# Open House (1989 TV series)

Open House is an American sitcom that aired Sunday at 9:30 on Fox from August 27, 1989 to May 6, 1990. The series was a spin-off of the Fox series Duet.

## Synopsis

Open House starred Alison LaPlaca as Linda Phillips, the former studio executive who brought the same zeal pushing costly houses for Juan Verde Real Estate as she did working at World Wide Studios. The series also starred Mary Page Keller and Chris Lemmon continuing their roles as Laura Kelly and Richard Phillips. Newly separated from her writer husband Ben Coleman, Laura also quit catering, and became an apprentice agent. Richard, Linda's husband, was a pianist at Jasper's, but left the hangout — and his wife — by mid-season. Among Linda's eccentric co-workers were Ted Nichols (Philip Charles MacKenzie), her main rival; Scott Babylon (Danny Gans), a talented impressionist; Margo Van Meter (Ellen DeGeneres), the sassy, man-hungry secretary; and Roger McSwain (Nick Tate), the manager of Juan Verde.
The premise of the series had originated in the series finale of Duet, in which Linda was introduced to Ted, who brought her to Juan Verde to start her new career. LaPlaca and MacKenzie had been dating for several years by the time they worked opposite each other on Duet and Open House (they first worked together on a 1985 episode of MacKenzie's former series, Brothers).

## Cast

| Actor | Role |
| Alison LaPlaca | Linda Phillips |
| Mary Page Keller | Laura Kelly |
| Chris Lemmon | Richard Phillips |
| Philip Charles MacKenzie | Ted Nichols |
| Danny Gans | Scott Babylon |
| Ellen DeGeneres | Margo Van Meter |
| Nick Tate | Roger McSwain |
| Ginger Orsi | Amanda Phillips |

## Episode list

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Fish Out of Water" | Dwayne Hickman | Bruce Ferber (Teleplay), Vic Rauseo & Linda Morris (Story) | August 27, 1989 (1989-08-27) |
| John Green is looking for someone to head up the new Sherman Oaks office, so Ted and Linda each vie for the job, but neither is pleased when they join Mr. Green on a fishing trip. Also, Laura is hired to provide catering for the company's open houses. Guest Stars: Ginger Orsi (Amanda Phillips), Arleen Sorkin (Geneva), Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes), Jon Cypher (John Green) Note: Linda sold her home to Dave Hayes in the series finale of Duet, but that plot point was completely ignored in this episode, in which Linda still resides in the same home and Dave is still desperately in search of a house that he'll be happy with. Song: Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Danny Gans) |||||
| 2 | "Scenes from an Office Marriage" | David Semel | Vic Rauseo & Linda Morris (teleplay), Bruce Ferber (story) | September 3, 1989 (1989-09-03) |
| Mr. Green becomes sick of Ted and Linda's continuous quarrels, so he sends them to a marriage counselor. Guest Stars: Ginger Orsi (Amanda Phillips), Arleen Sorkin (Geneva), Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes), Jon Cypher (John Green), Judith-Marie Bergen (Dr. Weber), Karen Salkin (Phyllis Hayes), Eric Nieber (Mr. Nieber) Songs: To All the Girls I've Loved Before (Danny Gans), Fever (Chris Lemmon & Mary Page Keller) |||||
| 3 | "Going for Broker" | Michael Zinberg | Bruce Ferber | September 10, 1989 (1989-09-10) |
| Laura's marriage to Ben imploded and she's sick of catering, so she decides to become a realtor. Also, Roger McSwain replaces John Green, who joined the witness relocation program. Guest Stars: Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes) Songs: Angst (Chris Lemmon) |||||
| 4 | "Whodunnit?" | Michael Zinberg | Charlene Seeger | September 17, 1989 (1989-09-17) |
| Laura's client dumps her just after Mr. McSwain gives her an ultimatum: sell a house or leave the firm. When Linda gets wind of the situation, she enlists Ted to try to help. Guest Star: Angelo Tiffe (Tony) |||||
| 5 | "Second Honeymoon, Anyone?" | Michael Zinberg | Barry Vigon & Deborah Leschin | September 24, 1989 (1989-09-24) |
| Richard and Linda's marriage is on the rocks, so Ted and Laura individually drag them to a hotel to rekindle their romance, but hijinks ensue revolving around a confused newlywed couple. Guest Stars: Diana Georger (Jean), John Lavachielli (Jack), |||||
| 6 | "Dome Sweet Dome" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Bruce Ferber | October 1, 1989 (1989-10-01) |
| Ted and Linda head to a remote locale in the woods to check out an unusual dome house, but they discover the owner's nowhere to be found and there's a bear outside the door. Guest Star: Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes) |||||
| 7 | "Let's Get Physicals" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Barry Vigon & Deborah Leschin | October 8, 1989 (1989-10-08) |
| When the staff gets physical examinations, Linda decides to play a prank on Ted by switching his medical records. Guest Stars: Jennifer Darling (Dr. Janet Baylor), Barbara Alyn Woods (Noreen), Jerry Hauk (The Doctor), Jay Arlen Jones (The Internist), Ellis Levinson (The Cardiologist) |||||
| 8 | "Married Without Children" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Tom Walla | October 22, 1989 (1989-10-22) |
| Ted's condescending mother comes for a visit and has an instant rapport with Linda, whom he assumes is his wife. Linda hesitantly plays along, but complications arise when each of their coworkers also claims to be his bride. Guest Star: Marian Mercer (Dorothy Nichols) |||||
| 9 | "Torn Between Two Houses" | Arlene Sanford | Charlene Seeger | October 29, 1989 (1989-10-29) |
| Dave's fed up with Ted's shenanigans, so he turns to Linda to find him a home. Meanwhile, Scott fixes up Margo with an exotic foreigner who finally takes her virginity. Guest Stars: Ray Buktenica (Dave Hayes), Dore Keller (Lenny Maroni), |||||
| 10 | "Murder, He Wrote" | Arlene Sanford | Adam Markowitz | November 5, 1989 (1989-11-05) |
| Laura becomes wary of the creepy new client Linda and Ted have been schmoozing, so she investigates and discovers he was recently released from a mental institution and has a homicidal dislike of realtors. Guest Stars: Ernie Sabella (Jack Doe), Aaron Lustig (Fred Fagey), Monica Burnett (Freida Fagey) |||||
| 11 | "In Vegas ... With Showgirls!: Part 1" | Arlene Sanford | Barry Vigon, Deborah Leschin & Bruce Ferber | November 12, 1989 (1989-11-12) |
| When the gang heads to Las Vegas for a real estate convention, Margo masquerades as a princess, Mr. McSwain schmoozes with showgirls, Laura gets hooked on the slot machines, Linda and Richard flaunt their wealth, and Ted temporarily becomes a high roller but loses it all. Guest Stars: Walter Olkewicz (Stan), Mark Lonow (Marty), Carmine Caridi (Fred) |||||
| 12 | "In Vegas ... With Showgirls!: Part 2" | Arlene Sanford | Tom Walla & Charlene Seeger | November 19, 1989 (1989-11-19) |
| Ted creates such a disturbance at the casino that the owner tries to put a hit on him, so he, Linda and Richard dress up like showgirls to make their escape. Guest Stars: Mark Lonow (Marty), Carmine Caridi (Fred), Gina Raymond (Tina), Harry Johnson (The Reporter), James Edson (The Announcer) |||||
| 13 | "Parade of Homes" | Dwayne Hickman | Hollis Rich | November 26, 1989 (1989-11-26) |
| Everyone hopes to host Mr. McSwain's new TV show, but the job goes to Geneva, whom Ted bribes to give him additional promotion. Guest Stars: Arleen Sorkin (Geneva), Laurie Faso (Delivery Man) |||||
| 14 | "Bye, Bye Boris" | David Semel | Ruth Bennett | January 7, 1990 (1990-01-07) |
| Margo's coworkers reluctantly offer support when her beloved cat dies, which includes not only a funeral but a seance. Guest Stars: Mary Hamill (The Woman), Freddy (Francine) Note: He was credited for one additional episode, but this is the final appearance of Chris Lemmon as Richard Phillips. |||||
| 15 | "Who Framed Roger McSwain?" | Phillip Charles MacKenzie | Tom Walla & Charlene Seeger | January 14, 1990 (1990-01-14) |
| Linda suspects Mr. McSwain's new fiancee has dubious intentions, so the ladies investigate her and discover she's had multiple marriages to wealthy men. Guest Star: Debra Sandlund (Chloe), Jeff Silverman (The Clerk) |||||
| 16 | "An Unmarried Woman" | Sam Weisman | Barry Vigon, Deborah Leschin & Bruce Ferber | February 4, 1990 (1990-02-04) |
| After Richard leaves her for a flight attendant named Pippy, Linda finds herself in a group therapy session and is taken aback when Ted makes a late arrival. He agrees to keep her secret, but their coworkers make it difficult, as Laura plans a surprise anniversary party for Richard and Linda. Guest Stars: Lyman Ward (Dr. Parker), Jeff Garlin (Brian), Rebeccah Bush (Sherry), Allan Fudge (Jeff) |||||
| 17 | "The Bad Seed" | Arlene Sanford | Ruth Bennett & Susan Seeger | February 11, 1990 (1990-02-11) |
| Mr. McSwain's daughter Chloe arrives from Australia and quickly puts the moves on every man in the office. As the staff scrambles to protect the boss, Chloe clashes with Linda and sets her sights on getting Ted into bed. Guest Star: Sherrie Krenn (aka Sherrié Austin) (Chloe McSwain) |||||
| 18 | "Lost Weekend" | Arlene Sanford | Dava Savel | February 18, 1990 (1990-02-18) |
| Margo makes arrangements and invites herself along on Linda's and Laura's single cruise, but she goofed and they find themselves aboard a cruise for mourners who are dropping the remains of their loved ones in the sea. Meanwhile, the guys go on a war games retreat in which Ted is literally tortured by his nemesis. Guest Stars: Jay Thomas (Evan Gimble), Rick Lieberman (Fred), Ralph Bruneau (Greg) Rod McCary (Ernie), George O. Petrie (Lester) |||||
| 19 | "Dumbstruck" | Michael Zinberg | Bruce Ferber & Charlene Seeger | February 25, 1990 (1990-02-25) |
| Ted become concerned when Linda has a torrid romance with a hunky young moving man, so she throws a dinner party to show her coworkers that everything's fine, but it further proves that the couple is incompatible. Guest Stars: Tom Silardi (Bobby), Perrey Reeves (Vicki), Robin Greer (The Moving Lady) |||||
| 20 | "Brother, Can You Spare a Grand?" | Michael Zinberg | Scott Gorden | March 18, 1990 (1990-03-18) |
| Margo's conman brother comes into the office and tries to swindle Ted and Linda, not knowing that Margo has pooled an investment with them. Guest Stars: Ted Shackelford (Peter Van Meter), Sal Viscuso (Ray) Note: Sal Viscuso previously appeared on Duet as Richard's sleazy coworker whom Laura slept with. |||||
| 21 | "New Kid in Town" | David Semel | Barry Vigon, Deborah Leschin, Tom Walla | April 1, 1990 (1990-04-01) |
| When McSwain hires a teenager, the staff initially thinks it's a joke, but they soon realize that the boy's a legitimate threat. Guest Stars: Chance Quinn (Lawrence R. Foxworth), Marcia Rodd (Mrs. Perry), Mark L. Taylor (Terry), J.J. (Officer Nanas), Ben Cleaveland (Scooter) |||||
| 22 | "The Real Estate Thing" | David Semel | Tom Walla & Bruce Ferber | April 8, 1990 (1990-04-08) |
| Ted becomes jealous when sleazy nemesis Even Gimble (Jay Thomas) tries to lure Linda away to his agency. Guest Stars: Paul Kreppel (The Waiter), Robert Alan Beuth (The Client) |||||
| 23 | "The Roast" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Deborah Leschin, Barry Vigon, Charlene Seeger | April 29, 1990 (1990-04-29) |
| Ted's 10th anniversary celebration turns into a wake when his plane vanishes. Guest Star: Sandy the Dog (Warren) |||||
| 24 | "First Impression" | David Semel | Deborah Leschin, Barry Vigon, Charlene Seeger | May 6, 1990 (1990-05-06) |
| Scott's birthday party is teeming with celebrity impersonators. Ted and Linda pursue a romance. Guest Stars: Sandy Simpson (John), Betsy Randle (Dana), David Shawn Michaels (Monique/Milton White), Janice Hart (Joan Rivers), Karen Salkin (Lucille Ball), Jamie Alcroft (Robin Leach), Greg Travis (Jack Nicholson), Ellis Levinson (Jerry Lewis) |||||