The Two of Us

I used to watch this show in its time and was actually enrolled in an acting class with Dana Hill about a year before this series aired. Dana was a joy to be around and not a bit pretentious - unlike so many others of her age that had gotten gigs as coveted as some of hers.

As with most any TV series from thirty years ago, its age would no doubt show to most viewing it these days. But good comedy is good comedy and when it hit its mark, as it did often, "The Two of Us" made me laugh, and probably still would if I saw it today.

Correcting the other reviewer from 2007: Mimi Rogers was once married to Tom Cruise, not Mimi Kennedy.

Between 1981 and 1984 ITV showed this on a regional basis either late before closedowns or Teatimes between 5:15, 6:00 or 6:30pm depending on which region showed their regional news bulletin if it was a 6:00pm bulletin it would either be 5:15 or 6:30 if it was a 6:30 bulletin it would be 5:15 or 6:00pm usually on Mondays or Fridays as these 2 days were non Crossroads nights.

I can remember a particular episode where Mimi Kennedy's character, Nan, needed to give a huge pill to an animal, I want to say it was a horse. After some debate, they decided to place the pill in a long tube, similar to a large straw. The plan was to place one end into the animals mouth, and blow into the tube intensely, forcing the pill down the animals throat. Great plan, until Nan put the tube in her mouth, and took a huge breath in, in order to be able to expel the extra breath needed. Naturally, she sucked up the pill in this process.

To this day, I can't recall laughing as hard at anything on sitcom television as I did at this scene.

That I remember this show twenty plus years later says a lot about the quality of it. I am not a sitcom fan, but there was something in the cast and premise that caused me to enjoy this show quite a bit. It also exposed me as a child to Peter Cook, and as I grew up I learned to appreciate his other work.

This series stars Mimi Kennedy, also known as the former Mrs. Tom Cruise, Peter Cook, and the late Dana Hill as Gabby. When Gabby's Mom (Kennedy) needs help around the house, she ends up hiring a man. Not just any man, but a not so friendly English bloke played up to the nines (but not overplayed) by Cook.

If cable ever airs this show, I recommend a view or two.

Based on the popular britcom "Two's Company" starring Elaine Stritch, this one reversed the situation by featuring the American boss with a British butler in an American setting. Because a different fish was out of water, the comedy was different. In addition, Nan (Mimi Kennedy) was a talk-show host which provided another source of laughs. Though "The Two of Us" never quite scaled the consistent heights of comedy that the best shows managed, this was often very funny and I wish it had had more time hit its stride. The utterly deadpan Peter Cook was well-used here, and Mimi Kennedy made a good foil for him. I still laugh every time I hear "Let's Twist Again" and think of Peter Cook singing it in his haughty monotone. He is a comedy treasure who is sorely missed.