Baby, I'm Back
Encyclopedia
Baby, I'm Back is an American sitcom that aired CBS
from January to April 1978. The series stars former Sanford and Son
star Demond Wilson
(in his first role after that series' cancellation), Room 222
alumna Denise Nicholas
, Helen Martin
, and future Facts of Life
co-star Kim Fields
.
. While in California, Ray finds out that his wife plans to remarry to Colonel Wallace Dickey, and that he has been declared legally dead. This prompts him to move back to Washington, D.C., where he tries to win back Olivia by proving he is a better husband, and a better father to his kids, and to prove that he is still legally alive. However, he now has to contend with his troublesome mother-in-law Luzelle (Helen Martin) and Olivia's soon to be husband Colonel Dickey.
Baby, I'm Back was abruptly cancelled on April 17, 1978 midway through its first season, due to poor ratings.
in the late 1980s and early-'90s.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from January to April 1978. The series stars former Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son is an American sitcom, based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son, that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977....
star Demond Wilson
Demond Wilson
Grady Demond Wilson is an American actor, author, and pastor. He is best known for his role opposite Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford's long-suffering son, Lamont Sanford, in the 1970s’ NBC-TV sitcom Sanford and Son....
(in his first role after that series' cancellation), Room 222
Room 222
Room 222 is an American comedy-drama television series produced by 20th Century Fox Television. The series aired on ABC from September 17, 1969, to January 11, 1974, for 112 episodes...
alumna Denise Nicholas
Denise Nicholas
Denise Nicholas is an American actress and social activist who was involved in the American Civil Rights Movement...
, Helen Martin
Helen Martin
Helen Dorothy Martin was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom 227 as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl.-Early life and education:...
, and future Facts of Life
The Facts of Life (TV series)
The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988. A spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, the series' premise focused on Edna Garrett as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School, a prestigious...
co-star Kim Fields
Kim Fields
Kim Victoria Fields is an American actress and television director. She is known for her roles as Tootie Ramsey on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life, and as Regine Hunter on the Fox sitcom Living Single...
.
Synopsis
When Raymond Ellis (Wilson) and Olivia Ellis (Nichols) separate after seven years of marriage, Ray abandons the family (his wife, 7-year-old son Jordan, and 5-year-old daughter Angie) and heads to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. While in California, Ray finds out that his wife plans to remarry to Colonel Wallace Dickey, and that he has been declared legally dead. This prompts him to move back to Washington, D.C., where he tries to win back Olivia by proving he is a better husband, and a better father to his kids, and to prove that he is still legally alive. However, he now has to contend with his troublesome mother-in-law Luzelle (Helen Martin) and Olivia's soon to be husband Colonel Dickey.
Baby, I'm Back was abruptly cancelled on April 17, 1978 midway through its first season, due to poor ratings.
Cast
- Demond WilsonDemond WilsonGrady Demond Wilson is an American actor, author, and pastor. He is best known for his role opposite Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford's long-suffering son, Lamont Sanford, in the 1970s’ NBC-TV sitcom Sanford and Son....
as Raymond Ellis - Denise NicholasDenise NicholasDenise Nicholas is an American actress and social activist who was involved in the American Civil Rights Movement...
as Olivia Ellis - Tony Holmes as Jordan Ellis
- Kim FieldsKim FieldsKim Victoria Fields is an American actress and television director. She is known for her roles as Tootie Ramsey on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life, and as Regine Hunter on the Fox sitcom Living Single...
as Angie Ellis - Helen MartinHelen MartinHelen Dorothy Martin was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom 227 as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl.-Early life and education:...
as Luzelle Carter Wilson - Ed Hall as Colonel Wallace Dickey
Episodes
| Series # | Season # | Title | Notes | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Living Proof" | This first episode begins with Olivia and Luzelle at her lawyers officially declaring Raymond Ellis legally dead after no contact or calls have been made for the last seven years. Ray runs into an old friend in California who informs him that Olivia has declared him dead legally and is getting remarried. Ray flies back to reconcile with Olivia and the children. 14 year old son Jordan is not at all thrilled when he learns his father is back while Angie is static, Luzelle is attacks him with dishrags as Olivia walks in with disappointment once she realizes he is back. Although Ray is back, Olivia continues with her plans to marry Wallace Dickey but the wedding the wedding gets a surprise guest. Ray moves into Olivia's building to be closer to her and the kids. | January 30, 1978 |
| 2 | 2 | "Beat By a Drum" | After his mother refuses to give Jorden $300.00 for drums, Ray offers to give the Jordan the cash also hoping this will bring him closer to his son. Olivia is furious and tells Ray off then makes Jordan return the drums and give Ray's money back. Jordan then accuses his father of giving him the money to get closer to his mother. | February 6, 1978 |
| 3 | 3 | "The Loneliest Night of the Week" | With Luzelle and the kids leaving for the weekend, Olivia plans a romantic dinner for her and Wallace, who calls to tell Olivia that he is unable to make it due to army maneuvers but it is Ray who takes the call and manages to use Wallace's absence to his advantage to spend a romantic evening with Olivia; Luzelle and the kids gets stranded on the road after the car breaks down. | February 13, 1978 |
| 4 | 4 | "The Confessions of Col. Wallace Dickey" | Olivia is all dressed up to go to a banquet at the pentagon with Wallace, but Wallace and Ray go for drinks at the local hangout and Wallace ends up getting drunk and shares moments of his past like with Ray. See "Quotes" section for some funny lines from this episode. | February 20, 1978 |
| 5 | 5 | "A Day at the Races" | Olivia is furious when she discovers that after spending the day with Ray Jordan made bets at the racetrack winning $200.00. Ray convinces Olivia to let him bet the money on a longshot horse that Jordan predicts to win for $18,000. Olivia soon changes her tunes once she realizes that the horse is winning the race on television. Luzelle gets smashed (drunk) while attempting to cook a French dinner for Angie and Jordan "after a day with that low-life father". | February 27, 1978 |
| 6 | 6 | "Survival of the Fittest" | Olivia, Wallace and the kids go out of town for the weekend while Luzelle stays behind. Ray drops in to find out Olivia has left with her fiancée and the kids then manages to find out where they are staying from Luzelle without her knowing right away. As Ray is driving his friend's motor home on highway I-95, someone comes out of hiding in a wooden chest inside of the motor home. Much to Ray's surprise, it is Luzelle. Olivia and the rest of the clan return due to bad weather while Ray and Luzelle have to spend the evening together stuck on the highway due to a bad snowstorm. | March 6, 1978 |
| 7 | 7 | "Like Father, Unlike Son (a.k.a.) The Odd Couple" | Due to Luzelle's insomia, Angie is sent to room with Jordan who protests against his mother's wishes by going upstairs to room with Ray, who tries to make him go back to his mother so Ray can have peace and watch a game on TV. Eventually everyone meets in Ray's apartment and eventually comes to an agreement as to who will sleep where which brings an unexpected result for Ray. | March 13, 1978 |
| 8 | 8 | "You Bet Your Wife" | Ray gets a temporary job in Hialeah, FL and makes a bet with Olivia that Wallace could fall under temptation of another woman. Ray tells her that if Wallace fights temptation, he will take the job in Hialeah and leave for the time, and if Wallace gives to the woman, Olivia must spend a romantic night at Ray's place. Olivia puts herself in disguise and proceeds to seduce Wallace with Ray watching at the local hangout. Will the uptight Colnel give in? You have to watch and find out. | March 20, 1978 |
| 9 | 9 | "Baby, I'm Back" | Ray briefs the viewing audience in a voice over about how Olivia and Wallace tried to get married and had him declared legally dead. He of course foiled the attempt, but Olivia and Wallace attempt again to get married causing Ray to try and get himself declared legally alive so she will not be able to marry another person. Olivia surprises him by moving up the time of the wedding so that Ray will not have enough time to spoil the ceremony. | March 27, 1978 |
| 10 | 10 | "Pay or Die" | Ray is all of the sudden been tracked down by two men who claim that they are loan shark collectors for someone who lent Ray $200.00 seven years ago. Ray must pay back the $200.00 plus the interest per week over the seven years that was accumulated bringing the amount to $7,280.00. He is threatened and is afraid for his life. He goes to Olivia for help but she accuses him of lying. | April 3, 1978 |
| 11 | 11 | "Farewell to Boyish Charm" | It is Ray and Olivia's 15th wedding anniversary. Ray has romantic plans for the evening but Olivia would rather spend a nice quiet evening with her fiancee' Wallace. Unlucky with his plans, Ray goes to the local bar and runs into Racine Parks. A woman he and Olivia went to high school with. Since Ray could not have Olivia, he decides to take Racine to his place for a rendezvous but not without stopping by Olivia's first to see Olivia and then up to his place causing Olivia to be jealous. Ray and Racine's fun comes to an end when Ray gets a phone call from someone that knows what he and Racine have been up to. | April 10, 1978 |
| 12 | 12 | "The Gospel According to Angie" | Angie puts on a church play about the story of Ruth from the Bible with a little twist. Ruth is about to marry another man (who is bald at the top of the head) until the "prodigal son" (played by Jordan) returns after 7 years and claims that Ruth is still his wife and remarries her. Ruth's mother responds by dropping dead. It was told that Ruth remarried her first husband for the sake of the children. And of course, it is revealed by Angie in front of the whole congregation that Ray helped her write this church play. (It was so obvious, right?) Oliva angrily decides to leave on a trip with Wallace despite Ray's objections. | April 17, 1978 |
| 13 | 13 | "Olivia's Job Offer" | In this final episode for the season, Olivia runs into her friend Anita at the Pentagon who tells her about how great the place Guam is and how it was life changing for her. With some mistaken encouragement from her mother Olivia does some re-examining in her life and decides not choose between Ray and Wallace, leave her life and job behind, pick up her family and move to the dry gultch location of Guam. | April 24, 1978 |
Syndication
The series was aired in syndication on BETBet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
in the late 1980s and early-'90s.