About this season
Raising Miranda is a television series aired on CBS in 1988 as part of its fall lineup. Raising Miranda is the story of Donald Marshack, a Racine, Wisconsin contractor who suddenly found himself a single parent when his wife Bonnie had abandoned him and their 15 year old daughter, Miranda, in order to go and "find herself". Despite this rather grim premise, the show was billed as a situation comedy, the humor being derived from undomestic Donald now being forced to serve as both father and mother to a teenage girl. Bryan Cranston played Donald's brother-in-law, Russell. Audiences apparently found the premise a little too grim and the program lasted only two months.
Episodes (9)
1. Black Monday
Aired 5 November 1988 • 30 min
Deserted by his wife and her mother, Donald Marshack and daughter Miranda are left to fend for themselves in Racine, Wis., where, in the opener, they are besieged by well-meaning friends and co-workers offering comfort and casseroles.
2. Grounded
Aired 12 November 1988 • 30 min
Donald grounds Miranda after she takes an unauthorized road trip, but neither of them is quite sure how the house-arrest deal works.
3. Man in the Middle
Aired 19 November 1988 • 30 min
Marcine (wonders if her friendship with Miranda will stand the test of time when Miranda seems to be spending most of hers with Jack.
4. Miranda's Date
Aired 26 November 1988 • 30 min
Miranda has agreed to a date with a boy from another school. Despite Marcine's helpful hints on dating and romance — mostly gleaned from syrupy teen romance novels — Miranda is petrified. Donald does his best to balance exhilaration and parental concern. The date's father turns out to be kind of a jerk who wants to cut a business deal with Donald. The two dads agree to let daughter and son go to the movies alone. After the date, on the front porch, Miranda experiences her first big kiss.
5. All Through the Night
Aired 3 December 1988 • 30 min
Miranda's high fever sparks some strange dreams, including a hot dance number with Jack and an ironing nightmare.
6. Home for the Holidays
Aired 10 December 1988 • 30 min
Miranda and Donald do their best to have a very merry Christmas with the Hoodenpyles, but are confronted by memories of the holiday with Mom.
7. Marcine Shoplifts
Aired 31 December 1988 • 30 min
Marcine and Miranda are Miranda-ized when Marcine is caught shoplifting after a fight with her mother.
8. Russell's Broken Heart
Miranda is thrilled at the prospect of Uncle Russell settling down when he announces that he intends to get married.