Geena Davis

"The Geena Davis Show," or, more commonly known as "Geena," had a spot on ABC for a season, before it was booted.

Just like "Bette," "Geena" had a good start, but quickly lost its charm. It seems it was cursed to retreat into another average sitcom, which it eventually became, due to bad writing, and uninteresting characters.

Now, we see shows on ABC like "According to Jim," which seems to be filmed with the same style as "Geena," only much better. I feel that "Jim" also will slowly but surely regress into mediocrity and be wiped from ABC's schedule. Until then, though, I'll be watching `Jim.' I'm glad it took over `Geena,' because right now, at least, it's a whole lot better.

I couldn't believe just how fine a comedienne Geena Davis is. We've seen her in dramatic roles, but she has a real flair for comedic timing. Davis's performance is so natural and, above all, completely entertaining.

It's a shame to hear that this show was cancelled so early. The writing was largely enjoyable (especially the episode 'Piece of Cake'; however, 'Cooties' was blandly horrid), Andy Cadiff's direction well-paced, and it was funny. A lot of shows today force humour; The Geena Davis Show genuinely does it through wit with the occasional but not altogether unwelcome descent into innuendo. Unlike some shows, and I include those long-running ones where the stars take home phone-number pay cheques, it's not based around innuendos.

There are the usual peripheral characters that make any sitcom: the whacky best friend whom only one person in the main cast likes (Mimi Rogers), the rejected colleague tolerated at work (Harland Williams) and the supportive ear and shoulder (Kim Coles). Even for these characters, the lines are fabulous – and unlike a lot of 1990s' and 2000s' sitcoms, there isn't a trace that the show was written around lines. There are storylines here.

An earlier reviewer pointed out the performances of the children – I have to concur that they are delightfully played by John Francis Daley and Makenzie Vega, and my regret is that not every episode struck a good balance between "home Teddie" and "work Teddie".

I am not trying to make this show sound critically distinct or ground-breaking. Far from it. In some ways, it is a throwback to the sitcoms of old, which were genuinely funny. The Geena Davis Show's setting may be different and acceptably modern (single Dad and live-in girlfriend–fiancée) but it has more than a few of the ingredients that made The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its ilk snappy and timeless. If given an extra season, it could have become a favourite.

Teddie Cochran (Geena Davis) is living the single life in New York City. She owns her own PR firm. Hillary (Mimi Rogers), Judy Owens (Kim Coles), and Alan (Harland Williams) are her friends and employees. She falls for widower Max Ryan (Peter Horton) who has two kids, Carter (John Francis Daley) and Eliza (Makenzie Vega). Gladys Guevara (Esther Scott) is their maid/nanny/everything.

Geena Davis leads a sitcom. She's good and she's tall. Her life is basically split into two sides which comes together sometimes. Her work life is the three ladies talking sex and Harland Williams coming on to them. Mimi Rogers is great. Kim Coles is stuck with the normal character. Harland is on the wrong side. He should be with the family, maybe Max's brother. He would be great with the kids and he could lust after Hillary every other episode without wearing out the joke. Maybe, he could even catch her and that would be a secondary romance.

As for the family, Gladys is just around. Widower dad Max probably needed her when the kids were younger, but she is running out of runway. The family doesn't really need her at this point. I expected an episode where her situation is dealt with more definitively. The kids are great especially John Francis Daley. He just finished "Freaks and Geeks". Unbelievably, he's dating Erika Christensen for a few episodes. Finally, there is Max. I did not watch "Thirtysomething" and I don't have much of an opinion on Peter Horton. My big takeaway is that the character is dull deliberately. He's my big hole in the middle. He does not have much personality. It's sort of like a switch with the traditional sitcom. The man is usually the crazy wild card while the pretty wife is the long-suffering bland voice of reason. This sitcom switches that around and I don't know how to feel about it. Despite that reservation, this is plenty of fun. Geena is fun. Mimi Rogers is having fun. I like the cast in general.

This show was on ABC on Wednesday nights along with "Drew Carey" and "Spin City," and together they made the best night of TV.

I don't remember everything, but I do know this show was really funny and that Carter kid was a really good singer. It shouldn't have been cancelled so easily. Can't wait for it on DVD, if it comes.

I have watched a few episodes of the new series and liked it a lot. "Teddie Cochran" Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise) is very cute and witty. This show to me has the type of flair that the Mary Taylor Moore and Murphy Brown shows had. From all the new shows of this season this show take first place. The cast is great! It has Paul Horton (Thirty Something)! I liked Paul Horton's work in that show and I am still mad that he died on that show. I loved his character and the memory of him dying in "Thirty Something" is very vivid! Oh, well sorry for taking a tangent, but after all those years, I am, still mad at that episode! "Max" Paul Horton's character is a very lovable character. He tries very hard to understand Teddie's kind of idiosyncracies. Teddie is so competitive. She wants a Ferrari, and all material things and he wants a small house with kids. This reflects well the society we live in.

"Hillary" Mimi Rogers (The Mirror has two faces) makes a great friend and she is good as well. I love this show, and hopefully it will be on for many seasons. I recommend this show!