I don’t remember the exact episode in Season 1, but there’s that scene at the end where Fran is on an airplane sitting next to a CBS executive.
For years, I just thought it was meant to be a random, funny moment; classic Fran luck, sitcom-style. Even then, it always felt a little random to me, but I never questioned it.
Only after learning more about the show’s history did I realize it’s actually a parody of how Fran Drescher pitched The Nanny in real life; sitting next to a CBS executive on a flight to Paris and essentially selling the show right there.
Once I learned that, the scene completely clicked. What felt like a throwaway gag is actually self-referential and kind of brilliant, especially for a first season when the show was still finding its footing.
It’s funny how, without that context, the joke just… flew over my head (no pun intended). Now it feels like one of those moments that rewards you for knowing the behind-the-scenes story.
Anyone else miss this the first time around?
There’s also the other gag. I can’t remember if it’s when she went to see Heather Biblow in Hollywood, or when Brighton got on America’s funniest home videos, or when they were moving to Beverly Hills in in the final few episodes. But the CBS execs were talking about how they wanted a no-name fresh face for a role, and pointed out Fran when she walked by. She said “who me?” Or something like that, and they heard her voice and went “nope, nevermind” 😂
Yeah it was the Heather Biblow story in Season 4, and the then executive was Les Mooves who was responsible for the show being canceled.
I had read about Drescher's pitching The Nanny in her autobiography Enter Whining. This scene on the show was indeed brilliant. The Nanny always had these little flares of fantastic comedy right out of the gate.
I didn’t miss it as I knew who the head of CBS was at the time plus the story of how she sealed the deal. I believe but don’t quote me. That as the CBS company head did a cameo role as himself as for the child I don’t know if that is their real child or not sitting in. But you’ve got a great show going so why not put in the background of how it all came into place. Greatest piece of “show business” you can get. Glad you got it now OP.
I'd always assumed it was Jeff's daughter just based on the little girl's energy during that scene, which was that she was totally being herself and fascinated that daddy took her to work with him that day. She came across as very real versus how a camera trained child actor would've behaved, ya know?
I'd never thought to check imdb before now, but yep, it has Gillian Sagansky listed in that role as herself, so definitely Jeff's actual child. That's really sweet. I hope it's a very cool memory for her.
I just watched this episode last night ha.