Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox television
The Torkelsons is an American sitcom television series that aired on the NBC television network from September 21, 1991, to June 6, 1993.[1] Produced by Walt Disney Television in season 1 and Touchstone Television in season 2, the series starred Connie Ray, Olivia Burnette, and William Schallert. For the second and final season, the series was retooled and renamed Almost Home.[2] The series lasted a total of two seasons, consisting of 33 episodes.
Cast
Main
- Connie Ray as Millicent Torkelson
- Olivia Burnette as Dorothy Jane Torkelson, Millicent's daughter
- Elizabeth Poyer (pilot) & Anna Slotky as Ruth Ann Torkelson, Millicent's daughter (season 1)
- Benj Thall (pilot) & Aaron Michael Metchik as Steven Floyd Torkelson, Millicent's son (season 1)
- Lee Norris as Chuckie Lee Torkelson, Millicent's son
- Rachel Duncan as Mary Sue Torkelson, Millicent's daughter
- Ernie Lively (pilot) as Jacob Presley (season 1)
- William Schallert as Wesley Hodges (season 1)
- Brittany Murphy as Molly Morgan, Brian's daughter (season 2)
- Jason Marsden as Gregory Morgan, Brian's son (season 2)
- Perry King as Brian Morgan (season 2)
Recurring
- Paige Gosney as Kirby Scroggins (season 1)
- Michael Landes as Riley Roberts (season 1)
- Ronnie Claire Edwards as Bootsie Torkelson (season 1)
- Alyson Kiperman as Dreama (season 1)
- Mother Love as Kitty Drysdale (season 1)
- Peter Van Norden as Mel (season 2)
- Alyson Hannigan as Samantha (season 2)
Notable guest stars
- Drew Carey in the season 1 episode "Say Uncle" (his first appearance in a TV sitcom)
- Patty Duke in the season 1 episode "Return to Sender" (reuniting with William Schallert, who played her father in The Patty Duke Show)
- Kevin Clash as Elmo in the season 1 episode "Educating Millicent"
- Joey Lawrence as Dorothy Jane and Molly's boss in the season 2 episode "Girls and Boy"
- Erin Gray in the season 2 episode "Sleeping with the Enemy" as Mr. Morgan's love interest
- Ben Affleck in the season 2 episode "Is That All There Is?" as a basketball player who falls in love with Dorothy Jane
- Jared Leto in the season 2 episode "The Fox and the Hound" as a football player at a party that Molly throws, whom Dorothy Jane thinks is cute
- Donal Logue in the season 2 episode "Hot Ticket" as a musician named "Tommy Tom"
Production notes
Series creator Lynn Montgomery claims to have gotten the name "Torkelson" from a real life Steven Floyd Torkelson, who had showed her his bug collection, and shared his first kiss with her thirty years earlier.[3]
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (1991–92)
Season 2 (1993)
Syndication
The Disney Channel aired reruns of The Torkelsons and Almost Home on their weekday and weekend lineups from January 1994 to late 1999. All Disney Channel advertising for the shows packaged both seasons under The Torkelsons name, but when the Almost Home episodes aired in circulation, the title was never altered in the opening credits. The Disney Channel also aired the series' episodes in production order.
Accolades
| Year | Association | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Young Artist Awards | Best New Family Television Series | The Torkelsons | Template:Nom |
| Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series | Olivia Burnette | Template:Nom | ||
| Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Under Ten | Lee Norris | Template:Nom | ||
| Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Under Ten | Rachel Duncan | Template:Nom | ||
| 1993 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Olivia Burnette | Template:Nom |
| Outstanding Actress Under Ten in a Television Series | Rachel Duncan | Template:Nom |