Knights of the Kitchen Table

Episode:
"The Gods of Olympus Diner" (pilot)
Taped in: Late 1990
First aired: Never
  		Starring: (main cast) Jessica Steen, George Clooney, Andrew Lauer and Rick Aiello.

 

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Knights of the Kitchen Table is Copyright 1991 Paramount Pictures

Episode Information

Knights of the Kitchen Table  was a sit-com pilot from UBU Productions (the company also responsible for "Spin City," "Family Ties," and others.)  The pilot's main cast was Jessica Steen as Marla, George Clooney as Rick, Andrew Lauer as Lewis and Rick Aiello as Barry; who played the characters at the present time (then 1990-91).  There were also 2 other sets of cast members that played the same characters, one group at a younger age (around 1977) and another group at an older age (2016) (see credits list below).

The basic premise of the sit-com was about group of 4 friends, a brother and sister (Barry and Marla McDermott) and their two friends (Rick Stepjak and Lewis (last name unknown) that have grown up together.  The show used "flash-backs" of the characters at a young age as well as "flash-forwards" to an older age to tell the story.

In the series pilot (the only episode ever completed but never aired) the show opens in 1977 when the characters are young children,  and this sets up some of the backgrounds of the characters.  Young Ricky has to deal with the death of his father and is afraid that everyone else will leave him too.  The 4 friends make a pact to stick together forever no matter what.  They called themselves "The Knights of the Kitchen Table" (a nod to King Arthur's "Knights of the Round Table" of course, but they used a kitchen table since that was where they were at the time).  Also in 1977 young Marla has an amusing scene with 2 female Barbie dolls that is a foreshadowing of her characters' sexual orientation which we learn about later in the episode. 

The main story in the pilot which takes place in "present time," centers around Marla trying to break the news to her brother Barry (who just got back from being away in the military for 6 years) that she is gay.   When Barry finally finds out, he takes the news hard and blames Rick and Lewis for "letting it happen."  After a good discussion among the 4 of them, where they remember their promise as children to stick together no matter what, Barry agrees to accept Marla's sexuality.  The episode ends with a "flash forward" to 2016 when the characters are older and are played by different actors (see chart below) where they reminisce about the past.

Interesting Fact:  The idea for the outdoor pool table on the The Drew Carey Show was taken from Knights of the Kitchen Table.  Source: PEOPLE Online Conference with Drew Carey 12/13/95

 

Credits:
 

Main Characters
Marla
Barry
Lewis
Ricky
1991 (Present)
Jessica Steen
Rick Aiello
 Andrew Lauer
George Clooney
1977
Katie Huber
 Cory Danziger
Michael Bell
Paul Sutera
2016
Jennifer Warren
 Andy Romano
George Wymer
Peter Jason

 

 

Knights of the Kitchen Table is Copyright 1991 Paramount Pictures

 

 

Last update: February 27, 2001 2:31 AM