The Fanelli Boys (1990–1991)

Creators:

Barry Fanaro, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan, Kathy Speer

Stars:

Joe Pantoliano, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Christopher Meloni

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Joe Pantoliano	...	Dominic Fanelli (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Ann Morgan Guilbert	...	Theresa Fanelli (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Christopher Meloni	...	Frankie Fanelli (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Ned Eisenberg	...	Anthony Fanelli (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Andy Hirsch	...	Ronnie Fanelli (19 episodes, 1990-1991)
Richard Libertini	...	Father Angelo Lombardi (19 episodes, 1990-1991)

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Fanelli Boys

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Four boisterous Italian brothers, their mom, and...that's about it

This short-lived sitcom about the four Fanelli fratelli boasted a good cast, a decent setup, and a dearth of genuine laughs. The actors playing the "boys" were not well-known at the time, though Pantoliano and Meloni have gone on to much greater fame. Pantoliano was a successful character actor already, but not particularly well-known. That description fits Eisenberg, too. Ann Morgan Guilbert played their mom, long after playing Millie on the Dick Van Dyke Show and shortly before playing The Nanny's grandmother. As I said, the show needed more laugh lines, but it also suffered from a lack of a framework on which to hang the laughs. The pitch must have gone something like this: "Let's do a show about some Italian brothers and their mom;" to which the response should've been "What about 'em?"