Ned and Stacey

Interesting that NBC put Debra Messing into nearly the same role, while trading in a very witty sitcom for a mediocre one.

Ned is not gay, just ambitious and self-involved, and even in its last days, the show never fell to the level of hooking up the main m/f antagonists. Greg Germann (later on Allie McBeal) and Nadia Dajian are very funny as Ned's best friends.

It's too bad that interesting, complex characters (ambitious Ned, young and confused Stacey, wacky but very happy Amanda and Eric) are replaced by the easier-to-understand stereotypes: cute-gay Will, not-so-cute-gay Jack and the so common it's boring strident-oversexed-single female-"best friend". And I don't recall a laugh track on Ned and Stacey.

Anyway, if there's any way of seeing this show, you'll see what I mean. I'd love to see Thomas Haden Church in a big role. He's extremely talented.