EMPTY NEST: THE COMPLETE SERIES (NBC 1989-1995) RARE!!! HARD TO FIND!!! Richard Mulligan, Kristy McNichol, Dinah Manoff, Park Overall, David Leisure, Marsha Warfield, Lisa Rieffel, Paul Provenza
Relive all seven seasons of the beloved TV sitcom Empty Nest with this comprehensive 21-DVD set!
The series, which was a spin-off of The Golden Girls by creator and producer Susan Harris, featured Richard Mulligan as widowed pediatrician Dr Harry Weston. Harry has plans to get along with his new life alone, but his PLANS change when two of his three daughters, Barbara and Carol (Kristy McNichol, Dinah Manoff), move back into the Miami family home.
The antics of Harry’s sarcastic neighbor, Charley Dietz, also adds to the comedy. He is an offensive, skirt-chasing cruise ship employee who keeps dropping in on Dr Weston’s home trying to mooch a free meal and trade insults with daughter Carol.
As if having his daughters trying to run his life wasn’t enough, Dr Weston is also constantly being managed by his office receptionist, La Verne Todd, a sharp-tongued Southern woman with a thick Arkansas drawl (played by Park Overall).
Harry tried to balance his work, family, and personal life as best he could, but hilarity always ensued. He looked forward to his daily jogs on the beach with his best pal, his endearing dog, Dreyfuss, a mix of Saint Bernard and golden retriever.
In 1992, Kristy McNichol left the show and Lisa Rieffel joined the cast to play the third Weston daughter, Emily. Her character had previously not been shown onscreen but had been mentioned as being away at college. Rieffel left after one season, and for the show's final two seasons only eldest daughter, Carol, remained of the Weston children. Kristy McNichol returned for the series finale in 1995.
In season 5, Paul Provenza is onboard as Carol's boyfriend Patrick, an artist who is almost as eccentric as she is. Patrick convinces the Westons to let him use their empty garage as his new painting studio and, when his relationship with Carol becomes serious, he eventually moves in altogether. Carol and Patrick's romantic bliss is short-lived, and they break up at the beginning of season six. However, Carol soon finds out she is pregnant and chooses to raise the baby, Scotty, on her own.
In season 6, Harry and La Verne get involved with a community clinic run by Dr. Maxine Douglas (Marsha Warfield), which bring new layers of charm to the series.
Notable guest stars included Don Adams, Diana Muldaur, Garth Brooks, Mayim Bialik, Patricia Crowley, Fran Ryan, Angie Dickinson, Stephen Dorff, Morgan Fairchild, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Marla Gibbs, Bobcat Goldthwait, Lee Grant (series star Dinah Manoff’s real-life mother, Harold Gould, Pat Harrington Jr., Phil Hartman, Earl Holliman, Shirley Jones, Gordon Jump, Carol Kane, Joey Lawrence, Jay Johnson, Mark Linn-Baker, Jane Lynch, Wendie Malick, Barbara Mandrell, Edie McClurg, Audrey Meadows, Jerry Orbach, Matthew Perry, Geraldo Rivera, Doris Roberts, Debra Jo Rupp, Peter Scolari, Liz Sheridan, Yeardley Smith, Jeffrey Tambor, Renée Taylor, Danny Thomas, Adrian Zmed.
This set includes all 170 episodes filled with heartwarming humor, witty dialogue, and memorable moments. Look for cross-over appearances by Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, reprising their roles from The Golden Girls. Getty would later join the series during Empty Nest's final two seasons after the cancellation of The Golden Palace. In the show, it is explained that Sophia has moved back into the nearby Shady Pines retirement home. Also, Loni Anderson and David Rasche reprise their roles from Nurses.
Note: Richard Mulligan and Dinah Manoff (who depict father Harry and daughter Carol in Empty Nest) had previously appeared onscreen as father-in-law and daughter-in-law characters in the show Soap, created by the same production team. Jay Johnson, who had appeared on Soap as Mulligan's son, also made a guest appearance.