I watched this show when I was 19. I enjoyed it since it seemed to grasp how every marriage that I knew from friends and family. Granted not all marriages are carbon copies of the ones on the show, but at least it hits on ones that are familiar. I found that the awkward moments with Mickey (Mike Binder) and his wife (Sonya Walger) looked like bad acting seemed to emphasize that awkward feelings they were having. Little nuances like this made it a little better for me. And the support characters are real to me. Especially since I have been on both sides (being the single guy and the married guy *sort of) The complaints seem real and the responses genuine as far as I could tell. I have since watched it and still find the humor. I was more curious about how long the show would last since they covered the main question of infidelity? The second season I am sure covered another topic, but I don't really remember. I do hope they put out the second season just so I can complete my thoughts on the show. All in all I did enjoy it when I was single and when I got into a serious relationship.
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delonge20025 May 2008
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m-4782627 November 2020At least, on paper. It ended too soon, like series usually did, back then. Season 1 focused more on the husbands, and season 2 was trying to appeal to their spouses too. When writers did their own little Sex and the City moments, where wives were talking about their « problems », while « eating lunch ». And it was fine by me, since they clearly were the better half of their couples. Doug and Carol was my favorite. Even the corvette incident didn't destroy their marriage. But the rest was too messed up, and it looked as if writers were trying to redeem that, afterwards. Until these very frustrating last minutes, that is. If they were to revive the show, I'm sure the female cast would be different. With the exception of Missy and Carol, maybe. Speaking of them, I didn't like season 2 Missy. She was trying too hard to be « one of the guys ». Which goes to show how ironically, a show about married men, ended up being more about their « women ». And that's a problem, or proof men don't make good leads in TV dramas... I thought it was both good and awful, but never dull or boring. And like I said earlier, cancelled much too soon. And why is that? It would've been perfect to take the spot that was soon about to be left, by SATC...
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jimmy96923@aol.com14 November 2002I simply cannot understand some of the criticisms of this show, specifically that the characters are unrealistic. I see these character types all the time, from the cheating alpha male (Jake) to the loyal but whipped Doug. Binder's own character is stuck in the middle like most of us, he wants to please his wife without defering to her on every issue. The constant struggles between love and boredom, power and submission, and monogomy and straying is played out in depth every week. The writing is witty, intelligent and focused, it often takes the unexpected turn. Hopefully it can maintain its quality.
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sirajrj20 May 2008I can't believe people - married/single/in significant relationships could not relate to this show!! This is the real deal with a couple sparklers in hand to make it shine. As much as us 'women' would hate to think we had a 'Jake' as our spouse, but realize we may have a 'Mickey', but really want to kid ourselves to think we could always roll over in the AM to see our 'Doug' - wake up and smell the 'monkey coffee'. I am married, with kids, a woman who had a career and gave it up for family and can still relate to the 'Mickey' character. I think people trash this show because it really does make them look at themselves in the mirror and ask yourself 'am I really happy with the choices I've made?' You then realize you are happy with what you have...you just have to remind yourself a couple times out of the day. I was totally disappointed when this show was cancelled - and hope somewhere down the line it will come around again. People may not want a 'Everyone loves Raymond' life - who can relate to that image of marriage, anyway? - Yikes.....
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heynow-ca29 March 2020This was a fantastic show with great characters and is unfortunate it didnt get past 2 seasons. really enjoyed it and though the characters were realistic and played well.
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This show is the most truthful portrayal of what men think about. I know men won't admit it to their significant others and women will never believe it, but this series very accurately portrays a man in a relationship. No matter how well a guy has it, the grass is always greener on the other side. That is the basis for this whole series. The internal everyday battle of men to stay faithful to the one they love when their natural animal instincts and testosterone are telling them to try and sleep with every fine piece of arse they see. I know it doesn't sound beautiful or poetic but its truth.
Anyways, the show is hilarious, especially if you are more into darker, drier humour. Wish HBO never cancelled it. -
mstcyr23 August 2003I stumbled in to "The Mind of the Married Man" after HBO had the unmitigated audacity to cancel it, so critiquing the show is pointless post-mortum. Nonetheless, I absolutely love the TMOTMM, and it cuts deeper than practically anything I've seen of late on television, despite the fact that it's a comedy, black as it may be. Tell me, does anyone know where I can get a list of the songs that play in the background during the closing credits? I've heard about five songs that I really like, but I don't know the name of the songs or the artists. (I recognize the Marc Cohn sings the terrific title tune) I think "U2" sings one of them, and, I must confess, I have never jumped on the U2 bandwagon.
I think the reason that the TMOTMM didn't make it is because wives wouldn't let their husbands watch it, which is perplexing since husbands don't mind if their wives watch the predictable pretentious, "Sex in the City." Since married Johns didn't watch it, who's left to tune in? I guess I'll have to listen to someone other than Jake to get advice on my marriage.
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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.
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Daniocal25 November 2001The Mind of the Married Man is yet another great HBO series. Where Sex and the City has a definite female point of view and focus, Married Man plays with mans struggle to keep his inner "caveman" in check and remain happily married. As a married man I find the characters completely believable. In fact I see a lot more truth in the show than I care to admit. Married Man does seem to owe something to its predecessor "Dream On" but its different enough that the similarities didn't even occur to me until someone else pointed them out. My only criticism would be the transparent child of the Married Man who magically appears every breakfast scene only to disappear for the remainder of every episode with no effect on the lives of the two main characters.
Bottom line is that Married Man is funny, revealing, and heads above any sit-com on network TV. Married guys will love this series! -
ChrisBerni28 March 2002I am a woman and enjoy this show very much! I think it's hilarious, and also poignant at times. The guy-talk certainly reminds me of my personal experiences of girl-talk, and these scenes along with the "fantasies" are among my favourites. The dialogue just flows so naturally. So Mickey (Mike Binder) does stupid things, but don't we all although we "should know better", especially when we're torn? I also like it that although at first his two friends Jake (Jake Weber) and Doug (Taylor Nichols) seemed to be perfect impersonations of the total opposite points of view - philandering vs. complete devotion to your partner - in the course of the first season we have begun to see they go much deeper than that. Doug and his wife have a great relationship - how many men would tell their wives they had almost gone to a Japanese massage parlor with a friend??!! For the second season, I'm especially looking forward to find out more about Jake and why he became such a philanderer. He's such a riddle - although I cannot condone his constant cheating, I agree with what a friend says about him: he has his own warped sense of "chivalry". You saw it in his behaviour with his friends, and also when he went out with Missy - he only wanted to show her a good time, and didn't try to land her. The episode where his "computer girl" retired was very interesting - he had stated earlier that he could be with the same hooker for years and not feel anything, but now found out that isn't quite true. But he's only beginning to find such things out about himself, so I'm sure next season will be an interesting one for him. I'm also looking forward to see how Mickey and Donna's relationship will go on, and how Doug and Carol's relationship will be affected by her going back to work.
To all involved in shooting "Mind": Keep the good work up!!
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patbuddha26 November 2001With 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. -
moriddim31 October 2001I was reluctant to watch this show at first, fearing it would be overly manly and leaking with testosterone(yes I am a guy) as a sort of opposite to Sex in the City or maybe even a retaliation to such a program. To my pleasant surprise, though, the show packs plenty of humor, smart writing, and top notch acting. I had never been one to watch HBO original series, feeling they were out of place on a channel now inappropriately named Home Box Office that was originally meant to air uncut movies. This show turned me around though, and I look forward to when it comes on.
The main character, Micky(played by Mike Binder) is a man that I think most of us guys can identify with somehow, whether it be through his constant questioning of his own commitment to his beloved wife or, for a change of pace, not his trouble understanding woman, but in understanding himself as a man. Claims that the show is unrealistic are only true in that a lot of us may not take the chances that Micky takes and that his two friends seem to be very much playing his Id and Super Ego almost too perfectly. The lack of realism in those ways, though, is a blessed thing, for if they wasn't there, the viewer would not be able to truly understand the importance of fidelity, of love, and sacrifice which make up the theme of the series. I mean, if the show were completely realistic, then we may as well stick to our own mystifying experience and enjoy our lack of answers. The show is designed just so that it retains those necessary pieces of realism, but also takes the viewer out of reality for the purposes of showing where men make their mistakes, when they do something right, and when, most importantly, they think they are doing something wrong which is completely natural and forgivable.
Mike Binder, also the creator and director of the show, gives us a chance to truly peer into Mickey's mind and allows us to witness what may happen if we did, in fact, happen to take that invitation into an attractive strangers apartment. He shows us what his fantasies are, where his guilt comes from, and how much he truly does love his wife and strives to be the perfect husband, as well as father. Overall, the show has a message that is both positive and heart warming. It gives hope to the worrisome man, and insight to the confused wife. The acting is superb, as well as the writing. I would go into more detail, but I'm spent. Give it a chance. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. -
myfoot25 August 2002I 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. -
Davezawhoris14 January 2002This 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.
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tooner6924 December 2001This 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.
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LeeThomp27 October 2001After several episodes, I've yet to find a single bit of this funny. The situations that the lead character gets himself into are his own fault - which could be easily avoided if he would be honest and just communicate with his wife. It's hard to have any type of sympathy for him and at times it's hard to like him.
This is probably more for bachelors and college kids that haven't learned what makes a lasting relationship. -
odeenb8 November 2001This show is dead-on for married humor. Are you married? Are you a married guy? WATCH THIS SHOW!!!
Are you a married woman? Do you want to know what goes on in that little pea-sized brain of his? WATCH THIS SHOW!!! -
Malco11 July 2003I love this show! Lots of little cues for us married folks. Married guys do think like Mike. It ain't easy you know.... Sonya Walger somehow channels the spirit of the late Elizabeth Montgomery (Bewitched) and is the most original beauty to hit the screen in decades. Amazingly she can act too and I hope Hollywood wakes up
and makes her a star. Mike Binder does a great job of showing how guys can
suffer deep misery even when they have the world by the tail. I'm too married to "get" Sex and the City so maybe you could be too single to get Mind of the
Married Man. Still, it's top notch stuff and a pleasure to watch every week. HBO has been silent lately and I worry that Mind of the Married Man is a goner for next season. Sure hope not! -
hmmjaym19 August 2004The majority of us guys are not equipped for the great task of committing to one woman, and even less do we manage the skills of communication. This makes married life pretty troublesome and sometimes even awkward. If someone has any doubts, just check the recent divorce rate in the U.S. (over 60%, granted not all male fault). This show blew me away with its first season, it was honest, candid, and completely from the male perspective. Great casting, writing and development of the characters the way Sex & the City once did--by portraying their inner life--contributed to the brief success of MMM. The witty writing drilled way down to the great oil seas of "man thinking", where oil can be found, but it could just as well kill all the sea life in the North Atlantic. The development was great until the second season when a few baby seals were already dying. Throughout the second season focus tended to shift towards the female point of view with Mike's wife having an affair and Jake getting a divorce. But, the focus was still on the miserable male. The anti-hero perhaps. Who knew what the right thing was, but, couldn't think clearly since other parts of the body than the brain was clearly doing all the thinking. The writers did, however, stray off course and steered the show towards very hazardous waters. Hence, driving into an ice berg called the third season. This was a great show, the chemistry was there, and as "KWC619" says it came off ass "crude done tastefully". This, if any show, was a hell of a conversation starter at any dinner party that included couples and a true television experience. I sincerely hope they will release the two seasons on DVD so more people could enjoy it.
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SnobbyDude26 December 2003This is basically a male sex and the city. I said, in my review of sex and the city, that I didn't like the it and wouldn't if the roles were reversed. No fan of this show can really criticize sex and the city since it's basically the same animal. If you do, I don't think you are being intellectually honest and such a position would be hypocritical. This is the type of show that makes me want to apologize for being male. I'd really hate to think that women who stumble across this show think that all men are like these clowns. They are remarkably immature when it comes to relationships and it's sad to see so many people writing that they can relate to these losers. When women say they can relate to Sex and the City and men say they can relate to this equally crappy series, it makes me worry about what is becoming of our society. You can't fault HBO for trying to make a male copy of sex and the city, hoping that it too would be successful. This is an ok show if you like this sort of thing. I don't and am glad it was cancelled.
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Zardok28 September 2001I found "The Mind of the Married Man" to be mildly entertaining, at best. It is extremely reminiscent of "Dream On" (1990), another HBO original series. However, while the latter was both quirky and original, this one is not. The humor is rather narrow, being directed at a very specific audience, and the characters are neither believable nor realistic in any way.
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jiggyjeff879 December 2003saying its the worst show on hbo is like saying the worst pitcher in the yankees rotation. The show isnt bad the relationships are overly dramatic but they are realistic to a extent under all of it. And the plot is unrealistic but its realistic enough and its entertaining to a extent. the real reason i watch this show is the dry humor and being able to laugh at the fascades everyone puts up on the shows. these marriages arent how life really is but its interesting just having charectors that u can relate to in a fu*ked up sort of way. the way the conversations go are real and thats why i watch this and all hbo shows. except arliss i dont know why i watch that. but for all the people ripping on this show watch one of the four episodes of The Pitss just so u can remind yourself what a horrible tv show is laugh track included. really hbo shows are blown out of proportion and unexciting but thats life and thats why it is good. eventually basic tv will get better then The Sheild and when it does i wont have time to watch this stuff but until that point this show is way better then any dramody or drama on abc, fox, cbs, or nbc. so that included this is one of the top shows on tv and its a shame hbo canceled it for k street. because i watched that show and it was way too weird. k street is the reason it hasnt officially been canceled yet because they wanted to see how kstreet does. I just hope people can see that this is way better then any idea HBO has put forth thus far. They were right in canceling Mr. SHow so i cant say htis show is better then something they could put on but its better then the sister act 2. so ill watch. and if u bothered to read this rambling misguided post i thank you. and i apologize for repeating my point more then a Bush speech
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gamehng007-23 January 2002This show is supposed to be the male version of sex in the city. Unfortunately guy's dont want to see this crap. I would call this show the biggest ego trip on tv again right there with arliss. I hope this mike binder guy realizes hes made a mistake and moves on quickly.
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k_alston326428 October 2001I only watch this tripe because there is nothing else on and in my search for white noise to drown out life in general, this series is it. Just no good. The writing is so lackluster and "easy" (easy targets, slack) I'm surprised HBO is sticking with it. Maybe there is a shortage of good comedic half hours. Which would also explain "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Arliss". Blech!
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mightyfastpig15 December 2005Even given that this series is aimed at married men in their 40s, there's a curiously dated feel to it, both in the home and in the workplace.
For instance, in the real world newspapers are full of women reporters, columnists and editors, but the newspaper Mickey works at seems a throwback to the days when the only women around are secretaries and personal assistants. It's also implausible that all of those 20-something women seem eager to get into Freudian-transference father-daughter relationships with their bosses, whom they know are married. Sure it happens, but it was an old story when Nora Ephron wrote about it more than 20 years ago.
Also, was there ever a time when people were secure enough in their employment to screw around at work as much as these people did? Is this some parallel reality with no sexual harassment policy? When was this project conceived? It also portrays married life as a never-ending sublimated power struggle between husband and wife. I don't think I've ever seen a bleaker portrayal of gender relations outside a Neil Labute movie.