Dudley

1 9 9 3 (USA)
6 x 30 minute episodes

This short-lived CBS comedy series revolved around Dudley Bristol (Dudley Moore), a divorced New York cabaret pianist living a fairly comfortable life in Penthouse A at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel where he works in a club called ‘Liaisons’ with a bass player and drummer.

One day his ex-wife, Lorraine (Joanna Cassidy), shows up from California with their malcontent son, Fred (Harley Cross), who was recently arrested for stealing a car.

Dudley has not been a good father to Fred, and Lorraine feels it is time he helped raise him to keep him from going bad. Lorraine takes an apartment nearby and 14-year-old Fred moves in with his father.

Other Regulars include odious nightclub owner Harold (Joel Brooks), Dudley’s agent, Paul (Max Wright) and his Spanish speaking cook/maid, Marta (Lupe Ontiveros,) who he couldn’t understand.

It was comedy drawn from the Blake Edwards school of social realism, full of witty, attractive people living bright, recession-proof lives in tasteful surroundings and grinding affluence. It was also a below-average sitcom wasting the talents of a handful of performers. But not for long.

Dudley Bristol
Dudley Moore
Lorraine Bristol
Joanna Cassidy
Fred Bristol
Harley Cross
Paul Bagley
Max Wright
Marta
Lupe Ontiveros
Harold Willers
Joel Brooks