10 Items or Less (TV series)

10 Items or Less
Genre Sitcom
Mockumentary
Created by Nancy Hower
John Lehr
Robert Hickey
Starring John Lehr
Bob Clendenin
Jennifer Elise Cox
Greg Davis Jr.
Chris Payne Gilbert
Kirsten Gronfield
Christopher Liam Moore
Roberta Valderrama
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 21 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Nancy Hower
John Lehr
Robert Hickey
Camera setup Single camera
Running time 20–22 minutes
Production company(s) Howler Monkey Productions
Sony Pictures Television
Distributor Sony Pictures Television
Release
Original network TBS
Original release November 27, 2006 (2006-11-27) – February 24, 2009 (2009-02-24)

10 Items or Less is a partly scripted, partly improvised American comedy series created by Nancy Hower, Robert Hickey and John Lehr. It starred Lehr as a less-than-successful businessman who returned home to run Greens & Grains, the family-owned supermarket, upon the death of his father.

The series debuted on TBS on November 27, 2006.

During its first season, the program aired Monday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The second and third seasons aired on TBS Tuesday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

In November 2009, a blog posting stated the show had been cancelled, and would not be picked up for the fourth season.[1]

In 2015 the series was available on Crackle.[2]

Summary

The series stars John Lehr as a failed New York City businessman who moves back to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio to take over the family supermarket following the death of his father. The show is set in the fictional supermarket known as Greens & Grains, located at 5th Street and Tiberius.[3]

Filming

A detailed script is written for each episode outlining the overall story arc. However, this script is not shown to the actors; instead they are provided with a loose outline of the plot, often finding out about it as they film. All dialogue is improvised spontaneously by the actors on the set. A typical 22-minute episode will be edited-down from roughly 30 hours of raw improvised dialogue and scenes.[4] John Lehr describes their production style as "similar to Spinal Tap."

The series is filmed in a real grocery store called "Jon's" in Reseda, California (formerly Vons),[5] often with actual customers used as extras.

Characters

Episodes

Season 1 (2006)
No.  Title  Directed by  Written by  Original air date  Prod.
code 
1"The New Boss"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrNovember 27, 2006101
When Leslie's father passes away, he moves back to Ohio to run the family's business, the Greens & Grains supermarket. To Leslie's surprise, Amy Anderson, the manager of the competitor Super Value Mart, tries to close a deal she made with Leslie's dad to buy Greens & Grains from Leslie.
2"The Miracle Worker"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrDecember 4, 2006102
When he discovers a stain on one of the walls that resembles Jesus, Leslie markets the stain as a miracle to get more customers into the store. Meanwhile, Carl wants to see his son, Manuelito.
3"Health Insurance"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrDecember 11, 2006103
Leslie announces that Greens & Grains is having some financial difficulties and must eliminate health insurance all together or fire one employee.
4"What Women Want"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrDecember 18, 2006104
Leslie wants to join the Bisons, a high society social club, and plans on attending an event to make sure he gets in. But, because the Bisons are big on pairs, he first needs to find a date.
5"Bag It"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrDecember 25, 2006105
Greens & Grains agrees to go head to head in a bagging competition with Super Value Mart. Leslie however doesn't realize that Buck, the store's best bagger, has given up bagging competitions.

Season 2 (2008)
No.  Title  Directed by  Written by  Original air date  Prod.
code 
6"Dollar Day Afternoon"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrJanuary 15, 2008203
Leslie comes up with a plan to bring in more customers through a "free money giveaway." Meanwhile, in a failed robbery attempt, the G & G crew is taken hostage in the store and Ingrid develops Stockholm Syndrome. Eventually the robbers are thwarted, but only after Leslie is shot.
7"Forever Young"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrJanuary 22, 2008205
Leslie is devastated to learn that Buck and Amy slept together after being drunk at a club one night. Convinced Amy would go for him if he were young like Buck, Leslie resolves to "hip" himself up and snags a make out sessions of his own with Amy.
8"To Heir Is Human"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrJanuary 29, 2008201
As Leslie remembers his father Bud on the one year anniversary of his death, he realizes there is no one to continue the legacy of G & G. He decides to find an "heir" to take over when he dies.
9"First Time"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 5, 2008202
Ingrid decides that its time to lose her virginity and tries to find a suitor to help her.
10"The Bromance"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 12, 2008204
Todd wins some cows in a poker game and pitches Leslie the idea that they could use the cows to sell “the freshest meat in town".
11"Amy Strikes Back"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 19, 2008206
When Amy loses her job at the SuperValueMart, Leslie decides to hire her as Greens & Grains’ new assistant manager, to the horror of the rest of the staff.
12"Illegal Alien"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 26, 2008207
After a calendar shoot, which Ingrid was chosen as cover model, Amy overhears that Ingrid is an illegal alien from Poland. When an attempt to have her arrested fails, Amy calls INS which eventually lands everyone in jail. Amy is the only one unable to make bail, and Leslie decides to sponsor Ingrid's citizenship.
13"The Ren Fair"Nancy HowerRobert Hickey, Nancy Hower & John LehrMarch 4, 2008208
The Greens & Grains grocery store is celebrating Renaissance Days, wherein the staff dresses in 15th century garb.

Season 3 (2009)
No.  Title  Directed by  Written by  Original air date  Prod.
code 
14"Turkey Bowling"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrJanuary 6, 2009301
Todd and Carl create a new grocery store bowling game using frozen turkeys. Leslie becomes obsessed with the game. The new Super Value Mart store manager, Mercy P. Jones, bets Leslie he can't throw 3,000 frames without leaving a single pin standing and gambling fever takes over the store.
15"Eye Can See Clearly"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrJanuary 13, 2009304
Leslie's decision to start an eye exam clinic in Greens & Grains sets off a chain of events that results in Leslie going blind, which forces him to live with Yolanda.
16"Star Trok"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrJanuary 20, 2009303
Leslie holds a Star Trok convention. When Jolene Blalock of "Star Trek: Enterprise" shows up for her celebrity appearance, an exploding refrigerator compressor leaves her trapped in close quarters with Leslie and Ingrid.
17"One Day at a Time"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrJanuary 27, 2009306
Leslie is convinced to help Richard's mother overcome her alcohol problems when she is caught shoplifting liquor from the store.
18"The Whistler"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 3, 2009305
After being humiliated by Super Value Mart, Leslie decides to put his whistling talent to good use and gets air play for his tunes.
19"The Milk Man"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 10, 2009307
Leslie complains about getting too many expired milk jugs and runs up against the dreaded Dairy Consortium. Soon, Greens & Grains is completely depleted of dairy products, and it appears Leslie's life is in danger.
20"Dances with Groceries"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 17, 2009308
Leslie discovers his great, great, great grandfather was a Native American and decides to make contact with the local Shawnee Indian tribe in an attempt to connect with his heritage.
21"Sesquicentennial"Nancy HowerNancy Hower & John LehrFebruary 24, 2009302
Leslie celebrates the store's 150th anniversary by doing everything the old-fashioned way; Ingrid dates a man who may not be what he appears to be.

Home release

Title Region 1
Seasons One and Two December 27, 2008
Season Three May 1, 2012

References

  1. ↑ "TV Q&A with Rob Owen". Post-Gazatte.com. November 13, 2009. Archived from the original on November 16, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  2. ↑ http://www.crackle.com/c/10-items-or-less
  3. ↑ "Greens & Grains Grocers - Directions". Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  4. ↑ "'10 Items' thrives on no script, hours of improv strategy". Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Grocery-store Comedy Premieres on TBS". Progressive Grocer magazine. November 28, 2006.

External links

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