Amen (1986)
Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen stars Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s which featured entirely or almost-entirely black casts. Others included The Cosby Show, A Different World, and 227.
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Episode 1 - California Dreaming
Release Date: 1987-10-03Reuben contemplates accepting a new job in Los Angeles.
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Episode 2 - Dancing in the Dark
Release Date: 1987-10-17A rivalry is renewed when Deacon Frye is pitted against an old law-school classmate, in defending a palimony suit. Deacon Frye decides to settle their rivalry in court.
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Episode 3 - You Bet Your Life
Release Date: 1987-10-24Amelia's gambling habit resurfaces.
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Episode 4 - Dueling Ministers
Release Date: 1987-10-31Rev. Johnny returns to give a sermon at the church.
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Episode 5 - Thelma's Reunion
Release Date: 1987-11-07As Thelma's high school reunion approaches, Thelma dreads coming to the reunion because of the way her life has turned out, and especially because of her old friend, Darlene Moore who she grew up with, and with whom she feels she could never match up. Meanwhile, the Reverend asks Thelma to go with him to her reunion, but then she finds out her father set it up. Meanwhile Cassietta is being audited by the IRS.
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Episode 6 - Deacon on the Line
Release Date: 1987-11-14The Deacon is left to his own devices when a teen-hotline caller threatens suicide.
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Episode 7 - Rolly's Proposal (1)
Release Date: 1987-11-21Romance blooms between Frye's aunt and Rolly.
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Episode 8 - Rolly's Wedding (2)
Release Date: 1987-11-28On the verge of marriage, Rolly gets cold feet.
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Episode 9 - Thelma's Birthday
Release Date: 1987-12-05Deacon Frye slips and falls while shovelling snow, and hurts his back. The doctor treating the Deacon's back becomes romantically interested in Thelma, and competes with Rev. Gregory for her attention, on her birthday.
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Episode 10 - Thelma's Little Girl
Release Date: 1987-12-12Thelma becomes a foster parent to a precocious nine-year-old girl.
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Episode 11 - The Twelve Songs of Christmas
Release Date: 1987-12-19The choir fights over which carol to sing in a competition.
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Episode 12 - Snakes Alive
Release Date: 1988-01-02After the Deacon runs out of the church in mortal terror, the Reverend discovers that his panic was due to a fake rubber snake someone had left behind. And because of that incident, the Deacon has been the object of ridicule with the congregation. So, to help conquer his fear of snakes, the Deacon visits a therapist, who begins treating him for his phobia. Part of the treatment includes him staying in a room alone with a large boa constrictor.
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Episode 13 - Man on a Ledge
Release Date: 1988-01-16Frye tries to erase Thelma's angry phone message.
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Episode 14 - To Catch a Thief
Release Date: 1988-01-23After money from the collection plate comes up missing, the Reverend and the Hetebrinks believe that Jeanette may have stolen it. And when Jeanette buys Thelma an expensive gift, they become more than convinced that she is the theif. At their accusations, the deacon is infuriated that they would suspect his precious granddaughter, and threatens to quit his position in the church. In the end, a lesson is learned by all, that what may appear to be true is not necessarily true, and that suspicion and lack of trust has no place in the church.
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Episode 15 - The Widow
Release Date: 1988-02-06An attractive church benefactor eyes Reuben.
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Episode 16 - Stranded
Release Date: 1988-02-20At a church retreat in the mountains, the Deacon has a spiritual reawakening after almost freezing to death during a blizzard. Thanks to Amelia, who took quick action to help save his life.
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Episode 17 - Deacon Dearest
Release Date: 1988-02-27Deacon Frye takes a personal interest in the divorce of a church couple, when he finds out the husband of the distraught woman is a millionaire.
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Episode 18 - The Fantasy
Release Date: 1988-03-05Thelma daydreams about a honeymoon with the Reverend, but the Deacon has his own vision of being with someone special, and where having the minister as a son-in-law creates lots of problems for him.
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Episode 19 - Wedding Bell Blues
Release Date: 1988-03-12Rev. Gregory is upset when the first couple he ever married accuses him of malpractice and negligent counseling. He is represented at his trial by attorney Frye, with surprising results. Meanwhile, Deacon Frye tries to turn the church into a wedding chapel, Las Vegas style.
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Episode 20 - A Slight Case of Murder (1)
Release Date: 1988-04-30When an attractive & glamorous woman comes to Deacon Frye for help in the murder of her husband, Deacon Frye defends her in court, and falls for charms.
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Episode 21 - A Slight Case of Murder (2)
Release Date: 1988-05-07Deacon Frye has now defended Roxanne in court and she has been found not to have murdered her husband. Now, there is nothing to stand in the way of his romantic passions for her. After a brief romantic interlude, they decide to get married, even though Thelma strongly disapproves. At the wedding ceremony, Thelma does everything she can to interrupt the proceedings, but undaunted, Deacon Frye presses ahead with the ceremony. Not even a fire in the church could stop him from marrying the woman of his Dreams.