Ned et Stacey

This was only on my radar because I wanted to see the few episodes in season two written by Charlie Kaufman. Big fan of his films, and after realizing his TV credits included work on two of my all-time favorite comedies (Get A Life & The Dana Carvey Show) wanted more examples of how he wrote half-hour comedy. They were some of the funniest for sure. However, the show as a whole was very enjoyable. It really is basically a two season pilot for Will & Grace, but I think I like it better. I'm young enough I only knew Thomas Hayden Church as the heel Lyle in the George of the Jungle movie we watched on VHS a lot as kids. From my child's eye (haven't seen that movie in years) he was very funny in that, and stole most of his scenes. Church is hilarious and over the top of in this role, and I think his energy provides a better foil than Will would later. Eric (Gregg German) and Amanda (Nadia Dajani) deserve mention as well, both actors do a great job and bring a lot to the show. Debra Messing sings right on key, no issues here, basically playing a softer Grace Adler. Tough to find this show (I lucked out with cheap DVD at flea market), but if you can find it I recommend watching.

I loved Thomas Hayden Church here as Ned and I prefer Debra Messing here as Stacey than Grace. I think this show could have been a bigger hit if the network allowed it to grow. The premise was silly but somehow Church and Messing made it work even if only for two seasons. Church left his beloved role on Wings to pursue his own sitcom. The comparison between the two roles is noteworthy for any aspiring actor. Here, Ned is intelligent and lot less naive. He marries Stacey to get a promotion and she marries him to live in a grand New York City apartment. What won't people do to live in Manhattan? At first, there is this friction and uncomfortableness but slowly they turn out to be in love and if only love was really like that. The show was heading in the direction that Ned and Stacey were going from being a fax pas couple to an actual duo. Too bad, the network canceled it. Of course, Church has moved on to other things and Messing will always be known as Grace but I much prefer her here as Stacey.

Greg Germann stole this show, not unlike his efforts on "Ally McBeal". Debra Messing was far less annoying here than she currently is on "that show". Thomas Hayden Church was sublime as the me-centered womanizer he illuminated with "Ned".

I do a polka of disgust when clever, acerbic comedies like "Ned & Stacey" meet an untimely death and crud like "Yes Dear" & "Good Morning Miami" live on. Tis a travesty.

This delightfully original series lived a micro-short life in syndication, but your chances these days of seeing it are about as likely as seeing a sequel to "Rabbit Test". It's a low down crying shame. First "Herman's Head", now this.

The verdict has been delivered by broadcast TV: Strip it of life, dress it up, make it palpable for the masses, and viola! Hit.

Long live "Ned & Stacey". R.I.P.

Stacey Colbert (Debra Messing) is a neurotic Jewish freelance writer in New York. She is desperate to get away from her nagging mother after getting dumped by her fiancée. Her sister Amanda (Nadia Dajani) is happily married to sweet, clueless accountant Eric Moyer (Greg Germann). They set Stacey up with his selfish, unscrupulous, superficial, and materialistic co-worker Ned Dorsey (Thomas Haden Church). It is fire and ice. When his boss plans to give away his expected promotion of Creative Director to a family man, he quickly invents a fiancée to marry. Stacey needs his apartment and he needs a wife. What could go wrong? In the second season, they plan to divorce while he partners with Amanda in her muffin shop.

This is Debra Messing's big break on network TV. She has great charms that is equal to the scoundrel Thomas Haden Church. The obvious move is for Ned and Stacey to get together. The pilot should have planted better seeds for that relationship to grow. There is a lot of combative chemistry but they slow-roll the coupling. They may as well be Will & Grace. They need more heat at the start which would translate into better friction throughout the show. Otherwise, the four leads are solid sitcom players.

Ned and Stacey was a good show. There was clever and well writing. The cast was great, most notably Thomas Haden Church (Lowell from Wings). There were a lot of great gags that fit in perfect with this show. It's a shame the show was so short lived. Would I recommend this show? Yes. Catch the reruns on the USA Network.