Veronica's Closet is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. It aired on NBC for three seasons, from September 25, 1997 to December 7, 2000. Kirstie Alley starred as Veronica "Ronnie" Chase, the owner and head of the titular fictional lingerie company in New York City, which was derived from the real-life lingerie company, Victoria's Secret. Kathy Najimy, Dan Cortese, Wallace Langham, Darryl Mitchell, Robert Prosky (season 1), Ron Silver (season 2), and Lorri Bagley (season 3) co-starred. The show was a top 10 success during its first two seasons (ranking No. 3 in its first year and No. 5 in its second), airing between Seinfeld and ER within the 'Must See TV' lineup. Ratings dropped when NBC moved it to a new timeslot, resulting in the show being cancelled after three seasons on the air. During its run, it aired a total of 66 episodes (22 per season).

Overview

Veronica 'Ronnie' Chase, played by Alley, has made a living being known as the "Queen of Romance". She is the owner of Veronica's Closet, a company that sells lingerie and other bedroom accessories. Her husband Bryce, played by Christopher McDonald, regularly cheats on her, though she always takes him back because of the image she has created. However, after another tryst, Veronica decides to leave him and begins her life as a single woman. She is championed by her best friend and Chief Financial Officer Olive Massery, played by Kathy Najimy, and her father Pat Chase, played by Robert Prosky, who is also her chauffeur. She also works with Perry Rollins, played by Dan Cortese, a former thong model who is her publicist; her assistant Josh Blair, played by Wallace Langham, and Leo Michaels, played by Darryl Mitchell. Later in the first season, she gets a silent partner in Millicent, played by Holland Taylor. However, when Millicent dies, the company is taken over by Millicent's incompetent son. During the second season Millicent's ex-husband, Alec Bilson, played by Ron Silver, takes the company from his former stepson and helps the company regain some financial ground. However, he and Ronnie get closer, romantically, as the season progresses. He dies between seasons two and three and is revealed to have married someone else. His widow, June Bilson, played by Lorri Bagley, is a stereotypical dumb blonde who has some secret intelligence. She remodels the entire office and refuses to give up her share of the company until Olive buys her out in the series finale.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest stars

Production history, reception, and ratings

The show was taped at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, on soundstage 25. The role of Bryce was originally played by Jamey Sheridan in an unaired pilot before the role was recast with Christopher McDonald. The producers had wanted McDonald to play Bryce but he could not accept the role at first because when they were filming the pilot, he was shooting Into Thin Air. The original pilot was then reshot when McDonald became available. The series premiered on September 25, 1997, after Seinfeld, to 35 million viewers. Variety gave it a mixed review but said it had potential. Its title was derived from the real-life lingerie company, Victoria's Secret. They complained about it. Hammocked between Seinfeld and ER within the 'Must See TV' lineup, the show was a huge success, although the initial ratings died down a bit later in the first season. The New York Times said it "has the highest Nielsen ratings of any new show this season and critics are lining up to proclaim her show 'must-she TV'." The sitcom spent the first two seasons as a top 10 hit (No. 3 in its first season, No. 5 in its second), airing on Thursdays at 9:30 (after Seinfeld in season 1 and after Frasier in season 2). NBC moved the show out of 'Must See TV' to a new timeslot, following Suddenly Susan (another NBC sitcom centered around a professional single woman), on Mondays for the 1999–2000 season. Ratings fell more than 50 percent, and NBC put both shows on hiatus. The show returned on Tuesdays at 9:30 (after Will & Grace) with only a slight boost in ratings. NBC canceled the series in 2000, along with Suddenly Susan, due to low ratings. Reruns were shown on USA Network from 2000 to early 2003 and on TV Guide Network from 2011 to 2012.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (1997–98)

Season 2 (1998–99)

Season 3 (1999–2000)

Broadcast and ratings history

Accolades

The series received recognition from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Arts among other associations.