Sherman Oaks

I was cleaning out old VHS tapes in my storage the other day and came across some tapes I made of the 96' season of this show. After watching a few of the episodes I had taped, and remembering episodes I had seen, I realized what a rare gem this show was for it's time. This was before The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Sex In The City, etc., etc.. High caliber shows on the pay channels are becoming more and more commonplace now-days, but Sherman Oaks had few competitors at it's time. (At least, none that I remember.) Everyone was so well cast in this series, with the possible exception of Dr. Baker's ditzy daughter. Who was really only eye-candy anyways, so was no big deal. Jason Behr was awesome as Dr. Baker's "wigger" son, and it was really cool seeing Peter Billingsley all grown-up and holding his own in a comedic role. Nick Toth was great as the harried Dr Baker, and Phyllis Katz was Dr Baker's spendaholic, angry wife. It would be great to see all 3 seasons of this show on DVD, but if you can find it in VHS form on the internet, I highly recommend it.

This show should be brought back or SHOWTIME could do something really innovative and bring some of the characters back but on their current series like WEEDS and Californication. I made a comment awhile back about cable shows of the nineties set in Los Angeles: Larry Sanders Show Strip Mall Rude Awakening Beggars and Choosers but somehow I forgot to include this ultra hip comedy. It was sexy, clever yet very cheaply made. The same aesthetic and production budget levels as Reno 911. Where is Tane McClure? Damn! She was hot on this show. Peter Billingsley's character was quite a double-edged creation. Most of the time you would laugh at his character but occasionally you would have to laugh with him. Oh we'll, maybe someday a DVD release.

Two things. First - the maid was asian (I happened on an episode I had taped the other night), and second - the ultra-republican was Dr. Baker's nephew, not his son. I also would like to see the show return, it was very entertaining

I agree with Josh, this was indeed the best series SHOWTIME has ever had, this along with "TWISTED PUPPET THEATRE". These made great late-night T.V. shows, but now are long gone. I'm just wishing in the future they have a revival of the show, especially now days when SHOWTIME is dishing out crap like "QUEER AS FOLK". On the record Josh; the maid was Mexican, not Chinese.

Sherman Oaks was really fun to watch. It's a riot to go back to my VHS tapes of the show and see Jason Behr in a role unlike any other he's had since!

Actually, there were 2 housekeepers. In the first season, she was Hispanic (I remember seeing her on Little House on the Prairie also) and in the season after that, the housekeeper was Oriental.

Showtime needs to release this on DVD!