Poster: Stuck In The '70's
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Built to Last aired from September until October 1997 on NBC.
This ironically named sitcom, which aired just three times on NBC's fall schedule, was based on the real life family of black comedian Royale Watkins. In the series Royale was a young computer whiz who put his career on hold in order to help run the family's small construction business in Washington D.C., after his proud father Russel ( Paul Winfield) suffered a mild heart attack. Crusty, cranky Russel could do little but complain loudly as Royale dueled with bossy eldest son Robert ( Geoffrey Owens), an archetect, teenage Randal(J. Lamont Pope), loud, chubby Tammy (Natalie Desselle) and 9 year old Ryce ( Jeremy Suarez). Sylvia ( Denise Dowse) was the bossy mom, and Stanley (Richard Speight, Jr.) the sycophantic young white assistant. There was a lot of yelling at Watkins Construction.
Actor Royale Watkin's real life father ran a real Watkins Construction in Washington , which was far more successful than this series.
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