Mommy and Mai 

When a Cambodian woman that Fran and Val sponsored as a child visits New York and comes between the two friends, Fran fears she'll come between her and Maxwell too. To stay in the family Frans comes up with a plan to get engaged to Brighton.

Director:

Dorothy Lyman

Writers:

Robert Sternin (developed by), Prudence Fraser (developed by)

Stars:

Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Fran Drescher	...	Fran Fine
Charles Shaughnessy	...	Maxwell Sheffield
Daniel Davis	...	Niles
Lauren Lane	...	C.C. Babcock
Nicholle Tom	...	Maggie Sheffield
Benjamin Salisbury	...	Brighton Sheffield
Madeline Zima	...	Grace Sheffield (credit only)
Renée Taylor	...	Sylvia Fine
Ann Morgan Guilbert	...	Yetta Rosenberg (as Ann Guilbert)
Rachel Chagall	...	Val Toriello
Jennie Kwan	...	Mai Ling
Spalding Gray	...	Dr. Jack Miller

Storyline

Since high school, Fran and Val have had a foster daughter from Cambodia named Mai Ling. Mai Ling is coming to New York for a visit. Upon arrival, Mai Ling is no longer a small child as Fran and Val expect, but a young nineteen year old woman. Mai Ling initially portrays herself as coming from a simple background, but she soon gets accustomed to life in the Sheffield house. Mai Ling borrows Fran's clothes - making her seem much more mature - without asking. And then her actions cause a rift between "her mothers", Fran and Val which requires a therapy session with Dr. Miller to resolve their issues. Because of these situations and more, Sylvia is suspicious of Mai Ling's motives. Sylvia convinces Fran that Mai Ling really wants to move in on Fran's role in Maxwell's life. In reality, Mai Ling aims her sights on another in the Sheffield household if only to be able to remain in the United States. Fran, Val and Mai Ling finally come to an understanding, especially when Fran and Val ...

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Plot Keywords:

family butler | butler costume | mansion | english butler | celebrity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

C.C tells Maxwell she can't believe how obvious it is that Julia Louis Dreyfus is pregnant while on Seinfeld, and that they try and hide her behind big props. This was an inside joke as Lauren Lane was in fact pregnant herself at this time and is hiding behind big props, one of which is a big poster that says 'baby' on it.

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Quotes

[Maxwell and Niles are arguing about their respective masculinity]
Niles: I assure you, I am the most masculine one in this room...
[C.C. walks in]
Niles: ...until now.

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Connections

References The Brady Bunch (1969)

User Reviews

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS, Highschool Sweethearts, Sternin & Fraser Ink

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1