Series synopsis
Amen is an American comedy family television series that premiered on NBC on September 27, 1986. It ended on May 11, 1991. It was created by Ed. Weinberger. It stars Sherman Hemsley, Clifton Davis, Anna Maria Horsford and Barbara Montgomery.
Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen stars Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s which featured entirely or almost-entirely black casts. Others included The Cosby Show, A Different World, and 227.
Premise
Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen stars Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s which featured entirely or almost-entirely black casts. Others included The Cosby Show, A Different World, and 227.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Sherman Hemsley as Deacon Ernest Frye
- Clifton Davis as Reverend Reuben Gregory
- Anna Maria Horsford as Thelma Frye
- Barbara Montgomery as Casietta Hetebrink
- Roz Ryan as Amelia Hetabrink
- Jester Hairston as Rolly Forbes
- Elsa Raven as Inga
- Rosetta LeNoire
Supporting cast
- Tony T. Johnson as Chris
- Bumper Robinson as Clarence
- Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
- Ta-Tanisha
- Moses Gunn
- Ron Glass
- Vonetta McGee
- Neva Patterson
- Tracy Reed
- Lee Weaver
- Nell Carter
- Richard Roundtree
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 5 seasons with 110 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 22 | September 27, 1986 | April 4, 1987 |
| Season 2 | 21 | October 3, 1987 | May 7, 1988 |
| Season 3 | 22 | October 8, 1988 | April 22, 1989 |
| Season 4 | 23 | September 23, 1989 | April 7, 1990 |
| Season 5 | 22 | November 17, 1990 | May 11, 1991 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pilot In the series pilot, Ernest Frye, a holier-than-thou deacon, is seeking a new minister for the First Community church. |
September 27, 1986 |
| 2 |
The Courtship of Bess Richards After hearing a beautiful gospel singer sing at a wedding, Deacon Frye decides to woo her so she will join the church and sing in the choir. He flatters her, and wines her and dines her to compel her to come, but his plan backfires when all the attention she is receiving causes her to fall in love with Deacon Frye, and she thinks he wants to marry her. At his wits end, he decides to tell her the truth, unaware of the wrath of a scorned woman. |
October 4, 1986 |
| 3 |
The Morning After Thelma intoxicates Reverend Gregory with her wine-cooked dinner, and he intoxicates her with a kiss. But the next morning, he has to break the news to her that he is not romantically interested in her, it was the alcohol that affected him. However, Thelma doesn't take the bad news very well, and gives him some charm of her own. Reuben also faces a dliemna with secretarial overstaffing. |
October 11, 1986 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
California Dreaming Reuben contemplates accepting a new job in Los Angeles. |
October 3, 1987 |
| 2 |
Dancing in the Dark A rivalry is renewed when Deacon Frye is pitted against an old law-school classmate, in defending a palimony suit. Deacon Frye decides to settle their rivalry in court. |
October 17, 1987 |
| 3 |
You Bet Your Life Amelia's gambling habit resurfaces. |
October 24, 1987 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Fear of Flying While stuck on a discount flight to the Bahamas, with the gang, Thelma has to overcome her extreme phobia of flying. Little does she know that the pilot has turned green from eating a tuna sandwich, and is out cold. Who will fly the plane? Who will land the plane before they run out of fuel? Will Thelma's worst fears be realized? Will the Reverend be able to say anything to Thelma to make her not afraid? |
October 8, 1988 |
| 2 |
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Frye pushes Thelma to give Reuben an ultimatum. |
October 22, 1988 |
| 3 |
Look at Me, I'm Running Frye campaigns against an imprisoned state senator. |
October 29, 1988 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Engagement Nobody in the First Community Church can keep a secret. When word gets out that Ruben is about to propose marriage to Thelma, the whole congregation drops what they were doing, and shows up at the church to witness the blessed event. But when the deadline comes and goes, and Rev Gregory doesnt make his move, everyone wonders if it will ever happen. |
September 23, 1989 |
| 2 |
Where There's A Will The Deacon's estranged father-in-law, who once disowned the Fryes, lies on his deathbed and tries to reconcile with the Deacon by leaving him an inheritance. But all bets are off when Grandpa Tillman begins to recover. |
September 30, 1989 |
| 3 |
Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine Everyone thinks Thelma needs help holding on to her man when the svelte ex-fiance of the Reverend's, Maxine Varnay, comes to Philadelphia and makes a beeline for the Reverend, intending to rekindle a love affair. |
October 14, 1989 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Love, Deacon Style On her six-month anniversary, Thelma feels neglected because Reuben is teaching night school. |
November 17, 1990 |
| 2 |
Two Men, One Woman and a Baby After a woman is car-jacked, with her baby still in the car with the theif, the thief drops the baby off on the doorsteps of the First Community Church. And since Thelma has no children of her own, whe makes plans to become the child's foster mother, against objections from the deacon and the Rev. Soon the child even begins to soften the deacon's stand. But in the end, Thelma is determined to hold onto the baby. . . until the child's mother shows up. Meanwhile, Deacon Frye is tax audited and owes Uncle Sam a large sum of money. |
December 1, 1990 |
| 3 |
Child's Play Frye establishes a day care center called ""Deaconland."" |
December 8, 1990 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NBC |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 27, 1986 |
| Last aired | May 11, 1991 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Saturday |