Davis Rules is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC in 1991 and on CBS in 1992.[1] The series was produced by Carsey-Werner Productions.

Davis Rules
GenreSitcom
Created byDanny Jacobson
Norma Safford Vela
Written byKim C. Friese
Danny Jacobson
Frank Mula
Fredi Towbin
Norma Safford Vela
Directed byJohn Bowab
Ellen Falcon
James Widdoes
StarringRandy Quaid
Patricia Clarkson
Tamayo Otsuki
Trevor Bullock
Luke Edwards
Nathan Watt
Jonathan Winters
Bonnie Hunt
Vonni Ribisi
Debra Mooney
ComposerMark Mothersbaugh
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes29 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersMarcy Carsey
Danny Jacobson
Caryn Mandabach
Tom Werner
Norma Safford Vela
Douglas Wyman
ProducersDale McRaven
Frank Mula
Jon Spector
Fredi Towbin
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companyCarsey-Werner Productions
Original release
Network
ReleaseJanuary 27, 1991 (1991-01-27) –
May 13, 1992 (1992-05-13)

Synopsis

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The series stars Randy Quaid as Dwight Davis, a widowed elementary school principal outside of Seattle, Washington who is raising his three sons (Robbie, Charlie, and Ben) with the help of his wacky father Gunny Davis (Jonathan Winters).

Cast

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Production

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Davis Rules was canceled by ABC after less than one season despite having premiered after Super Bowl XXV. ABC aired it as a midseason replacement. When the series wasn't used in ABC's fall lineup, CBS bought the series in November 1991.[2][3]

CBS retooled the series, adding Bonnie Hunt and Giovanni Ribisi (credited as Vonni Ribisi), but canceled it after 16 episodes.[2]

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
113January 27, 1991 (1991-01-27)April 9, 1991 (1991-04-09)ABC
216December 30, 1991 (1991-12-30)May 13, 1992 (1992-05-13)CBS

Season 1 (1991)

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Every episode of season 1 was directed by Ellen Falcon.[4]

List of Davis Rules season 1 episodes
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [4]Original air dateProd.
code [4]
Viewers
(millions)
11"A Man for All Reasons"January 27, 1991 (1991-01-27)10126.7[5]
22"Rules of the Game"January 29, 1991 (1991-01-29)10523.6[6]
33"The Trouble with Women"February 5, 1991 (1991-02-05)10620.8[7]
44"Guys and Dolls"February 12, 1991 (1991-02-12)10721.1[8]
55"Pomahac Day Massacre"February 19, 1991 (1991-02-19)10822.0[9]
66"Yes, I'm The Great Pretender"February 26, 1991 (1991-02-26)10921.2[10]
77"Gimme The Ball"March 5, 1991 (1991-03-05)11022.0[11]
88"Twisted Sister"March 5, 1991 (1991-03-05)11224.5[11]
99"Take This Job and Love It"March 12, 1991 (1991-03-12)10224.4[12]
1010"Sign of the Times"March 19, 1991 (1991-03-19)11120.1[13]
1111"Habla Espanol?"March 26, 1991 (1991-03-26)10321.0[14]
1212"Mission: Improbable"April 2, 1991 (1991-04-02)11322.9[15]
1313"Soap"April 9, 1991 (1991-04-09)10418.4[16]

Season 2 (1991–92)

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The first thirteen episodes of season 2 were directed by James Widdoes, while the final three episodes were directed by John Bowab.[4]

List of Davis Rules season 2 episodes
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [4]Original air dateProd.
code [4]
Viewers
(millions)
141"They're Writing Songs of Love, But Nun for Me"December 30, 1991 (1991-12-30)20119.4[17]
152"A Father Makes All the Difference"January 1, 1992 (1992-01-01)20422.2[17]
163"Writing a Wrong"January 8, 1992 (1992-01-08)20216.9[18]
174"The Moment of Youth"January 15, 1992 (1992-01-15)21115.3[19]
185"Love at First Sighting (Part 1)"January 22, 1992 (1992-01-22)20714.1[20]
196"Love at First Sighting (Part 2)"January 29, 1992 (1992-01-29)20815.9[21]
207"Gunny's Ex"February 5, 1992 (1992-02-05)20514.8[22]
218"Happy as a Clam"February 26, 1992 (1992-02-26)20913.4[23]
229"Someone to Watch Over Them"March 4, 1992 (1992-03-04)21214.2[24]
2310"Bells, Bells, Bells"March 11, 1992 (1992-03-11)20613.2[25]
2411"Strike Down the Band"March 18, 1992 (1992-03-18)21013.9[26]
2512"Everybody Comes to Nick's"March 25, 1992 (1992-03-25)21313.8[27]
2613"A Foggy Day on Puget Sound"April 8, 1992 (1992-04-08)20312.7[28]
2714"Ferry Tale"April 22, 1992 (1992-04-22)21412.4[29]
2815"Brother Can You Spare a Dime"May 6, 1992 (1992-05-06)21510.9[30]
2916"The Girl with Someone Extra"May 13, 1992 (1992-05-13)21610.0[31]

Awards and nominations

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Winters won an Emmy for his role as Gunny Davis,[32] while Trevor Bullock and Robin Lynn Heath also won Young Artist Awards for their roles in the series.[33]

Year Award Category Recipient Result
1991 Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Jonathan Winters Won
1992 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Jo Mayer (Lighting designer)
(for episode "A Foggy Day On Puget Sound")
Nominated
Young Artist Award Best New Family Television Series Davis Rules Nominated
Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series Trevor Bullock Won
Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series Rigoberto Jimenez Nominated
Best Young Actress Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series Robin Lynn Heath Won

References

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  1. ^ Tim Brooks; Earle Marsh (2003). "Davis Rules (Situation Comedy)". The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (8th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 285–286. ISBN 978-0-345-45542-0.
  2. ^ a b Casey Davidson (February 12, 1993). "Super Bowl Bump". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  3. ^ Bill Carter (November 19, 1991). "CBS Buys Show From ABC". The New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f From the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Davis Rules"]"". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  5. ^ Donlon, Brian (January 30, 1991). "ABC super-bowls over its rivals". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  6. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 6, 1991). "Where are the dominant series?". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  7. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 13, 1991). "A good Friday fuels ABC win". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  8. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 20, 1991). "CBS mines past and hits gold". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  9. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 27, 1991). "NBC has a week of ratings ups and downs". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  10. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 6, 1991). "CBS gains ratings speed". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  11. ^ a b Donlon, Brian (March 13, 1991). "'Baby Talk' helps ABC toddle past CBS to 2nd". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  12. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 20, 1991). "Basketball sinks CBS". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  13. ^ Sloan, Eugene (March 27, 1991). "'60 Minutes' is top hour again". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  14. ^ Donlon, Brian (April 3, 1991). "Oscar wins big for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  15. ^ Sloan, Eugene (April 10, 1991). "'Cheers', NBC rack up wins". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  16. ^ Donlon, Brian (April 17, 1991). "CBS ends the year with a win". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  17. ^ a b Donlon, Brian (January 8, 1992). "CBS tops a week of firsts". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  18. ^ "Pigskin plays in to CBS win". Life. USA Today. January 15, 1992. p. 3D.
  19. ^ Gable, Donna (January 22, 1992). "Brooks ropes ratings for NBC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  20. ^ Donlon, Brian (January 29, 1992). "NBC's horror tale surprise". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  21. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 5, 1992). "A show of CBS strength". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  22. ^ Donlon, Brian (February 12, 1992). "CBS mines Olympic gold". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  23. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 4, 1992). "Last-place Fox is rising fast". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  24. ^ Donlon, Brian (March 11, 1992). "'Indy' boosts ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  25. ^ "Hit comedies lift ABC". Life. USA Today. March 18, 1992. p. 3D.
  26. ^ "CBS ticks off another win". Life. USA Today. March 25, 1992. p. 3D.
  27. ^ Donlon, Brian (April 1, 1992). "'Room' in the top 10 for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  28. ^ Gable, Donna (April 15, 1992). "CBS' historic jump". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  29. ^ Gable, Donna (April 29, 1992). "ABC wins with news, goodbyes". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  30. ^ Donlon, Brian (May 13, 1992). "Finales put NBC in first". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  31. ^ Gable, Donna (May 20, 1992). "Weddings blissful for NBC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  32. ^ Emmy Database Archived April 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Young Artists Awards site Archived April 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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