The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer

The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer
The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer cast.
From left to right: Nibblet, Desmond Pfeiffer, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln
Genre Sitcom
Created by Barry Fanaro
Mort Nathan
Written by Marc Abrams
Mike Benson
Bill Boulware
Barry Fanaro
Jim Gerkin
Mort Nathan
Brian Pollack
Mert Rich
Directed by Matthew Diamond
Starring Chi McBride
Dann Florek
Christine Estabrook
Max Baker
Kelly Connell
Composer(s) Rich Eames
Scott Gale
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 9 (5 unaired)
Production
Executive producer(s) Barry Fanaro
Mort Nathan
Producer(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 (1998-10-05) – October 28, 1998 (1998-10-28)

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

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

External links


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