# What a Dummy

What a Dummy is a syndicated television sitcom that lasted for one season in 1990 until 1991. The premise of the show was that the Brannigan family of Secaucus, New Jersey was getting advice from a talking, thinking ventriloquist's dummy named Buzz (voiced by Loren Freeman), who had been locked in a trunk for fifty years before being discovered by the family. Kaye Ballard played the family's next-door neighbor, Mrs. Treva Travalony. The animatronic puppet used for Buzz was created by special effects artists Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. of Amalgamated Dynamics, and puppeteered by Mark Rappaport.

## Cast

* Stephen Dorff as Tucker Brannigan
* Joshua Rudoy as Cory Brannigan
* David Doty as Ed Brannigan
* Annabel Armour as Polly Brannigan
* Janna Michaels as Maggie Brannigan
* Kaye Ballard as Treva Travalony
* Loren Freeman as Buzz (voice)

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "What a Dummy" | Scott Redman | Unknown | September 29, 1990 (1990-09-29) |
| When Ed Brannigan's great uncle passes away, they discover a steamer trunk full of old props left over from the days when his Uncle Jackie had a traveling ventriloquist show, including Buzz, the dummy. Only this dummy talks and isn't too happy about being left in a trunk for 50 years. |||||
| 2 | "My Hero" | Scott Redman | Unknown | October 6, 1990 (1990-10-06) |
| After Cory saves Tucker's life, that life then becomes slavery when Tucker must do anything and everything Cory wants. |||||
| 3 | "The Contractor from Hell" | Scott Redman | Unknown | October 13, 1990 (1990-10-13) |
| In Ed's attempt to save money, Lucky Ernesto is hired to fix a plumbing problem. Unfortunately, this was not a smart move and Ed ends up having to take Lucky to court. |||||
| 4 | "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" | Scott Redman | Unknown | October 20, 1990 (1990-10-20) |
| In order to attract the eye and affections of a young lady, Tucker takes on the persona of his sensitive brother and tries to act like Cory would act if he were in the same situation. |||||
| 5 | "The Champ" | Scott Redman | Unknown | October 27, 1990 (1990-10-27) |
| Tucker is suffering from feelings of low self worth, so Ed tries to help by offering him a position at the restaurant while Cory nurses a broken heart. |||||
| 6 | "Good Neighbor Brannigan" | Scott Redman | Unknown | November 3, 1990 (1990-11-03) |
| Trying to be the nice and friendly neighbors, the Brannigans invite their next door neighbors out to dinner, only to find that they are a couple of strange birds. |||||
| 7 | "Car Wars" | Scott Redman | Unknown | November 10, 1990 (1990-11-10) |
| Tucker's mom, Polly, covers for him by taking the blame after the young man wrecks his dad's cherry Mustang. |||||
| 8 | "Grandpa Lou" | Scott Redman | Unknown | November 17, 1990 (1990-11-17) |
| 9 | "What I Did for Love" | Scott Redman | Unknown | November 24, 1990 (1990-11-24) |
| 10 | "The Substitute" | Scott Redman | Unknown | December 1, 1990 (1990-12-01) |
| 11 | "Unmarried... with Children" | Scott Redman | Unknown | December 8, 1990 (1990-12-08) |
| 12 | "Bringing Up Baby" | Jerry Ross | Unknown | January 26, 1991 (1991-01-26) |
| 13 | "Buzz Is Loaded" | Scott Redman | Unknown | February 2, 1991 (1991-02-02) |
| 14 | "Fear Itself" | Scott Redman | Unknown | February 9, 1991 (1991-02-09) |
| 15 | "The Babysitter" | Scott Redman | Unknown | February 16, 1991 (1991-02-16) |
| 16 | "Tucker's on the Air" | Scott Redman | Unknown | February 23, 1991 (1991-02-23) |
| 17 | "Mrs. Grumbacher's Talent Show" | Scott Redman | Unknown | March 2, 1991 (1991-03-02) |
| 18 | "My Imaginary Friend" | Scott Redman | Unknown | March 9, 1991 (1991-03-09) |
| 19 | "The Vacation That Never Was" | Jerry Ross | Unknown | March 16, 1991 (1991-03-16) |
| 20 | "Buzz for Sale" | Scott Redman | Unknown | April 27, 1991 (1991-04-27) |
| 21 | "The Nudge Who Came to Dinner" | Scott Redman | Unknown | May 4, 1991 (1991-05-04) |
| 22 | "Treasure of the Sierra Secaucus" | Scott Redman | Unknown | May 11, 1991 (1991-05-11) |
| 23 | "Knock on Wood" | Scott Redman | Unknown | May 18, 1991 (1991-05-18) |
| 24 | "Toys Aren't Us" | Scott Redman | Unknown | May 25, 1991 (1991-05-25) |

## International broadcast

The series also aired in Germany, as Der Familienschreck (The Family Fright), Spanish countries as Vaya muñeco (Go Doll), and Italy as L’amico di legno (The Wooden Friend).