What is it? Ned and Stacey, complete series, 46 episodes on six disks from Shout! Factory
How much? $44.99
When? Tuesday
Who are Ned and Stacey? Ned Dorsey (Thomas Haden Church) is an uptight, self-absorbed, ambitious advertising executive. Stacey (Debra Messing) is a messy, neurotic writer with a big heart and a strong social conscience.
Their first meeting -- a blind date courtesy of Stacey's mild-mannered brother-in-law, Eric (Greg Germann) -- does not go well but fate pushes them back together.
Ned has found out that he needs to get married to advance his career. Stacey is desperate to find an apartment so she can move out of her parents' home. So, the two strike a deal: they'll get married and live together for a minimum of two years. Stacey can live with Ned and finally get her nagging mother off her back. Ned will have a date for corporate functions and client meetings.
The marriage is one of convenience. Strictly in name only. Perfect.
While they're allowed to (discreetly) date other people, that setup can and does lead to added complications, and these two opposites find sharing an apartment -- even an almost impossibly huge one -- tricky. He's neat. She's messy. He's not bothered by ethics or morals. She has a tendency to become righteously indignant.
And because this is TV, naturally, opposites will start to attract.
Eric, who also happens to be Ned's best friend, and Stacey's cynical sister Amanda (Nadia Dajani) are not-so-quiet observers to this little charade.
How is it? It's not the best example of a 1990s sitcom but it's not bad either. Church's acting style can take a while to warm up to, but everyone gels together pretty well, and the writing is funny in an average sitcom sort of way.
Messing would hit on a much better "odd roommates" setup soon after this with Will & Grace.
Are there bonus features? There's an audio commentary on the first episode and a 20-minute retrospective with cast and creator interviews.
New this week: The Greatest American Hero, complete series; Janet King, Season 3; Line of Duty, Season 4; Longmire, Season 5; The Paper Chase, Season 3; Shameless, Season 7; Sleepy Hollow, Season 4; Taken, Season 1
Next week: 2 Broke Girls, Season 6 and complete series; American Horror Story, Season 6; Andromeda, Season 1; House of Cards, Season 5; iZombie, Season 3; Loch Ness, Season 1; Sharpe, Season 2; The Son, Season 1; Vikings, Season 4, Part 2
Style on 09/24/2017