Diana (American TV series)

For the 1984 UK series, see Diana (British TV series).

Diana
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Leonard B. Stern Gordon Farr Arnold Kane
Written by	Leonard B. Stern Stanley Charles Stan Cutler
Starring	Diana Rigg Richard B. Shull Barbara Barrie Carole Androsky Richard Mulligan Robert Moore
Theme music composer	Jerry Fielding
Composer	Jerry Fielding
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	15
Production
Executive producers	Harry R. Sherman Leonard B. Stern
Producers	Leonard B. Stern Gordon Farr Arnold Kane
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	25 mins.
Production company	Talent Associates-Norton Simon, Inc.
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	September 10, 1973 (1973-09-10) – January 7, 1974 (1974-01-07)

Diana is an American sitcom aired on NBC during the 1973–74 television season, created by Leonard Stern, which ran from September 10, 1973, to January 7, 1974. The series was filmed in front of a live studio audience at CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles.

Premise

The series starred Diana Rigg in her first American television series, as Diana Smythe, a recently divorced British fashion designer who moves to the States in the hopes of becoming more noticed in the fashion world by relocating to New York City. As the series begins she has landed a high-profile job as a fashion coordinator at Buckley's Department Store. Since her city-dwelling brother is out of the country indefinitely she moves into his apartment, which to her bemusement becomes the site of many unannounced visits by her brother’s numerous girlfriends.

Each episode finds Diana trying to adjust to American life with help from her next door neighbor Holly Green (Carole Androsky), copywriter Howard Tollbrook (Richard B. Shull), window decorator Marshall Tyler (Robert Moore) and new pal Jeff Harmon (Richard Mulligan), while dealing with her boss Norman Brodnik (David Sheiner) and his wife Norma (Barbara Barrie).

Production

Prior to being picked up by NBC, the series had the working title The Diana Rigg Show with Rigg playing Elyse Smythe. Also in the pilot was Nanette Fabray as Norma Brodnik, but after it was changed to Diana, Fabray was replaced with Barrie in the Norma role.

NBC was hoping to capitalize on the success of single and independent women sitcoms by using Rigg, given her credentials in film and TV, with this attempt to copy The Mary Tyler Moore Show. However, it wound up trailing both Gunsmoke and The Rookies on Monday nights, eventually leading to its cancellation on January 7, 1974.

Episode list

No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"The Lady Comes Across"	Leonard B. Stern	Sam Bobrick & Ron Clark & Leonard B. Stern	September 10, 1973 (1973-09-10)
Diana arrives in New York, only to find her new job involves a hostile boss – and that her borrowed apartment houses a suicidal writer.
2	"The Gilt Complex"	Leonard B. Stern	Stanley Charles	September 17, 1973 (1973-09-17)
Diana is invited out to a platonic dinner date by her married boss. Though it's absolutely innocent, guilt soon rears its head on all sides.
3	"Shuffle Off To Buffalo"	Unknown	Unknown	September 24, 1973 (1973-09-24)
Diana is called upon to narrate a fashion show.
4	"If No One Answers, That's Me"	Robert Moore	Lisa David & Laura Dean	October 1, 1973 (1973-10-01)
After getting an obscene phone call, Diana invests in an answering machine.
5	"Hanrahan's Rainbow"	Unknown	Unknown	October 8, 1973 (1973-10-08)
Diana receives someone else's alien identification card.
6	"Fire One"	Unknown	Unknown	October 15, 1973 (1973-10-15)
To prove her worth to the company, Diana is asked to fire a friend.
7	"Queen For A Night"	Unknown	Unknown	October 29, 1973 (1973-10-29)
A dentist won't leave Diana alone until she helps him launch a fashion career.
8	"Take My Father, Please"	Unknown	Jerry Mayer	November 5, 1973 (1973-11-05)
Diana enters into a May–December relationship with a friend's father.
9	"You Can't Go Back"	Jay Sandrich	Gordon Farr & Arnold Kane	November 12, 1973 (1973-11-12)
Former Avengers co-star Patrick Macnee guest stars as an old flame of Diana's, who drives her crazy with his self-centered ways.
10	"Pest in the House"	Unknown	Unknown	November 26, 1973 (1973-11-26)
Howard, needing a place to stay, temporarily moves into Diana's apartment.
11	"Long Shots and Fat Chances"	Unknown	Unknown	December 3, 1973 (1973-12-03)
Diana agrees to keep Howard's money safe from his compulsive gambling.
12	"Never, Never, Ever Again....Maybe"	Unknown	Unknown	December 10, 1973 (1973-12-10)
Howard is trying to get Diana together with his charming high-school buddy.
13	"Who's Minding the Cat?"	Unknown	Unknown	December 17, 1973 (1973-12-17)
Confusion reigns as Diana and her office-mates try to keep track of Howard's foot-loose cat.
14	"New Marshall In Town"	Unknown	Jerry Mayer	December 24, 1973 (1973-12-24)
Marshall suffers an identity crisis after his psychiatrist suggests a new lifestyle.
15	"Kung Who?"	Unknown	Unknown	January 7, 1974 (1974-01-07)
Diana's friend Holly cannot seem to stop falling for married men.

External links

• Diana at IMDb