The Class

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.

"The Class" got started a little slow but the writers are developing their characters into positions they are now using for very funny skits. This comedy was ideally supposed to be the successor to "Friends " but has the feel of something entirely new. The most recent episode where the subject of homosexuality is a major theme continues to keep me on my toes. The cast of the class is exceptionally strong and diverse. The late John Ritter's son is proving that he can do exceptional work in comedy as well as he did in drama ( "Joan of Arcadia" ). I recommend giving " The Class " a look for a few episodes so you can catch on to each characters profile.

Okay, so "The Class" was never going to rank up there with the absolute classics of television. But for what it was (a light-hearted romp full of relatively well-to-do people in their late twenties and early thirties), it was something good, and had the potential to be the next "Friends". "The Class" was a way to spend a nice half-hour in a rose-tinted world, where characters such as Ethan, Kat, Richie and Lina just ask to be hugged without even saying anything. And yet despite pleasing enough ratings (from the looks of it, anyway), it gets axed. Which is a real shame, as the series was engaging enough to merit lasting around at least two or three more seasons. "The Class" gets played on E4 and/or Channel 4 in the UK, like many of the American hits do over this side of the Atlantic. If only the silly network bosses in the States allowed it to be a lasting hit...like I said, this could have been the next "Friends".

This was a very underrated show. Every time I saw Jason Ritter doing physical comedy I could see his father John. It was a great ensemble cast and had the potential of rivaling "Friends". With David Keith's performance of Yonk Allen ex Philadelphia Eagle's quarterback and Lizzy Caplan's cynical character marks a wonderful cast. I could never warm up to The Big Bore er Bang Theory.

I really love this show when I first watch it, and I kept all the episodes on my computer for almost 10 years. Just as other viewers said, romance, comedy, love, friendship, family, gay, you can find everything in there. I really want to see how the relationship goes with Kat and Ethan in the next season, as well as the cute Richie and Lina. Hope the class can bring back all the characters one day.