Blossom

Synopsis Family-themed sitcoms usually present an idealized vision of family life—the ‘perfect’ family. These are your Cleavers, your Bradys, your Cunninghams, your Huxtables... But Blossom bucked this trend with its realistically dysfunctional TV family, the Russos.

Blossom was the youngest of the bunch at age thirteen, but often seemed to be the smartest and most mature of the group. She had two brothers: Anthony was a recovering drug addict, and Joey was a sweet-natured but slightly-dim hunk. Nick was their father, a session musician who was reeling from his recent divorce with their mother. Not officially a member of the family but just as close was Six, Blossom’s fast-talking best friend. Later additions to the cast included Buzz, the family’s grandfather, and Carol, a love interest for Nick who would eventually become his wife.

Blossom provided the viewers' eyes and ears into the family situation. She kept a video ‘diary,’ pouring out her thoughts and feelings to a home video camera as she pondered the life lessons she and her family learned. An early gimmick in the show involved Blossom's fantasies, during which she would get advice from celebrities like Little Richard, Phil Donahue, and even Alf. This aspect of the show was played down as the show progressed.

The episodes’ plotlines were often as unusual as the family itself, like the time when Blossom and Six tried to sell stolen toasters to raise the money they needed for expensive designer jeans. Grand schemes aside, the show often dealt with relevant teen social issues like teen sexuality, drug abuse, and peer pressure, and this angle made the show a big hit with pre-teen and teen girls. The show’s young female audience also loved teen-idol Joey Lawrence, who experienced some success as a recording artist thanks to his popularity on the show (his hit was “Nothin' My Love Can’t Fix”).

Blossom was cancelled in June of 1995 after a five-season run on NBC. By this time, the star herself had blossomed into a mature young woman, and it was time to leave the video diary behind and move on.

Sub Categories comedy

Release History1/3/91 - 3/20/95 NBC
5/22/95 - 6/6/95 NBC

Network NBC

Studio Witt/Thomas Productions, Buena Vista Television

Cast

Blossom Russo		Mayim Bialik
Anthony Russo		Michael Stoyanov
Nick Russo		Ted Wass
Joey Russo		Joey Lawrence
Six LeMeure		Jenna von Oÿ
Buzz Richman (1991-93)		Barnard Hughes
Rhonda Jo Applegate (1992-93)		Portia Dawson
Carol Russo (1994-95)		Finola Hughes
Kennedy (1994-95)		Courtney Chase
Frank (1994-95)		Kevin Jamal Woods
Vinnie Bonitardi (1992-93)		David Lascher
Sharon LeMeure (1991-93)		Gail Edwards
Shelley Russo (1993-95)		Samaria Graham
Susan		Megan McGinnis