Sherman Hemsley
Deacon Ernest Frye
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Series SeasonSeason 1 episodes1986
Amen
Season 1
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Episodes
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Episode 130 min1986-09-27
Pilot
In the series pilot, Ernest Frye, a holier-than-thou deacon, is seeking a new minister for the First Community church.
Episode 230 min1986-10-04
The Courtship of Bess Richards
After hearing a beautiful gospel singer sing at a wedding, Deacon Frye decides to woo her so she will join the church and sing in the choir. He flatters her, and wines her and dines her to compel her to come, but his plan backfires when all the attention she is receiving causes her to fall in love with Deacon Frye, and she thinks he wants to marry her. At his wits end, he decides to tell her the truth, unaware of the wrath of a scorned woman.
Episode 330 min1986-10-11
The Morning After
Thelma intoxicates Reverend Gregory with her wine-cooked dinner, and he intoxicates her with a kiss. But the next morning, he has to break the news to her that he is not romantically interested in her, it was the alcohol that affected him. However, Thelma doesn't take the bad news very well, and gives him some charm of her own. Reuben also faces a dliemna with secretarial overstaffing.
Episode 430 min1986-11-01
The Deacon Delivers
A wayward teen wants to be reinstated in the church choir after being away from it for a while. Pastor Gregory is anxious to reinstate her, until he finds out she is pregnant, and not married. Fearing that her example might be a bad one for other teens in the church, he asks her to leave the choir. But things come to a head when she goes into labor during a baby shower at Deacon Frye's house, and the deacon is the only one left to deliver the baby. Meanwhile, the gang is trying to learn to speak Italian.
Episode 530 min1986-11-08
Rolly Falls in Love
Rolly has his eye on the waitress at the diner around the corner, but he is too shy to approach her. So he asks Deacon Frye to approach her on his behalf. Deacon Frye meets the waitress named Leona and finds out she doesn't even know who Rolly is. But since she's so attractive, he decides to ask her out himself. But while having a romantic get-together at her place, they are surprised by the unexpected return of her husband. Deacon Frye narrowly escapes without getting caught, but when he stops by to tell Rolly what happened, Rolly makes a date with the real waitress he's had his eye on, Hannah. Oddly enough, he doesn't even know who Leona is.
Episode 630 min1986-11-15
Retreat, Heck!
The church's planned retreat is not at all interesting to Deacon Frye, until he learns that a former client, whom he caused to spend 5 years in jail, is getting out, and blames him for his jail time. So now, Deacon Frye must join the rest of the church at the retreat so the angry former client can't find him.
Episode 730 min1986-11-22
Sermon From the Cell
Rev. Gregory is jailed for giving refugees sanctuary, and the Deacon, charged with contempt of court while trying to defend him, gets incarcerated for 1 day. While there, the Reverend realizes that it is the first Sunday he hadn't delivered the sermon in many years, and preaches a rousing sermon to the only person he has available to him, his cellmate Willie.
Episode 830 min1986-11-29
Maitre D'eacon
A woman bequeaths the church members her eatery (a French restaurant) — providing they continue its successful operation. But the church runs into trouble meeting it's next balloon mortgage payment, which is due immediately. So, in order to save the church, they decide to sell the restaurant, but the terms of the will state that as long as it is a success, they can never sell it. What will the church do in order to meet its obligation to the bank?
Episode 930 min1986-12-06
Reuben's Romance
Rev. Gregory has a crisis of conscience when he is attracted to a widow who needs comforting in her time of grief. He wrestles with his conscience when she asks him to perform her wedding ceremony to another man, knowing that he wishes it was him.
Episode 1030 min1986-12-13
After the Fall
Rolly falls at the bank and, after the Deacon finagles, is awarded a settlement—which he refuses.
Episode 1130 min1986-12-20
Your Christmas Show of Shows
The church is preparing to put on a Christmas pageant, when they find out that a TV crew is scheduled to come and broadcast the show on live TV. Everyone works feverishly long into the night to finish preparations for the event. But at the last minute, a heavy snowfall blankets Philadelphia in tons of snow. Now everybody is snowed-in, and no one shows up to watch the show, not even the film crew. Eventually, the kids in the show teach the congregation a lesson in faith & perseverence.
Episode 1230 min1987-01-10
Frye for the Defense
A fund-raiser at the church takes an unexpected turn when the church gets sued for making someone sick with tainted macaroni salad. During the trial, Deacon Frye takes matters into his own hands to win the case for the church.
Episode 1330 min1987-01-17
Thelma's Choice
The new man in Thelma's life seems like Mr. Right to everyone, especially Deacon Frye, who thinks he's the greatest. But as they head for the altar, the question becomes: Is Thelma's heart really for Larry, or is it still for Rev. Gregory?
Episode 1430 min1987-01-24
Betting on the Boy
Frye befriends a computer whiz who picks sports winners.
Episode 1530 min1987-02-07
Casting the First Stone
While testifying in the church, Lorenzo admits to having an affair with an unnamed sister in the church, which starts the congregation speculating and gossipping, and turns member against member. In order for the church to get back to normal, and for people to stop speculating, the woman must come forward and also confess her illicit affair with Lorenzo. However, in an uncharactistic move, the congretation gels when the guilty party stands before them.
Episode 1630 min1987-02-14
Yes Sir, That's Your Baby
After attending the christening of Lynnette and Jerome's child, the Hetebrinks break down and cry because they believe they're too old to have any children of their own. But after the Reverend recommends that they consider adoption, they engage deacon Frye's legal services to adopt a baby son. And with the deacon's usual effectiveness, he arranges a super-quick adoption for a son for the Hetebrinks. But the child turns out to be an 18-year-old. Now the sisters must decide to send the child back or to dig deep and find the love in their hearts to provide a home for their new son Ricky.
Episode 1730 min1987-02-21
Into the Night
A date with Frye lands Reuben's aunt in jail.
Episode 1830 min1987-02-28
The Divorce Lawyer
A forlorn woman comes to Deacon Frye's office seeking a divorce from her husband who she suspects is cheating on her. Frye sends his undercover detective to follow the man, and is informed that the husband is definitely cheating. However, after being misinformed, Frye tells the woman that her husband is unfaithful. Meanwhile, the church board votes in a new chairman to replace the deacon.
Episode 1930 min1987-03-07
The Rival
Deacon Frye hires a new attractive Sunday school teacher for the church, and Reuben falls for her, angering Thelma.
Episode 2030 min1987-03-14
The Magician
Aspiring magician Frye auditions for a children's show.
Episode 2130 min1987-03-21
Glen Garry Glen Thelma
Inept Thelma tries her hand at real estate.
Episode 2230 min1987-04-04
What's Up, Deacon?
The Deacon turns over a new leaf in an effort to be the church's nominee for a humanitarian award, which could win him and Thelma a trip to the Holy Land.
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