It's obvious that sometimes the best help comes from someone not manipulated (err trained) to be the right person for certain jobs. It's obvious that Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaugnessy) really needs help taking care of his troubled children: insecure Maggie, bratty Brighton and neurotic Gracie. That help comes in the form of Fran Dresher (as Fran Fine), a gregarious Jewish girl from Flushing Queens. Thanks to Fran, the world picked up on Yiddish slang (starting with "chachka's"), and this continued with her wacky family and friends. We briefly meet mother Sylvia (Renee Taylor) and best friend Val, as well as sarcastic butler Niles (Daniel Davis) and stuffy partner C.C. (Lauren Lane) whose verbal squabbles are a highlight of the show. The Fran fashion parade starts here with "the lady in red", inspiring many a drag queen. The mix of comedy, sentiment and honesty creates a continuing element, rare on a sitcom.
Review of The Nanny
