Though Dan said his parents were deceased, they suddenly show up. They're poor farmers from backwoods Louisiana, and the snobbish Dan can't tolerate them, despite their being proud of his success.
This isn't necessarily a good story idea (movies and TV have a miserable history of treating "hicks" disrespectfully), * but here it's done properly.
Someone had the brilliant insight to cast John McIntire and Jeanette Nolan as Dan's parents. Married for over 50 years in real life, they had long careers -- separately and together -- as great character actors.
Though there are plenty of laughs (some of them at the parents' expense), the situation is treated seriously, with the story moving seamlessly from comic to dramatic and back again. (Few sitcoms have been able to do this.)
Perhaps the best moment occurs when Harry criticizes Dan for his ingratitude. Dan's father replies "We never expected him to be grateful. You don't do things for others because you want something in return. That's not love." Dan and his folks patch things up without the least trace of mawkishness or sentimentality.
Strongly recommended.
* The exceptions can be counted on the fingers of one hand, with a few left over. Andy Taylor. Festus Haggen. Any others? I don't think so.
This isn't necessarily a good story idea (movies and TV have a miserable history of treating "hicks" disrespectfully), * but here it's done properly.
Someone had the brilliant insight to cast John McIntire and Jeanette Nolan as Dan's parents. Married for over 50 years in real life, they had long careers -- separately and together -- as great character actors.
Though there are plenty of laughs (some of them at the parents' expense), the situation is treated seriously, with the story moving seamlessly from comic to dramatic and back again. (Few sitcoms have been able to do this.)
Perhaps the best moment occurs when Harry criticizes Dan for his ingratitude. Dan's father replies "We never expected him to be grateful. You don't do things for others because you want something in return. That's not love." Dan and his folks patch things up without the least trace of mawkishness or sentimentality.
Strongly recommended.
* The exceptions can be counted on the fingers of one hand, with a few left over. Andy Taylor. Festus Haggen. Any others? I don't think so.