The Nanny - The Complete First Season
Sony brings to DVD the first season of this one-of-a-kind sitcom starring Fran Drescher as the warm-hearted, nasal-voiced nanny from Queens who lands a job caring for three children of a wealthy, widowed Broadway producer from Manhattan. During the show’s six-year run (1993-1999), Drescher dazzles as Fran Fine in a role she created and developed (as writer and producer in several episodes) and obviously relishes, whether she’s flirting, whining, sparring, or showcasing her sensational wardrobe. The three-disc collection features 22 episodes beginning with "The Pilot," when Fran knocks on the Sheffield’s door and is mistakenly hired as their new nanny, establishing the show’s shtick of "blue collar meets blue blood." Immediate chemistry between Nanny Fine and Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy, "Days of Our Lives") fuels the storylines while the sarcastic repartee of Sheffield’s assistant, C.C. Babcock (Lauren Lane) and Niles the Butler (Daniel Davis) further ignites the entertainment. Season highlights include "The Butler, the Husband, the Wife, and Her Mother," when the family enters a parallel universe in a hilarious turn of events; and "Imaginary Friend," the season’s turning point where Drescher’s physical comedy (inspired by Lucille Ball) is given free reign. Celebrity guests include Carol Channing, Cloris Leachman, and Patti LaBelle (in the finale). Don’t miss the bonus material: a heartwarming "making-of" retrospective with the cast, and Drescher’s audio commentary during "I Don’t Remember Mama." Mild profanity and sexual innuendo. (Ages 12 and older)--Lynn Gibson