Home Free (1993 TV series)


Home Free is an American sitcom starring Matthew Perry, Marian Mercer and Diana Canova that aired on ABC from March 31, 1993 to July 2, 1993. The series was created by Tim O'Donnell and Richard Gurman.

Synopsis

Matt Bailey is a free-spirited, if somewhat lazy, 22-year-old freelance journalist enjoying the good life at home with his indulgent mom Grace. He wasn't so concerned about completing his ascent into full-fledged adulthood, nor was he ever in a hurry to get out on his own, until his older, recently divorced sister Vanessa returned home with her two kids, so they could pick up the pieces and start their lives over. The unexpected arrangements forced Matt to take some crash courses in responsibility, to not only help out around the house, but to provide a good role model for his 13-year-old niece Abby and nephew Lucas, with whom he had a particularly close bond. Matt's struggle to maintain his wild, free-living lifestyle while facing his new realities were the focus of most episodes. His other world was the newspaper where he worked as a cub reporter, inhabited by co-worker and best friend Walter Peters, foxy photographer Laura, to whom Matt was especially attracted; and their gruff editor, Ben Brookstone.

Cast

Theme song

The theme song for Home Free was a soft-rock ballad performed by Christopher Cross.

Episodes

Reception

Home Free premiered in a cushy time slot of Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c, between The Wonder Years and Home Improvement. After only five episodes, due to low ratings, the show was put on a five-week hiatus, which spared it from airing as a part of the important May sweeps month. The series was cancelled during May upfronts, but returned to the schedule on May 28 in the 9:30/8:30c timeslot of ABC's TGIF. Original episodes continued to air in the TGIF slot through July 2, 1993. The last two episodes of the 13-episode order were unaired.