# Mad About You - Again **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [November 18, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624 "2019-11-18T19:34:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/1 "2019-11-18T19:34:12Z")
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. > **[Still 'Mad About You'](https://www.yahoo.com/news/still-mad-120702435.html)** > > Twenty years later, actors Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt are surprised to be "Mad" about each other on TV once again. (Nov. 18) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/2 "2019-11-18T20:06:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/3 "2019-11-18T20:10:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/4 "2019-11-18T20:28:48Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > 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. Go to Spectrum/On Demand/Networks/Spectrum Originals/Mad About You ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/5 "2019-11-18T20:30:21Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I have Spectrum but have never heard of / seen Spectrum Originals. 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. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/6 "2019-11-18T20:30:38Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Go to Spectrum/On Demand/Networks/Spectrum Originals/Mad About You Why, thank you! I can’t wait to see what else I could have been watching all this time :smack: ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/7 "2019-11-18T20:34:30Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Why, thank you! I can’t wait to see what else I could have been watching all this time :smack: You’re welcome. 🙂 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. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/8 "2019-11-18T21:40:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/9 "2019-11-18T23:24:43Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > 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 missed the end due to work and being sent overseas and pre-Tivo (I had series 1!). I’d also not checked in, just kind of forgot while I was gone. Your spoiler depresses me! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/10 "2019-11-18T23:49:19Z")
Madder About You? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/11 "2019-11-19T10:08:32Z")
Shouldn’t Mabel be played by a digitally de-aged Janeane Garofalo? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/12 "2019-11-20T17:17:49Z")
Looks like they’re throwing out the original series finale, or at least changing the timeline: [Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser Never Wanted a ‘Mad About You’ Revival. Why They Made One Anyway.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/helen-hunt-paul-never-wanted-094538926.html) > [@](#): > > But as several other TV revivals found before, there was an elephant in the writer’s room to contend with: the original series finale. > > The two-part “The Final Frontier” flashed forward in time to the year 2021, stopping at various points along the way. It’s all narrated, documentary-style, by Mabel, who is in her early twenties and played by Janeane Garofalo. > > She reveals that Jamie and Paul at one point break up and spend years harboring bad blood with no contact, before getting back together in the final moments. On that timeline, it would mean a 2019 version of the Buchmans would be divorced. > > “We made a really good choice for our mental health and for the most part are ignoring the finale,” Tolan says. “Or we’re at least saying, if those things happen, it will happen down the line.” ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/13 "2019-11-24T23:01:12Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Looks like they’re throwing out the original series finale, or at least changing the timeline: [Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser Never Wanted a ‘Mad About You’ Revival. Why They Made One Anyway.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/helen-hunt-paul-never-wanted-094538926.html) Thank goodness - because that finale was awful. (I mean, it looked like the cast members were having fun. But the plotline was awful.) ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2019, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/14 "2019-11-25T05:45:48Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > the two leads although quite successful since then, aren’t in the public eye much right now Paul Reiser has been having a bit of a resurgence the past few years with substantial roles in Stranger Things and The Kominsky Method. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/15 "2019-11-29T15:59:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/16 "2019-11-29T16:45:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/17 "2019-11-29T17:01:24Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I saw the first two episodes. Jamie is a screaming hysteric from outer space. So–no change, then? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/18 "2019-11-29T23:07:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/19 "2019-12-10T20:57:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624/20 "2019-12-11T18:01:29Z")
Thanks for the thread. I’m not feeling so disappointed that I can’t watch it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-about-you-again/843624.md?page=2)