A Weekend To Remember
This episode premiered on May 7th, 1984. It ran between Scarecrow And Mrs. King and Newhart. It ran opposite the movie The Last Day Of Pompeii on ABC and the miniseries V on NBC.
Kate is going on a ski trip in Vermont with her ex husband Max, she thinks he's changed. Allie is going to be alone for an entire weekend for the first time in her life and the first thing she does is accidentally lock herself outside but thankfully Roger, the upstairs neighbor is nearby. The restaurant Max works at want to move him into a management position but he considers himself an actor and doesn't want the promotion, however he hasn't done any notable acting in years. Kate and Max decide to remain separated, meanwhile Allie starts thinking about "finding herself"
Dated References
Allie reads through the paper to see what is going on in the city for the weekend. Today you could Google the information.
While alone Allie tries to call up old friends, by looking them up in her book and then leaving messages on their answering machine. Today you'd have them in your phone and just send a text.
Allie can't find anything to watch on TV when she is alone and wonders "where are the Honeymooners when you need them?" The Honeymooners was the Jackie Gleason sitcom that ran from 1955 to 1956. In the modern world Allie probably could have watched the show on streaming and since it only had 22 episodes she could bing watch it over the weekend.
Allie calls her mother when she feels alone. Her mother tells her that women weren't meant to be alone, they are suppose to get married and have kids, you couldn't say that in the modern world and not get angry emails. Mom mentions Phil Donahue, he had a popular daytime talk show that featured people and their problems. She also says she watches the $25,000 Pyramid, a game show that ran until 1988.
John Herd appears as Max, Kate's ex husband. He is probably best known for playing the father in Home Alone or Paul in the movie Big.
Since Kate And Allie was a replacement series it only had 6 episodes in the spring. The next one picked up in fall season.
Baby
This episode premiered on October 8th 1984. The lead in show was Scarecrow and Mrs. King and it was followed by The Country Music Association Awards. It ran opposite Monday Night Football on ABC (49ers 31-Giants 10) and the movie The Burning Bed on NBC
One of the women at Kate's office is pregnant, not married and having the kid alone, Allie is shocked that a woman would do such a thing. She talks Kate into holding a baby shower, Kate starts to get baby fever. In the middle of the shower the woman goes into labor, Kate volunteers to be the coach since the real one is in Europe. Kate takes care of the baby for the weekend and remembers how hard it is. The father of the baby shows up, he tells Kate that the mother has cut him out of the baby's life and not being there was a giant mistake. Kate decides that it would be selfish to have a baby to fill a hole in her life.
Dated References
Allie says she "wants" Mel Gibson. This was before the arrest and turning into a right wing kook.
Jennie is upset because she's the only kid in her class who hasn't seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This was back in the day of the Midnight Show where the audience would wear costumes and act out the parts.
When Kate says "guess who came into the office today" Allie says Sidney Poitier. This is a reference to the movie Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner.
One of the women at the baby shower is played by Kelly Bishop, she would go on to play Emily Gilmore on The Gilmore Girls.
In the 80's the choice to be a single mother was still considered a shocking thing.
As divorce and single motherhood became a bigger issue in the 1980's so did the Father's Rights movement.
Landlady
This episode premiered on October 15th 1984. It ran between Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Newhart. It was opposite Monday Night Football on ABC (Broncos 17-Packers 14) and a movie on NBC (the site I check didn't have the name listed)
The landlady shows up, she has found out that Allie is living in the apartment and wants to increase the rent. They need to come up with $1900 to pay for the previous three month. Kate happens to be dating a lawyer so he tells her she has no choice but to pay since it's stipulated in the lease agreement. Kate comes up with a plan to get out of the rent increase by claiming her and Allie are a Gay couple. It turns out the landlady has been in a Gay relationship for years and starts being friends with the women. Kate has to pretend that her lawyer boyfriend is also Gay so he says he's in a relationship with his roommate Bill, who is his dog. When they are invited to a special dance they feel guilty and after they get caught talking about the deception they tell the truth, but point out that even though they aren't in an actual relationship they are still a family and shouldn't have to pay more rent. The landlady cuts them a break since they are all friends now.
Dated Reverence
Allie isn't happy that some guy is listening to a giant boom box in Central Park. Today the guy would be listening to music on ear buds from his cell phone.
The rent for two families in in a two story, four bedroom brownstone apartment in Manhattan is $648.95 a month. Today a two bedroom apartment would cost you around $5000.
Kate's boyfriend wants to see Sunday In The Park With George, a Broadway musical about Georges Seurat's painting.
When Kate suggests they pretend to be a Gay couple Allie says she refused to live "Three's Company". The show was about a guy who pretends to be Gay in order to live with two women and it ran from 1977 to 1984.
Allie says she's never danced with a woman, Kate reminds her that they danced together in summer camp. She sings California Dreamin' by The Mamas And The Papas. The song was released in 1965.
Allie's ex tells her "If ever a woman needed a man it's you". This kind of sexist comment wouldn't fly in the modern world.
This storyline aired mostly because some of the audience questioned the two women's relationship and they wanted to establish that they were not a lesbian couple.
Diner
This episode premiered on October 22nd 1984. It episode ran in its usual time slot. It was opposite Monday Night Football on ABC (Rams 24-Falcons 10) and the movie Aurora on NBC
Allie applies for a job at an art gallery but she doesn't get it because she never graduated from college. When Charles comes by he tells her that their renters want to buy the old house, she is upset because it was her home however Charles doesn't give her the opportunity to say no. She calls his service and when they talk he is very condescending. When Allie finally decides to sell the house she asks Kate to come along while she signs the papers. Allie looks around the old house and can't sell it because of too many memories. They talk with the woman who runs the diner where they use to hang out and learn that her husband had always planned on moving to Florida but died before they could do it since he always put everything off. Allie talks to an old friend from Connecticut and realizes that she doesn't want to be part of that world anymore. She decides to sell the house and make plans to go back to school.
Dated References
Jennie is very excited, her dad bought her the new Go Go's album, on cassette. Talk Show was released in 1984.
Allie tries to call her ex but has to leave a message on his service. In the modern world she'd just text.
The kids have to find batteries for their cassette player. In the modern world you'd have to find your charging cord.
When Allie gets passed over for the job Kate says there are only two jobs in NYC. In 1984 the unemployment rate was 7.1%.
When Allie thinks of going back to college she says can't be in class with people who never heard of Jay and the Americans. The band was around in the 1960's with a few minor hits and cover songs but never reached a number one spot. They broke up in 1973.
Kate visits the diner she use to hang out at while she lived in Connecticut. The roast beef dinner special is $3.95
When Allie has the flashback Kate is listening to Little Help From My Friends, the Joe Cocker cover version. The song was released in 1969.
Lottsa Luck
This episode premiered on October 29th 1984. It ran in its usual time slot. It ran opposite Monday Night Football on ABC (Seahawks 24-Chargers 0) and the movie Shattered Vows on NBC.
Kate gets a singing telegram, her aunt Ophelia died and the will reading is coming up. Kate inherits her aunt's "lucky monkey paw" necklace. First Kate gets the big travel account, then Emma passes her test, the cute guy flirts with Jenna and Chip just misses getting hit by a falling light. Each family member makes a wish on the paw (I guess they never read the story). They give the paw to Roger for his court case, but he loses it and their luck instantly turns bad. Later they see the winner of the lottery on TV and she's wearing a Monkey's Paw, they think it's theirs until Roger shows up with Kate's. He says he was going to buy them a new one, there is a shop in Time's Square that sells them.
Dated References
Allie is cutting coupons. Liver is on sale for 89¢ a pound. Today it runs from $3 to $15 a pound.
Allie is telling Kate about the goings on at the apartment and adds "and the Beaver broke the neighbor's window!" This is in reference to Leave It To Beaver, the classic sitcom that ran from 1957 to 1963 and was in a regular syndication in the 80's.
Kate puts on her aunts lucky charm and gets a tour account back. The kids do the Twilight Zone theme.
Allie's wish is to reduce the national debt. We're still waiting on that one.
Kate wishes to win the New York State lottery, it's up to $25 million dollars. In 1984 states would run their own lottery but today we have the Powerball and it starts at $20 million.
Jenny wants to go on a date with the cute guy to see Duran Duran in concert. They were the first big MTV band.
Kate has three numbers in the lottery. That should be worth a few bucks.
So that's the next 5 episodes. I'm having a few flashbacks while watching. I can't wait to see what other forgotten memories will pop up.
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