Mein lieber John

This is a funny TV series, because the title character, played by Judd Hirsch, is willing to be a straight man to the other characters in a support group he attends.

In essence, much as "Good Times" is Kid Dynamite's show, this is really Jere Burns show as he portrays the rogue, Kirk. Kirk is just enough of a rascal to cherish and laugh at, both at the same time.

The others put in a dash of humor, too, one of them without ever saying a word.

The standard for comedy in the eighties was a comedy that would make people laugh. That's what this show did. It din't try to be too "situational", and hope for a smile, the way most comedies of the nineties and naughts do. It reached for the guts, and pulled them out.

This wasn't "slapstick", but just a bit shy of it. It jumped the shark a bit at the end, and that didn't work. It was best when staying true to its character of the support group.

This show is one of the most underrated tv shows of all time! This tv show does not get the credit or recognition it should get. Judd hurst is phenomenal in this series, as well as ALL the other cast members. It's a real shame you can't find DVD's or reruns of this show. I would gladly watch every episode all day everyday if I could! Please make reruns or DVD's for this show! (YES DVD's) lol. I don't know who, as far as right now, had the rights to this series. But, they for sure need to make it available for purchase or even throw it on one of the free apps where you can watch older tv shows! Please, let's make this happen!

In every week's opening, teacher John Lacey (Judd Hirsch) gets his Dear John letter, gets cleaned out in court, and loses his home all to that catchy little diddy. His wife and his best friend took everything including his son. He attends the One To One Club, a support group for divorcees and widowers. Louise Mercer (Jane Carr) is the Brit group leader divorced from her kinky husband who keeps asking everyone, "Are there any sexual problems?" The group includes sleazy Kirk Morris (Jere Burns), sweet Kate McCarron (Isabella Hofmann), clueless pushover Ralph Drang (Harry Groener), silent Tom (Tom Willett), elderly fox Mrs. Margie Philbert (Billie Bird), and starting midway in season two, southern belle Mary Beth Sutton (Susan Walters).

This is a solid network sitcom of its era. It's led by some solid TV stars. Hirsch has played this character well arguably since his Taxi days. Burns is a fantastic comedic sleaze. It's a wacky group of friends who serve more as family. Everybody is great. It tackles divorce with a little humor. It's good-nature with some bite. This is not going on any top TV lists but it functions well for what it is. It's a good middling sitcom while it lasted.

For years, I thought this she show was an original and it was just "Okay" to me as a teenager growing up in the 80s and 90s. But I am now MUCH older and married to a Brit! Why's that so significant? Well we were just running down a list of shows we grew up watching both here in the US and in the UK. And guess what I discovered? The show is a complete KNOCK OFF! The British version is ALSO called "Dear John" and starts the same way! There's even an episode where an entire SCENE was copied. 😂 The British show ran from 1985-1986 and the US version in 1988. I feel so cheated! 😂 Either way, check them both out and decide for yourself.

After a great series like Taxi, where he was funny and touching for eight seasons, Hirsch was stuck in this.

He looks trapped, with a frozen "How do I get out of here?" look.

The cast was just awful. British woman with a single joke, beaten to death. Obnoxious sexual predator wannabe and lawsuit waiting to happen.

And a badly needed laugh track, because nothing in this was ever funny.