Frank's Place (1987–1988) User Reviews

Biggest Disappointment Ever!!

[migrjo · 10/10 · 9 February 1999]

The demise of this very fine series was, for me, the single biggest disappointment in my history of watching television (forty-plus years)! It had the potential to be an American television classic. My personal favorite episode, "Dueling Vodoo", was as fine an hour of television as anything I've seen.

I had high hopes for it when BET aired it briefly, but they too unceremoniously dumped it.

I believe, at the time it was on the air, it (and "Hooperman") was called a Dramedy. Some people may have found the combination of drama and comedy unsettling. I thought it was superb!

Someone, somewhere give this show a second chance! Quality must count for something!!

One of the best show EVER on TV!

[nickistar59 · 10/10 · 16 October 2006]

This show was written, cast, and directed on the same level as classics like the Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, and Fraiser. It is nothing short of superb in its sets, pace, tone, and themes. It was one of the pioneer "dramedies" and handled the format beautifully. Typically, the first half was a humorous set-up and the last half resolved the set-up in (usually) a serious way. Shows are either character driven or social theme driven. Each character was showcased at least once (I think), lending to their beautifully drawn, three-dimensionality. Other shows are about drugs, homelessness (a very different take on the "problem"), social status, New Orleans culture, race, religion, food, VooDoo--you name it, they covered it. I desperately wish the Reids (or whomever can do it) would release the series on DVD. It deserves it, if only so a few more people can see it, and those few of us who got to see it before can relive its glory!

Frank's Place = My Place

[CheerfulLeigh · 10/10 · 17 October 2006]

I saw this show the first year I had moved away from New Orleans. I moved back to FL to be with my family, but it sure looked like N. O. had followed me. The pilot had a scene of Frank's first night there, after living in Chicago (I believe). What he finds crawling up his bedclothes made me yell with recognition, and I will never forget his reaction. This was such an accurate show - that's why I remember it so well. The writers REALLY knew The City, and I should know - I lived there for 10 years, and went through much of what Frank had to learn. My favorite episode was when the young man who worked for Frank got in with the wrong crowd, then tried to get back out. I have been a "vidiot" for 50 years, and I can say absolutely that that one TV episode made me cry so hard I had to get a bath towel to try to recover. I have never, ever, been so moved by what I saw, and I saw the last episode of M.A.S.H., the last Johnny Carson Show, and many All In The Family episodes that were every bit as dramatic as they were usually hilarious. I cannot recommend it enough. Period.

Someone help release Frank's Place on DVD!

[kekebe · 30 May 2005]

The classiest sitcom ever on television, Frank's Place did not insult the intelligence of the American public, but used humor to make people think and perhaps come away from the thirty minute episode a better person for having watched. Perhaps the most innovative idea was the casting of Don Yesso, who was so fluent in the native tongue of New Orleans that sometimes captioning was used so that viewers could follow the dialogue! Wonderful. I can remember waiting all week for the show to come on, and taping each one, but over the years the tapes were worn out and/or lost. What a shame to not be able to buy this wonderful show on DVD. Someone who has influence, please help those of us who have a jones on for a Frank fix!

One that got away

[Miles-10 · 10/10 · 14 July 2001]

This was a great show that a broadcast network allowed to get away. I wish I had known that it was on BET. I hope I catch "The Bridge" episode on TV Land some day. I only saw the last ten or fifteen minutes of it when it aired on network TV.

Quirky, intelligent, fun; great music

[asbwa · 10/10 · 9 January 2007]

I too greatly loved the show, though I only saw a few episodes because they kept changing the time it was on and I couldn't always find it. The plots, acting, and music were all wonderful - intelligent and quirky. I especially remember the episode about the corpse taken out for his last night on the town; it was reminiscent of the Cuban film Death of a Bureaucrat, but very funny in its own right. About a year ago, I wrote an e-mail to Tim and Daphne Reid asking about releasing the show on DVD. I thought it would be good to do it then and donate a portion of the proceeds for Hurricane Katrina relief. Daphne Reid replied, saying Viacom owns the rights and they'd been trying to get Viacom to release it on DVD for about two years. Of course, that's now three years, assuming it hasn't changed ownership. If anyone out there is ambitious enough to start a campaign to get it released, that's who to contact.

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?

[zzakia · 10/10 · 29 August 2006]

Frank's Place was a masterpiece of writing, casting, acting and production values. It was much too good for network TV. The characters felt like friends, complex and believable--unlike the cartoon characters on normal sitcoms. How so much could be conveyed in a mere half hour is still a mystery to me. I miss it and wish it could be released on DVD, especially in the wake of New Orleans'destruction by Katrina. Frank's Place embodied all that is unique and endearing about New Orleans. The melange of warmth, humor, pain, sass, danger and intelligence that was served up those few short weeks in the late 1980's could comfort us today.

I Miss New Orleans

[momsatrekkie · 10/10 · 27 June 2006]

There must be SOME way that "Frank's Place" could be released on DVD! I have never felt as strongly about any other TV show and am as angry today as I was 20 years ago when CBS pulled the plug on it. This show had everything -- an excellent cast, tremendous scripts, and a setting that brought back memories of a city that I love. I wish that I would have taped the shows back then and am envious of those of you who had the foresight to do so. Frank's Place was ahead of it's time -- but would probably not have a huge following even in today's world because it was too quirky for the average sitcom watcher. I feel fortunate that I was able to see it the first time around and pray that (eventually) DVDs will be released and I can visit the Chez one more time.

The More's the Pity

[mduff-3 · 10/10 · 23 August 2007]

I've looked for a DVD of the series, but none seems to be available for Frank's Place. That's just a shame. It may seem strange to read this, given the characterization of Frank's Place as a half-hour comedy, but I really do think this was the best television show ever made. Yes, better than the Sopranos, better than Blackadder, better than Your Show of Shows. The writing had enormous depth without ever condescending to the audience. The performances were universally appropriate and adept. It had the quality of rare literature: It combined longing and wonder and reticence and grace. I was in a pub once in Ireland and a rerun of the show came on and I made the bartender leave it on, and the crowd there shook their heads and talked about how American television was supposed to be bad. They were surprised by the quality of the show, and the Irish are a literary bunch. BET has shown the series once or twice, and if they do again, I'll dust off the old VHS and tape it. This is a show that deserves to have a thousand lives.

Still miss this show! Update on Austin Leslie

[lokidog · 10/10 · 17 November 2015]

This show was truly great. It must have been - I still think about it regularly after so many years. What I wanted to put here was a sad update on the show's inspiration - at least for it's atmosphere and location - Chez Helene in New Orleans and it's proprietor Austin Leslie. I visited New Orleans a few years after the show was canceled, and sought out the restaurant. Austin talked to me at length and told me stories about the influence his place had on the show, as well as many other stories and anecdotes, as well as advice on my visit. He was really a great host. It was first time to New Orleans and his welcome really made my trip special. So did the smothered cabbage and pig tails!(it was a creole and soul food restaurant). Years later, after Katrina, I looked him up to see how he was doing. I have a cookbook he signed for me (as well as drawing a caricature of himself inside); and I was making a recipe out of it... Sadly he died from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. He was trapped in an attic and was exposed to heat (over 120F!) and other deprivations, which weakened him, and he eventually succumbed to pneumonia. But what a cook and truly remarkable person!

Still think about this wonderful show

[wchelsea25 · 10/10 · 22 November 2019]

In agreement with all the other posters. Was disappointed, heartbroken at it's cancellation. Contrast this with Cheers. Cheers' ratings in its first year were abysmal but NBC had faith that viewers would find it. CBS had no such faith in Frank's Place. This groundbreaking show was a victim of its times.

A Boston man inherits his father's diner in New Orleans.

[skj-19 · 10/10 · 17 September 2007]

In the first episode, in the first scene in the diner, a Jimmy Rushing record was playing on the jukebox. I had two reactions: 1. They made this show just for me! 2. It's doomed. Sure enough, the programming geniuses at CBS White Shadowed it. For those unfamiliar with the term, the verb "to White Shadow", from the series of that name, means to repeatedly preempt a show for cartoon "specials" and move it all over the schedule so people who want to see it can't find it, then cancel it because not enough people are watching. As others have commented, this was one of the best TV series ever made. The writing was superb, the acting wonderful, and the music a delight. It can't be available on DVD soon enough.

A classic series set in New Orleans.

[Micheaux · 5 February 1999]

This series was the story of Frank Parrish, a Boston-based professor, who, upon his father's death, inherits a restaurant in New Orleans, the Chez Louisianne (called "The Chez" (pronounced shez) by the employees and patrons). He relocates to Louisiana and learns the restaurant business through fits and starts.

Other characters were Hanna Griffin, the object of Parrish's affections and the assistant to Bertha Griffin-Lamour, her mother and the owner of a prominent funeral home; Reverend Deal, a part-time entrepeneur and part-time preacher; Tiger Shepin and Cool Charles, bartenders of the Chez; Big Arthur, the Cook (NOT the Chef, he insisted) and Shorty his assistant; Anna-May, who was the waitress and Miss Marie, the senior waitress who only waited on customers of the Chez that were customers for 20 years or more; Bubba was a lawyer who was a regular customer (Hugh Wilson said in an interview that this was the character that was a representation of him in the show, "the White guy").

There was much talent to be had in front of and behind the camera; playwright Samm-Art Williams wrote an episode, Hugh Wilson not only helped write the show, but even made a cameo; guest stars included Conchata Ferrell, the late Rosalind Cash and boxer Joe Frazier.

The show could have easily relied on humor, which it certainly had a handle on (one wonderfully absurd episode, "The Body" has the restaurant trying to deal with a pesky corpse, ala, "The Trouble With Harry"), however, it addressed many topics; relationships within the African-American community, it featured Dizzy Gillespie on one show and another one show had a strong Voodoo influence.

The most famous episode (shown on Nick at Nite's TV Land) and the most lauded was "The Bridge", which won Emmys for the writer, Hugh Wilson and guest star Beah Richards.

BET (Black Entertainment Television) re-ran the show, but has since stopped. TV Land, by all appearances has the rights to show it, but does not do so regularly.

This was a truly great show, culturally enlightening, funny, touching and always engaging. It can be said that there was not a single clunker in 17 episodes. The cast was predominately Black, however, it was a show that anyone could watch and enjoy. As Tom Shales said in a review, "This was not a "Black" show, this was a "People" show."

I cried when they didn't renew

[ciaoaloha · 10/10 · 15 May 2021]

A lovely, well-thought out show. Tim and Daphne Reid were a little bit of heaven. I put it up there with I'll fly away for gone but not forgotten.

The Best Show Ever!!!!!!!!!

[big-j-1 · 10/10 · 23 October 2010]

I am 50, and "Frank's Place" is still my all-time favorite TV show! It broke my heart when they canceled it.

The characters were so real and believable. The actors who played them did so with a gritty realism that made them both quirky and real at the same time.

They didn't try to paint the rough life of that part of New Orleans with a "PC paintbrush" either.

I have a few old episodes on VCR tapes that I still watch when I need a laugh, and, for the life of me, I can't figure out to this day why this show didn't have a run of at least 5 years.

I still hope to see this come out on DVD before I die...

I miss New Orleans ...

[jfaust75 · 10/10 · 2 August 2007]

... and I'm still going back there to visit family at least once a year. This show was the best show I ever saw on television - and the best and most faithful rendition of New Orleans ever.

At the time, I wondered if it was so good because I knew New Orleans, but at my workplace, there were several of us who watched it each week (no mean feat, since CBS moved it 4 times in one year - just keeping up with when it would be shown was a true act of devotion) and none of the others had any connection to New Orleans. Then I look at locations of those on this site commenting on it - Vermont, Minnesota, Texas, Missouri, Canada, Delaware, California, South Carolina, Pennsylvania - it was just so groundbreaking in so many ways that its appeal was universal. Back then, those of us who were devotees would grab each other the morning after a show and rave about how wonderful, how funny, how touching, how real it was. The paper bag test in the social club episode was not made up.

I still miss the show - more than 19 years later. I wish I had taped it - and like many of those commenting here, I would buy multiple copies if it were put out on DVD. And think how popular this would be now, after all the travails of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? And how much good could be done if the owner of it did as one other commenter suggested, and donated at least some of the profits to Katrina relief and what good publicity for the owner?!

Is anybody sending these comments to the owner - Viacom or ???

A campaign for availability on DVD

[gus_moss · 10/10 · 23 December 2006]

I have taken the time to read and applaud each of the preceding comments which have detailed my own personal opinions and appreciation for this "best ever" series. Although sorrowful for it's brief duration, I enjoy quality over quantity.

This is the first time I have been moved to use this comment forum and it may be my last. But I do so for the purpose of motivating those "powers that be" to recognize that there is a real market for the release of this series to DVD. I would purchase multiple copies, some to gift. And I would encourage libraries to stock it and writing course instructors to require it for their students.

It may well wind up being a part of a collection of some of the most accurate depictions of a lost culture of an American city. A culture lost in a natural disaster and an ensuing "fematic diaspora".

WHY, OH WHY has this not be released on DVD??????????

[ratari · 10/10 · 1 July 2018]

This was, hands down, THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION! EVER!!! It had class, it was well written, well acted, intelligent and funny. It was BEAUTIFUL. EVERY character was likable, Every episode was a masterpiece! I taped every episode on VHS, the quality is not good but at least I do have copies that I can watch. I sure would like to know who owns the rights to this and WHY THE HELL has it been buried???????!!!!!!!! This gem needs to be shared!!!!!!

I've been lobbying for VCR release of Frank's Place

[spartancaver · 10/10 · 11 November 2009]

That's how long I've been sending letters to CBS to release Frank's Place on VCR tape. Now of course I petition for a DVD release. Or any digital download. ANYTHING! I have always replied "Frank's Place" when asked for my favorite show. #1. After the second episode, I knew the fluffy headed public did not deserve nor would support the show. Of course moving the time slot around didn't help. Maybe not having a laugh track kept the public from understanding this was a working mans comedy. The premise of the show might have been beyond the public understanding. Yes, NOLA really is like these people, and in fact, are like people around the world. I could write a similar sit-com just sitting in the Mexican Restaurant I frequent almost daily. "That's Ed!" "Ed, he's dead." still my favorite line and episode. Then the man singing "The Banana Boat" song in the alley. I knew where that one was going. Then Conchata Ferrell the lawyer's line. "In other words gentlemen, I am your worst nightmare come true." Plus the search for Beignet was a classic joke. I still use it today on friends that don't know what the are.

Best all black sitcom ever on TV.

[jakes-mail · 10/10 · 24 January 2008]

This is the sort of quality material usually seen from the BBC; intelligent and witty without being jokey; funny and believable situations with superb acting. The best part for me is that although the show had a mostly all black cast, it was not an exploitation of the black demographic. It was a smart, dry, somewhat dark situational comedy to which anyone could relate. A bar/restaurant owner is struggling to do whatever he can to stay afloat and keep his business going despite lots of problems and setbacks. Frank is everyman. I would love to see this on DVD because I missed some of the episodes when they were originally aired.

One of the (if not THE) best shows on TV

[MJBM9119 · 16 November 2002]

Frank's Place was loved by both viewers and critics. Too bad sponsors and networks were too jittery about black people as they really are and not as stereotypes. The episode where the "guys" take Ed's body from the funeral home for a night on the town is the funniest ever shown on TV. Even Lucy and Ethel would vote it the best.

Tremendous

[balformatted · 17 September 2003]

Fantastic show. As everyone else seems to note, canceled way too soon. Puts shows like NYPD Blue, Six Feet Under, and other critical darlings to shame -- had more depth, cleverness, backwards humor and good, understated acting in a single show than a year's worth of Six Feet Under.

Definitely leads off the list of "why don't the networks spend the six hours it would take to hire some intern to transfer the tape to DVD and release this oblivion" shows.

LA, not L.A., and thank God for it

[Scritzy · 26 July 2000]

Frank's Place is one of my favorite shows. Very underrated, very unappreciated and quite ahead of its time. The episode in which the corpse shows up sitting in the back row at his own funeral, with Bach's marvelously macabre "Toccata in D Minor" as the stinger, is pure genius. The episode in which the homeless man stands at the back door singing "Daaaaaaaaaaayyyyy-OOOOOOOO!" (Harry Belafonte, eat your heart out) is classic. And who could believe that Shorty! The use of subtitles to translate that spicy-as-gumbo Louisiana gush - what a hoot! My husband, whose father was from Louisiana, could always understand every word Shorty said. I had to rely on the subtitles. Why, why, why wasn't this show given a chance? Because it was sensitive, intelligent and enormously funny, that's why. Diversity, the dearth of which is so lamented today, came to TV in 1987 and was shuffled off with less finesse than was the missing corpse. Our loss. TV Land, bring it back! I promise to set my VCR!

Masterpiece

[richard.fuller1 · 31 March 2004]

Going on twenty years later, and it was one of a kind. Best show hands down.

Too funny, without being sexually explicit with adult material. Brilliant.

Beah Richards would deservedly win the guest actress Emmy as the widow of the man who "may" have killed himself, but to this day I enjoy fellow nominee Conchata Farrell from the same episode as the lawyer representing Richards. The lines "I spit up on her. My mother died in her arms" is a chilling, stunning setup.

"In other words, gentlemen, I am your worst nightmare come true."

Fantastic.

The Rosalind Cash-Lynne Thigpen episode. Subtle, yet memorable. Cash was the old voodoo ways, Thigpen was the updated voodoo ways. Too classic.

Loved the "spell" being carried in by Thigpen in a paper bag covered in aluminum.

I had forgotten about the dead body being removed from the funeral home. The "body" would tip his hat and smile at the very end after credits rolled.

The boxing match. Sensational.

I suppose my fave was the restaurant episode with the country band, the drag queens, the white family and "Pick a bale of cotton." Around the same time, Robin Williams had pulled the same joke on a special "Carol, Carl, Robin & Whoopi" but it was still funny here.

My brother managed to record most of the episodes, only missing a two parter dealing with drugs.

I still think about this grand show.

Daphne Maxwell-Reid and Virginia Capers. Hilarious when she got mad and was in that wheelchair.

And the reverend! How could I forget him! "But the Lord loves me!"

He would have a quick scene in the boxing match that was too funny.

Toward the end, Frank would be told that Daphne was getting married to a football player and he would meet the guy, who had a voice like a cartoon character. Frank felt vindicated. At the very end, he mimicked MIckey Mouse giving football calls.

This show would be replaced with that horrendous retirement community show that starred Glynis Johns, Alan Young and the fellow who played Wimpy in the Robin Williams-Shelly Duvall Popeye movie.

Was Frank's Place ahead of its time? Who knows?

It would receive numerous nominations in the only year it was on, and other than Richards' guest win, it would only receive writing.

Yes, it seemed to be because they were Black. Even in the eighties it could be too much. It was a shame.

But thankfully the show was done for that year.

PLEASE make a DVD

[FP-4-nyb · 24 August 2005]

This show was so unique and so classy and so very well done in every way, that there are many many people who still rave about it to this day. If any show ever deserved to have all of its episodes on a DVD - - this is absolutely the one. The dialog was perfectly written. The music was wonderful and appropriate. It goes without having to elaborate that each one of the actors was talented and a joy to see and hear.

And, one of this show's most unique and classy perks was something that was pure class. There was NO LAUGH TRACK.

Frank's place was truly one of the greatest. This kind of quality is sorely missed. If only this show would be repeated now on any channel, anywhere- - that would be a wonderful thing. And if word got out that indeed it could be seen again on TV, it would not only instantly attract the viewers who still miss it very much; it would most likely establish a significant number of new loyal fans.

Somehow, someone, anyone, PLEASE create a DVD of it.