Ricky Hanson Video: The Nanny Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot
The Nanny is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from November 3, 1993, to June 23, 1999, starring Fran Drescher as Fran Fine, a fashionista from Flushing, Queens, New York, who becomes the nanny of three children from a New York–British upper-class family.
The show was created and produced by Drescher and her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, taking much of its inspiration from Drescher’s personal life growing up in Queens, involving names and characteristics based on her relatives and friends. The show earned a Rose d’Or, and one Emmy Award, out of a total of twelve nominations; Drescher was twice nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy. The sitcom has also spawned several foreign adaptations, loosely inspired by the original scripts.
Jewish-American Fran Fine turns up on the doorstep of British Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy) to sell cosmetics after having been dumped and subsequently fired by her bridal-shop-owner boyfriend. Maxwell reluctantly hires her to be the nanny of his three children: Maggie, Brighton, and Grace. In spite of Mr. Sheffield’s misgivings, Fran turns out to be just what he and his family needed.
While Fran Fine manages the children, Niles, the acerbic butler (Daniel Davis) manages the household and watches all the events that unfold with Fran as the new nanny. Niles, recognizing Fran’s gift for bringing warmth back to the family (as Maxwell is a widower), does his best to undermine Maxwell’s business partner C.C. Babcock (Lauren Lane) who has her eyes on the very available Maxwell Sheffield. Niles is often seen making witty comments directed towards C.C., with C.C. often replying with a comment of her own in their ongoing game of one-upmanship.
As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly obvious that Maxwell is smitten with Fran even though he will not admit it, and Fran is smitten with him. The show teases the viewers with their closeness and many “near misses” as well as with an engagement. Towards the later seasons, they finally marry and expand their family by having fraternal twins. Later in the series, it is also clear that Niles and C.C.’s constant sharp barbs are their own bizarre form of flirtation and affection; after a few false starts (including multiple impulsive and failed proposals from Niles), the pair marry in the series finale and subsequently discover they are expecting a child.
Ricky Hanson