What a Dummy

What a Dummy is a syndicated television sitcom that lasted for one season in 1990 until 1991. The premise of the show was that the Brannigan family of Secaucus, New Jersey was getting advice from a talking, thinking ventriloquist's dummy named Buzz (voiced by Loren Freeman), who had been locked in a trunk for fifty years before being discovered by the family. Kaye Ballard played the family's next-door neighbor, Mrs. Treva Travalony.

What a Dummy
Genre	Situation comedy
Created by	Leslie Eberhard Barbara Hobart Arthur L. Annecharico Craig Kellem
Directed by	Scott Redman Jerry Ross
Starring	Annabel Armour Kaye Ballard Stephen Dorff David Doty Janna Michaels Joshua Rudoy
Voices of	Loren Freeman
Composer(s)	Bill Fulton
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	24
Production
Executive producer(s)	Arthur Annecharico
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	The Arthur Company MCA TV
Distributor	NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Release
Original network	Syndicated
Original release	September 29, 1990 (1990-09-29) – May 25, 1991 (1991-05-25)

Cast

• Stephen Dorf . . . Tucker Brannigan
• Joshua Rudoy . . . Cory Brannigan
• David Doty . . . Ed Brannigan
• Annabel Armour . . . Polly Brannigan
• Janna Michaels . . . Maggie Brannigan
• Kaye Ballard . . . Treva Travalony
• Loren Freeman . . . Buzz (voice)

Episode list

Nº	Title	Directed by:	Written by:	Air date
1	"What a Dummy"	Scott Redman	TBA	September 29, 1990 (1990-09-29)
When Ed Brannigan's great uncle passes away, they discover a steamer trunk full of old props left over from the days when his Uncle Jackie had a traveling ventriloquist show, including Buzz, the dummy. Only this dummy talks and isn't too happy about being left in a trunk for 50 years.
2	"My Hero"	Scott Redman	TBA	October 6, 1990 (1990-10-06)
After Cory saves Tucker's life, that life then becomes slavery when Tucker must do anything and everything Cory wants.
3	"The Contractor from Hell"	Scott Redman	TBA	October 13, 1990 (1990-10-13)
In Ed's attempt to save money, Lucky Ernesto is hired to fix a plumbing problem. Unfortunately, this was not a smart move and Ed ends up having to take Lucky to court.
4	"Whose Life Is It Anyway?"	Scott Redman	TBA	October 20, 1990 (1990-10-20)
In order to attract the eye and affections of a young lady, Tucker takes on the persona of his sensitive brother and tries to act like Cory would act if he were in the same situation.
5	"The Champ"	Scott Redman	TBA	October 27, 1990 (1990-10-27)
Tucker is suffering from feelings of low self worth, so Ed tries to help by offering him a position at the restaurant while Cory nurses a broken heart.
6	"Good Neighbor Brannigan"	Scott Redman	TBA	November 3, 1990 (1990-11-03)
Trying to be the nice and friendly neighbors, the Brannigans invite their next door neighbors out to dinner, only to find that they are a couple of strange birds.
7	"Car Wars"	Scott Redman	TBA	November 10, 1990 (1990-11-10)
Tucker's mom, Polly, covers for him by taking the blame after the young man wrecks his dad's cherry Mustang.
8	"Grandpa Lou"	Scott Redman	TBA	November 17, 1990 (1990-11-17)
9	"What I Did for Love"	Scott Redman	TBA	November 24, 1990 (1990-11-24)
10	"The Substitute"	Scott Redman	TBA	December 1, 1990 (1990-12-01)
11	"Unmarried... with Children"	Scott Redman	TBA	December 8, 1990 (1990-12-08)
12	"Bringing Up Baby"	Jerry Ross	TBA	January 26, 1991 (1991-01-26)
13	"Buzz Is Loaded"	Scott Redman	TBA	February 2, 1991 (1991-02-02)
14	"Fear Itself"	Scott Redman	TBA	February 9, 1991 (1991-02-09)
15	"The Babysitter"	Scott Redman	TBA	February 16, 1991 (1991-02-16)
16	"Tucker's on the Air"	Scott Redman	TBA	February 23, 1991 (1991-02-23)
17	"Mrs. Grumbacher's Talent Show"	Scott Redman	TBA	March 2, 1991 (1991-03-02)
18	"My Imaginary Friend"	Scott Redman	TBA	March 9, 1991 (1991-03-09)
19	"The Vacation That Never Was"	Jerry Ross	TBA	March 16, 1991 (1991-03-16)
20	"Buzz for Sale"	Scott Redman	TBA	April 27, 1991 (1991-04-27)
21	"The Nudge Who Came to Dinner"	Scott Redman	TBA	May 4, 1991 (1991-05-04)
22	"Treasure of the Sierra Secaucus"	Scott Redman	TBA	May 11, 1991 (1991-05-11)
23	"Knock on Wood"	Scott Redman	TBA	May 18, 1991 (1991-05-18)
24	"Toys Aren't Us"	Scott Redman	TBA	May 25, 1991 (1991-05-25)

International airings

The series also aired in Germany, as Der Familienschreck (The Family Fright), Spanish countries as Vaya muñeco (Go Doll), and Italy as L’amico di legno (The Wooden Friend).

External links

• What a Dummy on IMDb
• What a Dummy at TV.com
• What a Dummy at epguides.com