SYNOPSIS:

HOUSE HUSBAND is a sitcom about the adventures of a middle-aged man, Dan McGruen, who has started a second career as a house husband. Managing his family’s suburban California home isn’t really his priority, though, because he prefers attending garage sales, interacting with the wide variety of characters he encounters, and inventing gizmos and gadgets. His two dogs accompany him everywhere he goes, providing a humorous commentary from the canine perspective (which the audience hears). He starts his day out on the couch which sets up the episode. Meet Dan’s family: • His wife, Diane, is the corporate breadwinner who is saddled with a micro-manager boss. Because she loves Dan, she is willing to support his eccentric lifestyle despite the constant taunts from her mother and her friends that he is a deadbeat. Though sometimes (especially when she sees the garage sale “treasures” he drags home), her resolve wavers. • His college-aged son, Sam, is a willing partner to Dan’s projects, and is the brains behind their kooky inventions. Dan’s schemes provide fuel for his tinkering spirit. • His teen-aged daughter, Abby, is Dan’s truest supporter who faithfully believes in his dream of making “The Big Find” at a garage sale. Dan’s not at all tech-savvy, so Abby helps this dream along by doing all his computer work and research. • Tinkerbelle (an alpha, female Chihuahua who is fluent in English and Spanish) and Rosy (a female Pit Bull) are the main dog characters. Their humorous, insightful commentaries, as well as their interactions with other dogs that parody human life, play major roles in all episodes. A Typical Episode-Each show covers a day in Dan’s life, and typically opens with Diane’s leaving for work. Dan likes to have a morning TV show playing, which feeds his comments. Before she leaves for school, Abby often does computer research for Dan’s topic of interest at the moment—typically a collectible he’s hoping to either find or sell, or an idea for an invention he wants Sam to help him build. The dogs are instantly involved with the theme of the show and frequently comment on how the day or situation might develop. Dan has a vague sense of what the dogs might be discussing, but his perception is never complete enough to help him avoid whatever comedic pitfalls lie ahead. Characters may include a neighbor (Putterguy), Dan’s father Bill, Diane’s mother Edna, Diane’s friend Linda and Dan’s friend Ralph. The Series The pilot introduces all the major characters (including Putterguy), and includes a day of garage sales, a garage sale find, a trip to a doctor and dinner with neighbors and friends. Subsequent episodes include: • “Road Trip” (which involves Dan’s road trip with his Dad, Sam and the two dogs). • “Dog Show” (in which Dan and the dogs create havoc while attending a dog show). • “Dog Obedience School Reunion” (in which the dogs parody a human high-school reunion by attending their 5 year dog school reunion). • “Dog Convention” (which involves a trip to New York staying at a posh dog hotel and attending a dog convention), Guest celebrities and their dogs appear on the show from time to time. There are also recurring dogs appearing on the shows along with their owners.