"Clarissa Explains It All" (1991) TV series 1991-1994

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Creator:

Mitchell Kriegman
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

23 March 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy

Plot:

As events unfold in her life, Clarissa explains to the viewer the motivations behind people's actions.

Plot Keywords:

Aunt Niece Relationship | Grandparents | Actress Talks To Audience | Cigarette Smoking | Satire

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Melissa Joan Hart	...	Clarissa Darling (65 episodes, 1991-1994)
Jason Zimbler	...	Ferguson Darling (65 episodes, 1991-1994)
Elizabeth Hess	...	Janet Darling (65 episodes, 1991-1994)
Joe O'Connor	...	Marshall Darling (65 episodes, 1991-1994)
Sean O'Neal	...	Sam Anders (65 episodes, 1991-1994)

(more)

Series Directed by
Maureen Thorp		(6 episodes, 1991)
Chuck Vinson		(5 episodes, 1991-1993)
Ken Frankel		(2 episodes, 1991)
Richard Steir		(unknown episodes, 1992)

Series Writing credits
Mitchell Kriegman		(70 episodes, 1991-1994)
Neena Beber		(33 episodes, 1992-1994)
Alexa Junge		(7 episodes, 1991)
Mollie Fermaglich		(7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Nena Beeber		(6 episodes, 1991)
Patricia Marx		(2 episodes, 1991)
Suzanne Collins		(2 episodes, 1993)
Douglas Petrie		(2 episodes, 1993)
Mark Cerulli		(unknown episodes, 1993)
Alan Goodman		(unknown episodes)
Peter Mattei		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Mitchell Kriegman	....	executive producer / producer (70 episodes, 1991-1994)
Sarah Condon	....	line producer (11 episodes, 1991)
Chris Gifford	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1991)
Andy Bamberger	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 1991)
Brown Johnson	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 1991)
Geoffrey Darby	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1991)
Marjorie Cohn	....	executive producer: Nickelodeon (unknown episodes)
Thira Matkovic Goldfinger	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Alan Goodman	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Albie Hecht	....	executive producer: Nickelodeon (unknown episodes)
Margo Kent-Green	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Herb Scannell	....	executive producer: Nickelodeon (unknown episodes)
Jeanne Simon	....	line producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Willa Bassen		(unknown episodes)
Anthony Battaglia		(unknown episodes)
Rachel Sweet		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Richard A. Fernandes		(6 episodes, 1991)
Keith Bozak		(unknown episodes)
Tom Heckbert		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Michael Koegel		(10 episodes, 1991)
Rich Ross		(10 episodes, 1991)
Jill Mendelson		(6 episodes, 1991)
Dan Scheffey		(unknown episodes)
Jennifer Van Der Molen		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Byron Taylor		(10 episodes, 1991)

Series Art Direction by
David Ellis		(10 episodes, 1991)

Series Costume Design by
Lisa Lederer		(10 episodes, 1991)
Ellen Falguiere		(unknown episodes)
Bruce Anthony Marshall		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Colleen LaBaff	....	department head hair stylist (58 episodes, 1991-1994)
Tish Simpson	....	hair stylist (6 episodes, 1991)
Liz Spang	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1991)
Lee Grimes	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Donick Cary	....	post-production supervisor (10 episodes, 1991)
Jim Moroney	....	production manager (10 episodes, 1991)
Jacqueline Davis	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1991)
Bill Aiken	....	executive in charge of production (4 episodes, 1991)
Jeanne Simon	....	unit manager (4 episodes, 1991)
Cynthia Albanese	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Marisa Doolan	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Steir	....	associate director (6 episodes, 1991)
Jimmie Scurti	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1991)
Richard A. Fernandes	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Stephen M. Clark	....	assistant property master (13 episodes, 1991)
Andy Curaney	....	stagehand (6 episodes, 1991)
Wayne Spoor	....	props (6 episodes, 1991)
Rich West	....	props (6 episodes, 1991)
Vickie Wilson	....	props (6 episodes, 1991)
Ed McMillan	....	stagehand (5 episodes, 1991)
Deborah Witt	....	property master (5 episodes, 1991)
Mark Simon	....	storyboard artist (2 episodes, 1991-1993)
Blair Barnette	....	painter (unknown episodes)
William F. Gambill	....	charge scenic (unknown episodes)
Mark Koivu	....	set constructor (unknown episodes)
Joseph Lallement	....	carpenter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Mark Schultz	....	senior sound / sound (70 episodes, 1991-1994)
Kris Barnes	....	audio / utility sound (6 episodes, 1991)
Steve Bunnell	....	utility sound (6 episodes, 1991)
Mark Deadman	....	boom operator / audio (6 episodes, 1991)
Grant Maxwell	....	post-production sound mixer (6 episodes, 1991)
Frank Vila	....	utility sound (6 episodes, 1991)
Bob Van Dorn	....	boom operator (5 episodes, 1991)
Frank Rohrer	....	audio / boom operator (4 episodes, 1991)
Bill Giglio	....	utility sound (3 episodes, 1991)
Jim Van Winkle	....	audio / sound (2 episodes, 1991)
Neil Cedar	....	m&e foley recordist (unknown episodes)
Ray Palagy	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Nondas Voll	....	audio post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Don St. Mars	....	paintbox artist (6 episodes, 1991)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Dick Weiss	....	lighting designer / lighting director (10 episodes, 1991)
Lonnie Blackburn	....	video tape operator (6 episodes, 1991)
Rudy Carames	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1991)
Barbara Drago	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1991)
Dave Kinney	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1991)
Ken Kraus	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1991)
Sean Mallon	....	lighting board operator (6 episodes, 1991)
Pete McIntyre	....	video engineer (6 episodes, 1991)
Chris English	....	assistant lighting director (5 episodes, 1991)
Rick Mendoza	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1991)
Darrin Tindall	....	electrician (4 episodes, 1991)
Alf Zammit	....	electrician (4 episodes, 1991)
Ben Fisher	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1991)
Michael Foster	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1991)
David Nurse	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1991)
Ed Tindall	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1991)
Ed Lopez	....	video tape operator (unknown episodes)
Bob Van Dorn	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Frank Vila	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jackie Lafler	....	wardrobe supervisor (6 episodes, 1991)
Richard Plombon	....	wardrobe assistant (4 episodes, 1991)
Megan Hart	....	wardrobe assistant (2 episodes, 1991)

Series Editorial Department
Cynthia Albanese	....	post-production coordinator (6 episodes, 1991)
Keith Bozarth	....	off-line editor (5 episodes, 1991)
Michael Sherwood	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Willa Bassen	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 1991)
Anthony Battaglia	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 1991)
Rachel Sweet	....	composer: theme music / singer: theme song (6 episodes, 1991)
Dan Vitco	....	composer: additional music (5 episodes, 1991)
Bob Kinkel	....	composer: incidental music (2 episodes, 1991)

Series Other crew
Matt Day	....	production assistant (47 episodes, 1991-1993)
Mitchell Kriegman	....	story editor (18 episodes, 1991)
Todd Denkin	....	talent coordinator (10 episodes, 1991)
Pamela B. Ginsburg	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 1991)
John M. Lutz	....	technical director (10 episodes, 1991)
Tim Rounds	....	technical manager (9 episodes, 1991)
Francie Elikan	....	chyron operator (6 episodes, 1991)
Margo Kent-Green	....	continuity (6 episodes, 1991)
Randy Koshinskie	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1991)
Henry Z. Neimark	....	stage manager (6 episodes, 1991)
Alexa Junge	....	creative consultant (5 episodes, 1991)
Karen Wald	....	production coordinator (5 episodes, 1991)
Joshua Berger	....	stage manager (4 episodes, 1991)
Bobby Lory	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1991)
Margo Comport	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1991)
David A. Roofthooft	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1991)
Beth Cooze Baggett	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1991)
Nanette Morosi	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1991)
Aaron Coleman	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Alison Dexter	....	director of production management (unknown episodes)
V. Mumper Hladik	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
A. Kovak	....	accountant: Thunder Pictures (unknown episodes)
Laura Lyons	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Joseph Prewitt	....	video (unknown episodes)
Chris Silveira	....	cast manager (unknown episodes)
Jeff Wilson	....	technical manager (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Herb Scannell	....	special thanks (6 episodes, 1991)
Lauren Gray	....	special thanks (2 episodes, 1991)

Production Companies

• Nickelodeon Network
• Thunder Pictures

Distributors

• MTV Networks (1991-1994) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• NICK (2005) (Germany) (TV)
• Super RTL (????) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• On Location Education  Children's education provider
• Sync Sound  audio post-production
• Viteo/Barnat Music Productions  additional music

Also Known As:

Clarissa (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

30 min | 30 min (65 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-Y | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Orlando, Florida, USA

Company:

Nickelodeon Network

Quotes:

[Clarissa and her dad, who has come down with the flu, are discussing Bouncy Balls]
Marshall Darling: But don't you think it's a little weird to eat something that you've been bouncing on the floor?
Clarissa Darling: Dad, you haven't really been eating them after they've been on the floor, have you?
[beat]
Marshall Darling: I'm gonna go get some more bouillon.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Venture Bros.: Escape to the House of Mummies Part II (#2.4)" (2006)

Entertaining like you can't imagine

I was born in 1986, and this show came on Nick when I was five. I was a little young during its original run to seriously enjoy it, but now that it's back on Noggin (who are also reviving the genius classic 'The Adventures of Pete and Pete') I think it's one of the most fantastically entertaining shows out there. It may not be the most ground breaking and original show I've ever seen in my life, but it really doesn't matter for the fact that you just can't get enough of it!

Clarissa Darling is a hip and smart high school girl who has the coolest outfits (not to mention the coolest room!) and often finds herself in complicated situations (such as dancing in a talent show and going on a blind date). She also has a little brother from hell named Ferguson (AKA Ferg-face or Ferg-wad), who always tries hard to become a businessman, stand-up comic... you name it.

The parents are just kind of average, but Sam's awesome because it's not too often you see a girl's best friend who's a guy (on a TV show that is).

So all in all, give this show a shot if you get Noggin. It's a classic for all of us who were born in the '80s and grew up in the early '90s. : )