"The Single Guy" (1995) TV series 1995-1997

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Creator:

Brad Hall

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

21 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A struggling New York writer (Jonathan Silverman) attempts to find success and dates.

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Infidelity | Interracial Relationship | Affair

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Ming-Na	...	Trudy (43 episodes, 1995-1997)
Jonathan Silverman	...	Jonathan Eliot (40 episodes, 1995-1997)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Doorman / ... (23 episodes, 1995-1997)
Joey Slotnick	...	Sam Sloan (21 episodes, 1995-1997)
Shawn Michael Howard	...	Russell (19 episodes, 1996-1997)

Runtime:

30 min (44 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Castle Rock Television

Quotes:

Marie Blake: I married that idiot, Ricky. I walked out on that idiot, Ricky. And I've had DATES WITH NOTHING BUT IDIOTS EVER SINCE.
Jonathan Eliot: That's not true, Marie.
Marie Blake: Oh yes, it is. On Halloween, I had a one-night-stand with a hunchback. WHAT IS THAT?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Jerry Seinfeld/David Bowie (#25.1)" (1999)

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It, Part II

Once again, just like "Almost Perfect", this is another show that had all the makings of a great sitcom in season one; It was funny, entertaining, with a great cast that had great chemistry. Joey Slotnick and Ming-Na Wen were great together. Sam (Slotnick) had plans and schemes that would backfire and Trudy (Na-Wen) was there to keep Sam in check or pick up the pieces when things went wrong. Janeane (Jessica Hecht), Jonathan's childhood friend and her uptight-yuppie husband Matt (Mark Moses) were good as well. Although sometimes Matt could be a little obnoxious, but he was likable nonetheless. Then there was Ernest Borgnine as Manny the doorman; He was great.

At this time cannot remember the actress' name, but, she played Janene's older sister, who Jonathan couldn't stand because she would torment him as a child and nicknamed him "Nibbles". Even when they brought her on the show, she would continue to torment him, but a sexual tension developed between the two and they would end always end up in bed having sex. Both were great together.

After season one, the show was tinkered with and Janeane and Matt were gone as well as Janeae's older sister. They added Olivia D'Abo and others. To me, the original cast was wonderful and when you make changes like this, it can either be like "Law And Order" where things don't skip an beat, or it can mean disaster. The latter happened which was too bad. It could've had a good run if they didn't mess with a good thing they had.