Again, as most people here are doing, I will speak of the 1st season. A very dark comedy with heart. I always got a laugh out of this show. But the second episode is the best of the series. (IMO) In the first episode, JL is sober for 1 day. In the second episode JL has been sober for 30 days. He is proud of this accomplishment, but no one seems to care. When he goes into the bar, the bartender says "That's worth a free shot!" (6 months is a glass, and a year of sobriety is a whole bottle!)He goes to the bum in the station (He sleeps in a phone booth) and says "You, know, you don't need that first drink." The bum says "Your in 'the program'? Let me tell you this from the bottom of my heart. TAKE YOUR ELEVEN STEPS OFF OF A TWELVE STEP PIER!" He finally decides that if no one cares he is sober, why bother? He goes to the bar later in during his shift and asks for their strongest drink. A different bartender gives him coffee. The bar was being utilized as a meeting place for AA when JL walked in. He finds a sponsor, (David Crosby) and is sober for another day.
A line from one of the myriad bartenders this show had still makes me laugh. I forget which episode, but the bartender is complaining about how his apartment was burglarized. He says "They would have taken my statue of Jesus if it wasn't nailed down."
No show made me think, or laugh, as much as this first season. The second and third seasons are not very good. Blame the networks. The show even made fun of it's lighter tone by having a very "Freinds" like theme, and had JL dancing in a fountain with an umbrella. (With a deadpan expression the whole time)
I will get the 1st season on DVD if it ever gets released.
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