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SEASON TWO: Episodes 25-30
25. “By Popular
Demand” –
Airdate: September 17, 1992
Writer: Bernard Lechowick
Director: Joseph L. Scanlan
Synopsis: A photographer for Look Magazine
arrives in River Run to record how a typical American town is adjusting to life
one year after the end of World War II.
Ginger is just as determined to get her photo taken for the magazine as
Jeff is in winning an advertising endorsement as a Cleveland Indian. Caroline tries to win back Charlie, unaware
that his heart now belongs to Gina. As
the Davises devote more of their energies to Rupert’s, the Sloans wonder what
their servants are up to during their free time.
Introduces: Charlie’s darker hair;
Ginger’s shorter, darker hair; Linda’s shorter hair; Lemo Tomato Juice (via a
stadium billboard) and the Lemo Tomato Juice jingle, which can be barely heard
in the background as Ginger talks to Linda on the phone; Jeff’s teammate and
rival Bernie Pfarffenbarger (what happened to Jay?); first episode to conclude
(and begin?) with period newsreel footage.
Missing Character: Robert
(who’s still in France)
♫Songs:
“It’s Been A Long, Long Time” – Harry James; “The Lemo Tomato Juice Jingle”;
“Old MacDonald” – Guiliana Santini
Memorable Line: “You take
off your pants, you lose your shirt.” (Al)
Most Clichéd Gimmick: Charlie
recites his big speech to Gina, then the camera pulls out to reveal he’s only
rehearsing in front of a mirror.
Parallels and Echoes: Charlie
and Gina kiss passionately among the clotheslines, just as Jeff and Sarah did
in the first season opener. Ruth tells
Mike she’ll buy him a baseball, which she eventually does (#29-“A Nickel Plate
Romance”). Judy wears the same outfit
(minus the hat) that she wears to watch Jeff play for the first time (#16-“Bad
Connection”). Jeff accidentally knocks
the head off Lemo Tomato Juice girl billboard, suggesting just how replaceable
the Lemo Tomato Juice girl will be in future episodes.
Number of Times Mike Jr.’s Impossibly Well-Done Military Photo
Appears: 1
Historic Moments: Kelly
Rutherford (Judy) now appears in the opening credits; David Newsome (Hank) is
gone. Charlie has moved in with the
Metcalfs. First and only appearance of
Saddler’s Rooming House’s backyard.
Hank’s disappearance from the series is explained by Anne’s comment that
he has taken a job in Chicago and “sounds happier than he’s been in months.” Another reference to the imminent
desegregation of the Major Leagues.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Gina opens her mouth WIDE during her and Charlie’s first kiss. As Ginger and the Metcalf family examine the
two photos of Judy in the Look Magazine spread, a tiny portion of the
photo on the recto (right) page of the magazine can be seen; but when they turn
the page, the photo of Grandmother Davis in Rupert’s on the verso (left) page
is clearly the same photo that had appeared on the previous page – this can be
confirmed by the skillets hanging in the upper left corner of both photos. Ginger tells the advertising scout that she
has her own cigarettes – was this a bluff or did she continue smoking after her
screen test? (#11-“Szabo’s Travels”)
Great Unanswered Question: Why does
Abe look drunk when he and Gloria pray before eating lunch?
Did You Know?: The
Davises attend a Wednesday night Bible study at their church. The Cleveland Indians are in fifth
place. Linda applies for Hank’s old job
as safety foreman at the Sloan factory.
The ad scout was sent by the Christiansen Advertising Agency of
Cleveland. Ginger didn’t get to play
the lead pumpkin in the fourth grade play because Diane Cuffman was the
teacher’s pet. Miss McClellan always
tells Charlie to quiet down when he visits the library. The photographer from Look Magazine
visits Sloan Industries, Rupert’s, Shirk’s, the Murray Estate, Dabinski’s gas
station, WREQ, and the Cleveland Indians stadium. Charlie’s first words to Caroline were, “Will you introduce me to
your mother because I’d like to thank her for having a daughter with such
beautiful legs.” Caroline pretended to
be drunk when she first met Charlie.
Bernie Pfarffenbarger beats out Jeff for an endorsement contract with
Trenton Cigarettes. According to the
Sloans, Rupert’s is “on the wrong side of the tracks.”
Insider Trivia: This episode’s title is an
obvious reference that Homefront’s
second season was thanks primarily to its vocal fans who fought for the show’s
renewal. The outfielder who picks up
the ball dropped by Jeff is Sports Illustrated reporter Michael Jaffe,
who visited the set for the magazine and was granted a walk-on role (Michael
Jaffe “An Indian for a Day” Sports Illustrated). The model
on the cover of Look magazine is a photo of Lynn Marie Latham’s mother (“‘Homefront’
Brings ’40s Back to Life” Indianapolis Star July 28, 1992).
Critique in a Nutshell: A
terrific season opener that plants the seeds for many of the second season’s
major storylines. Jeff and Ginger’s
selfless sacrifices for one another are a clever spin on O. Henry’s “The Gift
of the Magi.” Charlie and Gina’s
passionate first kiss is by itself worth awarding this episode an A+.
26. “The Lemo
Tomato Juice Hour” – Airdate: September 24, 1992
Writer: Lynn Marie Latham
Director: Sharron Miller
Synopsis: Ginger finally meets with
success as she lands the role of the Lemo Tomato Juice Girl at WREQ. Robert returns with his new French wife
Perrette, but her ignorance of American customs – and her white skin – immediately
cause both familial and racial tensions.
Upset over the plight of a homeless factory worker, Linda writes an
editorial about the postwar housing shortage that earns her a job at the
newspaper. Meanwhile, the Sloans see
the housing crisis as a new money-making opportunity.
Introduces: Perrette, Robert’s new
French wife; Mr. Melon, head of WREQ; Miss Westcott, Mr. Melon’s secretary;
Walter Lemo, owner of the Lemo Tomato Juice Company; Gina’s new hairstyle;
Aaron Mendelvine, son of Al’s old friend and potential suitor to Gina; the housing
shortage storyline.
Missing Character: Caroline
♫Songs:
“The Lemo Tomato Juice Jingle” – Tammy Lauren; “Moonlight Serenade” – Glenn
Miller
Memorable Line: “There’s
a picture of her brother in our bread.
How bizarre.” (Ruth)
Historic Moments: Robert returns
from France with Perrette. Ginger
becomes the Lemo Tomato Juice Girl.
Jeff appears on a baseball card.
Linda begins working as a proofreader for the newspaper. First appearance of “The Lemo Tomato Juice
Hour.” The Sloans begin building homes
in River Run. First and only time a
character speaks Yiddish (Aaron calls Gina a “Shana Maidelah” – a pretty
girl). First appearance of the town
newspaper, which will play an increasingly prominent role.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
The Davis apartment must be on the first floor, since we know that their
kitchen door leads to an outside porch.
However, when Abe watches as Robert’s taxi pulls up, he’s clearly
looking down from at least a second-story window.
Great Unanswered Question: Will we
ever be able to look at Perrette the same way now that we’ve seen the actress
(Perrey Reeves) give, um, oral pleasure to a carrot in the movie “Old School”?
Did You Know?: Jeff’s
baseball card appears in packages of Vita-Wheat Bread. Ginger’s short-lived positions at WREQ
include script overseer, personal assistant, and gag tester. WREQ’s programming includes “Rip Brewster,
Ace Detective,” “Coffee Klatch” with your host Florence Whitney, “Pay the
Piper,” and “The Lemo Tomato Juice Hour.”
Linda’s wages as newspaper proofreader are 45¢ an hour. Gina made curtains for Rupert’s.
How could you not notice?: The
blatantly sexual cardboard cut-out of the Lemo Girl happily presenting her
“tomatoes.”
Insider Trivia: According
to Lynn Marie Latham, “The premise of the misunderstood bracelet was inspired
by an old Preston Sturges film. In the
film a rich man throws his wife’s mink coat out the window and it lands on Jean
Arthur’s head. So everyone presumes
Jean Arthur is the man’s mistress. I
enjoyed playing around with that story” (“More Q&A’s from Lynn Marie
Latham” Homefront egroup May 4, 2003).
Critique in a Nutshell:
A very full episode, but the very quick clip at which it moves is appropriately
reminiscent of the screwball comedies of the ’30s and ’40s. We especially like the cute scene between
Charlie and Gina at the bus stop, as well as Abe’s sympathetic treatment of
Perrette. A
27. “Can’t Say
No” – Airdate:
October 1, 1992
Writer: Dianne Massock Messina
Director: Roy Campanella II
Synopsis: As the new Lemo Tomato Juice
Girl campaign accelerates, Ginger has second thoughts about giving up her
career for Jeff. Robert and Perrette
find that they don’t fit in either White or Black society. Caroline creates trouble when she suspects
Linda is Charlie’s “other woman.” Mike
and Judy discover they have a common passion for baseball.
Introduces: First reference to Ruth’s
society rival Lisa Lavere.
♫Songs:
“The Lemo Tomato Juice Jingle” (instrumental version); “Take Me Out To The
Ballgame”; “Begin The Beguine” – Artie Shaw
Memorable Line: “It’s not
the years, it’s the miles, honey.” (Judy)
Cheesiest Line: “I told
you they’d be trouble.” (Racist waitress who ignores Robert and Perrette)
Parallels and Echoes: Coach’s
advice to Jeff to “Always be a gentleman in bed” is the same advice Anne gave
to Hank in episode #4-“So All Alone.”
Charlie tells Caroline he’ll NEVER live with her again…but he does
(#30-“When The Stars Begin To Fall”).
’40s Slang: nix; hooch
Historic Moments: The Lemo
Tomato Juice Company begins using Ginger’s likeness on its labels and
advertising. Mike and Judy meet. Charlie offers to move out. Gina reveals to Linda her romance with
Charlie. Ginger asks Jeff if they can
postpone their wedding for one year.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Ginger is trying to “concentrate” on writing her resignation letter in a noisy
bar? Linda is ordered by Miss Watkins
to move her desk, but later when Linda finds the Bible in her drawer, she
appears to be sitting at the exact same location. While it serves as a nice thread connecting two different scenes,
it seems bloody unlikely that the Metcalf radio would be broadcasting Robert’s
live saxophone performance at the Black jazz club.
Great Unanswered Question: What joke
(as told by Charlie to Linda) ends with the punchline, “Then the bathing beauty
says to the lifeguard, ‘I couldn’t help it – the ocean waved first!’”?
Did You Know?: Jeff’s
honeymoon plans are three weeks in a cabin on Lake Ichiwanna. Ginger’s favorite color is yellow. Mike and Judy are watching the Indians
playing Chicago. Mike mentions Bob
Feller’s attempt to break Rube Waddell’s 1904 single-season strikeout record of
343. Bob Feller would eventually fan
348 in 1946, but further digging into historical records later increased
Waddell’s record to 349 (www.baseballlibrary.com).
Insider Trivia: Director
Roy Campanella Jr. is the son of the famous Dodgers catcher (Hal Boedeker,
“Tonight’s Lost ‘Homefront’ is Powerful Drama” Baltimore Evening Sun July 28, 1992).
Critique in a Nutshell:
Robert and Perrette’s difficulty in getting served at the restaurant is so
uncomfortable to watch that it’s tempting to fast-forward through it. However, it’s almost made up for by the cute
and sexy scene between Jeff and Ginger in Coach’s office and Ginger’s hilarious
fantasy. Mike and Judy’s unlikely
friendship develops quite innocently and believably. A-
28.
“Appleknocker To Wed Tomatohawker” – Airdate: October 8, 1992
Writer: Bernard Lechowick
Director: Joseph L. Scanlon
Synopsis: When Ginger’s duties as the
Lemo Tomato Juice girl increase, a jealous Jeff forces her to make a fateful
decision between career and marriage.
After threats from racists, Robert and Perrette decide to leave the
Davis home. Mike and Judy begin to meet
regularly at the baseball stadium.
Missing Characters: Anne, Al,
Linda, Caroline, Gina – Where’d everybody go???
♫Song:
“I’ll Be Seeing You” – Tammy Lauren. The
song is also played as an instrumental in the background at the restaurant, and
Ruth plays it on the piano.
Memorable Line: “But
you’re French! How unusual. Unless you live in France.” (Ruth)
Not Bloody Likely!: Sure,
Jeff disguising himself as a bespectacled and mustachioed waiter in order to
keep a close watch on Ginger’s date with the Lemo contest winner is amusing,
but it’s easily the most improbable and sitcommy moment in the entire series.
Heartbreaking or Cheesy?: Disgusted
by the racism that has forced her son out of the family home, Gloria retreats
to her bedroom and removes from the wall a GIANT picture of Jesus and then
stuffs it in her underwear drawer.
Parallels and Echoes: Mike uses
the expression “life is short,” which is the title of episode #33. This is the second time the Davises have
been harassed for housing a white woman (the first instance was in episode
#3-“Bedsprings”). Jeff uses a popular
Charlie phrase: “Shut yer yaps!”
Mike’s Yoda Moment: “Second
prize we took. One hundred dollars it
was.”
Historic Moments: Robert
and Perrette leave River Run for Wilberforce University – this was Sterling
Macer Jr.’s last episode, making him the third original cast member to be
written off the show. Ginger gets her
first big musical number on “The Lemo Tomato Juice Hour.” Jeff and Ginger break up.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Ginger said there’d be a photographer covering her date, but there wasn’t. Since Jeff sticks around the radio studio
for two-thirds of Ginger’s song, why couldn’t he have waited until she finished
and then driven her back home to meet the owner of the Indians? Tammy Lauren’s lip-synching (to her own
voice) is occasionally rather obvious.
Great Unanswered Question: What
party were Jeff and Ginger headed to immediately after her date with the
contest winner?
Did You Know?: The Lemo
Tomato Juice contest winner had to guess how many tomatoes it takes to make a
case of Lemo Tomato Juice. The contest
winner was Neil Schubert. Abe used to
hear his parents praise him behind his back by listening at the air vent in his
bedroom. Robert and Perrette will live
in Yellow Springs, near Wilberforce.
Wilberforce University (outside of Dayton, Ohio) is the nation’s oldest
private historically Black college.
Insider Trivia: Ken
Jenkins (Mike) graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Critique in a Nutshell:
A powerful episode of partings, as Robert and Perrette take their bows and Jeff
and Ginger break up. It’s regrettable
to see yet another cast member leave the series, but Robert’s marriage to a
white woman had painted his character into a corner: depicting anything less
than unceasing racial discrimination against Robert and Perrette would have
been historically inaccurate, but it also would have been very difficult to
watch week after week. Jeff and
Ginger’s breakup scene is beautifully acted – we can really feel both their
conflicting priorities and how much they love each other in spite of them. A
29. “A Nickel
Plate Romance”
– Airdate: October 22, 1992
Writer: Lynn Marie Latham
Director: Mike Vejar
Synopsis: On the rebound and full of
spite, Jeff and Ginger unwisely throw themselves into new romances. Mike flirts with infidelity when he and Judy
share a train ride to the Indians’ season-ender in Detroit. After discovering their relationship,
Caroline creates trouble for Charlie and Gina.
Introduces: Arthur Shillhab, Jeff’s
teammate and Ginger’s aggressively charming new beau; Joe Barzizza, sports
writer
Missing Characters: Gloria,
Abe
♫Songs:
“Cocktails For Two” – Spike Jones & His City Slickers; “Haunted Town” –
Lena Horne
Memorable Line: “I’ve
frequently noticed a connection between a rise in stock market prices and your
amorous intentions.” (Ruth)
Greatest Freudian Reference: “It’s
just a car!” (Linda)
Parallels and Echoes: Anne is
solicited by a Fuller Brush man – a position that both Charlie and Al take up
later. Once again, a Homefront couple
makes out at the movies. Judy tells Al
she doesn’t want customers leaving the roadhouse drunk and wrapping their cars
around trees, which is what later happens to Nadolski. “On the rebound,” a phrase used repeatedly
during this episode, is the title of episode #35. 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 taken verbatim from episode
#1-“S.N.A.F.U.” Jeff mentions the list
of likes and dislikes that he and Ginger composed in episode #6-“Holier Than
Thou, Too.” Mike tells Judy he’d like
to dance with her to “Always,” which they later do (#33-“Life Is Short”).
’40s Slang: louse, heel, screwy dame
Historic Moments: Al begins
working at Purl Roadhouse as a second job to help pay for the coming baby’s
expenses. Jeff buys a convertible. Caroline discovers Charlie and Gina’s
romance. Ginger begins dating Arthur
Shillhab. Jeff and Caroline kiss! This is the only time we see any part of
Ginger’s house.
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
Anne is sure going to holler at Jeff for throwing away all those perfectly good
cans of Lemo Tomato Juice!
Great Unanswered Question: Why on
earth would a bitter and love-scorned Caroline select that damn Spike Jones
song from the juke box?
Did You Know?: Arthur
attends night school at John Marshall to earn a law degree. Mike witnessed Charles Lindbergh’s 1927
departure from New York on his famous transatlantic flight. New York Central’s Mercury Line ran daily
from Cleveland to Detroit. The Indians’
final 1946 season game took place in Detroit on September 29. Ginger says the Nash 600 is the ideal family
car. Ginger and Linda have been friends
for fifteen years. Mike mentions Carmen
Cavallero, a popular pianist and bandleader of the ’40s.
Insider Trivia: Bob Feller
(#19) was a Cleveland Indians pitcher from 1936 to 1956. Jeff’s car is a 1947 Chrysler Town &
Country convertible (Glenn Esterly “A True Romantic” TV Guide Canada Nov. 28, 1992).
Critique in a Nutshell:
A funny, bittersweet episode dealing with unwise relationships and other
romantic dilemmas. Arthur is
delightfully ambiguous – we’re never sure if he’s for real or if he’s got some
ulterior motives. Beginning with this
episode, Jeff grows increasingly cranky, playing nearly every scene through the
rest of the season as a variation between amusingly grumpy and hatefully bitter
– it’s not a welcome change for the character. A-
30. “When The
Stars Begin To Fall” – Airdate: October 29, 1992
Writer: Bernard Lechowick
Director: Sharron Miller
Synopsis: The Sloans and the Kahns are
unpleasantly surprised to find themselves sharing adjacent rooms of a lakeside
cabin – until Anne’s unexpected labor brings out the best in Mike and
Ruth. Jeff tries to get over Ginger by
dating Judy, who’s not yet over Mike.
Charlie attempts to drive Caroline to divorce by moving back in with
her.
Introduces: baby Michael Kahn (though he
hasn’t been named yet); the laconic white police officer who patronizes
Rupert’s and unwittingly frightens away its Black customers
♫Songs:
“Isn’t It Romantic?”; “When The Stars Begin To Fall” – Hattie Winston &
choir
Memorable Lines: “Some
things you just can’t rush.” (Charlie on leaving the bathroom)
Second Greatest Freudian Reference: “No
woman ever went out with a man based on the size or the shape of his
automobile.” (Judy)
Parallels and Echoes: The
expression “life is short” is used repeatedly; this is also the title of
episode #33. Ginger jokes that her role
on the Lemo-sponsored barnstorming tour should be called “The Lemo Tomato Juice
Girl Goes West,” which was the name of the movie Judy said she was filming
during Ginger’s marital fantasy in #27-“Can’t Say No.” Ruth suggests she and Mike go back to Purl
Roadhouse, which they do in episode #32-“First Comes Love, Then Comes
Marriage.”
Number of Times Mike Jr.’s Impossibly Well-Done Military Photo
Appears: 1
Number of Times Ruth’s Impossibly Well-Done Photo Appears Next to
Mike Jr.’s: 1
Historic Moments: Charlie
moves back in with Caroline. Gina
offers to pay Caroline to divorce Charlie.
Jeff joins a barnstorming team to play during the off-season. Caroline heads for Reno, Nevada, for a
quickie divorce. Mike resolves to give
up his infatuation with Judy. Anne and
Al’s baby is born!
Inconsistencies, Bloopers, and Plot Holes:
How wise was it for Anne and Al to go to a cabin in the woods for three weeks
when she was nearly nine months pregnant?
The final scene in the Davises’ church looks nothing like the church
interior depicted in #2-“Take My Hand.”
Great Unanswered Question: Anne and
Al stay in the cabin originally reserved for Jeff and Ginger’s honeymoon – How
different would things have been if Jeff and Ginger had not broken up? For starters, because the Kahns would have
stayed home, they wouldn’t have named their baby Michael, and Mike might have
continued to chase Judy since there would have been no crisis to remind him of
what he loved about Ruth.
Did You Know?: The phone
number for Purl Roadhouse is BLackburn 5-620.
Mike’s favorite drink is scotch.
The Sloans’ cabin in the woods is #7.
Tomato juice costs 11¢ a can.
The Davises’ apartment is #4.
Jeff got Al his job at the roadhouse.
Ruth is a trustee at Memorial Hospital.
Jeff, Ginger, and Caroline all board the 9:15 to Chicago. Al jokingly calls Mike “Mr. Abercrombie” when
he’s dressed in his fishing gear; long before it became a popular retailer for
frat boys and their girlfriends, Abercrombie & Fitch was a well-known
sporting goods outfitter.
Critique in a Nutshell:
This episode moves at such a smart clip and has marvelous
interconnections. This is as close as
the Sloans and the Kahns ever get, as Mike and Ruth show unexpected warmth and
empathy toward Al and Anne. An episode
that will leave you in happy tears. A+
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