- Door-to-door cosmetics sales lady Fran Fine inadvertently becomes the nanny to the three children of a widowed Broadway producer.
- Early thirty-somethings Fran Fine and Val Toriello are best friends since high school, both of whom work as salesgirls in a bridal shop in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, the shop operated by Fran's long term "pre-engagement" high school boyfriend, Danny Imperiali. Things change when Danny dumps Fran for their high school friend, Heather Biblow, and also fires her as he wants to give Fran's sales job to Heather. Fran decides to try selling cosmetics door-to-door. The first house she knocks on is that of widower and Broadway theater producer, Maxwell Sheffield. Niles, the Sheffield's proper but quick-tongued English butler, mistakes Fran as the new nanny for Maxwell's three "problem" children: shy teenager Maggie, precocious preteen Brighton, and angst ridden adolescent Grace. The only adult female influence in the Sheffield household is C.C. Babcock, Maxwell's business associate who obviously is attracted to Maxwell but not his children. Niles' favorite pastime is tormenting C.C. Although Maxwell quickly realizes Fran is not a nanny, he hires her anyway on a temporary basis as the nanny agency is unable to send anyone else immediately. Fran ends up being not your traditional nanny. She first decides that she will come to breakfast in her robe, and eat with the family. But the biggest decision she makes is that she and the kids will crash Maxwell's upcoming investor's party at the house. Having the kids at the party ends up being a windfall as the investors love them. However, Fran gets in the doghouse when Maxwell catches Maggie in the embrace of the party waiter, who gives her her first ever kiss. Maxwell and Fran argue specifically about how Maggie should be raised in her formative teenage years. Maxwell promptly fires Fran over this incident. Fran takes solace at her mother's house, Sylvia being your typical Jewish mother who loves her food. But Fran's retreat back to Queen's is short-lived as Maxwell quickly realizes that Fran may have been right. Perhaps Fran Fine will have a life at the Sheffield household after all.—Huggo
- Fran () is simultaneously dumped and fired from her job as a bridal consultant by her oafish boss/boyfriend, Danny (), even though they are "pre-engaged." She quickly becomes a door-to-door cosmetics saleswoman, but when she arrives at the grand home of one Maxwell Sheffield (), she is mistaken for a prospective new nanny by the sarcastic butler, Niles (). Fran hurriedly provides a resume and meets the three children, Maggie (), Brighton () and Grace (), whom she handles with ease. Despite his doubts about her qualifications, Maxwell hires Fran on a "trial basis only," as he needs someone immediately, and she happily moves in. The next day, she learns that Maxwell is hosting a "soirée" that night, organized by Maxwell's business partner and "lady friend," C.C. Babcock (). Fran decides to take the children out for a day of beautification to get them ready, although they are not invited to the party. She takes them to her former place of employment and tells her friend Val () all about her cushy new job. Fourteen-year-old Maggie is nervous about dressing up, but Fran encourages her and buys her a fancy outfit.
At the party, Fran turns up in an outrageous red dress, scandalizing C.C. but impressing Maxwell. The kids then arrive, dressed to the nines, and though he initially objects, Maxwell soon proudly presents his children to the crowd, charming everyone present. C.C. tries to tell Fran to "keep a low profile," but she is undeterred. The party is deemed to be a success, but Maxwell then catches Maggie kissing the cater-waiter, Eddie (). Fran is excited for her, but Maxwell is upset, saying that she is too young and that Fran influenced his daughter to behave inappropriately, and he ends up firing her. Later, however, he reconsiders, spurred on by Niles' subtle hints, and he goes to visit Fran at her mother Sylvia's () home in Flushing. He asks if they can be tolerant of one another's different lifestyles and start over, and she excitedly accepts her position back.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of The Nanny (1993) in Australia?
Answer