In a sitcom coincidence, Fran arrives at the uptight Sheffield residence to sell make-up to the lady of the house, just as Max is looking for a nanny for his out-of-control children. A resume hastily written in lipstick is all it takes for Nanny Fine to join the household, which also includes her fellow servant, butler Niles (Daniel Davis), and Max's business partner CC (Lauren Lane), who will become her friendly nemesis.

The sitcom takes a bit of "Who's the Boss?" (the servant/employer will-they-won't-they relationship) and combines it with touches of "I Love Lucy" (Fran constantly attempts to be part of Max' business) and Drescher's concepts and Italian/Jewish background to create a show that's classic goofball comedy. Nothing on this series broke much new ground, and in truth, the influence of other shows and movies is seen often as episodes borrow heavily from the worlds Fran and Max move in. No one's referencing Ibsen, but if a bit of Yentl crops up, it makes sense for these characters.

While Fran's life with her new employers is the main thrust of the series, her relationship with her own family and friends is key as well, and when her two worlds intersect, it can be even funnier, as Fran can fake the class of Max's social circle, but her mother Sylvia (Renée Taylor) is pure Queens, as are her mother Yetta and Fran's best friend Val. While they can be embarrassing for Fran, they are her support and represent her roots. They also make for some of the best parts of the series as Yetta's senility is played for laughs along with Val's ignorance and Sylvia is the stereotypical Jewish mom. Like I said, this is nothing new, but it is well done.

To be truthful, the first season has a lot of business to take care of, and because there's so much set-up at work, these episodes don't hold up well in comparison with the rest of the series. Much of the first season revolves around establishing the relationship of Fran and the kids, a storyline that takes up the bulk of 13 of the 22 episodes. Admittedly, the show is about these kids' nanny, but the best episodes in the series are about the relationship between Fran and Max or between Fran and her mother.

A couple of episodes are pretty good here though, including "Frannie's Choice," the first of many episodes that see Fran considering leaving the Sheffields, "Sunday in the Park with Fran," an episode about an annoying child who gets under the Nanny's skin, and "Schlepped Away," which features a classic sitcom set-up, as a snowstorm forces Fran and the Sheffields to take their vacation in Fran's parents' apartment. Combining the Sheffields and the Fines in a small apartment sets the stage for some nice culture-clash comedy, which is the meat of the series and the source of its biggest laughs. This show is a true classic, and that goes for the jokes as well, which though oft used, have aged well.

The season finale, in a true rarity for sitcoms, actually puts a proper cap on the first year of the show. "I Don't Remember Mama" sees Fine acting as a surrogate mother to Grace, only to have her status thrown in Grace's face, setting off the little girl's emotions about her dead mother. It's a touching story that's presented tenderly, considering the show's sense of humor. The plot establishes firmly the family dynamic and sets up the second season to improve on the concept. Plus, there's a Patti Labelle guest appearance to enjoy, so there's a little something for everyone.

The DVDs
The first season of The Nanny is presented on a three-DVD set, packaged in a pair of slipcased clear ThinPaks (one is a dual-disc case), with eight episodes on each of the first two DVDs and seven on the third DVD. The discs open with animation based on the series' opening titles, before settling in on a static full-frame menu that mimics the titles' style. Options include episode selections, special features (on discs one and three), subtitles and a play-all option, with a previews menu on the third disc.

The subtitles are a bit odd, as they vary from disc to disc according to the menus, but in reality, each has French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. They just can't all be chosen from the menu. Also, commentary subtitles are available in Spanish and Portuguese, but for some reason, not in French. Each episode has closed captioning also.

The Quality
For a series that's more than 10 years old, these full-frame episodes look excellent; much better than they ever have looked in syndication. The color is absolutely brilliant, whether it's intended to be bright or dull, though the skintones seem to be a bit on the pasty side. The level of detail is quite high for a show of its age, while there's not a spot of obvious dirt or damage. The only negative is some slight pixilation on thin dark lines, but overall, this set of transfers is highly impressive.

The sound is standard TV stereo, presented in Dolby Digital surround sound. There's nothing to complain about here, but at the same time, there's nothing all that special. The mix separates dialogue, music and the laugh track well. There's a lot of music found in this series, and the soundtrack delivers it well.

The Extras
Episode-length, scene-specific audio commentary is provided by Fran Fine herself, Fran Drescher, on three episodes, "The Pilot," "Imaginary Friend," and "I Don't Remember Mama." Considering how much she has to say about these episodes, Drescher is either very prepared or has a good memory, but considering she was both the star and producer, it makes sense that she knows so many details.

Drescher's tone is very conversational, and the chat has very few dead spots, making for three quality commentaries for fans of the series. There's some interesting background information shared along with plenty of her thoughts and feelings about the show. One story about how the series was picked up for a second season is almost unbelievable. Also, the choice of "Imaginary Friend" is not as random as it might seem, as Drescher explains during the track.

On disc three, there's also a 21-minute full-frame featurette, "The Making of 'The Nanny'". This well-edited look back includes solo interviews with Drescher and her ex-husband and production partner Peter Marc Jacobson, the three kids, now grown-up, and Grandma Yetta, Ann Morgan Guilbert. Some of the info is repeated from the commentaries, but the added viewpoints and accompanying clips from the show make for a fun remembrance of the show.

The Bottom Line
"The Nanny" was a series that embraced its concept and didn't try to break boundaries or try something new. Because of that, the series worked great as a classic sitcom with a great non-offensive sense of humor and a wonderful starring character that had universal appeal (even if her voice didn't.) The first season arrives home in beautiful condition, with a couple of entertaining and informative extras. If you're a fan of the series, you'll want to own these episodes, while the curious will want to give it a look as well.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.