Nearly Departed

Eric Idle (Monty Python) and Caroline McWilliams (Benson) were a married couple I think were killed in a car wreck, much like in Topper. Hefty comic Stuart Patinkin was to be the obvious blue collar foil to Idle's British pomposity when Patinkin and his family moved into the house formerly occupied to Idle and his wife, McWilliams. This show came along when other Monty Pythoners John Cleese and Michael Palin were being 'rediscovered' in "Fish Called Wanda". Idle was the clear star of the show, even singing the opening theme, 'It's hard to agree when a family of three, . . .' he would say. The funny clincher was when soap vet Henderson Forsythe showed up as Grandpa, and since he had one foot in the grave already, he could see Idle and McWilliams. This then gave the show a strange twist, and Grandpa became a regular. Now the opening song became 'It's hard to ignore when a family of four, . . .' This was interesting. As others pointed out, this was a summer replacement series and was gone after at best six episodes. Idle and Forsythe were hysterical together. I felt the possibilities for this show could have been endless, but of course Hollywood would have no idea what to do with it.

This was when I started loving Monty Python & Eric Idle. On the second episode when Granpa became a regular, Idle was also in Around the World in 80 Days playing Passepartout to Pierce "Pre-James Bond" Brosnan on NBC. That role ironically lead NBC to give him his own show but sadly this was canned after four shows in the USA while the remaining six shows aired in Great Britian. Too bad this show wasn't given a chance to grow at all and would had been great in the long-run. But all shows aren't given the chance to grow at all in Hollywood or even in New York these days.

Eric portrayed snobbish and arrogant ghost, English Professor Grant Pritchard when his TV wife, the "only" normal one in the show and he are killed in a car wreck. The wife, Clare likes the new family moving in. But Grant disdains for them and wants their new victorian house back. But much to their surprise, the grandpa moved in and they noticed that he could see and talk with them. Eric & the grandpa were funny together. As the trio formed a reluctant but well liked alliance. Eric would had been a star had dumb NBC wouldn't cancel the show.

I remember this show replaced "The Hogan Family" for a couple of weeks. At first I was really upset because I liked "The Hogan Family" but as soon as this show began to grow on me, they cancelled it and put "The Hogan Family" back on. I don't think it could have lasted too long anyway. You can only do so much when the two stars of the show can only be seen by one fellow cast member.

I started watching "Nearly Departed" because of Eric Idle and I must admit he was good in it. My absolute favorite scene is when he is trying to help Granpa ( I believe) pass his drivers test by gymnastically spelling the letters on the eye examine with his body. It was superb physical comedy! Of course his verbal comedy was good as well. My biggest problem with the series was the family being haunted. They were very "sitcommy" and boring. I know the ghosts needed protagonists but it may have been better if they had been a bit more winning with flaws rather than very flawed with few ( if any) winning traits. I always wished this had lasted or that Eric were given another comedy but sadly it never happened.

When I was a kid, I used to LOVE this show. I was only about six or seven, though. I remember it came on at 9 o'clock and I'd beg my mom to let me stay awake to watch it. I can't remember why it was so funny, and I'm sure that if I saw it today, it wouldn't be any good, but there was something about it that I just loved to death. I can still remember sneaking into the living room to watch it and I can still sing part of the theme song. I remember the faces of the actors who were on the show, and my favorite was the British guy. In the only episode I can recall, they were standing in the bathroom. The man who was alive was brushing his teeth and the man who was a ghost was yelling obscenities at him. It reminded me of Beetlejuice. It's hard to believe that it was so long ago.