joseph maher

I have to admit, this is one show I thought I'd never see on DVD, so maybe there's hope for other short-lived shows from the 80s.

Anything But Love, the ABC comedy that ran from 1989 to 1992, will be released on DVD February 6. The first set will be the first two seasons (28 episodes total). Here's the info, including episode titles.

If you can't place the show, it starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Lewis as writers at a top Chicago magazine. They're friends at first but eventually (of course) they become more than that. The show costarred Ann Magnuson as their boss, as well as Holly Fulger, Richard Frank, Louis Giambalvo, and Joseph Maher. It was a solid little show, smart and funny, so I'm really glad it's coming to DVD. The set will include commentaries by Curtis and Lewis.

(S03E04) This is one of the last episodes in Season Three that feels  like "early Seinfeld": slow plotting, a somewhat awkward dialogue rhythm, and the exploration of interpersonal relationships that actually makes it seem like the Fab Four are caring, functioning human beings. Don't worry, though; Larry David and company shook themselves of that notion pretty soon after they wrote this one.

The thing that's always bugged me about this episode is the Elaine - George plot. This is where Elaine and George find that they don't have anythng to say to each other unless it's about Jerry. They're "friends-in-law," as Elaine puts it. For some reason, I never bought this plot; we had seen the two interact without Jerry in the past and get along great.