On March 13, 1993, Homefront was inducted into the Museum of Television & Radio. The following is from the event program, and then a synopsis of the question/answer session from a fellow fan.
Racial tension. Women’s role in the work force. Suburbanization. Homefront evocatively depicts the beginnings of the country’s postwar era and portrays the tumultuous social issues that surfaced in the late forties. Critic Tom Shales wrote, “Skilled hands have fashioned Homefront and made it…a journey to the past that is also supposed to tell us how we got to be the way we are.” The series also focuses on the personal lives of its characters, delving into such matters of the heart as infidelity, broken engagements, and betrayal. Homefront’s synthesis of the intricate and gripping plot lines of continuing nighttime drama and its exploration of social themes has won praise from both audiences and critics.
The fictional midwestern town of River Run, Ohio, is the setting for the intersecting lives of Homefront’s characters. The strong cast includes: Jeff Metcalf (Kyle Chandler), earnest rookie for the Cleveland Indians; his on-again, off-again fiancee, Ginger Szabo (Tammy Lauren); the plotting British war bride Caroline Halley (Sammi Davis-Voss), her ex-husband, former GI Charlie Halley (Harry O’Reilly); Mike and Ruth Sloan (Ken Jenkins and Mimi Kennedy) the slightly amoral landowners; their servants, budding entrepreneurs Abe and Gloria Davis (Dick Anthony Williams and Hattie Winston); Anne Metcalf Kahn (Wendy Phillips), an over-forty newlywed; her husband, labor organizer Al Kahn (John Slattery), widowed Italian war bride Gina Sloan (Ginliana Santini); the acerbic barmaid Judy Owen (Kelly Rutherford); and newspaper employee Linda Metcalf (Jessica Steen).
Homefront is produced in association with Lorimar Television. The “skilled hands” behind the series are executive producers David Jacobs, Lynn Marie Latham, and Bernard Lechowick. David Jacobs has been described as the “grand-daddy of all prime-time continuing dramas,” having created and produced both of the immensely popular series Dallas and Knots Landing. Cocreator Lynn Marie Latham was producer for Knots Landing for three seasons and story editor for Berrenger’s. Bernard Lechowick had been responsible for over 250 hours of television programming, including serving as producer and writer for Knots Landing and as producer and director for the PBS comedy series Que Pasa? for which he received two Emmy Awards. The Museum will screen the episode “When the Stars Begin to Fall,” followed by a question-and-answer session.
Yuki Yasui was a
member of the Prodigy Interactive Service at that time. She was kind enough to
post two messages describing the event.
I was lucky enough to attend the Museum of TV & Radio’s salute to Homefront this evening and thought I would share some of the highlights with all of you on [Prodigy]. Tonight’s participants included Kyle Chandler, Sammi Davis-Voss, Ken Jenkins, Mimi Kennedy, Tammy Lauren, Wendy Phillips, Kelly Rutherford, Giuliana Santini, Dick Anthony Williams, Hattie Winston, husband-wife executive producers Bernard Lechowick and Lynn Marie Latham, directors Christopher Chulack and Sharron Miller, and writer James Stanley. After thunderous applause from the audience, the 15 of them gave us a standing ovation. The episode that was screened was “When the Stars Begin to Fall,” the one where Anne gives birth. On to the panel discussion:
Kyle Chandler/Jeff: Seemed a little embarrassed by all the attention directed to him by the ladies in the audience. He is just as boyishly cute in person. His most memorable scene was his first prime time screen kiss with Ginger. Tammy Lauren being the veteran, assured him that it would be a snap, they would clear the set, etc., etc. Turns out they had 40 people on the set during the actual filming. (“They were Mimi’s friends,” protested Tammy, “How could I throw them out?”)
Sammi Davis-Voss/Caroline: Received accolades from the audience for being “the hussy we all love to hate.” She identifes strongly with the character (not the hussy part) because she came to the U.S. after acting on the British stage and in Hope and Glory to be a modern day “war bride.”
Ken Jenkins/Michael: Acted mainly in stage productions for the first 30 years of his career. He claims that out of all the repertory groups he has been involved with over the years, the Homefront ensemble is the absolute best. Out of all the actors waiting to audition for Mike Sloan, he was asked by Mimi Kennedy (who was there to audition for Ruth) to help her practice her lines.
Mimi Kennedy/Ruth: She thought the cast really became close during the dance contest episode. Between takes, everyone had to learn the choreography and had a great time practicing all the dance steps and lifts. Mimi was considered a shoo-in for her part by executive producer and creator Lynn Latham, who was worried that Wendy Phillips would be considered too young to have grown children. Instead there were objections that Mimi was too young to play Ruth and Lynn blurted out, “Mimi young?...but she photographs OLD.”
Tammy Lauren/Ginger: Has cut her hair short and looks great. She laughed in embarrassment when she was complimented on her singing. Her and Kyle teased and squabbled with each other just like they do on the show. Originally Jeff and Ginger were only supposed to have a one-night stand, but the writers saw the magic between them in the dailies and developed the relationship. Tammy has been acting for years. She and Mimi played daughter and mother in a Disney flick, Mr. Boogedy. Tammy’s most memorable scene was one that she wasn’t even in, watching Kyle trying to be a ballplayer.
Wendy Phillips/Anne: Comes from a show business family, so the closest thing to religion in her upbringing was psychoanalysis. For background, she visits religious stores while pretending to be Catholic, quizzing the nuns on which are the best rosary beads, etc.
Kelly Rutherford/Judy: Before Homefront, she was in a daytime soap, Generations. She feels that Judy getting her picture in Look magazine twice was just a fluke, and that she had really been trying to be sweet and help Ginger out.
Giuliana Santini/Gina: This is her first acting job. She drove cross-country and moved in with her sister and her sister’s boyfriend to try her luck in Hollywood. She actually has a slight New York accent, and mimics her father’s accent for Gina. Mimi pointed out that Giuliana’s agent received a script with a note asking if Giuliana could manage to learn an American accent.
Dick Anthony Williams/Abe: Very modest and a lot like the character he plays. He had polio as a child but claims that his input for that episode was minimal: “Wendy can turn a morsel into a seven-course meal.”
Hattie Winston/Gloria: Her most memorable scene was singing to Mike Jr.’s stolen casket. She urged the audience to encourage all their friends to watch so that the show could get a 30 share. She also gave out the address for Ted Harbert and ABC (“Don’t put Homefront on the front of the envelope.”) Her husband, Robert (I) Wheeler, does all the gospel arrangements for Gloria’s songs.
The producers stressed that ABC has actually been very supportive. Homefront is one of the least expensive one-hour shows on the air, in spite of its large cast. Also, its demographics are highly desirable by sponsors.
Among the notables in the crowd were Wendy Phillips’ husband, Scott Paulin, and Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby).
The cast really seemed to enjoy each other’s company. One member of the audience said it was a little disconcerting to see them all looking so modern.