A selection of behind-the-scenes trivia about the popular Emmy-nominated ’90s sitcom.
Fran Drescher, the American actress, writer, producer, and current Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists president, has been making headlines recently for her fiery comments in the strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Years prior, she was the lead of the hit sitcom The Nanny, which aired on CBS from 1993 to 1999 for six seasons, earned 12 Emmy nominations, and inspired many adaptations in Latin America and Europe.
Created and produced by Drescher and her then-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, the show revolves around Fran Fine, a bubbly, nasal-voiced, self-appointed fashion icon and cosmetics expert from Flushing, Queens, who is hired by the rigid but well-meaning British Broadway producer and widower Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy) to care for his three children, Maggie (Nicholle Tom), Brighton (Benjamin Salisbury), and Grace (Madeline Zima), in their ultra-chic mansion.
Besides bringing warmth into the household, Nanny Fran wows with her extravagant and sexy outfits (for which the show won an Emmy in 1995), gets along swimmingly with the acerbic butler Niles (Daniel Davis), but definitely doesn’t see eye to eye with her boss’ stuffy business partner C.C. Babcock (Lauren Lane), who firmly intends on marrying him.
Here is an overview of some known and lesser-known behind-the-scenes facts about The Nanny.
Fashion Icon Twiggy Indirectly Inspired the Pilot
Dame Lesley Lawson, better known as the British actress, singer, and model Twiggy, was the first spark behind the show’s concept; the idea came to Drescher as she was visiting Twiggy in her London home and was asked to babysit her daughter.
Drescher and Jacobson Divorced at the End of the Show
The co-creators of The Nanny were high-school sweethearts; they got married in 1978 and stayed together all throughout production of The Nanny. They separated in 1996 and announced their divorce three years later. Soon after that, Jacobson came out as a gay. The pair remained close, especially after Drescher was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2000, and still enjoys a solid friendship to this day.
Drescher and Nanny Fine Are Very Similar
The show’s creator and lead actress drew inspiration from her own youth in Kew Gardens Hills, near Flushing, Queens. She studied cosmetology and hairdressing and was often criticized for her pronounced accent, mannerisms, and nasal voice, so her most famous TV persona isn’t too far-off.
Many Characters Were Inspired by Drescher’s Community
In the show’s pilot, Fran is first introduced as a full-time consultant at a bridal shop owned by her boyfriend, who dumps her and fires her on the same day. The actress’ mother, Sylvia Rosenberg, also worked as a bridal consultant. As a matter of fact, most of Nanny Fine’s family members were inspired by the actress’ real-life friends and relatives from the Jewish community in Queens; other than Sylvia, the characters of Morty (the name of her real-life father, too) and Nadine, in particular, were named and modeled after actual people. Drescher’s parents appeared on the show as Nanny Fine’s aunt and uncle.
[Fran and Sylvia are being held hostage by a bank robber]
Sylvia: He’s not wearing a ring!
Fran: Ma, he’s a thief!
Sylvia: … Who’ll be worth millions in a few minutes.
Sponsors and Executives Wanted to Change Nanny Fine’s Background
Nanny Fine sounded too Jewish, and some CBS executives, as well as the show’s sponsors, were worried the story would only appeal to a certain demographic and would flop. According to Definition, “There was some talk about the character being Italian instead, but Drescher wouldn’t go for it. She believed that, because of her Jewish roots, the character of Fran Fine was far superior as a Jewish woman because it was based in some reality.”
C.C.’s Dog Was Actually Drescher’s
There is a reason why C.C.’s Pomeranian Chester seems to like Nanny Fine much more than his on-screen mom; the dog actually belonged to Drescher and was very attached to her. You might have spotted him in the 1990 crime comedy Cadillac Man. Sadly, he died 10 years later.
Lane Was Pregnant Throughout Season 5
Lauren Lane was pregnant all throughout production of the fifth season, and the crew did their best to hide her condition on-camera under big jackets and behind huge props, instead of writing a plausible explanation into the story. The actress found all these maneuvers ridiculous, and when she went on maternity leave, the writers simply sent C.C. away to a mental institution, following Fran and Maxwell’s engagement and her subsequent breakdown. Lane wasn’t too fond of this decision, either.
Lane Has Always Gushed about Davis
C.C.: Niles, we can’t use this China. The pattern is hideous!
Niles: That’s not the pattern; it’s your reflection.
C.C. and Niles often bicker on The Nanny, but in reality, Lane and Davis had been friends long before they even auditioned for the show. She told Vice, “Danny and I are just snarky and fun. Danny and I are tight. He is an amazing actor. And he’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. And his theater! It would have been great if he’d had the opportunity to explore that side of his talent [more in film and TV]. It’s very Anthony Hopkins.”
Zima Doesn’t Remember the Experience Fondly
Madeline Zima, who later starred on Californication and Heroes, confessed in several interviews that she hated playing the youngest child, Gracie, on The Nanny. Per NZ Herald, she said, “They treated me like a prop. It wasn’t a fun experience. There were other experiences on other sets where people treated me kindly. I worked when I was five years old on The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and everybody was wonderful. There was just a kindness and a sensitivity that didn’t exist on the set of The Nanny.”
Shaughnessy Is Also a Rich British Thespian
Much like Maxwell, the fifth Baron Shaughnessy hails from London, attended Eton College, and comes from a wealthy family in the entertainment industry. He toured in a repertory company before following the actress Susan Fallender to the US and then marrying her in 1983. The actor also has two daughters, and one of them is actually called Madelyn, which is close to Madeline.
Davis Had a More Convincing Accent than Shaughnessy
When Daniel Davis auditioned for the role of the British butler Niles, his accent was so convincing that everyone thought he was actually British, and Shaughnessy was advised to “sound more like him” by several fans who expressed their concern in writing. Ironically, Davis’ natural accent is actually Southern Central American, from Arkansas, to be more precise.
Max: Oh Niles, what is it this time? Your job, your weight, no future?
Niles: Well, Sir, I was just wondering why I have no social life, but you cleared that right up for me.
Fran and Ray’s High-School Reunion
In the Season 5 episode The Reunion Show, which aired on March 25, 1995, Fran attends her high-school reunion party and is shocked to find out that many of her former schoolmates are getting divorced while she has just gotten engaged. One of the people she runs into is Ray Barone (Ray Romano), the main character from the equally popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005). Coincidentally, Romano and Drescher were actual classmates in both Hillcrest High and Queens College.
The Pilot Had a Different Theme Song
So, over the bridge from Flushing to the Sheffields’ door,
She was there to sell makeup, but the father saw more,
She had style, she had flair, she was there,
That’s how she became the Nanny.
Now, the father finds her beguiling; watch out C.C.,
And the kids are actually smiling; such joie de vivre!
She’s the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan.
The flashy girl from Flushing; the Nanny named Fran.”
These are the lyrics to the fun, catchy, and beloved theme song from the sitcom. However, the pilot episode featured an entirely different tune: If My Friends Could See Me Now, a song from the 1966 Broadway play Sweet Charity, whose lyrics include:
“If they could see me now
That little gang of mine
I’m eating fancy chow
And drinking fancy wine.”
Good thing the network went with the Ann Hampton Callaway song. Callaway met Drescher while performing in a cabaret, and they immediately hit it off. She told Today, “She wanted me to work on projects with her, and so I started writing theme songs for her pilots that never went anywhere. I wanted to be able to tell this story really, really well in 42 seconds… I think Fran really appreciated how much I worked to get to the spirit of Fran Fine.”
It Took Years to Convince Elton John to Cameo
A plethora of celebrities appeared on the show, from Joan Collins, to Elizabeth Taylor, to Jason Alexander, and Celine Dion. While most did not need much convincing, her good friend Sir Elton John, however, delayed the inevitable for two whole years before finally saying yes, and in the Season 5 episode First Date. She told USA Today, “I was always an Elton John AIDS Foundation supporter, and we were very warm to each other at all of his events. When his documentary Tantrums & Tiaras was coming out, his publicist said, “Maybe this would be a good time to put him on the show to promote the documentary.” That was an amazing episode, and he couldn’t have been more gracious. We heard that he loves red roses, so we filled his dressing room with red roses.”
Witty, timeless, and generally beloved by all, The Nanny is considered one of the best sitcoms of the 1990s and can still be streamed on various platforms.
