Empty Nest originally aired beginning October 8th 1988 with the final episode airing June 17th 1995, having a total of 170 episodes.

Following the huge success of their hit Saturday night comedy The Golden Girls NBC decided to try and spin off another series hoping it would be as successful. Not only would Empty Nest become another big hit for the network but would eventually come to eclipse even the series that it came from. With funny scripts and an incredible cast that included tv comedy heavyweights Richard Mulligan and Dinah Manoff and lesser known comic talents like Kristy McNichol, David Leisure and Park Overall the success of Empty Nest was virtually guaranteed. Of course having one of the most coveted time slots on primetime television (right behind The Golden Girls on Saturdays) probably didn't hurt the show's chances for success either.

This was Kristy McNichol's much anticipated return to series television not having appeared on any tv show since the ending of the drama Family in 1980. This was also her first try at television comedy and she quickly excelled at it. While already known for her dramatic work Empty Nest gave Kristy a chance to show millions that she was equally capable as a comedienne. The success of the show really relied on the clever writing as well as the camaraderie of all the cast members, which Kristy was very much a part of. Kristy's on screen antics with her "sister" (Dinah Manoff) became some of the funniest and most remembered moments on the series. Unfortunately because of personal problems Kristy had to leave the show early in the 5th season and would never return as a regular. She did however return to appear in the Empty Nest series finale, which has the distinction of being her final (onscreen) acting role.

Buying note: This show has never been available on commercial home video. There are however other sources for this and other Kristy McNichol appearances that you might be looking for.

10-10-2006