- The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer
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The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer 
From left to right: Nibblet, Desmond Pfeiffer, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd LincolnGenre Sitcom Created by Barry Fanaro
Mort NathanWritten by Marc Abrams
Mike Benson
Bill Boulware
Barry Fanaro
Jim Gerkin
Mort Nathan
Brian Pollack
Mert RichDirected by Matthew Diamond Starring Chi McBride
Dann Florek
Christine Estabrook
Max Baker
Kelly ConnellComposer(s) Rich Eames
Scott GaleCountry of origin United States Language(s) English No. of seasons 1 No. of episodes 9 (5 unaired) Production Executive producer(s) Barry Fanaro
Mort NathanProducer(s) Marica Govons Editor(s) Mike Wilcox Cinematography George La Fountaine Sr. Running time 22–24 minutes Production company(s) Paramount Network Television Productions Broadcast Original channel UPN Original run October 5, 1998 – October 28, 1998 The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer is an American sitcom that aired on UPN in 1998. Before it was even debuted, the series set off a storm of controversy because of a perceived light-hearted take on the issue of American slavery.[1]
Contents
Story
A black English nobleman named Desmond Pfeiffer (the "P" is not silent) is kidnapped by his enemies and sent to America on a slave ship. He eventually becomes President Abraham Lincoln's valet. In the show, he serves as the intelligent and erudite backbone of a Civil War-era White House populated by louts and drunkards.
Main characters
- Desmond Pfeiffer (Chi McBride) – Black English gentleman serving as President Lincoln's butler.
- Abraham Lincoln (Dann Florek) – 16th President of the United States.
- Mary Todd Lincoln (Christine Estabrook) – President Lincoln's wife.
- Nibblet (Max Baker) – Pfeiffer's assistant
- Ulysses S. Grant (Kelly Connell) – General of the United States Army.
Controversy
Before the series' premiere, several African American activist groups, including the Los Angeles area NAACP, protested against the premise of the series. On September 24, 1998, a protest against the series was held outside Paramount Studios. Five days later, UPN released a statement regarding the controversy and stated that the network planned on delaying the controversial pilot episode (which never aired) and would instead air an alternate episode in its place. The first episode of the series aired on October 5, 1998, ranking 116th out of 125 television programs for that week. Desmond Pfeiffer was removed from UPN's schedule on October 24 and, after airing one episode two days after being removed from UPN's lineup, was canceled.[2]
In 2002, TV Guide listed the show as the eleventh-worst TV series ever,[3], and in 2010 TV Guide Network listed the show at #15 on their list of 25 Biggest TV Blunders.[4]
Episodes
Series # Title Notes Original air date 1 "A.O.L.: Abe On-Line" Lincoln engages in "telegraph sex" with a woman he's never seen. October 5, 1998 2 "Up, Up and Away" Desmond, Nibblet and the President wind up trapped behind enemy lines after a freak accident with an observation balloon, and President Lincoln must dress in drag to escape Southern territory. Meanwhile, General Grant tries sobriety. October 12, 1998 3 "Saving Mr. Lincoln" When Lincoln falls ill before a meeting with Queen Victoria, Mary Todd decides to hire a body double to impersonate the president. Little does the body double know that she's got another use in mind for him. October 19, 1998 4 "Once Upon a Mistress" When foreign dignitaries bring their mistresses to visit, President Lincoln finds temptation in a gift from a foreign dignitary. Meanwhile, Nibblet concocts a tonic for Mary's migraines. October 26, 1998 5 Pilot After managing to get himself hired as President Lincoln's butler, Desmond Pfeiffer schemes to return to his native England. Unaired 6 "Pigeon English" No synopsis available. Unaired 7 "Kidnapped" When Confederate soldiers kidnap Mrs. Lincoln, Grant retaliates by kidnapping Robert E. Lee's wife. Unaired 8 "School Daze" No synopsis available. Unaired 9 "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" No synopsis available. Unaired References
- ^ Millner, Denene (1998-09-20). "A Racial TV Battle: Blacks Rip Sitcom About Lincoln Butler That Find Humor in Slavery". nydailynews.com. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/09/30/1998-09-30_a_racial_tv_battle_blacks_ri.html. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Q & A: The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer, Whodunnit?". tvobscurities.com. 2009-05-20. http://www.tvobscurities.com/category/q-and-a/. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ TV Guide Book of Lists. Running Press. 2007. pp. 181. ISBN 0-7624-3007-9.
- ^ "Breaking News - TV Guide Network's "25 Biggest TV Blunders" Special Delivers 3.3 Million Viewers". thefutoncritic.com. 2010-03-02. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20100302tvguide01. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
External links
Categories:- 1998 American television series debuts
- 1998 American television series endings
- 1990s American television series
- Abraham Lincoln in fiction
- American television sitcoms
- Black sitcoms
- English-language television series
- Period television series
- Television series by CBS Paramount Television
- Television shows set in Washington, D.C.
- UPN network shows
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