Family for Joe, A – Nostalgia Central

1 9 9 0 (USA)
9 x 30 minute episodes

This short-lived NBC comedy series began life as a made-for-television movie aired on 25 February 1990.

Suddenly orphaned after their parents are killed in a plane crash, the four upper-middle-class Bankston siblings hire a cranky old homeless man named Joe Whitaker (Robert Mitchum) to live in their nice house and pose as their grandfather to prevent them from being separated and sent into foster care.

Appearing as the four kids were David Lascher as 13-year-old Nick Bankston; Juliette Lewis as 11-year-old Holly; Ben Savage (younger brother of The Wonder Years‘ Fred Savage) as 9-year-old Chris, and Jessica Player as 7-year-old Mary. The family’s pet dog, Leon, would only eat cat food.

Joe embraces the role more seriously than they expected, imparting wisdom while their ex-air traffic controller neighbour, Roger (Barry Gordon) lends support amidst the chaos.

Joe Whitaker
Robert Mitchum
Nick Bankston
David Lascher
Chris Furrh (pilot film)
Holly Bankston
Juliette Lewis
Maia Brewton (pilot film)
Chris Bankston
Ben Savage
Jarrad Paul (pilot film)
Mary Bankston
Jessica Player
Roger Hightower
Barry Gordon

Episodes

A Little Romance | The Medium | Nick’s Heart | An Earful | Life of the Party | Law and Order | Once a Bum | Night School | Having a Baby”