Roomies is an American sitcom television series created by Sy Rosen, that aired on NBC from March 19 until May 15, 1987. Reruns of the series later aired on Saturday mornings in 1991.[1]
Plot
The series centered on Nick Chase, a 42-year old former drill instructor who has retired from the U.S. Marine Corps and is now taking advantage of the GI Bill to attend Saginaw University. He gets assigned to room with Matthew Wiggins, 14-year old "boy genius", who has also enrolled at Saginaw to study marine biology. Nick does not like this arrangement at first, but when he sees Matthew is serious about his studies, he appreciates avoiding the stereotypical raunchiness and zaniness associated with college students and sees the same discipline in Matthew that he saw in his recruits, and the two form a partnership, trying to help each other out.[2] Among those shown were a trio of 'Singing Freshman' who sang through the hallways.
Trivia
Burt Young himself served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959. The "recruits" he was marching in the opening credits were real Marines from the Marine Barracks at the Seal Beach Naval Weapon Station.
Nick tries some self-analysis after he follows a date with his psychology professor with a visit to another woman.
5
"The Ditch"
Jim Drake
Richard Marcus
April 24, 1987 (1987-04-24)
Nick roars with anger when a film festival audience roars with laughter at his starring role in the Marine training film Digging a Ditch.
6
"Bobby Midnight"
Jim Drake
Sybil Adelman & Martin Sage
May 1, 1987 (1987-05-01)
Matthew creates an uproar among the campus women in his secret life as disc jockey Bobby Midnight.
7
"Obsession"
Jim Drake
Hollis Rich & Lydia Woodward
May 8, 1987 (1987-05-08)
When Matthew and his girlfriend are torn apart by their passion for science, Nick's advice to patch things up leads him to a reconciliation of his own.
8
"Mid-Term Fever"
Jim Drake
Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo
May 15, 1987 (1987-05-15)
His first bout with mid-term fever sends Nick reeling towards home to recuperate.