1 9 8 6 – 1 9 8 7 (USA)
28 x 30 minute episodes
This NBC sitcom was created by Eric Chappell and was based on the UK sitcom Home To Roost. It starred Jack Klugman in the John Thaw role of middle-aged divorcee supermarket manager Henry Willows.
Ten years after a bitter divorce, Henry is put out when his 17-year old son Matthew turns up and moves in with him.
Henry’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil. Matt is a girl-chasing borderline juvenile delinquent, and more than his conservative father can deal with.
Henry’s sarcastic British housekeeper, Enid, frequently tossed in a few wisecracks from the woman’s point of view. British actress Elizabeth Bennett played the part of Enid in both the US and UK shows simultaneously, requiring her to regularly commute between London and Los Angeles.
There was much yelling and a lot of difficult adjustments to make on both sides but underneath it all – as in all sitcoms – genuine affection.
Produced by Rick Mitz, a sitcom enthusiast and author of a history of the genre,You Again? was remarkably faithful to its British progenitor, even managing to capture some of the homely charm of the Yorkshire TV model. There was nothing exceptional here, however, just a modest attempt to amuse – though none the worse for that.
A dozen years after airing in America, the series was bought for late-night British screening by Channel 5.
Henry Willows
Jack Klugman
Matthew Willows
John Stamos
Enid Tompkins
Elizabeth Bennett
Pam
Valerie Landsburg
Maggie Davis
Barbara Rhoades
Louis Robles
Luis Avalos
Harry
Guy Marks
