Genres
Networks
Created By
American Dreamer
Overview
American Dreamer is a situation comedy which aired in the U.S. on NBC as part of its 1990-91 lineup. American Dreamer stars Robert Urich as fictional character Tom Nash, formerly a high-powered network correspondent who was forced to reassess his priorities following the death of his wife. He decided to give up his career in order to spend more time with his children. To do this, he moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he supported his family by contributing a column about "real people" to a Chicago newspaper. His editor, Joe Baines, felt Tom was completely wasting his talents and drove out from Chicago weekly to attempt to convince Tom to return the world of "hard news". Other characters included Tom's zany secretary, Lillian Abernathy, and a friendly waitress at Tom's favorite local diner, Holly Baker. This program was extremely low-key. Tom sometimes "broke the fourth wall" to address the viewers directly about his thoughts regarding the situations he encountered. This philosophizing gained only a small audience and the program was cancelled at midseason, although selected episodes were rerun the following summer.
Key Crew
Producer: Gary David Goldberg
Top Cast
Robert Urich
Tom Nash
Carol Kane
Lillian Abernathy
Chay Lentin
Rachel Nash
Johnny Galecki
Danny Nash
Margaret Welsh
Holly Baker
Jeffrey Tambor
Joe Baines
Seasons
Season 1 (1990)
No overview available.
17 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Pilot
1990-09-20Tom Nash trades in his network newsman job to write a human interest column for a Chicago newspaper, moving to Wisconsin with his two children. He begins by exploring women's anger toward men by hiring a female assistant and visiting the woman he stood up on prom night.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 2: Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
1990-09-22Tom attempts to find out why men are not open with their feelings by hosting a bonding party for men.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 3: Flight of the Dodo
1990-09-29A disillusioned cartoonist (Austin Pendleton) quits his job.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 4: All God's Children Go to Wisconsin
1990-10-06Tom's meeting with an Episcopal cleric causes him to question his current standing as a lapsed Catholic.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 5: Corvette Man
1990-10-13While Tom considers buying a corvette, Lillian makes plans to remarry her ex-husband.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 6: Over the Hill?
1990-10-20Tom's preliminary results of his physical reveal he's in great shape but a chest X-ray casts a spot of doubt, requiring further tests.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 7: Mr. Wizard
1990-10-27Tom Nash begins substitute teaching and discovers it is not easy and happily accepts advice.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 8: Divorce, American Dreamer Style
1990-11-03Episode 9: In from the Cold (1)
1990-11-10Tom considers writing about his memories and the loss of his wife but his kids consider her a forbidden subject for his column.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 10: In from the Cold (2)
1990-11-24Tom learns the true identity of Kathleen in the conclusion of a two part episode.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 11: The Fabulous Baker Girls
1990-12-01Holly's free-spirited sister Drew returns and makes good copy for Tom's newspaper column.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 12: A Face in the Cloud
1990-12-08Episode 13: Don't Drink the Water
1991-05-25Tom discovers that Lillian's ex-husband's business is a fraud.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 14: Mother Knows Best
1991-06-01Lillian must live a lie when her mother visits.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 15: Papa Joe
1991-06-08Joe's weekend with his daughter is spoiled.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 16: Heartbreak Diner
1991-06-15Tom intervenes in his daughter's crush on a young college student.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 17: They Shoot Ducks, Don't They?
1991-06-22Danny disobeys his father and sneaks off to go duck hunting with Bill.
Runtime: 30 min
