It drives me nuts that when most people think of The Nanny, the first thing that comes to mind is “That Voice” — Fran Drescher’s unmistakable Queens accent, capable of turning a simple “Mr. Sheffield” into a four-syllable ear assault. Sure, it was a brilliant comedic quirk, but for years it became the show’s Achilles’ heel, giving critics an easy excuse to dismiss The Nanny as nothing more than shrill, pandering fluff.
For anyone who’s ever thought that… I forgive you. I used to be you.
Around 2000, when The Nanny entered syndication on Lifetime, my memories of the original CBS run were hazy. I remembered Fran’s voice, her outrageous outfits, and a snarky, British butler. That was about it. But revisiting the show made me realize it was far more than a ’90s relic of big hair, neon leggings, and Barbra Streisand jokes. It was a masterclass in classical sitcom structure. Fran’s over-the-top antics were pure I Love Lucy. The humor drew on timeless class conflicts — the same vein Oscar Wilde and The Jeffersons mined — and the writing was sharp, quick, and unapologetically funny.
Consider this exchange:
Gracie: Fran, how much older than me are you?
Fran: Let me put it this way: When you’re 20, I’ll be 40. When you’re 30, I’ll be 40. And when you’re 40… you’ll understand why I’m still 40.
Roll your eyes if you must. But The Nanny was one of the last bastions for the pure zinger, a breed increasingly rare on modern TV. Today, sitcoms often find laughs in situational setups or character-driven nuance (Parks and Recreation, Modern Family). But here, jokes could just pop, hit, and leave you in stitches before the scene moved on — a sort of cartoon-vaudeville magic.
Every character had their moments, from Maxwell to C.C. to Val, but the best lines were shared between Fran and Niles, the sardonic butler. Before Niles fell for his former nemesis C.C., he often served simply as the writers’ avatar — standing silently until it was time to deliver the perfect punchline. Meanwhile, Fran carried the show, infusing every episode with her outsized personality and impeccable comic timing.
So who really had the best lines? Let’s jog your memory with a few gems from my personal archives — jokes so good I once transcribed them to email friends.
From May 4, 2009:
Fran and Val are on a billboard. Val falls off.
Fran: Val!
Val (shouting): I’m okay! I landed in someone’s garden… Ooh, there’s a party. Lots of cute guys!
Fran: Get help! [beat] And phone numbers!
Val: Actually, no girls. Just cute guys.
Fran: [shrugs] Get recipes!
From Aug. 24, 2007:
Setup: Fran and Maxwell are trying to conceive. Niles serves breakfast.
Maggie: Niles, do you know where Mom and Dad have been these past few days?
Niles: They’re, uh, working on co-producing a new production.
Gracie: Wow. Daddy is letting Fran handle his business?
Niles: Eat your eggs.
These moments capture the brilliance of The Nanny: quick, witty, unapologetically silly, yet timelessly clever. It wasn’t just a ’90s sitcom — it was a masterclass in comedic timing, class conflict, and pure fun.
