"Trying Times" (1987) TV series

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A half-hour sitcom anthology on PBS, about people who are struggling with the daily routines of life.

Plot Keywords:

Anthology

Cast

Rosanna Arquette	...	Kara Dimley (1 episode, 1987)
Candice Bergen	...	Barbara (1 episode, 1987)
Teri Garr	...	Robin Stone (1 episode, 1987)
Spalding Gray	...	Gary (1 episode, 1987)
Steven Wright	...	Dwight Harper (1 episode, 1987)
Stockard Channing	...	Hilda Bundt (1 episode, 1989)
Carrie Fisher	...	Enid (1 episode, 1989)
Sally Kirkland	...	Agripina Gravanescu-Smith (1 episode, 1989)
Robert Klein	...	Buddy Amber (1 episode, 1989)
Jean Stapleton	...	Edna (1 episode, 1989)
Jessica Harper	...	Sydney (1 episode, 1987)
Tim Matheson	...	Mitch (1 episode, 1987)
Ted Stidder	...	Fred (1 episode, 1987)
John Stockwell	...	Maxwell Fletcher (1 episode, 1987)
Lyman Ward	...	George Stone (1 episode, 1987)
Griffin Dunne	...	David (1 episode, 1989)
Corey Feldman	...	Bill (1 episode, 1989)
Sheila McCarthy	...	Jenny Amber (1 episode, 1989)
Judge Reinhold	...	Jed (1 episode, 1989)
Peter Scolari	...	Howard LaMotta (1 episode, 1989)
Louie Anderson	...	Stu (1 episode, 1987)
Catherine Bach	...	Actress (1 episode, 1987)
Hagan Beggs	...	Dad (1 episode, 1987)
Hope Lange	...	Frances Fletcher (1 episode, 1987)
Ketty Lester	...	Mildred (1 episode, 1987)
Gail Boggs	...	Luanda (1 episode, 1989)
Anne De Salvo	...	Nancy (1 episode, 1989)
Katherine McGrath	...	Mother St Helen (1 episode, 1989)
Linda Purl	...	Laura (1 episode, 1989)
Danitra Vance	...	Emma St. John (1 episode, 1989)
Dustin Berkovitz	...	Young Gary (1 episode, 1987)
David Byrne	...	Byron (1 episode, 1987)
Bruno Gerussi	...	Harry (1 episode, 1987)
Betty Phillips	...	Mom (1 episode, 1987)
Ruth Springford	...	Dr. Iris Goldberg (1 episode, 1987)
Richard Dimitri	...	Dean (1 episode, 1989)
Alejandra Gollas	...	Jennifer (1 episode, 1989)
Jerry Houser	...	Gene (1 episode, 1989)
Marcell Rosenblatt	...	Tracy (1 episode, 1989)
Al Ruscio	...	Father (1 episode, 1989)
Melanie Jones	...	Gary's Mom (1 episode, 1987)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Rebecca (1 episode, 1987)
Keanu Reeves	...	Joey (1 episode, 1987)
Robert Ridgely	...	Marlin Fletcher (1 episode, 1987)
Ron Silver	...	Driving Instructor (1 episode, 1987)
Eric Ayala	...	Young Benjie (1 episode, 1989)
Buck Henry	...	The Man on TV (1 episode, 1989)
Kurt Knudson	...	Jack (1 episode, 1989)
Jon Polito	...	Agent Caponello (1 episode, 1989)
Tracy Brooks Swope	...	Allison (1 episode, 1987)
Anne Ramsey	...	Gypsy (1 episode, 1987)
Jeff Schultz	...	Frank (1 episode, 1987)
Doug Tuck		(1 episode, 1987)
Laura White	...	Jennifer (1 episode, 1987)
George Belanger		(1 episode, 1989)
Kalimba	...	Abdul (1 episode, 1989)
Max Perlich	...	Older Benjie (1 episode, 1989)
Ken Smith		(1 episode, 1989)
Jay Brazeau	...	2nd Driving Instructor (1 episode, 1987)
Norman Browning		(1 episode, 1987)
Jackson Davies	...	Charlie (1 episode, 1987)
John Steadman	...	Grandpa Buckshot (1 episode, 1987)
Álvaro Carcaño		(1 episode, 1989)
Ellen Gollas		(1 episode, 1989)
Dondee Spencer	...	Clarissa (1 episode, 1989)
Alex Bruhanski	...	Bruno (1 episode, 1987)
Brandon Call	...	Reggie (1 episode, 1987)
David Alden		(1 episode, 1989)
Gabriela Goldsmith		(1 episode, 1989)
Ron Wertheim		(1 episode, 1989)
Janne Mortil		(1 episode, 1987)
Jaqueline Fernandez		(1 episode, 1989)
John Sabol		(1 episode, 1989)
Irina Areu		(1 episode, 1989)
Jeff Daniels	...	Jim (1 episode, 1987)
Christopher Durang	...	The Waiter (1 episode, 1987)
Julie Hagerty	...	Marsha (1 episode, 1987)
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Wanda (1 episode, 1987)
Roger Cudney	...	Persival (1 episode, 1989)
Geena Davis	...	Daphne (1 episode, 1989)
Nancy Lenehan	...	The Neighbor (1 episode, 1989)
Peter Riegert	...	Bill (1 episode, 1989)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo

Company:

KCET

Movie Connections:

Spin off from Survival Guide (1985) (TV)

Wonderful series.

Here's another television series that cries out for home-video rediscovery, or at least revival by public-broadcasting syndicates or Comedy Central, but instead languishes in obscurity. The standard of writing, performance and production on this anthology was very high, indeed, and it's a pity that the PBS network of stations weren't more supportive (of this production of LA's KCET), or didn't properly get the word out (perhaps it was feared that this was too much like commercial television offerings...although it handily outclassed most situation comedy on the other US networks, with even its weakest episodes worth the viewing). The Spalding Gray episode would seem particularly poignant as well as funny today, after his suicide; Catherine O'Hara, Steven Wright, and Teri Garr's episodes were all highlights.