In the 1990’s, television shows followed the same basic principles of television shows from past eras: the family comedy and the married couple comedy.
Tonight’s 90’s television spotlight is on two of the shows from the era: the family comedy: Home Improvement (1991-1999) and the married couple comedy: Mad About You (1992-1999).
In Home Improvement, Tim “The Toolman” Taylor (Tim Allen) is balancing two worlds: his home life with his wife, Jill (Patricia Richardson) and his sons, Mark (Taran Noah Smith), Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan) and Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) with his work life. Tim is the star of a home improvement show. On his show is his assistant Al Borland (Richard Karn) and the token female (usually wearing something visually appealing), Heidi Keppert (Debbe Dunning). Providing sage advice is the heard, but not seen (except for the top half of his head is Wilson Wilson Jr (the late Earl Hindman).
In Mad About You, the show focused on the young married couple, Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt). Paul tries to make nice with everyone while Jamie is not shy about speaking her mind when she feels it’s necessary. Their squabbles and challenges are no different from any other young couple dealing with love, life, neighbors, friends, relations, co-workers and of course each other.
Do I recommend them? I would say yes for Home Improvement because of the nostalgia factor. But for Mad About You, well I’m not sure. I’ll let you decide.
Writergurlny 