Season 5 (Empty Nest)

Empty Nest: Season 5
Season	5
Network	NBC-TV
Country	United States
Began	September 21, 1992
Ended	May 20, 1993
Number of episodes	26
Creator	Susan Harris
Producers	Gil Junger Dennis Snee Steven Sullivan Ursula Ziegler
Previous	Season 4
Next	Season 6

The fifth season of Empty Nest premiered on NBC-TV on September 19th, 1992, and concluded on May 22nd, 1993. It consisted of twenty-four episodes.

Cast

Main Cast

• Richard Mulligan as Dr. Harry Weston
• Dinah Manoff as Carol Weston
• David Leisure as Charley Dietz
• Park Overall as Laverne Todd
• Paul Provenza as Patrick Arcola

Recurring Cast

• Kristy McNichol as Barbara Weston
• Lisa Rieffel as Emily Weston
• Bear the Dog as Dreyfuss
• Elise Ogden as Judge; Woman

Special Guest Stars

• David Rasche as Jack Trenton
• Geraldo Rivera as Himself
• Jack Haley as Himself

Episodes

Picture	Title	Original Airdate	Episode #	No. in Series	Prod. Code	Directed by	Written by
File:EN071.jpg	Why Do Fools Fall in Love?	September 19, 1992	1	95	5.01 / 098	Dinah Manoff	Steven Sullivan, Ursula Ziegler
	When Charley receives a death threat from a girl he dumped, Barbara agrees to check up on him after work. They discover they share mutual interests and Charley ends up falling for Barbara. Harry tries to coax a rich young patient out of his fear of dogs by letting him bond with Dreyfuss -- and the boy assumes he can just buy Dreyfuss. Guest Stars: Tom Sharp as Mr. Logan; Rider Strong as Philip Logan; Rhonda Aldrich as Jane.
File:EN072.jpg	Take My Garage, Please	September 26, 1992	2	96	5.02 / 095	Steve Zuckerman	Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen
	Carol falls for Patrick Arcola, a sculptor who moves into Harry's garage. Notes: First appearance of Paul Provenza as Patrick Arcola.
File:EN073.jpg	R.N. on the Rebound	October 3, 1992	3	97	5.03 / 096	Steve Zuckerman	Pat Dougherty
	Freshly-divorced Laverne is spending all her time at the Westons' house and refuses to date, so Harry has Barbara fix her up on a blind date with coroner's assistant Gibby, whom Laverne immediately declares is the love of her life. Patrick unveils a new sculpture which does nothing for Carol, but Charley loves it and becomes Patrick's gallery-hopping new buddy. Guest Stars: David Gianopoulos as Gibby; Matt McKenzie as Man; Brady Bluhm as Matt.
File:EN074.jpg	...Or Forever Hold Your Peace	October 10, 1992	4	98	5.04 / 099	Doug Smart	Roger Garrett
	Harry risks his friendship with Arthur when he objects to Arthur's engagement to a woman he's only known for a week. Barbara arrests Carol after a civil disturbance at an environmental protest against a plastic manufacturer. Guest Stars: Jerry Orbach as Arthur; Charlotte Booker as Karen; Cynthia Szigiti as Diana; Gregory Itzin as Judge Russell.
File:EN075.jpg	The Boomerang Affair	October 17, 1992	5	99	5.05 / 097	Steve Zuckerman	David Richardson
	Harry is trying desperately to establish a relationship with high-flying Sonya, but realizes too late that she is very high maintenance. Laverne has an ulcer and does her best to hide it from everyone else. Guest Stars: Diana Muldaur as Sonya Phillips; Eric Allan Kramer as Sven; Paul B. Price as Levant.
File:EN076.jpg	Cruel and Unusual Punishment	October 24, 1992	6	100	5.06 / 101	Steve Zuckerman	Wendy Braff
	Hoping to impress a potential boyfriend, Carol tries to prove her community-mindedness by hiring a recently-paroled convict -- who shamelessly takes advantage of her. Guest Stars: Perry Anzilotti as Mark Dossler; Tony Longo as Jake Carlson; Joshua Boyd as Steven; Richard Fancy as Congressman; Wendee Cole as Reporter #1; Charles Champion as Reporter #2.
File:EN077.jpg	It's Not Easy Being Green	October 31, 1992	7	101	5.07 / 100	Steve Zuckerman	Steven Sullivan, Ursula Ziegler
	Laverne guilts Harry into helping her pass out Halloween candy at her apartment with her. Carol plans to go to a Halloween party as Madame Curie and forces Patrick to attend a party dressed as her idea of radium. Guest Stars: Garvey Vernon as Virgil; Shannon Cochran as Stacy; Jeremiah Birkett as Ruffian #1; Tim Griffin as Ruffian #2; Doren Fein as Brittany; Brady Bluhm as Little Boy; Zachary Benjamin as Little Kid; Nathan Witt as Caveboy; Stacy Chess as Little Girl; Elise Ogden as Judge; Richard Tanner as Man.
File:EN078.jpg	Dirty Harry	November 7, 1992	8	102	5.08 / 103	Renny Temple	Pat Dougherty
	Carol persuades Harry to appear with her on Geraldo Rivera for a program about father-daughter conflict. A young patient is desperate to increase his height in order to join his friends on a roller coaster. Guest Stars: Geraldo Rivera as Himself; Danny Breen as Roger Maxwell; Christian Cousins as Larry Larson; Kimble Jemison as Scott; Michelle Watkins as Mrs. Larson.
File:EN079.jpg	Timing Is Everything	November 14, 1992	9	103	5.09 / 104	Steve Zuckerman	Cheryl Holliday
	Harry tries to rekindle a relationship with an old friend. Carol has a hard time putting together an exercise set for Patrick, so she enlists Charley to do it for her. Guest Stars: Katherine Cannon as Laura; James Duane Polk as Delivery Man.
File:EN080.jpg	Thanksgiving at the Westons	November 21, 1992	10	104	5.10 / 105	Steve Zuckerman	Arnie Kogen
	Laverne is reluctant to attend Thanksgiving Dinner at the Westons' house, and flashbacks to previous dinners show why. Guest Stars: Debi Monhan as Jody; Kristen Amber as Coreen; Jacqueline Alexandra as Twin; Marsha Clark as Annoying Voicemail.
File:EN081.jpg	The Body Beautiful	December 5, 1992	11	105	5.11 / 102	Steve Zuckerman	Tim Kelleher
	Harry discovers that the son of a pro football player is abusing steroids. Carol takes Patrick's use of a nude model as an indication that she is too fat to interest him any more. Laverne is put in charge of fire drills. Guest Stars: Kevin Scannell as Pete Stanley; Matt Levin as Pauley Stanley; Hector Elias as Inspector Lopez; Kevin Michaels as Jerome; Trish Ramish as Tracy.
File:EN082.jpg	Overboard	December 12, 1992	12	106	5.12 / 106	Steve Zuckerman	Paul B. Price
	Charley goes on a cruise but a storm strands him adrift on a raft. Carol and Patrick apply for a job together. but awkwardness soon ensues when on only one of them gets the job. Guest Stars: Robin Pearson Rose as Diane; Margaret Reed as Sister Sasha.
File:EN083.jpg	Emily	January 2, 1993	13	107	5.13 / 107	Steve Zuckerman	Rob LaZebnik
	When little Emily returns from college, Carol decides to take her little sister under her wing and sets her up on a blind date with Patrick's friend. It soon comes out that Emily already has a rich boyfriend, and she isn't to keen on keeping him much to his dismay. Guest Stars: Andrew Hill Newman as George; Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi as Gianni. Notes: This episode is the first appearance of Lisa Rieffel as Emily Weston.
File:EN084.jpg	The Sting	January 9, 1993	14	108	5.14 / 108	Steve Zuckerman	Peter Gallay
	The FBI wants Emily to help them bag her bookie boyfriend, who is suspected of being in on a major jewel heist; Charley will lose his job if he doesn't pass a CPR course, so he turns to Laverne for help. Guest Stars: Fred Applegate as Clifford McGraw; Dena Dietrich as Aunt Helen; Steven Flynn as Zack Hennessey; Sam Zapp as Floyd; Joseph Cousins as Little Boy; Stan Roth as Customer.
File:EN085.jpg	The Fracas in Vegas	January 23, 1993	15	109	5.15 / 11	Steve Zuckerman	David Richardson
	Worn out from filling in for another doctor on weekends, Harry is overjoyed when Charley offers to take him to Las Vegas -- but the trip turns out to be anything but relaxing. Emily accuses Carol of getting old and intolerant when she refuses to let Emily's college friends crash on their living room floor. Guest Stars: Frances Bay as Agnes; Richard Stahl as Bellman; Michael Warwick as Bill; Leah Lail as Melissa; Jimmy Lennon, Jr. as Ring Announcer; Katy Bret as Woman; Joshua Boyd as Steven.
File:ENN086.jpg	Pardon My Flashback	January 30, 1993	16	110	5.16 / 086	Steve Zuckerman	Pat Dougherty
	Everyone is gathered around the Westons' television to watch the Super Bowl, and the Westons, Laverne and Charley reflect on times gone by. Notes: The various guest stars seen in flashbacks are not credited.
File:EN087.jpg	Dog Day Afternoon	February 6, 1993	17	111	5.17 / 113	Steve Zuckerman	Roger Garrett
	Dreyfuss ignores Carol after she yells at him, so she seeks out an animal psychologist for help. Harry gifts Laverne a tiny share in the local galleria, while also inspiring Charley to start reading literature. Guest Stars: Debra Jo Rupp as Dr. Simmons; Sid Melton as Man; Richard Reicheg as Security Guard; Richard Karron as Representative. Notes: Second of three appearance of Debra Jo Rupp.
File:EN088.jpg	More to Love	February 13, 1993	18	112	5.18 / 088	Steve Zuckerman	Harold Kimmel, Ross Abrash, Steve Sullivan, Ursula Ziegler
	Emily is dating Carol's old school friend Danny, who compulsively jokes about his weight problem. Laverne is spending all her spare time on the phone gossiping with other nurses, but isn't so thrilled when the gossip mill turns on her. Guest Stars: Bob Amaral as Danny; April Ortiz as Florence; Lisa Gorlitsky as Theresa; Robert Lesser as Dr. Perry Smith; Ellia English as Jennifer; Richard Tanner as Eddie.
File:EN089.jpg	My Dad, My Doctor	February 20, 1993	19	113	5.19 / 114	Steve Zuckerman	Wendy Braff
	Emily tears a ligament in her knee and requires surgery, but Harry is upset when she ends up going with another doctor's physical therapy regimen. Patrick goes camping to get in touch with his muse, but Charley stows away in the trunk and they wind up in a biker bar. Guest Stars: Robert Curtis-Brown as Dr. Dave Floey; Anita Barone as Cara; Michael Heintzman as Mr. McKeever; Taylor Fry as Little Girl; Don Gibb as Biker #1; James Cardriche as Biker #2; Bill Reid as Biker #3; Jack Haley as Himself.
File:EN090.jpg	Love and Marriage	February 27, 1993	20	114	5.20 / 116	Steve Zuckerman	Pat Dougherty
	Carol is upset when her cousin Little Carol visits to announce she has dropped out of college to marry a boy named Acid.  Charley is sentenced to community service at the hospital and winds up delivering a baby. Guest Stars: David Rasche as Jack Trenton; Raye Birk as Judge Talmadge; Holly Fields as Little Carol; Candi Milo as Mrs. Ortiz; Teresa Ganzel as Sharon; Winston Rocha as Jorge; Jon Patrick Walker as Acid; Zack Milan as Groomsman. Guest Stars: This episode is a crossover with Nurses.
File:EN091.jpg	The All-American Boy - Not!	March 20, 1993	21	115	5.21 / 115	Steve Zuckerman	Peter Gallay
	Harry meets a shoplifting street kid while volunteering at a free clinic and takes him home. He learns the boy is an uncontrolled diabetic, and panics when the boy vanishes with all the Westons' furniture. Guest Stars: Adam LaVorgna as Rudy; David Correia as Arturo; Richard Gant as Sergeant Fletcher; Eric Christmas as Mr. Garrison; Liz Torres as Madame LePard; Adam Blumenfeld as Storekeeper; Michael Frenc as Man.
File:EN092.jpg	Two For The Road	April 10, 1993	22	116	5.22 / 117	Steve Zuckerman	David Richardson
	Harry, home with the flu, must bear the brunt of Carol's paranoia that something will happen between Patrick and Emily, who are driving back from New York together. Her suspicions are proven true when the pair are stopped by a cop who is attracted to Emily -- and a patrolman who is much more interested in Patrick. Guest Stars: Casey Sander as Patrolman; Vincent Ventresca as Cop.
File:EN093.jpg	Aunt Verne Knows Best	May 1, 1993	23	117	5.23 / 118	Steve Zuckerman	Steven Sullivan, Ursula Ziegler
	Laverne's nephew Wade comes to Miami to attend college on a wrestling scholarship. He is driven crazy by Laverne's insistence that he stay with her rather than in the dorm, and seeks Harry's advice. Carol is convinced that her relationship with Patrick won't make it past her usual six-month expiry date with men. Guest Stars: Joey Lawrence as Wade; Art Metrano as Elevator Repairman; Renee Humphrey as Kerry.
File:EN094.jpg	My Mother, My Self	May 8, 1993	24	118	5.24 / 120	Steve Zuckerman	Steven Sullivan, Ursula Ziegler
	Charley's recently-divorced mother is in town for Mother's Day and immediately becomes attracted to Harry. Carol takes a trip to meet Patrick's mother. Notes: Marian Mercer as Ursula Dietz; Elise Ogden as Woman; Rickey D'Shon Collins as Les.
File:EN094.jpg	Charley to the Rescue	May 19, 1993	25	119	5.25 / 119	Steve Zuckerman	Rob LaZebnik
	Emily gets a job on Charley's ship as a cocktail waitress and is harassed by the overly-obnoxious stand-up comedian. Laverne thinks she's found the perfect match for Harry. Guest Stars: Barbara Mandrell as Ellen; Tom Gallop as Alan Hardy; Fred Holliday as Club Host.
File:EN094.jpg	Surprise! Surprise!	May 22, 1993	26	120	5.26 / 110	Steve Zuckerman	Arnie Kogen
	Harry overhears Charley planning a surprise party for someone, and thinks it's for him since it's his birthday that day. However, he soon finds out that the party is for someone else. Notes: The various guests seen in flashbacks are not credited.

Development

Kristy McNichol's departure

Near the start of Season 5, Kristy McNichol left the series unexpectedly for health reasons, leaving no time for a sendoff episode for Barbara. Lisa Rieffel joined the cast to play the third Weston daughter, Emily. For the first four seasons, Emily was an offscreen character, who was created with the notion that if Kristy McNichol or Dinah Manoff ever planned on leaving the show, they could bring in another Weston sister that had already been established with the audience. However, Emily never caught on with the audience, and after only half a season Emily left and was an off-screen character for the rest of the series.

Release

Broadcast history

The season originally aired Saturdays at 9:30-10:00 PM (EST) on NBC from September 19th, 1992, to May 22nd, 1993.