Browse episode ratings trends for American Dreamer. Simply click on the interactive rating graph to explore the best and worst of American Dreamer's 17 episodes.
Best Episodes of American Dreamer
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Worst Episodes of American Dreamer
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American Dreamer Episode Guide
Pilot
S1 Ep1
1.0
20th Sep 1990
Tom Nash trades in his network newsman job to write a human interest column for a Chicago newspaper, moving to Wisconsin with his two children. He begins by exploring women's anger toward men by hiring a female assistant and visiting the woman he stood up on prom night.
Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
S1 Ep2
22nd Sep 1990
Tom attempts to find out why men are not open with their feelings by hosting a bonding party for men.
Flight of the Dodo
S1 Ep3
29th Sep 1990
A disillusioned cartoonist (Austin Pendleton) quits his job.
All God's Children Go to Wisconsin
S1 Ep4
6th Oct 1990
Tom's meeting with an Episcopal cleric causes him to question his current standing as a lapsed Catholic.
Corvette Man
S1 Ep5
13th Oct 1990
While Tom considers buying a corvette, Lillian makes plans to remarry her ex-husband.
Over the Hill?
S1 Ep6
20th Oct 1990
Tom's preliminary results of his physical reveal he's in great shape but a chest X-ray casts a spot of doubt, requiring further tests.
Mr. Wizard
S1 Ep7
27th Oct 1990
Tom Nash begins substitute teaching and discovers it is not easy and happily accepts advice.
In from the Cold (1)
S1 Ep9
10th Nov 1990
Tom considers writing about his memories and the loss of his wife but his kids consider her a forbidden subject for his column.
In from the Cold (2)
S1 Ep10
24th Nov 1990
Tom learns the true identity of Kathleen in the conclusion of a two part episode.
The Fabulous Baker Girls
S1 Ep11
1st Dec 1990
Holly's free-spirited sister Drew returns and makes good copy for Tom's newspaper column.
Don't Drink the Water
S1 Ep13
25th May 1991
Tom discovers that Lillian's ex-husband's business is a fraud.
Mother Knows Best
S1 Ep14
1st Jun 1991
Lillian must live a lie when her mother visits.
Papa Joe
S1 Ep15
8th Jun 1991
Joe's weekend with his daughter is spoiled.
Heartbreak Diner
S1 Ep16
15th Jun 1991
Tom intervenes in his daughter's crush on a young college student.
They Shoot Ducks, Don't They?
S1 Ep17
22nd Jun 1991
Danny disobeys his father and sneaks off to go duck hunting with Bill.
American Dreamer is a situation comedy which aired in the U.S. on NBC as part of its 1990-91 lineup.
American Dreamer stars Robert Urich as fictional character Tom Nash, formerly a high-powered network correspondent who was forced to reassess his priorities following the death of his wife. He decided to give up his career in order to spend more time with his children. To do this, he moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he supported his family by contributing a column about "real people" to a Chicago newspaper. His editor, Joe Baines, felt Tom was completely wasting his talents and drove out from Chicago weekly to attempt to convince Tom to return the world of "hard news". Other characters included Tom's zany secretary, Lillian Abernathy, and a friendly waitress at Tom's favorite local diner, Holly Baker.
This program was extremely low-key. Tom sometimes "broke the fourth wall" to address the viewers directly about his thoughts regarding the situations he encountered. This philosophizing gained only a small audience and the program was cancelled at midseason, although selected episodes were rerun the following summer.
The first episode of American Dreamer aired on September 20, 1990.
The last episode of American Dreamer aired on June 22, 1991.
