Man of the House (TV series)

Man of the House is the title of two distinct television sitcoms, one British and one American, each with its own premise and broadcast history.

British Version (1973-1976)

The original Man of the House was a British sitcom created by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. It aired on ITV from 1973 to 1976, running for six series. The show revolves around Robin Tripp (played by Richard O'Sullivan), a student chef, who shares a flat with two young women: Chrissy Plummer (Paula Wilcox) and Jo (Sally Thomsett, later replaced by Yootha Joyce). To circumvent rules against unmarried men and women living together, Robin pretends to be gay and takes on domestic duties, while Chrissy and Jo work outside the home. Much of the humor derives from Robin’s attempts to maintain this deception and the social awkwardness it creates, as well as from his culinary misadventures and interactions with their landlords, George and Mildred Roper (Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce), a bickering middle-aged couple. The popularity of Man of the House led to two spin-off series: George and Mildred and Robin's Nest.

American Version (1995-1996)

The American Man of the House was a sitcom that aired on NBC from 1995 to 1996. It starred Jonathan Prince as Jack Sherwood, a 25-year-old animation artist who becomes the legal guardian of his two younger sisters, 16-year-old Katie (Courtnee Draper) and 11-year-old Sarah (Brittany Murphy). The show focused on Jack's struggles to balance his career and social life with the responsibilities of raising his sisters, often relying on the support of his eccentric best friend, Norman, and navigating the challenges of teenage life with Katie. The series ran for two seasons before being cancelled. Unlike the British version, the American Man of the House was not a remake or adaptation of any existing show.