Something called Spectrum Originals is producing a special 12-episode limited series of Mad About You set in the current day, 20 years after the events in the last season of the show. Not sure how they treat the finale where Jamie and Paul were split up then got back together because of their daughter.
I wonder how this will age. I LOVED the show when it was on originally, but the last two seasons were not up to the same caliber, and it’s not a show I enjoy rewatching. But for the first few season it was a spectacular run and the two leads although quite successful since then, aren’t in the public eye much right now. If I can somehow figure out how to watch Spectrum Originals I’ll give it shot.
It looks like there won’t be any easy way to give the show a try unless you are on Spectrum Cable & Internet Service. This is the old Time Warner Cable Company.
If it eventually hits one of my streaming services, I’ll give it a try.
I saw an ad for this over the weekend. I have Spectrum but have never heard of / seen Spectrum Originals. If I can find it I’ll give it a try. I loved the chemistry between HH and PR. Unfortunately the pregnancy and birth of Mabel ruined the show for me but maybe with her being in college it will still be funny.
They did a female buddy-cop show a while back (subtly titled L.A.'s Finest) that they hyped almost as much as they’re hyping this. We see commercials for the new Mad About You regularly and they also obnoxiously have banner ads for it in the on-screen guide.
If you have at least the Silver package you can stream the entire library of classic HBO/Showtime shows. The Travel (err Ghost) Channel has many dumb but fun ghost stuff. And CNN still is streaming Anthony Bourdain if you like him.
It wasn’t Mabel that killed it for me but how their relationship fell apart. I mean, if they couldn’t make it-- and they had a wonderful love built on mutual respect-- then why did I watch for so long? I didn’t hang around long enough to see them get back together “for Mabel”. That would have been even worse.
I too used to love that show. I don’t have cable and there is no Spectrum in my market anyway, so I’m kind of annoyed that this is just not available to me.
I saw an interview with them saying they had been asked many times over the years to do a sequel. One idea was to show them splitting up. They both agreed that would be the worst possible idea.
So here’s the new show. And they’re obviously on the road to splitting up. And they were right. It’s awful.
I saw the first two episodes. Jamie is a screaming hysteric from outer space. Everybody around her is normal. That’s not funny and it ruins the character. The reviews say she will get worse in the upcoming episodes.
Why? I understand that empty nest syndrome can be painful. I understand that helicopter parents exist to poke fun at. I understand that growing older is a literal pain. I understand that Helen Hunt is a fine actress who must enjoy stretching herself for these scenes. I understand that sitcoms always exaggerate behavior until it snaps.
I also understand that sitcoms have to be either funny or insightful or, better, both to succeed. The new MAY is neither. I’m so disappointed.
I have Spectrum, I managed to find the show, and I watched the entire first six-episode drop.
My take is that it’s tired. Granted, middle-aged people are often tired, but it doesn’t make for a particularly good situation comedy. Particularly one in which the crackling rhythm of the lead characters set the tone for the entire show.
My other take is that every episode features Helen Hunt in some over the top way. It hit a particularly irritating note when Jamie got to say, “I can’t believe I can fit into Scarlett Johansson’s dress!” Yes, Helen, the miracle of cosmetic surgery did a wonderful job with your body.
It took it two seasons (and firing Roseanne,) but The Connors has finally settled into being the best remake of a 20+ year-old network sitcom.
I didn’t see much of the show back when it was first on, and the weirdness of Helen Hunt’s face these days (especially around her eyes and nose - cosmetic surgery, or what?) and Exapno’s review above will almost certainly keep me from checking it out now.
