Le journal intime d'un homme marié

With this show I've learned a valuable lesson: Trust any program HBO sees fit to put on. I quickly dismissed Larry Sanders, Sex and the City, and Mr Show. I was not interested in Mind of the Married Man for it's first couple of episodes believing it to be nothing more than the male Sex and the City. A negative review in People didn't help its case either.

Because it was sandwiched in between Band of Brothers and Curb Your Enthusiasm for its first few weeks I was forced to catch little bits and pieces here and there. Eventually it started to catch my attention and before I knew it I eagerly awaited each episode.

Like all HBO shows it earns points for doing things that broadcast programming can't get away. Subjects, namely sex, are dealt with bluntly and openly without trying to delicately skirt the issue. How many shows can you name where you'd see a woman bobbing her head up and down in her husband's lap while he snickers at the Three Stooges on TV? I don't think you'll see a subplot about a guy contemplating whether or not to get a "happy ending", a euphemism for a handjob, from a masseuse on Must See TV either.

The continuing story across the entire season is very well executed. The developing sexual tension between Mickey and Missy his assistant and how it affects his relationship with his wife kept me hooked. The final episode of the season had what I considered to be one of the best comic payoffs in which it is revealed that Mickey's Japanese masseuse isn't as she appears to be. I suspect that the framework for the entire season of episodes was worked out far in advance. It's not as though week to week an effort is made to fudge the storyline together.

The comedy, like other elements in the show, is played subtly at least as compared to that of most sit-coms where you can almost hear the actors and writers cry out, "Laugh! Laugh! Damn you!" Married Man doesn't really care whether you get everything and if you do it's not going to wait until you finish laughing before moving on to the next thing.

The characters like people in real life don't always have the right thing to say at the right time. You can almost see, in Mike Binder's portrayal, Mickey searching for his words when placed in tense situations.

Ivana Milicevic, who plays Missy, came as a complete surprise. Because she looks as though she must have had a career as a runway model I assumed that she was a.)not intelligent b.)not a good actress. As conventionally beautiful as she is the show doesn't merely see fit to use her as set dressing. Missy is afforded a fair amount of depth. Of course there is hardly an ugly woman in the cast and yet the aim of the show is not to merely parade an attractive cast for a drooling audience.

If there is a criticism I could level at the show it is in regards to the show's setting and occupation of the characters. Almost all romantic comedies take place in some large metropolitan area usually New York, Chicago, or San Francisco. Married Man is set in Chicago. These urban environments aren't presented as most of us would see them as fairly dirty, crowded, and stress filled places. Confrontational strangers are only there to provide some comedy. Main characters never have jobs most middle Americans would have, instead plying their trade in some form of the media/publishing business. Mickey works for a newspaper. However given the quality of the show this is relatively easy to overlook.

I would hate for women to watch this show and think; "So this is what men are like when us women are not around, how informative."

It also hails women as having it 'more together,' and as being smarter than men, just because these particular men are losers. It also seems that on this show, men can't keep from cheating or almost cheating.

It's just plain sexist in my humble opinion. I feel like the main character is a jackass ambassador speaking on my behalf.

This is the best show I've seen on t.v. in a long time. I just don't understand the negativity that i've seen in reviews (NY Post reviewer had already made up her mind by reading the script)and by comments on message boards. I'm a 32 year old professional and the conversations these characters have ring true. The only reason I can come up with that people don't like this show, is 1) they are threatened women, 2) they are threatened women masquerading as men, 3) think that "Friends" is a real hoot, 'nuff said on that one. If HBO doesn't renew this show for another season, then what? Oooohhhh, I can't wait for another showing of Short Circuit 2, or please anything with Steve Gutenberg! Come on people, the reason that entertainment is in such a sorry state is that people just hate to think and be entertained at the same time. I can't believe I wasted time writing this, but wanted to balance the negative reviews. Mind of the Married Man rocks! If you like Woody Allen, Animal House, Caddyshack, Dean Martin Roasts, Golf, NFL, NHL, and HATE Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Kmetko, Alec Baldwin (any Baldwin for that matter), Men's Health Mag, Al Gore, and Hillary, then give it a try.

This is a great show. I love it, and I know that in time this will be seen as one of the top comedies on HBO. I find it so funny. It's on Signature now in reruns and coming back this summer and I for one can't wait. Mike Binder and Sonya Walger give such a realistic look at the imperfection of marriage. I am a big fan of his and wrote a review here of his HBO movie and I feel that I should weigh in on his show as well. He's getting the guy side of marriage an airing and I know that upsets a lot of people but my wife and I think it's funny and healthy for this side to be shown. ( I sit through Sex in the CIty with her, it's only fair) Watch the show. It's brilliant.

People who think poorly of this show are obviously taking it WAY too seriously. The show is called "Mind of the Married Man" and if any of you have met a man (a married one, especially) you would know that his mind is filled with some of the most randomly dishonest thoughts imaginable. This is how men think, this is our world, thus the premise of the show. If HBO wanted a show that sugarcoats the evil and immoral thoughts of men for the pure comedic value of it, they'd call it "The Drew Carey Show" and be done with it. Give it another shot if you're not sure about this show, I'm sure you can find the humor in it as so many other people have.