IMDb > "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer" (1998)

"The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer" (1998) More at IMDbPro »TV series

Photos (see all 1 | slideshow)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
2.9/10   42 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Contact:
View company contact information for The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
Release Date:
5 October 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Desmond Pfeiffer (the P is pronounced) was a black British gentleman who was run out of England after being accused of cheating at cards... more
User Comments:
What a loss! more (9 total)

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 5 of 8)

Chi McBride ... Desmond Pfeiffer (4 episodes, 1998)

Max Baker ... Nibblet (4 episodes, 1998)
Dann Florek ... Abraham Lincoln (4 episodes, 1998)

Christine Estabrook ... Mary Todd Lincoln (4 episodes, 1998)

Kelly Connell ... Ulysses S. Grant (4 episodes, 1998)
more

Additional Details

Runtime:
30 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
What a loss!, 21 June 1999
Author: zmaturin from Pleasant Valley

"The Secret Diaries of Desmond Pfieffer" was a television show that, sadly, only lasted for four weeks, during which the show and its premise was constantly derided and mocked by the media and largely ignored by the television viewing public.

True, a sitcom about Abraham Lincoln's sarcastic black butler sounds silly, and it is, but luckily the show carried a sense of self-awareness. Despite one atrocious episode (in which the drunken Ulysses S. Grant faces down his bowling demons) the show 's remaining three were not pitifully stupid, as some folks would have you believe.

The cast was top notch: Chi MacBride (who was Cyrus in Peter Jackson's under-rated "The Frighteners") is simply superb as the title character: A dignified and intelligent overwieght black man, truly a rarity among prime-time role models. Max Baker was the image of perfection as Nibblet, the inbred indentured servant, and Dan Florik was suitable as the Bill Clinton-meets-Gerald Ford Lincoln.

The show isn't perfect, though. Many jokes fall flat, and the woman playing Mrs. Lincoln is quite annoying.

But the show had its moments, as evidenced in the episode in which Desmond, Nibblet, and Lincoln are stranded behind Confederate Lines. Desmond has convinced the Southern soldiers that he is, in fact, a white Confederate spy disguised as a black Northern free slave. One Southerner inquirers, "It must be awfully hard on you to even temporarily go through life as a Negro."

To which Desmond replies "Oh, it hasn't been that bad. I have been able to get a lot more white women!"

It will be missed.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (9 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer" (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I saw a filming of this show live. boondocks31
I need to see more of this chainsaw_metal1
Wanted: all 9 episodes on DVD Ernie Pyle
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
National Treasure: Book of Secrets "Friends" "The Blue and the Gray" Abraham Lincoln "The Nanny"
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Episode guide Full cast and crew Company credits
News articles IMDb TV section IMDb Comedy section
IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.

You may add a new episode for this TV series by clicking the 'add episode' button