Davis Rules
Encyclopedia
Davis Rules is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC
in 1991 and on CBS
in 1992. The series was produced by Carsey-Werner Productions
.
as Dwight Davis, a widowed elementary school principal who is raising his three sons (Robbie, Charlie, and Ben) with the help of his wacky father Gunny Davis (Jonathan Winters
).
Winters won an Emmy for his role as Gunny Davis, while Trevor Bullock and Robin Lynn Heath also won Young Artist Award
s for their roles in the series.
Davis Rules was canceled by ABC after less than one season despite having premiered after Super Bowl XXV
. ABC retained the rights to the series and planned to use it as a midseason replacement
. When the series wasn't used in ABC's lineup, CBS bought the series in November 1991.
CBS retooled the series, adding Bonnie Hunt
and Giovanni Ribisi
, but canceled it after 16 episodes.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1991 and on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1992. The series was produced by Carsey-Werner Productions
Carsey-Werner Productions
Carsey-Werner Productions is an independent production company founded in 1981 by former ABC writer/producer duo Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner...
.
Synopsis
The series stars Randy QuaidRandy Quaid
Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid is an American actor perhaps best known for his role as Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, as well as his numerous supporting roles in films, including his Oscar nominated performance in The Last Detail, Independence Day, Kingpin and Brokeback Mountain...
as Dwight Davis, a widowed elementary school principal who is raising his three sons (Robbie, Charlie, and Ben) with the help of his wacky father Gunny Davis (Jonathan Winters
Jonathan Winters
-Early life:Winters was born in Bellbrook, Ohio, the son of Alice Kilgore , a radio personality, and Jonathan Harshman Winters II, an investment broker. He is a descendant of Valentine Winters, founder of the Winters National Bank in Dayton, Ohio...
).
Winters won an Emmy for his role as Gunny Davis, while Trevor Bullock and Robin Lynn Heath also won Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
s for their roles in the series.
Davis Rules was canceled by ABC after less than one season despite having premiered after Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
. ABC retained the rights to the series and planned to use it as a midseason replacement
Midseason replacement
In American and Canadian television, a midseason replacement is a television series that premieres in the second half of the traditional television season, usually between January and May...
. When the series wasn't used in ABC's lineup, CBS bought the series in November 1991.
CBS retooled the series, adding Bonnie Hunt
Bonnie Hunt
Bonnie Lynne Hunt is an American actress, comedian, writer, director, television producer and daytime television host.- Early life :...
and Giovanni Ribisi
Giovanni Ribisi
Giovanni Ribisi is an American actor. His film credits include Gone in 60 Seconds, Boiler Room, Saving Private Ryan, The Mod Squad, The Gift, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Lost in Translation and more recently, Public Enemies and Avatar...
, but canceled it after 16 episodes.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Randy Quaid | Dwight Davis |
| Jonathan Winters | Gunny Davis |
| Trevor Bullock | Robbie Davis |
| Luke Edwards Luke Edwards Lucas Daniel "Luke" Edwards is an American actor. He began taking acting lessons for fun on his mother's suggestion and landed his first television role in 1988 on an ABC Afterschool Special episode... |
Charlie Davis |
| Nathan Watt | Ben Davis |
| Patricia Clarkson Patricia Clarkson Patricia Davies Clarkson is an American actress. After studying drama on the East Coast, Clarkson launched her acting career in 1985, and has worked steadily in both film and television. She twice won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in Six Feet Under... |
Cosmo Yeargin |
| Bonnie Hunt Bonnie Hunt Bonnie Lynne Hunt is an American actress, comedian, writer, director, television producer and daytime television host.- Early life :... |
Gwen Davis |
| Debra Jo Rupp Debra Jo Rupp Debra Jo Rupp is an American film and television actress, perhaps best known for her role as Kitty Forman on the long-running Fox sitcom, That '70s Show... |
Ms. Higgins |
| Giovanni Ribisi | Skinner Buckley |
| Tamayo Otsuki | Mrs. Elaine Yamagami |
| Rigoberto Jimenez | Rigo |
Season 1
| Episode # | Episode Title | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Man for All Reasons" | January 27, 1991 |
| 2 | "Rules of the Game" | January 29, 1991 |
| 3 | "The Trouble With Women" | February 5, 1991 |
| 4 | "Guys and Dolls" | February 12, 1991 |
| 5 | "Pomahac Day Massacre" | February 19, 1991 |
| 6 | "Yes, I'm The Great Pretender" | February 26, 1991 |
| 7 | "Gimme The Ball" | March 5, 1991 |
| 8 | "Twisted Sister" | March 5, 1991 |
| 9 | "Take This Job and Love It" | March 12, 1991 |
| 10 | "Sign of the Times" | March 19, 1991 |
| 11 | "Habla Espanol?" | March 26, 1991 |
| 12 | "Mission: Improbable" | April 2, 1991 |
| 13 | "Soap" | April 9, 1991 |
Season 2
| Episode # | Episode Title | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "They're Writing Songs of Love, But Nun for Me" | December 30, 1991 |
| 2 | "A Father Makes All the Difference" | January 1, 1992 |
| 3 | "Writing a Wrong" | January 8, 1992 |
| 4 | "The Moment of Youth" | January 15, 1992 |
| 5 | "Love at First Sighting (Part 1)" | January 22, 1992 |
| 6 | "Love at First Sighting (Part 2)" | January 29, 1992 |
| 7 | "Gunny's Ex" | February 5, 1992 |
| 8 | "Happy as a Clam" | February 26, 1992 |
| 9 | "Someone to Watch Over Them" | March 4, 1992 |
| 10 | "Bells, Bells, Bells" | March 11, 1992 |
| 11 | "Strike Down the Band" | March 18, 1992 |
| 12 | "Everybody Comes to Nick's" | March 25, 1992 |
| 13 | "A Foggy Day on Puget Sound" | April 8, 1992 |
| 14 | "Ferry Tale" | April 22, 1992 |
| 15 | "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" | May 6, 1992 |
| 16 | "The Girl with Someone Extra" | May 13, 1992 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Winner | Emmy Award Emmy Award An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various... |
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Jonathan Winters |
| 1992 | Nominated | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series | Jo Mayer (Lighting designer Lighting designer The role of the lighting designer within theatre is to work with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create an overall 'look' for the show in response to the text, while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety and cost... ) (For episode "A Foggy Day On Puget Sound") |
|
| 1992 | Nominated | Young Artist Award Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... |
Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series | Rigoberto Jimenez |
| Nominated | Best New Family Television Series | |
||
| Won | Best Young Actress Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series | Robin Lynn Heath | ||
| Won | Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series | Trevor Bullock |