# On Our Own (1994 TV series)

On Our Own is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1994, until April 14, 1995. The series stars Ralph Louis Harris and six real life siblings: Jazz, Jocqui, Jake, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jussie Smollett.
The series was created and executive produced by David W. Duclon, one of the executive producers of Family Matters. The series was also produced by Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett, who developed the show. Suzanne de Passe (who also executive produced Sister, Sister and later Smart Guy) and Suzanne Coston were additional executive producers, with Duclon's longtime colleague Gary Menteer acting as co-executive producer (who also was a producer/writer on Family Matters, to which he returned when On Our Own was canceled).
The series was produced by Miller-Boyett Productions, with associates Lightkeeper Productions (Duclon's company) and de Passe Entertainment. On Our Own was the first Miller-Boyett sitcom to be produced by Warner Bros. Television for its entire run.

## Synopsis

The series centers on the Jerrico family, consisting of seven brothers and sisters in the O'Fallon Park neighborhood of St. Louis. Six months prior to the series, a car crash killed both their parents. Since then, they have been raised by the eldest brother, Josh (Harris). Having aired on Sunday nights at 7:30/6:30c during the first half of the season, On Our Own was moved to the 9:30/8:30c time slot following Step by Step on TGIF when it returned in March 1995. The changes to the series in the spring didn't help ratings, and after six more episodes, the show had the plug pulled by ABC.

## Cast
### Main

* Ralph Louis Harris as Josh Jerrico/Aunt Jelcinda ("Mama J")
* Jurnee Smollett as Jordee Jerrico
* Jussie Smollett as Jesse Jerrico
* Jake Smollett as Joc Jerrico
* Jazz Smollett as Jai Jerrico
* Jocqui Smollett as Jarreau Jerrico
* Jojo Smollett as Jimi Jerrico
* Kimberley Kates as Alana Michaels (1994)
* Roger Aaron Brown as Mr. Gordon Ormsby (1994)
* Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly as Hannah (pilot only)
* T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh as Scotti Decker (1995)
* Karen Kim as Suki (1995)
* Laura Ponce as Nails (1995)

### Recurring

* Cindy Herron as Shannon
* Deon Richmond as Kevin
* Bumper Robinson as Nat

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Pilot" | Joel Zwick | David W. Duclon | September 13, 1994 (1994-09-13) | 17.3 |
| After their parents die in an automobile accident, twenty-year-old Josh takes over as the authority figure of his six younger siblings. But the by-the-rules head of Department of Children Services, Gordon Ormsby, hears of the Jerricos' case and sends new social worker Alana Michaels to investigate and, if accurate, prepare for foster care. Josh assumes the identity of "Aunt Jelcinda" to combat the authorities. ||||||
| 2 | "Last Tango in St. Louis" "Dog Day After Groom" | John Tracy | Fred Rubin | September 18, 1994 (1994-09-18) | 11.8 |
| Josh has a problem: Gordon asks "Aunt Jelcinda" for a date, and he cannot refuse if he wants the family to stay together. ||||||
| 3 | "Matchmaker Mama" | John Tracy | Unknown | September 25, 1994 (1994-09-25) | 14.6 |
| "Aunt Jelcinda" finds a distraught young woman in a restaurant ladies' room and sets her up with her alter ego, Josh. She eventually becomes his girlfriend. ||||||
| 4 | "A Matter of Principal" | John Tracy | David Chambers | October 2, 1994 (1994-10-02) | 12.3 |
| When Jesse is unjustly suspended from school for fighting, Jimi poses as Jesse's grandfather for a meeting with the principal. ||||||
| 5 | "Nok 'Til You Drop" | Joel Zwick | Ralph Greene | October 9, 1994 (1994-10-09) | 12.8 |
| Jimi loses money he doesn't have to a con man on a game of Nok-Hockey. Meanwhile, Jai readies for her first dance. ||||||
| 6 | "Swiss Family Jerrico's" | Joel Zwick | Michael Din | October 16, 1994 (1994-10-16) | 11.6 |
| Josh thinks a camping trip will provide relief from his impersonation, but Gordon tags along. ||||||
| 7 | "Bargain Basement" | Richard Correll | Unknown | October 23, 1994 (1994-10-23) | 15.2 |
| The Jerricos discover a trunk full of memories of their parents – and Alana too may soon be a memory, since Gordon wants to take her off their case. ||||||
| 8 | "Bonnie is Really Clyde" | John Tracy | Gregory Thomas Garcia | October 30, 1994 (1994-10-30) | 11.5 |
| "Aunt Jelcinda" befriends a runaway teen while Joc threatens to do so. ||||||
| 9 | "A Family Affair" | Joel Zwick | Lore Kimbrough | November 13, 1994 (1994-11-13) | 15.9 |
| Josh is getting serious about his new girlfriend. "The trouble is," sighs Jimi, "if a girl gets serious with Josh, she gets a free six-pack of assorted Jerricos." ||||||
| 10 | "Baby Blues" | Richard Correll | Lore Kimbrough | December 4, 1994 (1994-12-04) | 14.1 |
| The kids try to raise money for tickets to a Whitney Houston concert, with mixed success. Meanwhile, Josh gets stuck in an elevator with a very pregnant woman. ||||||
| 11 | "That's My Car and I'm Sticking to It" | Richard Correll | Timothy Stack | December 11, 1994 (1994-12-11) | 12.7 |
| Neighborhood gossip gets the Jerricos investigated. ||||||
| 12 | "All I Want for Christmas" | Richard Correll | David W. Duclon & Gary Menteer | December 18, 1994 (1994-12-18) | 12.4 |
| When a kindergarten bully tells Joc that Santa Claus doesn't exist, Josh dons a Santa suit to prove the bully wrong – and succeeds only too well. ||||||
| 13 | "Parents' Night" | Joel Zwick | David Chambers | December 28, 1994 (1994-12-28) | 16.3 |
| Josh can not attend parents' night at Jordee's school because he has to finish an article. ||||||
| 14 | "The Boarder" | Kelly Sandefur | Fred Rubin | March 3, 1995 (1995-03-03) | 19.1 |
| Josh wins custody of the kids, and the family takes in a boarder: live-in contractor Scotti. ||||||
| 15 | "Obstacle Illusion" | Joel Zwick | David Chambers | March 10, 1995 (1995-03-10) | 17.3 |
| Jordee gets into remote-control cars. Meanwhile, Jimi is shot down by a girl who admits she is a jinx and proves it. ||||||
| 16 | "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" | Joel Zwick | Lore Kimbrough | March 17, 1995 (1995-03-17) | 17.8 |
| While poking around in the attic, Josh discovers love letters to his mom from his dad – who was not the father of his siblings. ||||||
| 17 | "Girl Talk" | Kelly Sandefur | Gregory Thomas Garcia & Ralph Greene | March 24, 1995 (1995-03-24) | 17.4 |
| A football star eyes Jai, who wants a particular shy boy to ask her out. Meanwhile, Josh gets in trouble with his girlfriend because of Scotti. ||||||
| 18 | "Little Rascals" | Kelly Sandefur | Michael Din & Timothy Stack | March 31, 1995 (1995-03-31) | 17.8 |
| Josh, a cracker-jack coffee shop manager, has a crisis to manage: his staff has the flu. Enter the replacement staff: his siblings and Scotti. ||||||
| 19 | "The Easy Way" | Kelly Sandefur | David Chambers & Fred Rubin | April 7, 1995 (1995-04-07) | 16.8 |
| Jordee takes the easy way out of a geography exam: she cheats. And a girl with a "bad rep" has her eye on Jimi. ||||||
| 20 | "The Tonsil Tale" | Joel Zwick | Fred Fox, Jr. & Jim Geoghan | April 14, 1995 (1995-04-14) | 15.4 |
| Joc needs a doc – "Someone pulled a Christmas tree from my throat" – so it's tonsillectomy time for the first-grader. Meanwhile, Jesse takes up hypnosis. ||||||

## Syndication

The series was briefly re-aired on TV One in 2007.

## Award nominations

| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
| 1995 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance by an Actor Under Ten in a TV Series | Jake Smollett | Nominated |
| 1995 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series | Jurnee Smollett | Nominated |