sloan, Eugene (October 10, 1990). "NBC tops in ratings, barely". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  5. ^ Sloan, Eugene (October 17, 1990). "For CBS, baseball's a grounder". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  6. ^ Donlon, Brian (October 24, 1990). "CBS slides easily into first place". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  7. ^ Donlon, Brian (October 31, 1990). "CBS, no longer the long shot". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  8. ^ Donlon, Brian (November 14, 1990). "'Cheers' sweeps up for NBC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  9. ^ a b Donlon, Brian (November 21, 1990). "ABC pulls past CBS in sweeps". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  10. ^ Donlon, Brian (November 28, 1990). "ABC's 'It' confirms competitors' fears". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  11. ^ Donlon, Brian (January 30, 1991). "ABC super-bowls over its rivals". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  12. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 6, 1991). "Where are the dominant series?". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  13. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 13, 1991). "A good Friday fuels ABC win". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  14. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 6, 1991). "CBS gains ratings speed". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  15. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 13, 1991). "'Baby Talk' helps ABC toddle past CBS to 2nd". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.