The Sincerity Mortuary in the town of Dacron, Ohio, is owned by Warren Pepper (Joel Brooks) and his sister Debbie (Wendy Schaal). Assisting them in running the business is Debbie’s scheming, conniving husband, Ernie Lapidus (Howie Mandel).
Sincerity Mortuary has been in business for 60 years but has now fallen on hard times. Episodes relate Ernie’s underhanded attempts to make the business profitable again.
In contrast, Debbie is totally dedicated to running the family business in the honest tradition set by her parents and believes in helping others. She is often unaware of Ernie’s devious attempts to turn a profit.
Ultra-conservative Warren is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and lives in a room that is an exact duplicate of Ralph and Alice’s apartment on The Honeymooners. His hobby is macaroni art.
Ernie calls Debbie “my little orange blossom,” and their favourite restaurant is Swordfish, Swordfish Swordfish.
Their favourite fast food takeout is chicken from Mr Cluck. Ernie has a past (which is a matter of public record in a number of other states – for instance, he was an evangelist known as Ernie Love in Chicago).
Raoul (Sheldon Feldner) is Ernie’s non-speaking Igor-like flunky who does anything Ernie requests at a moment’s notice.
Ringo Prowley (Tom Poston) is a con artist who raised Ernie after his father’s death and taught him the tricks of the trade.
The series was savaged by critics and cancelled after a brief run.
Ernie Lapidus Howie Mandel Warren Pepper Joel Brooks Debbie Lapidus
Wendy Schaal Raoul
Sheldon Feldner Ringo Prowley
Tom Poston
Episodes
Ladies and Gentlemen . . . Ernie Lapidus! | Full Dress Burial | Bury Me a Little | Warren Learns to Fly | Mooses, Masons, and the Secret Life of Trees | Cub Scouts and Horses & Whiskers on Kittens | The Good, the Bad and the Mariachis | Viva Las Dacron | Ringo Gets a Job | Birth of a Notion | The Bear | The Big Bang Theory | 13th Episode Anniversary Special
In contrast, Debbie is totally dedicated to running the family business in the honest tradition set by her parents and believes in helping others. She is often unaware of Ernie’s devious attempts to turn a profit.
