A pleasant, old-school NBC sitcom with a strong cast and easygoing comfort-food appeal, but it’s more charming than essential. It works best as a light hangout comedy and as a companion piece to the broader Susan Harris/Golden Girls universe, though its jokes and rhythms are very much of their era.
31% ★★☆☆☆ (4,377)
Empty Nest
Where to watch: Buy
TV Show · Family · Comedy
1988 · ★ 31% (4.4K)
Starring: Richard Mulligan, Dinah Manoff, David Leisure
Overview
Widowed pediatrician Harry Weston is a miracle worker when it comes to dealing with his young patients, but he's more challenged by the other people surrounding him: daughters Barbara and Carol; his wisecracking office assistant, nurse LaVerne Todd; and obnoxious neighborhood mooch Charley Dietz. Thank goodness he always finds a friendly shoulder (and a warm, wet tongue) in Dreyfuss, his enormous dog.
Richard Mulligan, Dinah Manoff, David Leisure, Park Overall, Marsha Warfield, Estelle Getty
Curator Review
Verdict
A pleasant, old-school NBC sitcom with a strong cast and easygoing comfort-food appeal, but it’s more charming than essential. It works best as a light hangout comedy and as a companion piece to the broader Susan Harris/Golden Girls universe, though its jokes and rhythms are very much of their era.
Best for
Fans of 1980s network sitcoms
Viewers who like warm, character-driven ensemble comedies
People curious about the Golden Girls universe
Comfort-watch audiences looking for low-stakes episodes
Skip if
You want sharp, modern joke density
You need a premise with a strong serialized hook
You’re not in the mood for broad 80s sitcom sensibilities
You prefer comedies with more edge or formal ambition
Overview
Empty Nest is a gentle, broadly appealing sitcom built around Richard Mulligan’s weary but kind-hearted pediatrician and the oddball family and neighbors orbiting him. The show’s biggest asset is its ensemble chemistry: Dinah Manoff, Park Overall, David Leisure, and Marsha Warfield all give the series a lively, lived-in rhythm, while Estelle Getty’s presence ties it to a larger NBC comedy ecosystem. It’s easy to watch and often amiable, even when the jokes are simple.
Worth noting
The series is at its best when it leans into domestic friction, workplace banter, and the recurring chaos of Harry’s home life. It’s less about high-concept plotting than about familiar sitcom comfort, which makes it durable as background viewing but not especially distinctive compared with the best network comedies of its decade. The humor can be broad and occasionally dated, but the cast keeps it afloat.
Bottom line
If you enjoy late-80s/early-90s multi-camera sitcoms with a warm tone and a dependable ensemble, it’s worth sampling. If you’re looking for a must-see classic, it’s more of a pleasant secondary pick than a top-tier essential.