"Hearts Afire" (1992) TV series 1992-1995

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Directors:

Charles Frank
Dennis Redfield

Writers:

Thom Bray (writer)
Paul Clay (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

14 September 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

John Ritter returns to TV in a genial sitcom, playing an aide to a senator (Gaynes). His life is somewhat...

Plot Keywords:

Senator | Political | Hot Romance | Liberal | Change Of Location

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Debbie Gregory	...	Vicki Bumpers / ... (8 episodes, 1993-1994)
John Ritter	...	John Hartman (7 episodes, 1992-1994)
Markie Post	...	Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman (7 episodes, 1992-1994)
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Billy Bob Davis (7 episodes, 1992-1994)
Justin Burnette	...	Ben Hartman (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Beth Broderick	...	Dee Dee Starr / ... (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
George Gaynes	...	Senator Strobe Smithers (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Wendie Jo Sperber	...	Mavis Davis (6 episodes, 1992-1993)
Clark Duke	...	Elliot Hartman (6 episodes, 1992-1994)
Doren Fein	...	Carson Lee Davis (6 episodes, 1992-1994)
Conchata Ferrell	...	Madeline Stoessinger / ... (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jordan Benedict	...	Russell / ... (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Mark Harelik	...	Reed Folsom (4 episodes, 1993-1994)
Dennis Redfield	...	Announcer / ... (4 episodes, 1993-1994)
Bobbie Ferguson	...	Cranky Lady / ... (3 episodes, 1992-1994)
Edward Asner	...	George Lahti (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Adam Carl	...	Adam Carlson (3 episodes, 1992)
Donna Hardy	...	Aunt Grace / ... (3 episodes, 1993-1994)
Jeffrey Licon	...	Donnie (3 episodes, 1994)
Julie Cobb	...	Diandra (2 episodes, 1992-1995)
Brent Briscoe	...	Curtis May (2 episodes, 1992)
Bryn Erin	...	Melissa (2 episodes, 1992)
Beah Richards	...	Miss Lula (2 episodes, 1992)
Kathryn Spitz	...	Alma (2 episodes, 1992)
Michael Griswold	...	Angry Man / ... (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Ben Stein	...	Mr. Starnes (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Fred Applegate	...	Wayne (2 episodes, 1993)
Howard French	...	Fireman (2 episodes, 1993)
Doris Hess	...	Miss Barnes (2 episodes, 1993)
Kristen Lowman	...	Darla (2 episodes, 1993)
Deborah May	...	Hollis (2 episodes, 1993)
Ritchie Montgomery	...	Richard (2 episodes, 1993)
David Spielberg	...	Jordan (2 episodes, 1993)
Alvin Greenman	...	Mr. Ambrose / ... (2 episodes, 1994)
Debra Jo Rupp	...	Brenda Swain (2 episodes, 1994)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (54 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Adam Productions

Trivia:

The series started out as a Washington political satire taking place in a Senator's office and then changed to a small town newspaper office.

Quotes:

Lee Ann Starr Folsom: Reed, no one's going to get naked on a party barge in the middle of November!

Markie Post's sizzle is too classy for Washington.

Before Billy Bob Thorton was directing John Ritter in quirky movies, he was part of a terrific cast with John Ritter in "Hearts Afire." This must have looked like a sure fire hit with the excellent John Ritter, equally talented (and gorgeous) Markie Post, Ed Asner (one of the great TV stars of all time), and an A-list of support players including George Gaynes, Beth Broderick, Conchata Ferrell, and Wendy Jo Sperber. Billy Bob (playing the part of "Billy Bob") was an attempt to mimic the Clinton staff good-ol-boys but as time would tell he was much too nice and much too honest for the part. The chemistry between Ritter and Post ranged from good to hot. Ritter was never so sophisticated and Post was never more animated or sexy. Perhaps this series was too much like other series before, and perhaps the writer's take on Washington was not very accurate. A series like this should know it's topic very well (as do some current White House series) so we can really believe these people are where they say they are. Shows like Murphy Brown, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, WKRP, and the old Dick Van Dyke Show knew their subjects because the writers were familiar with newsrooms, radio stations, and comedy shows. With Clinton's affair (no pun intended) with Hollywood, more Hollywood producers are in tune to the Washington scene today than they were at the beginning of his administration and at the conception of this show. The show would have worked better with an Evening Shade type of setting, a small regular town perhaps. In any case, Markie Post and John Ritter had some of the sexiest scenes for a situation comedy. The Washington scene is a place for sex and hookers, but not a place for sexy.