Call Me Fran (21 Jan. 1998)

Fran's father will not use the basketball tickets that come from Mr. Sheffield. Fran questions her relationships with men and Maxwell agrees to call her Fran.

Director:

Fran Drescher

Writers:

Robert Sternin (developer), Prudence Fraser (developer),

Stars:

Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Fran Drescher	...	Fran Fine
Charles Shaughnessy	...	Maxwell Sheffield
Daniel Davis	...	Niles
Lauren Lane	...	C.C. Babcock
Nicholle Tom	...	Margaret 'Maggie' Sheffield
Benjamin Salisbury	...	Brighton Sheffield
Madeline Zima	...	Grace Sheffield
Renée Taylor	...	Sylvia Fine
Rachel Chagall	...	Val Toriello
Benjamin Lum	...	Ken
Spalding Gray	...	Dr. Jack Miller

Storyline

After Fran's father, Morty, doesn't show up to a Knicks game which she gave him as a gift, she learns that Morty declined only because he knows Fran got the tickets from Maxwell, from who he wants nothing. His attitude is because he sees Fran wasting her life on a man who will not marry her. Fran is hurt since she doesn't have her father's approval and has felt she never has. Dr. Miller's diagnosis of the situation is that Fran has always been attracted to men who keep her at arms length, much like her father, in order to resolve an unresolvable issue directly with her father. Based on this and Maxwell's inability to change, Sylvia inadvertently convinces Fran that she is the one who needs to make a change. She first decides to change the nature of her relationship with Maxwell purely to that of employee and employer, but when that doesn't result in a satisfactory outcome, she decides to leave the house for good. Will Maxwell make the necessary change before Fran leaves? Meanwhile, ...

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1998 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Highschool Sweethearts, Sternin & Fraser Ink

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is based on the movie/musical Call Me Madam.

---

Goofs

In this episode, Mr. Sheffield states that he has never met or seen Fran's father. However, in the episode "The Passed-Over Story" (4.21), the Sheffields join the Fine's for Passover Dinner and Mr. Sheffield is seen sitting across the table from Fran's father, Morty, although he doesn't speak and doesn't reveal his face to the camera.

---

Quotes

Maxwell Sheffield: Don't you look adorable today.
Fran Fine: Thank you.
Maxwell Sheffield: You know, you could be Margaret's sister.
Fran Fine: Oh sister...
Fran Fine: [under her breath] ... stepmother.

---

Connections

References Good Times (1974)

User Reviews