"It Had to Be You" (1993) TV series

Creator:

John Steven Owen

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

19 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Cast

Eric Bizot

...

Reporter (1 episode, 1993)

Runtime:

30 min (4 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Lorimar Television

Trivia:

The show was originally placed on hiatus rather than cancelled, with new episodes produced without Faye Dunaway. However, this re-tooled version never made it to air.

Faye Lights Up The Small Screen

One of the best actresses in film history, Faye Dunaway decided to try something different and test the waters of sitcom television in the fall of 1993. I really didn't expect this series to be canceled so quickly (it lasted only 4 episodes), since CBS inserted the show in its Monday schedule, its Alpha-Male primetime slot at the time. I believe it was placed right after either "Murphy Brown or "Love & War."

The sitcom's plot revolved principally around the day-to-day of Dunaway's character, an affluent and busy executive, not unlike the character she portrayed in Network--but this time with a little more heart. Her world is turned upside-down, however, when she hires a carpenter, played by Robert Urich, to renovate her Park Avenue penthouse. Urich's character, a working class single-parent, is a complete opposite, and of course they fall in love. Dunaway is also attracted to Urich's three sons, and the budding matrimonial relationship between Dunaway's businesslike exec and Urich's sons touched and intrigued me. One of the sons was played by Justin Whalen, who later played a very fresh Jimmy Olson in the "Superman" series starring Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain.

After the show was canceled, there was a rumor that the show would be retooled by deleting Dunaway's character and casting it in the mold of all the other single-dad shows that were on the air at the time.

The teaser-preview that ran during the summer 93' was Urich approaching Faye in her hallway and telling her, in a very carpenter-like tone, that she needed a stud to finish her penthouse. Faye raised her eyebrows, smiled and asked salaciously "Do I really need a stud?"

I'll never forget that scene.