The 5 Mrs Buchanans (1994-1995)

About

Set in the fictional town of Mercy, Indiana, the show centers on the small-town misadventures of four disparate women with one thing in common: their loathing for their monster of a mother-in-law.

The unofficial leader of the group is Alex (Judith Ivey), a '60s rebel who settled down and married high school principal Roy Buchanan (John Getz). Everyone communes in their home and at the thrift store that she owns. Vivian (Harriet Sansom-Harris) is trapped in a stagnant marriage to used car salesman Ed Buchanan (Richard Poe), which is exacerbated by their hellion twin sons. Delilah (Beth Broderick) is a former stripper from the South who fell in love with preacher Charles Buchanan (Mark Moses). New to the family is Bree (Charlotte Ross), a perky former Disneyland employee who manipulated Jesse Buchanan (Paul Johansson / Tommy Hinkley) into marriage. Always meddling in their lives is Mother Buchanan (Eileen Heckart), a gravely-voiced, stoic, passive-aggressive gargoyle of a woman who commands the adoration and devotion of her four rarely-seen sons.

Created by Jamie Wooten and Marc Cherry, the latter of whom would go on to create "Desperate Housewives," the show garnered early buzz and a small audience of fans who watched it on Saturday nights, where CBS buried it. Reruns have never been broadcast since it went off the air in early 1995, but the show has gone on to garner a cult following thanks to exposure on YouTube.

Included is the original version of the pilot (which features a different title, opening scene and a pair of alternate jokes referring to Delilah's skimpy dress instead of her heavy makeup) plus an appearance with the entire cast on Suzanne Somers' short-lived daytime talk show.

1. Pilot/The Four Mrs. Buchanans - The ladies welcome Bree to the family. Paul Johansson makes his only appearance as Jesse.

2. The Other Woman - Bree suspects Jesse is having an affair, but the truth is far more shocking.

3. Nothing on Delilah - Rumors of Delilah's shady past reemerge just as she's in line to become leader of a prestigious ladies auxiliary. Guest stars Gretchen Wyler, Mary Pat Gleason and Veanne Cox.

4. Clyde and Vivian and Ed and Malice - Vivian considers having an affair. Guest stars Peter Bergman.

5. A Ring of Truth - Bree finds out that there's a phony diamond in her engagement ring.

6. The Mothers-In-Law - Bree's seemingly-airheaded mother Tink (Jean Casem) arrives for a visit and instantly raises the ire of Mother Buchanan.

7. Five Buchanans and a Baby - Delilah decides to resort to drastic measures to have a baby.

8. Alex Then and Now - Alex looks to add meaning to her life after appearing on a talk show with two successful college friends (Arnetia Walker and Lynnie Greene). Also guest stars Mo Gaffney and Frances Bay.

Archive

Internet Archive, in The VHS Vault

Licence or status

The Internet Archive states none for this item.

Credit

Wooten & Cherry Productions

Language

English

Who can watch

The archive gives no rating. Invisible Network shows it to Tweens profiles and older, judged from its collection and subjects. How films are placed