The series was created by actress Fran Drescher and her-then husband Peter Marc Jacobson, and developed by Prudence Fraser and Robert Sternin.

Based on an idea inspired by Drescher's visit with a friend and The Sound of Music, the series revolves around Fran Fine, a Jewish woman from Flushing, Queens, New York, who is hired by a wealthy Broadway producer to be the nanny to his three children.

Drescher stars as the titular character, Charles Shaughnessy as British-born producer Maxwell Sheffield, and the children – Maggie, Brighton and Grace – portrayed by Nicholle Tom, Benjamin Salisbury, and Madeline Zima.

Maggie is invited to her first sweet sixteen party, so Fran takes her to The Chatterbox, her favorite beauty salon.

Employees at the salon include Claude, a gay hairdresser, and Kim, the Chinese manicurist who can paint incredible things on her extra-long nails.