The Art of Being Nick
Encyclopedia
The Art of Being Nick is an American sitcom pilot
created by Bruce Helford
, that aired on NBC
on August 27, 1987. The pilot stars Scott Valentine
as artist/environmentalist Nick Moore, who appeared as Mallory's (Justine Bateman
) boyfriend in Family Ties
. Also in the cast were Kristine Sutherland
, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
, and John Daman.
were produced of which only the final version aired. In the first incarnation titled Taking It Home, Nick returns to Detroit to live with his sister and grandfather (portrayed by Herschel Bernardi
). After Bernardi's death in May 1986, the series was canceled. The second version features Nick working in a day care center for juvenile delinquents.
In the final version, Nick, his sister (Kristine Sutherland
) and her son (John Daman) live together in an East Village
apartment with Nick working in a bookstore.
The Art of Nick aired on August 27, 1987, and finished second for the week. Despite garnering solid ratings, NBC didn't pick the series up reportedly due to the network's reluctance to lose the popular Nick character from Family Ties.
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
created by Bruce Helford
Bruce Helford
Bruce Helford is an American television writer and producer.Helford was the co-creator of The Drew Carey Show. He served as executive producer of the series for its entire run, from 1995 to 2004. Helford also served as executive producer and writer for Roseanne during season five of that series...
, that aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on August 27, 1987. The pilot stars Scott Valentine
Scott Valentine
Scott Eugene Valentine is an American actor.-Life and career:Valentine was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, the son of Beverly Ann and Edward Eugene Valentine. He began to pursue acting one year into his college education, attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York...
as artist/environmentalist Nick Moore, who appeared as Mallory's (Justine Bateman
Justine Bateman
Justine Tanya Bateman is an American actress, writer, and producer. She is best known for her regular role as Mallory Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties...
) boyfriend in Family Ties
Family Ties
Family Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young...
. Also in the cast were Kristine Sutherland
Kristine Sutherland
Kristine Sutherland is an actress best known for her role as Buffy Summers' mother Joyce Summers on the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer.-Early life:...
, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
, and John Daman.
Overview
Due to the popularity of the Nick Moore character, three versions of a spin-offSpin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
were produced of which only the final version aired. In the first incarnation titled Taking It Home, Nick returns to Detroit to live with his sister and grandfather (portrayed by Herschel Bernardi
Herschel Bernardi
Herschel Bernardi was an American film, Broadway, and television actor....
). After Bernardi's death in May 1986, the series was canceled. The second version features Nick working in a day care center for juvenile delinquents.
In the final version, Nick, his sister (Kristine Sutherland
Kristine Sutherland
Kristine Sutherland is an actress best known for her role as Buffy Summers' mother Joyce Summers on the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer.-Early life:...
) and her son (John Daman) live together in an East Village
East Village, Manhattan
The East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, lying east of Greenwich Village, south of Gramercy and Stuyvesant Town, and north of the Lower East Side...
apartment with Nick working in a bookstore.
The Art of Nick aired on August 27, 1987, and finished second for the week. Despite garnering solid ratings, NBC didn't pick the series up reportedly due to the network's reluctance to lose the popular Nick character from Family Ties.
Cast
- Scott ValentineScott ValentineScott Eugene Valentine is an American actor.-Life and career:Valentine was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, the son of Beverly Ann and Edward Eugene Valentine. He began to pursue acting one year into his college education, attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York...
as Nick Moore - Kristine SutherlandKristine SutherlandKristine Sutherland is an actress best known for her role as Buffy Summers' mother Joyce Summers on the television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer.-Early life:...
as Marlene - Julia Louis-DreyfusJulia Louis-DreyfusJulia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
as Rachel - John Daman as Louis