Series Reaches 100th Episode Milestone This Season;

Paul Provenza Joins Cast in Recurring Role as Patrick Arcola

“Empty Nest,” the Emmy Award-winning half-hour comedy series, returns for its fifth season on September 19 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT) on NBC. Paul Provenza joins the cast in the recurring role of Patrick Arcola, an avant garde sculptor who has captured Carol’s (Dinah Manoff) heart.

Since its auspicious debut in 1988, “Empty Nest,” starring Richard Mulligan as a widowed pediatrician still raising two grown daughters (Manoff and Kristy McNichol), has been a consistent ratings success, often finishing in the top ten. NBC has expressed such confidence in the continued strength of the show, that it has renewed “Empty Nest” for 52 additional episodes over the next two television seasons.

This season the cast has another reason to celebrate as they reach a television milestone: the taping of their 100th episode.

Season five promises exciting and innovative storylines. For instance, after four seasons of being without a steady boyfriend, Carol finally finds the man of her dreams, Patrick, who promptly moves into the Westons’ household and turns Harry’s (Mulligan) life upside down. This is the catalyst for poignant and hilarious plots involving the entire “Empty Nest” family. Harry’s intractability is put to the test when Carol breaks house rules, but can she finally hold on to a man?

Laverne (Park Overall) discovers there is life after divorce; while Charley (David Leisure) makes a feeble attempt to find meaning in his life as a stand-up comedian; and Barbara (McNichol) adds a new dimension to her career as a police officer when she becomes the technical consultant to a famous actress who has been cast as a cop in a television show. Even Dreyfuss (Bear), Harry’s four-legged confidante, gets kidnapped. The show will also deal with issue-oriented topics such as steroid abuse, poor self-image and love the second time around.

A number of top-name guests are also scheduled to appear this season.

“Empty Nest’s” Richard Mulligan garnered a 1989 Emmy Award, and received Emmy nominations in 1990 and 1991 for his portrayal of Harry Weston.

“Empty Nest” is a Witt-Thomas-Harris Production in association with Touchstone Television. Paul Witt, Tony Thomas, Susan Harris, Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen, Arnie Kogen and Robert LaZebnik are the executive producers. Roger Garrett is the co-executive producer and Susan Harris is creator.

Touchstone Television is a part of Walt Disney Pictures and Television.

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Official production company press release, August 1992