SEASON ONE: Episodes 1-6
1. “S.N.A.F.U.” –
Air Date: September 24, 1991
Writers: Lynn Marie Latham, Bernard
Lechowick
Director: Ron Lagomarsino
Synopsis: In the
90-minute pilot, both returning G.I.’s and those they left behind on the
homefront struggle to adjust to life in River Run, Ohio, immediately after
World War II. Hank Metcalf returns to
his fiancée Sarah, unaware that she has been making time with his younger
brother Jeff; meanwhile his mother Anne and sister Linda are forced out of
their factory jobs. Linda’s friend
Ginger Szabo discovers that her fiancé Charlie Hailey has returned with his new
British war bride Caroline. Wealthy
factory owners Mike and Ruth Sloan look forward to the return of their son Mike
Jr. (Linda’s boyfriend) but are confronted instead by his new Italian
wife. Abe and Gloria Davis, the Sloans’
Black servants, face a bittersweet reunion with their war hero son Robert.
Introduces: Brandstaetter’s,
the River Run drugstore where Ginger and eventually Anne work
♫Songs: “I’m
Getting Sentimental Over You” – Tommy Dorsey; “A String Of Pearls” – Glenn
Miller; “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” – Jack Sheldon; “Don’t Get Around Much
Anymore” – Duke Ellington; “It’s a Good Day” – Peggy Lee; “Begin the Beguine” –
Artie Shaw
Memorable Lines: “Linda,
you hugged her!” (Anne); “You must be…my new Italian.” (Ruth)
Cheesiest Line:
“Did you never notice how men like whores?”
(Caroline)
Parallels and Echoes:
The dialogue between Jeff and Sarah as they
decide what to tell Hank is repeated verbatim in the final episode when Jeff
and Ginger decide what to tell Arthur.
Ginger appears in a wedding dress at a train station, which she does
again in the final episode. Hank and
Jeff go to Kirtland Hill, which they will do again in Hank’s final episode
(#24-“Songs Unsung are the Sweetest”).
The exchange between Linda and Ginger (“Why do you always blame the
woman?” “I do not always blame the woman.
I blame the person whose fault it is.”) is repeated verbatim in the
second season (#29-“A Nickel Plate Romance”).
’40s Slang: Round heels; SNAFU; Dear
John; Amscray!
Number of Times Mike Jr.’s Impossibly Well-Done Military Photo
Appears: 1
Number of Times Hank’s Impossibly Well-Done Military Photo
Appears: 1
Historic Moments: First and
only appearance of the Metcalfs’ back yard.
First mention of Mrs. Seniff.
First appearance of Gina’s blue dress (shown above) and Caroline’s red
and white dress (shown above). First
mention of Rupert’s, which the Davises will eventually reopen. Linda vomits!
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Would Charlie, an unapologetic bigot, really pretend to be gay in a bar
full of sailors in New York City? Why
is Caroline inexplicably rude to Anne at the train station? Why does Ginger make a reference to being
married by Pastor Swanson, when she and Charlie are both Catholic? What’s with Ginger’s on-again, off-again
Southern accent (e.g. “Chahlie”)? Stop
signs during this era were yellow with black lettering, not red with white
lettering. Would a woman even as brazen
and outspoken as Caroline declare so loudly in a pharmacy that she needed
spermicide for her diaphragm? Why
wouldn’t Charlie notice that Caroline is buying spermicide when Caroline tells
Ginger to ring it up because her husband will take care of it? Why are Ginger’s and Linda’s hairstyles so
frightfully ugly? Why didn’t Caroline
call the run in her stocking a “ladder,” as the British do?
Great Unanswered Question: Where
does Caroline stay over during her first night in River Run before Charlie
arrives?
Did You Notice?: The
spit that shoots out of Hank’s mouth when he shouts, “I fought to stay alive!”;
Mike’s GIANT eyeglasses; Jeff acts and dresses considerably younger (perhaps
18?) in the first few episodes than he does later in the series.
Did You Know?: “S.N.A.F.U.”
must have taken place in September 1945, since Mike later mentions that Mike
Jr. died in September (#14-“When It Rains, It Pours”). The Metcalfs’ house number is 1135. Hank’s favorite pie is mincemeat. The license plate on the Metcalfs’ car is
NB-3759. The street number of Sarah’s
boarding house is 307½.
Insider Trivia: Los
Angeles’s Union Station (built in 1939) served as River Run’s train station
(Ron Miller “Hollywood on the ‘Homefront’” San
Jose Mercury News July 26, 1991).
Both Caroline and Gina wore dresses that were actually made in their
native countries in the 1940s (“Prime Time Labor Wars On Homefront” U.A.W.
Solidarity 1992). “Originally, ABC
sent out a 60-minute pilot that some other critics found rushed. The producers gladly added 30 minutes, to
flesh out some of the characters” (Virginia
Mann “And They Thought War Was Hell” Sept. 24, 1991). “S.N.A.F.U.” was nominated for an Emmy as
Best TV Movie.
Critique in a Nutshell: This
is a great introduction to all the various characters and their potential
conflicts and storylines, but like any pilot episode, there’s an awful lot
going on here, making it just slightly confusing. It takes several episodes for Homefront to truly find its
pace, but here the actors have already nailed down their characters and the
great chemistry between them – consider, for example, Anne, Linda, Sarah, and
Jeff talking over each other in the Metcalf kitchen or Gloria’s uninhibited joy
upon greeting Robert home from war. A-
2. “Take My
Hand” – Air
Date: July 28, 1992
Writer: Bernard Lechowick
Director:
Lorraine Senna Ferrara
Synopsis: The community gathers for
the funeral of Mike Jr. When Hank and
Charlie learn that the Sloans have denied Mike Jr.’s wish that Gloria sing at
his funeral, they decide to remedy the
situation. Robert faces racial
discrimination at the Sloan factory as the first black man on the line. Linda deals with both Mike Jr.’s death and
his rejection of her for Gina. Jeff and
Sarah struggle with their feeling for one another as she begins to move into
the Metcalf home.
Introduces: The Metcalf basement and
attic room; this episode also introduces the series’ brilliant technique of
interweaving dialogue between two different scenes; smarmy and racist plant
worker Jack who will later make trouble in the unionization; Hank’s unfortunate
orange and green plaid shirt
♫Songs: “Precious
Lord, Take My Hand”– Hattie Winston
Memorable Line: “If you
don’t help me upstairs right now, I’m gonna take a whiz right here.” (Hank)
Cheesiest Line: “Let’s
just say…it left me hungry.” (Robert)
Priceless Funny Moment: Ruth’s
face when Charlie bear-hugs her at the wake.
Priceless Teary Moment: When Gina
steps up at the funeral, takes Mike Jr.’s flag from Ruth, and then walks away
with head held high as “Precious Lord” is reprised.
Number of Times Mike Jr.’s Impossibly Well-Done Military Photo
Appears: 2
Historic Moments: Sarah
begins to move in with the Metcalfs.
Robert begins work at the Sloan factory.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Why does Mike Jr. write to Gloria his last wishes instead of his parents? Why does Gina look so happy when she comes
into the Sloan house with flowers (“I found them!”) on the day of her husband’s
wake? Could Hank and Charlie really
carry a coffin with a dead body in it by themselves? How would they get it back to the funeral home undetected?
Great Unanswered Question: Did
Charlie know about the rat in Robert’s lunchbox? He gets Hank’s attention right before Robert opens it.
Did You Know?: Robert’s
middle name is Abel.
Insider Trivia: This episode wasn’t aired until July 1992, after the first season had ended, because ABC felt that it was too much of a downer and would spoil the series’ chances of developing a regular audience. Hattie Winston believed her most memorable scene was singing to Mike Jr.’s stolen casket (Yuki Yasui “Museum of Television & Radio Induction” Mar. 13, 1993). Winston’s husband, Grammy Award winner Harold Wheeler, arranged and scored “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” and also appears on-screen as the church choir-master (“Homefront Airs ‘Lost’ Episode”). Winston sang “Precious Lord” live, rather than lipsynching to her own voice as is usually done (“Homefront Airs ‘Lost’ Episode”).
Critique in a Nutshell: A
combination of humor (Hank singing drunkenly) and poignancy (Mike drinks a
toast to his son in what would have been Mike Jr.’s vice president office)
makes this episode one of Homefront’s most moving hours. A+
3. “Bedsprings” – Air Date: October 1, 1991
Writer:
Lynn Marie Latham
Director: David
Carson
Synopsis:
Jeff tries once more to win back Sarah, which
leads to a temporary breakup for Sarah and Hank, who still doesn’t know that
Jeff is the “other man.” Unconvinced
that Gina is carrying their son’s baby, the Sloans offer her money to return to
Italy. Gina is taken in by the Davises,
provoking trouble with the police. Caroline
continues to subvert Charlie’s desire to have a child.
Introduces: Plant
secretary Miss Watkins; the importance of Catholicism for the Metcalfs; Jeff’s
major league baseball aspirations; Hank’s temper, which makes him look like a
spitting alien rabbit when he yells
♫Songs:
“A String of Pearls” – Glenn Miller
Memorable Line: “I
thought once you were married, you got to do it any time you wanted.” (Charlie)
Cheesiest Line: “Just
explain what that fresh piece of white meat is doing in your apartment.”
(racist police officer) UGH!
Parallels and Echoes:
Hank and Sarah briefly call off their wedding,
just as Anne and Al, Jeff and Ginger, and Charlie and Gina will later.
Most Disturbing Moment: Jeff goes
a little creepy psycho killer in the bathroom when he forces the door shut as
Sarah tries to leave.
Second Most Disturbing Moment:
We get to see Caroline’s punctured diaphragm
dripping water.
Tender Moment that Makes Up for Most Disturbing Moment:
The sweet exchange between Jeff and a bewildered Anne when he gives her the
perfume he originally bought for Sarah.
Gratuitous Moment that Makes Up for Second Most Disturbing
Moment: We
get to see Gina naked in the bathtub (Brent says, “Me likey!”).
Historic Moments: Anne
begins working at Brandstaetter’s. Gina
moves in with Charlie and Caroline.
First interaction between Jeff and Ginger.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
How did Hank and Sarah get away with having sex
and spending the night together before marriage? How is it possible that Gina claims she is five months pregnant
in this episode (which can’t take place any earlier than September 1945), but
she delivers on December 24 (#12-“Sinners Reconciled”)?
Great Unanswered Question: Is
Robert attracted to Gina? He sounds
rather sexily flirty with her (“Mmmm…polenta”).
Did You Know?: Linda is
23. Hank worked in a nursing home
during high school.
Insider Trivia: The Jeff-Sarah-Hank love triangle was originally planned to be a
central, on-going storyline for the series (Tom Feran “ABC’s ‘Homefront’ Makes
the Most of its Opportunities” The Plain Dealer Apr. 15, 1992).
Critique in a Nutshell: Way
too many over-the-top moments and instances of clichéd dialogue. The whole racial scenario isn’t handled with
the subtlety the show usually employed.
C
4. “So All
Alone” – Airdate: October 8, 1991
Writer:
Bernard Lechowick
Director: Lorraine Senna Ferrara
Synopsis: As Hank and Sarah’s wedding
approaches, Linda is rehired by Sloan Industries as a file clerk, only to be
called in to work the day of the wedding.
The Sloans fire the Davises for taking in Gina, only to discover that
good replacements are hard to find.
Concerned that Caroline is not yet pregnant after six months of
marriage, Charlie visits a fertility doctor, but he later learns that Caroline
has secretly been using birth control.
Jeff and Ginger, both on the rebound, find consolation in each other.
Introduces: Sam’s interminable ill
temper; the ubiquitous Tube City beer bottles; “100% Guaranteed,” which Gina
picks up from Charlie
♫Songs:
“I Don’t Want to Walk Without You” – Harry James; “So All Alone”; “Caravan” –
Duke Ellington; “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” – Harry James
Memorable Line: Click Here -
This line is all in the delivery (Abe)
Parallels and Echoes: Anne’s
wedding advice to Hank (“Always be a gentleman in bed”) is the same advice that
Coach Zelnick later gives to Jeff (#27-“Can’t Say No”).
Historic Moments: Hank and
Sarah marry. Gina’s pregnancy begins to
show. Jeff and Ginger have sex (twice!)
for the first and only time in the series.
Charlie and Gina’s friendship begins to develop. Linda is rehired and fired by Sloan
Industries. The Sloans fire the
Davises. First time the series uses a
musical montage (set to “So All Alone”).
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes: Why
is Charlie asking Gina for old family tips on getting pregnant as if she and
Mike Jr. had actually intended to conceive?
Great Unanswered Question: Is
Caroline really sincere about her reasons for not wanting children?
Did You Know?: Ginger’s
mother is a cake decorator. Charlie and
Caroline live in Sadler’s Rooming House.
Although it’s never mentioned in the series, Sam’s last name is
Schenkkan.
Insider Trivia: Kyle Chandler
and Tammy Lauren’s first filmed scene together was their first kiss in Jeff’s
bedroom (“Welcome Back Homefront”
Detroit Free Press Mar. 9, 1993).
Meg and Brent own an actual Tube City beer label!
Critique in a Nutshell: A solid
episode that establishes several long-term storylines; it is perhaps most
enjoyable for fans who know what will unfold.
B+
5. “Patriots” – Airdate: October 15, 1991
Writer: Bernard Lechowick
Director: Nicholas Sgarro
Synopsis: After being fired by the Sloans,
the Davises seek employment. Jeff
struggles to overcome Ginger’s suspicions that he is interested only in
sex. Al Kahn, a union organizer,
arrives in River Run and begins to make trouble for Sloan Industries and, as
Anne fears, for Linda as well.
Introduces: Al Kahn; the ongoing union
storyline that serves as the backbone of the series; Purl Roadhouse; the
Davises’ Pastor Harrington; movie theater; Gina’s vocation as a seamstress
Missing Character: Robert
Davis
♫Songs: “I
Can’t Get Started With You” – Bunny Berigan
Memorable Line: “I could
help you…make a chart.” (Ginger)
Memorable Lines (Honorable Mention):
“Oh, I would have to get caught in a house full of readers!” (Ginger); “You
can’t judge America by…Americans.” (Abe)
’40s Slang: Heel; Fink; What’s your
poison?; Make time; Sister; Brother; Wage Slave
Creepy Moment Times Two:
Al thinks that siblings Jeff and Linda are
“sweethearts,” and then he tries to “make time” with Linda, his future
daughter-in-law.
Number of Times Mike Jr.’s Impossibly Well-Done Military Photo
Appears: 3
Historic Moments: Ginger
calls Jeff “Buster” for the first time.
First scene in a car. Ginger’s
hair begins to lighten into a strawberry blonde. Linda is rehired by Sloan Industries for the second time in two
episodes. Mike actually apologizes to
someone. Anne and Al meet. Abe’s speeches begin to sound human instead
of preachy. Jeff and Ginger’s
relationship is revealed.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Why is Hank wearing a newsboy cap? He
never does before or after, AND it looks a little big for his skinny head. In Al’s scene in the Purl Roadhouse, why
does he initially come off as a ’40s-style New York “wiseguy”? (“You’re a heel
and a fink and you oughta be ashamed of yourself. So go get us two beers and make yourself scarce!”)
Great Unanswered Question: Why is
this episode entitled “Patriots”?
Did You Know?: Gina’s
maiden name is Gianni. Charlie and
Caroline live in Apt. 6 on Acacia. Al
is staying in room 201 at his hotel.
Brandstaetter’s competition is Clark Drugs. Anne goes to bed at 10 or 10:30 p.m. Sarah has only lived in River Run for four or five years. Jeff wears a sweater vest for the first time
(just like Brent!).
Insider Trivia: The
character of Al Kahn is over forty, but John Slattery was only 29 at the time
of filming. The writers originally
planned for Al to get involved with Linda but changed their minds when they saw
John Slattery’s chemistry with Wendy Phillips (“‘Homefront’ Star Hopes Spicy
Love Can Save Show” Boston Herald
Apr. 15, 1992); Jessica Steen (Linda) even reported in an interview three days
before this episode aired that her character was soon to become
“romantically involved with a union man much older than she is” (Ivor Davis
“Homefront Battles” TV Times Canada Oct.
12, 1991).
Al describes the union as “bunch of matchsticks” that is stronger when
bound together – ironically, this was the same metaphor and image employed by
the Italian Fascists (whom Gina makes reference to in this episode). The upbeat swing instrumental playing in the
Purl Roadhouse when Linda and Al first talk about the union is the same music
played during many of the episodes’ closing credits.
Critique in a BIG Nutshell:
This is the episode in which Homefront’s characters and storylines
really gel. With the arrival of Al and
the first rumblings of the union conflict, all the series’ major elements are
in place. Because “Patriots” is so
marvelous, we have an uncharacteristically long list of moments that are
quintessentially Homefront:
“What good is your opinion? You’re
doing it with me.” (Ginger)
This is the first episode where we
get to see Jeff and Ginger’s funny and romantic chemistry.
Charlie really shows his
good-heartedness despite his ignorance.
Gina shows she has big cajones when
she shuts the door in Mike’s face.
“Some of my best friends are
mothers.” (Al)
Mike reveals his sympathetic side by
secretly providing a means by which Gina can stay in America while at the same
time contributing to the Davises’ church.
Jeff hits his head repeatedly with a
baseball bat in the attic as he and Ginger wait for the household to go to bed.
Jeff’s resolute “I’m walking my
girlfriend home” is a sweet and powerful moment.
One of Homefront‘s classic
episode endings: as the screen fades to black, we still can hear Gloria sifting
flour.
A+
6. “Holier Than
Thou, Too” –
Airdate: October 29, 1991
Writer: Bernard Lechowick
Director: Bruce Seth Green
Synopsis: Al signs up his first three
union members when Robert is poisoned by leaking chlorine pipes at the factory,
Linda discovers that Sloan Industries was aware of the problem long before, and
Charlie feels bullied by floor manager Sam.
River Run reacts to Jeff and Ginger’s relationship.
Introduces: Anne’s famous exclamation
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!”; Abe’s passion for photography (which is never
mentioned again); first mention of Gloria’s friend Estreanda
Missing Character: Ruth
Sloan
♫Songs:
“Opus No. 1” – Tommy Dorsey; “Moonlight Serenade” – Glenn Miller
Memorable Line: “Rubbers
are overshoes, for heaven’s sake. It’s
a perfectly good word that I can’t use anymore because people snicker.” (Anne)
Historic Moments: Hank is
offered promotion to safety foreman at Sloan Industries. The union conflict begins to cause serious
tensions in the Metcalf home. Anne and
Al’s attraction for one another becomes very obvious in this episode. Only instance that a Sloan appears in the
Davis household. First of the four
“famous” storm window changing scenes.
Jeff mentions to Ginger that he dances “like a bullfrog” but is willing
to learn, which is exactly what eventually happens (#9-“Man, This Joint is
Jumping”).
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Why has Mike never heard of crumb cake?
How would Miss Watkins know that Linda was talking to a union organizer
on the phone?
Great Unanswered Questions:
Does Hank own any other shirt besides that damn orange and green plaid? (If Meg were Sarah, she’d be disgusted by
the lack of cleanliness this implies.)
Did You Know?: Ginger is
two years older than Jeff. Sarah is in
college studying to become a teacher.
Charlie’s locker at Sloan Industries is #191. The first union meeting takes place on Oct. 31, 1945, at 7:00
p.m. in the Metcalf home.
Insider Trivia:
The director, Bruce Seth Green, later directed
several episodes of one of our other favorite series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but
should not be confused with one of that series’ cast members, Seth Green (no
relation).
But Who’s Counting?: Robert
has gotten into THREE yelling matches with his parents, and this is only the
SIXTH episode!
Critique in a Nutshell: The conflict between Abe and Robert over
their attitudes toward racial inequality is well done…BUT the two racist
factory workers (Ed and Jack) who lock Robert in the supply room play their
scenes a bit too broadly, as if they are silent movie villains (you can almost
see them twisting the ends of their moustaches). This episode also nicely sets up the tensions among the Metcalf
siblings, but Sarah’s character is already starting to fade into the
background, popping up only intermittently to whine or agree with Hank. A-