"Dharma & Greg" (1997)TV series 1997-2002

Creators:

Dottie Dartland
Chuck Lorre

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

24 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

He's old school. She's new age. Together, they're just right.

Plot:

There could hardly be an odder match, but love knows no reason- assistant DA Greg Montgomery, the golden...

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationships | Love | Male Female Relationship | Husband Wife Relationship | FBI

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 30 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 9	8:00 AM	FX	Sexual Healing	#5.4
Wed. July 9	8:30 AM	FX	Without Reservations	#5.5

Cast

Jenna Elfman	...	Dharma Finklestein Montgomery (119 episodes, 1997-2002)
Thomas Gibson	...	Greg Montgomery (119 episodes, 1997-2002)
Joel Murray	...	Pete Cavanaugh (119 episodes, 1997-2002)
Mimi Kennedy	...	Abby O'Neil (119 episodes, 1997-2002)
Mitch Ryan	...	Edward Montgomery (119 episodes, 1997-2002)
Susan Sullivan	...	Kitty Montgomery (119 episodes, 1997-2002)
Alan Rachins	...	Larry Finkelstein (118 episodes, 1997-2002)
Shae D'Lyn	...	Jane Cavanaugh (95 episodes, 1997-2001)

Runtime:

30 min | USA:30 min (119 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M (some episodes) | Finland:K-7 (DVD) (2006) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Not only did the producer add a vanity card at the end of episode one, but at the end of every episode (visible for about 2 seconds, readable when freeze-framed). The main tests included various "beliefs" of the producer, as well as various outlooks on life. One in particular simply read "All work and no play makes Chuck a dull boy" over and over, except for the very middle of the screen, where it says "If you have stuck with this and read this far you are an exceptional person". Another said "the meaning of life might be "Sit, UBU, sit"".

Quotes:

Dharma: Welcome to the Pompous Room. May I check Madame's pole, or will she be keeping it up her butt?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: There's Something About Paulie (#2.16)" (2000)

There's more depth to the parents

Yes, there are parallels to "I Love Lucy," but with a degree of introspection which was impossible for TV in those days. I regard this show as one of the last of the US broadcast networks' "second golden age," which emerged at the end of the seventies.

The actors use their voices extremely well; their timing, phrasing and range of modulation are expertly refined and restrained, and amazingly accomplished for TV. There are very few essential sight gags; when replaying the (excellent quality) audio track alone, I am intrigued by how well it would have worked on radio.

I notice some don't seem to "get" the parents, seeing them as shallow stereotypes. But their roles were written and played with the winking insight that the characters have become quite well aware their lifestyles, values and belief systems were folly. With evident embarrassment, they pragmatically and self-consciously stick to their pretensions, as they provide the only structure they dare trust enough to hold their fragile self-identities and relationships together.

This is gently revealed in the dynamic between and among the folks. The kids may seem to be center stage, but having themselves already caught on, essentially play "straight man" together to the poignant unfolding of their parents' subdued realizations as they sail into the fading expectations of middle age.