Life with Bonnie

infobox television
show_name = Life with Bonnie


caption = Bonnie Malloy (Hunt)
format = Sitcom
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Bonnie Hunt
Don Lake
starring = Bonnie Hunt
Mark Derwin
Charlie Stewart
Marianne Muellerleile
David Alan Grier
Anthony Russell
Holly Wortell
Chris Barnes
Frankie Ryan Manriquez
Samantha Browne-Walters
country = USA
network = ABC
first_aired = September 17, 2002
last_aired = April 9, 2004
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 44
imdb_id = 0320053
tv_com_id = 9461 |

"Life with Bonnie" is an ABC television comedy that originally aired from 2002 to 2004. The show outlined the life of character Bonnie Malloy, who juggled her personal life and a TV talk show position. The show had fair ratings in the first season but struggled in the second, causing ABC to cancel it. "Life With Bonnie" was also shown on Living TV during ABC's airings and is currently airing re-runs on Family in Canada.

Cast

*Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Malloy - Bonnie is the mother of 2 children (3 in season 1), loving wife, and TV host of a local talk show. While balancing all this Bonnie tries to maintain a public image of the perfect wife and mother when in reality, her life is chaotic.

*Mark Derwin as Mark Malloy – Mark is a doctor, father and Bonnie's husband. Usually Mark looks on as Bonnie tries to balance her hectic life. Mark is much less concerned about what other people think than Bonnie is, which causes problems on occasion. He has a generally more professional demeanour, and sometimes doesn't understand why Bonnie continues to put up with annoying people in her life.

*Charlie Stewart as Charlie Malloy – Charlie is Bonnie's son. Charlie shares most of his scenes with his friend Frankie. His role is small and usually unscripted but he adds priceless comedy to the show.

* Samantha Browne-Walters as Samantha Malloy (Season 1) - Samantha played Bonnie's eldest child. Along with Charlie, she added to Bonnies hectic life. She was removed from the cast when season 2 started without a mention of what had become of her.

* Marianne Muellerleile as Gloria – Gloria is Bonnie's live-in housekeeper/nanny. It was stated in the show that she was only intended to stay there until Charlie started school but because they had grown close to her, and as a result they could not let her leave, despite the fact she provides little help.

* David Alan Grier as David Bellows – David is the producer of the "Morning Chicago" show. David is most often seen yelling and franticly rushing to get things for the show in order while pushing his podium around the studio.

* Anthony Russell as Tony Russo – Tony plays Bonnie's affable piano player on the "Morning Chicago" show. Bonnie’s housekeeper Gloria has a crush on Tony.

* Holly Wortell as Holly – Holly is Bonnie's make-up artist on the "Morning Chicago" show. She often gives advice on Bonnie’s marriage issues and seems to date many men.

* Chris Barnes as Marv – Marv is the cue-card guy on the "Morning Chicago" show. Marv is very protective of Holly, who does not return his interest.

* Frankie Ryan Manriquez as Frankie – Frankie is Charlie's best friend and spends most of his time at the Malloy's house. He contributes many funny anecdotes about his screwed up family.

Guest Stars

* Rip Taylor (as "Rappin' Rip" in four episodes)
* Tom Hanks (as himself in the episode "What If?")
* Robin Williams (as Kevin Powalski in the episode "Psychic")
* David Duchovny (as Johnny Volcano in 2 episodes)
* Carl Reiner (as "Mr. Portinbody" in 3 episodes)
* Martin Mull (as "Le Nord" in 2 episodes (and yes, his name is pronounced "Le Nord"))
* The Smothers Brothers (as contractors in the episode "Everything Old is New Again")
* Jonathan Winters (as a writer with multiple personalities)
* Jack LaLanne (as himself)

Notes

*Brian Kerwin was cast as Dr. John Molloy in the pilot, but his scenes were later re-shot with Mark Derwin.

*With the exception of the characters "Gloria" and "Marv," all of the characters on the show go by their real-life first names.

* Bonnie Hunt received an Emmy nomination for best actress in a comedy after ABC cancelled her show.

* Bonnie Hunt was apparently not warned or had very little warning that the show was going to be canceled.

* The interviews with "guests" are completely improvised.

* The studio audience in the talk show scenes are the actual studio audience.

* Charlie Stewart and Marianne Muellerleile have both appeared in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

* Morgan York, who starred alongside Bonnie Hunt on Cheaper by the Dozen and Cheaper by the Dozen 2, had a guest spot as Christine Harris on the show in 2004, in the episode "Dare to be Different."

* Regulars Bonnie Hunt, David Alan Grier, Marianne Muellerleile, Holly Wortell, Chris Barnes, and recurring guest David Duchovny appeared in Return to Me 2000. Don Lake also shared writing credits for both "Return to Me" and "Life with Bonnie".

* Bonnie Hunt and David Alan Grier both appeared in Jumanji, released in 1995.