What can one expect from the programming geniuses but to cancel a potentially great show before its time? Smartly written and with a flawless cast from David Crane, the creator of "Friends", "The Class" should have been allowed to blossom in a weekly slot the viewer could look forward to. (Sorry, Monday @ 8pm was not a good choice).
The plot was simple, a group of former classmates from the third grade meet at a party and their lives become entwined and relationships develop: Ethan and Cat- opposites whom you root for the way we rooted for Ross and Rachel to find each other; the "nebbish klutzy" Richie Velch (great name!) who meets his true love Lina by running her over with his car; Duncan and Nicole, former high school sweethearts whose lives have taken them down different paths, but whose feelings for one another never died; These and other characters become "friends", and we were able share their growing pains with laughter and tears. I just finished watching the complete season again and remain stunned at the stupidity of CBS for flushing this winner down the drain. What- "Rules of Engagement" is more deserving of renewal? A lost treasure that (along with another CBS cancellation - "Out Of Practice") demonstrates that the networks don't get the TV audience, and continue to assault and plunder us with inane sitcoms, reality shows and endless spin-offs of crime shows. Enough said.
