RSS
Home
Of presidents and sitcoms
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
DVD set of Hearts Afire
Tomorrow's presidential election is one of the few events that justifies discussing the budget-class DVD set of the disappointing political comedy series "Hearts Afire." Watching eight episodes from the show's first season, which began in 1992, showed that the good cast simply could not overcome boring storylines with flat predictable humor. A very tedious episode that included a painfully long scene that involved a game of Trivial Pursuit was by far the worst to which I subjected myself.
The performers included proven stars John Ritter, Markie Post, Ed Asner, and George Gaynes and new comer Billy Bob Thornton. Linda Bloodworth and Harry Thomason, who brought us the much better programs "Designing Women" and "Evening Shade," creating the show is another indication that "Hearts Afire" should have been much better.
I must note as well that the name Thomason was featured in the title of two episodes despite these people not appearing on screen or the titles even describing the plot. This seems very egotistical.
Although they are very skilled television actors, a complete lack of chemistry and any form of believable passion outside the bedroom as well further hinder Ritter and Post from helping this show succeed. The character who Ritter plays simply relents too easily and quickly than is believable for his uptight scout leader persona.
For her part, Post lacks the fire and passion that are supposed to make her free-spirit character interesting; her main form of rebellion seems to be allowing Ritter's sons to eat junk food for meals. These two are much more Dharma and Greg than Tracy and Hepburn.
Despite the Thomasons'' love of political humor and well-known friendship with Hillary Clinton and her husband, they replaced the hilarious and valid rants of Julia Sugarbaker in the good earlier seasons of "Designing Women" with trite and unduly sappy relationship scenes between Ritter and Post. One can only hope that any friendship that they have with Barack Obama does not subject us to another awful series.
The facts that "select all" is not an option when watching the discs in the set, that the viewer has to scroll down to the next episode on the main menu on a disc after watching an earlier one on the disc, and that the viewer even has to select a scene after selecting an episode are all strikes against the set. Additionally, the one extra feature is a poorly produced half-hour that consists of montages that include one of behind-the-scenes folks without even identifying them or their job on the show and not very funny bloopers and outtakes.
It would be nice if the "Hollywood elite" does a better job with any television program that the administration that is elected tomorrow inspires. A much older man who less sharp as he once was mentoring a quirky self-proclaimed hockey mom who likely has hopes for taking over his job and a young professional taking on a very high-profile job for which he might lack the required experience both have great comedic potential. I can also imagine "King of Queens" star Kevin Jmaes playing wacky neighbor Joe the plumber in any series.
I like "A Seat at the Table" as a title if Obama is elected. I do not think that "Chicago Hope," would be appropriate even it had not already been used. The many problems that our nation faces do not have any quick or easy solutions.
Please feel free to share your comments or questions as additions to this entry or as e-mail to tvdvdguy@gmail.com.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpeG)
.jpeG)
