The Torkelsons/Almost Home
Revision date: April 15, 1995
Compiled by Loren Heisey
contact
http://www.innermind.com/myguides/
and John Carr
Series notes
The show was a comedy about a sensitive 14-year-old girl who's mortified by her crazy-quilt unorthodox family. Dorothy Jane just wanted to be thought of as normal, like any teenager, but had a hard time doing so. Her father had walked out on the family and they were always short on money. Her perky, optimistic mom, Millicent, saw sunshine everywhere. The rest of the family consisted of brothers - athletic Steven Floyd and studious Chuckie Lee, and sisters - spunky Ruth Ann and cute Mary Sue. They lived in a big rambling house in Pyramid Corners, Oklahoma. The name for the show came from a real Steven Floyd Torkelson who shared his bug collection and a first kiss with a little girl named Lynn Montgomery. She grew up to create the show some 30 years later.
The Torkelsons apparently turned out to be too down home for most people as it never found much of an audience in its original Saturday night timeslot and even less of one when it was moved to Sundays. After a second hiatus the series was revamped to return in February 1993 as Almost Home. For the new series the family moved to Seattle, where Millicent took a job as a nanny for the two spoiled teenage children of a widower. Two of the Torkelson kids were lost in the move as they never appeared in Seattle and the show pretended they never existed. The new series, which mostly pitted conservative family values against liberal family values, did not do any better in the ratings and disappeared after 13 episodes.
Guide notes
The NBC air dates come from back issues of TV Guide so might not account for schedule changes. The synopses were adapted from TV Guide listings.
The Torkelsons
![[Torkelsons cast]](../pictures/tns/torkel1t.jpg)
Cast
Starring:
Connie Ray Millicent
Olivia Burnette Dorothy Jane
Benj Thall Steven Floyd [pilot]
Aaron Michael Metchik Steven Floyd [series]
Lee Norris Chuckie Lee
Rachel Duncan Mary Sue
Elizabeth Poyer Ruth Ann [pilot]
Anna Slotky Ruth Ann [series]
William Schallert Wesley Hodges
Episodes
1. Fence Neighbors 9/21/91 production #T-401
Debut: A homespun family led by a single mom tries to get by, but
teenage daughter Dorothy Jane isn't thrilled when her mom's forced
to take in a border to make ends meet.
Written by Lynn Montgomery
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Ernie Lively J.W.
Guest Starring:
Michael Landes Riley Roberts
Richard McGonagle Howard Roberts
Lynn Milgrim Lillian Roberts
Featuring:
Jeanine Jackson Appliance Saleslady
Gil Roscoe Tall Man
Skip O'Brien Barly Guy
2. The Cotillion 9/28/91 production #T-403
Dorothy Jane hopes for a fairy-tale resolution to a school-dance
dilemma: she has no dress, no date, and Riley, her Prince Charming
next door, seems oblivious.
Written by Lynn Montgomery
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Ronnie Claire Edwards Bootsie
Michael Landes Riley
Paige Gosney Kirby Scroggins
Tanya Fenmore Laine
Co-starring:
Alyson Kiperman Dreama
Nicki Vannice Shawna
3. A Kiss is Still a Kiss 10/05/91 production #T-404
Dorothy Jane would like a romance between Millicent and the new pastor
but when he comes calling, its only to report that Steven Floyd
nearly turned a hayride into a roll in the hay.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Ronnie Claire Edwards Bootsie
Jeff McCracken Reverend Langley-Wilson
Featuring:
Katie Jane Johnston Debra Jo
4. For Love or Money 10/12/91 production #T-402
Millicent deems it necessary to be regularly employed, giving Dorothy
Jane the job of looking after the other kids.
Written by Norma Safford Vela
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Ronnie Claire Edwards Bootsie
Michael Landes Riley
5. Poetry in Motion 10/19/91 production #T-406
A blackmailing Ruth Ann reveals Dorothy Jane's private poems of
passion to the world, but the unveiling ends up emboldening lovelorn
Dorothy Jane.
Written by Philip LaZebnik
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Michael Landes Riley
Doren Fein Nancy
Suzie Plakson Verna
6. An American Almost in Paris 10/26/91 production #T-408
Dorothy Jane wants desperately to bid adieu to Oklahoma and say
bonjour to Paris, and she might, if she's selected the winner in a
student-exchange competition.
Teleplay by Lynn Montgomery
Story by Lynn Montgomery, Diana "Jennie" Ayers & Susan Sebastian
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Alyson Kiperman Dreama
Lenny Wolpe Mr. Wheeler
7. Men Don't Leave 11/02/91 production #T-405
Daddy's home: Randall Torkelson blows in from Texas after more than a
year away, but his arrival is an ill wind to Dorothy Jane, and she may
be the last gasp of his marriage to Millicent.
Written by Diana "Jennie" Ayers & Susan Sebastian
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Ronnie Claire Edwards Bootsie
Gregg Henry Randall Torkelson
8. Thanksgivingsomething 11/24/91 production #T-407
Pastor Langley and his assistant will be guests for Thanksgiving,
prompting Dorothy Jane to push Millicent to play up her femininity.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Jeff McCracken Reverend Langley-Wilson
Michael Horse David Blackwing
Remy Ryan Jenny Blackwing
9. Return To Sender 11/24/91 production #T-409
Wesley's estranged former daughter-in-law who, along with his
granddaughter, is reunited with Wesley thanks to some good-hearted
butting in by Millicent.
Written by Michael Jacobs & Norma Safford Vela
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Special Guest Star:
Patty Duke Catharine Jeffers
Guest Starring:
Ashley Peldon Molly Jeffers
Dave Florek Mr. Katsotis
Notes:
Schallert played Patty's father on the 1960's *The Patty Duke Show*.
10. I Fought the Law 12/01/91 production #T-410
Millicent stands up for the American way, and the right to sell
homemade pickled goods, by insisting on operating her annual roadside
stand without a license.
Written by Philip LaZebnik
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Stephen Root Sheriff Bobby Clinton
Ken Thorley Burke Miller
Molly McClure Gertrude Perkins
Lou Hancock Elvira Grandy
11. A Sigh Is Just a Sigh 12/08/91 production #T-411
Steven Floyd goes to bat for Millicent by beating up a school big
mouth - but she doesn't know that until after she's chewed him out
and he's run away.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
12. Educating Millicent 12/22/91 production #T-412
Millicent had her reasons for not finishing high school, but there's
no good reason why she couldn't take an equivalency exam now.
Teleplay by Lynn Montgomery
Story by Connie Ray & Lynn Montgomery
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Special Guest Appearance by:
Kevin Clash Elmo
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
13. Double Date 1/09/92 production #T-414
Radio "Love Professor" Kitty Drysdale wires into the affairs of
Dorothy Jane and Millicent's hearts and jump-starts their dating
lives.
Written by Thomas Szollosi & Richard Christian Matheson
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Guest Starring:
John Calvin Michael
Omri Katz Jason
Mother Love Kitty
Notes:
Kitty was played by radio personality Mother Love.
14. The Ice Princess 1/12/92 production #T-413
Dorothy Jane resolves to become the kind of girl who makes guys melt,
and she looks to the school's resident ice princess for guidance.
Written by Philip LaZebnik
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Guest Starring:
Michael Landes Riley
Amy Hathaway Callie
Featuring:
Scott Campbell big jock
Rachel O'Neill Daisy
15. Swear Not By the Moon 1/19/92 production #T-415
Never was there a story of more woe (except maybe one) than of Dorothy
Jane's trial playing Juliet in the school play opposite her Romeo,
Riley Roberts.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Guest Starring:
Michael Landes Riley
Rick Lieberman Mr. Whitman
Vinessa Shaw Meredith Reed
Shawn Phelan Mercurio
Alyson Kiperman Dreama
Danuel Pipoly Benvolio
Ian Bohen Capulet
16. Say Uncle 2/16/92 production #T-418
Dorothy Jane and Millicent get a double dose of relentless wooing by
two Scroggins men: Kirby and his big-talkin' uncle, who takes a liking
to Millicent.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Guest Starring:
Drew Carey Herby Scroggins
Featuring:
Sara Rose Johnson young Dorothy Jane
Adam Wylie young Kirby
17. The Long Goodbye 5/02/92 production #T-420
Randall Torkelson returns with a big hello for Millicent and the kids,
but Dorothy Jane is fretting over college-bound Riley, who didn't say
goodbye.
Written by Philip LaZebnik, Wayne Lemon, Richard Christian
Matheson, Lynn Montgomery & Thomas Szollosi
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Guest starring:
Gregg Henry Randall Torkelson
Mother Love Kitty Drysdale
Notes:
This appears to have been intended to be the final episode although
NBC did not air it that way.
18. The Egg and I 5/23/92 production #T-417
Dorothy Jane and Kirby learn parenthood isn't all it's cracked up to
be when a school assignment requires them to care for an egg.
Written by Philip LaZebnik
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Guest starring:
Mother Love Kitty Drysdale
Featuring:
Noah Cristopher Greg
Kelsea & Kassandra Gibbs Jennie
19. Its My Party 5/30/92 production #T-419
Dorothy Jane is exposed to the perils of popularity when she throws a
party to increase her social standing, but leaves a new friend
standing out in the cold.
Written by Christopher Vane & Virginia K. Hegge
Directed by Robert Berlinger
Also Starring:
Paige Gosney Kirby
Guest Starring:
Amy Hathaway Callie Kimbro
Alanna Ubach Willie
Featuring:
Nick Ayers Bobby Jo
20. Aunt Poison 6/13/92 production #T-416
Among the things that Millicent's eccentric aunt willed her are a sick
dog, a valuable ring, an annoying riddle, an ugly painting ... and a
lot of unanswered questions.
Written by Thomas Szollosi & Richard Christian Matheson
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Steven Gilborn Dr. Euless
Wayne Tippit Strickland
Featuring:
Patrick Reilly delivery boy
Almost Home
![[Almost Home cast]](../pictures/tns/torkel2t.jpg)
Cast
Starring:
Connie Ray Millicent Torkelson
Olivia Burnette Dorothy Jane Torkelson
Lee Norris Chuckie Lee Torkelson
Rachel Duncan Mary Sue Torkelson
Brittany Murphy Molly Morgan
Jason Marsden Gregory Morgan
Perry King Brian Morgan
The production number is the order the episodes are re-run on the Disney
channel as they have shown other sitcoms in the production order.
Episodes
1. New Moon 2/6/93 production 1
Debut: "The Torkelsons" get a new start, as Millicent and her kids
move to Seattle, where she takes a job as a nanny for the two spoiled
children of widower Brian Morgan. In the opener, Brian's daughter
Molly plots to create dissension between Dorothy Jane and Millicent.
Written by Michael Jacobs
Directed by Arlene Sanford
2. Girls and Boy 2/13/93 production 5
Dorothy Jane enjoys her new job at a fast-food chicken joint, mainly
because of her handsome supervisor, but Molly also wants a piece
of this action.
Written by Philip LaZebnik
Directed by Linda Day
Special Guest Star:
Joey Lawrence Jeff Thornton
Guest Starring:
Peter Van Norden Mel
James Gleason Male Customer
Shirley Prestia Female Customer
Kimberlee Corney Megan
3. Sleeping With the Enemy 2/20/93 production 3
It's far from a perfect match when Dorothy Jane and Molly must share
a bedroom, but the possibility of Brian's match with an attractive
woman is what really bothers Molly.
Written by Lisa A. Bannick
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Special Guest Appearance by:
Erin Gray Jennifer
4. Is That All There Is? 2/27/93 production 13
The top jock in school asks out plain old Dorothy Jane, who sports
newfound popularity in exchange for a rather bland relationship.
Written by Patricia Nardo
Directed by Bruce Bilson
Guest Starring:
Ben Affleck Kevin Johnson
5. The Fox and the Hound 3/06/93 production 8
When Brian's dinner date cancels at the last minute, he asks
Millicent to fill in since the client he is meeting feels the
man is only as good as the woman in his life.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by David Trainer
Guest Starring:
Paxton Whitehead Sir Reginald Harrington
Sarah Douglas Lady Harrington
Jared Leto Rick Aiken
Frank Birney Captain
6. Winner Take Millicent 3/20/93 production 10
Brian's hotshot brother Jim asks out Millicent, and when things heat
up between the two, Brian is left cold.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by Patrick Maloney
Guest Starring:
Christopher Rich Jim Morgan
7. To Jane Eyre Is Human 3/27/93 production 12
Molly plagiarizes Dorothy Jane's book report in order to please
Brian, who's not pleased at all with Molly's recent report card.
Written by Mark Lisson
Directed by Patrick Maloney
8. Duelling Birthdays 4/03/93 production 4
Dorothy Jane and Molly's sweet-16 birthday parties coincide: Molly's
is a back-yard extravaganza, while Dorothy Jane's is a plain affair
with just the family.
Written by Philip LaZebnik
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Guest Starring:
Marguerite Moreau Kimberly
Stephanie Brown Chandice
Trish Ramish Linda
Devon Gummersall Party Boy
9. To Date or Not To Date? 4/10/93 production 2
Millicent's decree that Molly can't date a college-age guy creates
solidarity between Molly and Dorothy Jane, who sneak out of the house
together.
Written by Wayne Lemon
Directed by Arlene Sanford
Featuring:
James Calvert Patrick
Curnal Aulisio Bill
Vincent Ventresca Dave
10. The Dance 4/17/93 production 6
Gregory's in trouble when friend Sam transforms herself into a pretty
young lady and asks him to the Girls' Choice Dance.
Written by Mark Lisson
Directed by Linda Day
Guest Starring:
Alyson Hannigan Samantha
Richard Panebianco Craig Keets
James Gleason Mr. Hacker
Jay Lambert Tom
11. You Ought To Be In Pictures 4/24/93 production 7
The camera loves Chuckie Lee, who loves the attention he gets posing
in Brian's clothing catalogue. And when he gets a chance at a
commercial, a reluctant Millicent acquiesces.
Written by Lisa A. Bannick
Directed by Dennis Erdman
Guest Starring:
Christine Rose The Director
Mark Shera Paul
Linda Larkin Kim
Wayne Federman Assistant
12. Hot Ticket 6/05/93 production 11
Gregory gets it but good when he uses Brian's credit card in a
desperate effort to land hard-to-get tickets to a big rock concert.
Written by Philip LaZebnik
Directed by Patrick Maloney
Guest Starring:
Alyson Hannigan Samantha
Donal Logue Tommy Tom
Peter Van Norden Mel
13. Bowling For Daddies 6/12/93 production 9
Millicent and Chuckie Lee enter themselves in Chuckie Lee's
Wilderness Troop's father-son bowling tournament.
Written by Lisa A. Bannick
Directed by David Trainer
Guest Starring:
Robert Costanzo Big Bob Petrelli
Jacob Kenner Bobby Petrelli