The cast of "The Nanny" reunited Monday to raise the spirits of fans who are in quarantine during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In a video entitled “The Nanny Episode 1: Pandemic Table Read," the sitcom's co-creator and star, Fran Drescher, was joined for a table read of the premiere episode by her ex-husband and co-creator, Peter Marc Jacobson, as well as her former co-stars Charles Shaughnessy (Maxwell Sheffield), Daniel Davis (Niles), Lauren Lane (C.C. Babcock), Nicholle Tom (Maggie Sheffield), Benjamin Salisbury (Brighton Sheffield), Alex Sternin (Eddie), Renee Taylor (Sylvia Fine), Madeline Zima (Grace Sheffield), DeeDee Rescher (Dottie) Rachel Chagall (Val) and Jonathan Penner (Danny).
Songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway, who wrote the show’s memorable theme song, was also on-hand to perform it.
The only original cast member who did not join the table read was James Marsden, who appeared in the show as Tom's character's boyfriend, Eddie.
“Laughter is the best medicine! So, in these challenging times, Petah and I thought, wouldn’t it be great if we pulled together the original cast of ‘The Nanny’ for a virtual read of the pilot?” Drescher told Variety in a statement. “It’s a once in a lifetime Pandemic Performance for our fans around the world who are currently stressing in isolation and could use a real upper! It sure has given each of us a lift and we hope it does for you as well.”
Drescher, 62, who runs the nonprofit Cancer Schmancer, is also developing “The Nanny: A New Musical” for Broadway along with Jacobson, Variety reported in January. In a statement, the two told the publication that nobody had been cast yet.
Adam Schlesinger and Rachel Bloom, who won an Emmy for their work on Bloom's series "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," were tapped to write the music for the show. Schlesinger died last month from complications of COVID-19.