Dear John (1988-1992) - anyone remember this series?

May 2024 · 6 minute read

I do not know why this show just popped in my head out of nowhere, because I haven’t seen it since probably 1992 (and I was a kid!).

My mother used to watch it sometimes, and I never knew what it was about but remember finding one of the women very pretty and one of the men handsome, and remember the letter his wife left him. That’s about it. Lol.

Anyone used to watch this? I wanna watch it but it isn’t streamable anywhere.

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by Anonymousreply 40September 13, 2020 1:54 PM

were there any SEXUAL problems?

by Anonymousreply 1September 5, 2020 5:08 AM

My mom used to watch this, but i don't remember a thing about it other than that guy on the right being in it.

by Anonymousreply 2September 5, 2020 5:10 AM

Something's in the air today. Out of nowhere I thought about Jere Burns who played Kirk, the womanizer.

by Anonymousreply 3September 5, 2020 5:11 AM

R3 he is who popped in my head, and I was like “what is that show with the handsome blonde womanizer and the man whose wife left him?” Then I remembered it was this show.

I was a child when it was on. 5 in 1992. Yet I remember that much lmao.

by Anonymousreply 4September 5, 2020 5:13 AM

They really could not cast one person of color?! 🙄

by Anonymousreply 5September 5, 2020 5:20 AM

The opening credits is what I remember. Him getting the letter and then the theme song comes on.

Kind of a downer for a sitcom.

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by Anonymousreply 6September 5, 2020 5:23 AM

It was a waste of time for everyone except Jere Burns. It launched his career and he did a few other B-grade things.

Otherwise, it never got any awards or particularly good reviews. It was a time-slot hit and faded then died when it was moved off Thursday night.

by Anonymousreply 7September 5, 2020 5:23 AM

This was a great show. Jere Burns as Kirk was excellent.

I remember Billie Bird whose character had a past that would make Blanche Devereaux blush.

by Anonymousreply 8September 5, 2020 5:23 AM

HD version of the opening credits.

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by Anonymousreply 9September 5, 2020 5:27 AM

The pale, British woman who played the social worker does a lot of voice over work.

by Anonymousreply 10September 5, 2020 5:30 AM

Judd Hirsch won a Golden Globe for its first season and nominated for season 2. That’s it.

The only Emmy nomination it got was for Guest Actor, and it won.

by Anonymousreply 11September 5, 2020 5:31 AM

judd Hirsch is...not the nicest

by Anonymousreply 12September 5, 2020 5:41 AM

Life goes on...dear John!

Always liked Judd Hirsch.

by Anonymousreply 13September 5, 2020 5:43 AM

R1 it’s a logical question though lol

by Anonymousreply 14September 5, 2020 5:48 AM

R12 I’ve definitely heard/read the “difficult” thing.

Have always liked him, though. Someone who really elevates anything he’s in.

by Anonymousreply 15September 5, 2020 6:58 AM

Was it ever rerun anywhere?

I don't recall seeing it anywhere other than on NBC during its original run, although it accumulated 90 episodes.

by Anonymousreply 16September 5, 2020 7:08 AM

R16 it used to play early mornings on channel 9 in NYC during the early 90s. And then never saw it again.

by Anonymousreply 17September 5, 2020 7:10 AM

I spent years trying to think of Jere Burns name. I could picture him, but couldn't remember anything he'd been in. Then a few years back when I was flipping through the channels one day, I came across an episode of According to Jim and saw him. Thank god. It was bugging me that I couldn't remember his name.

by Anonymousreply 18September 5, 2020 7:13 AM

R16 I think Lifetime had it in rotation for a bit.

by Anonymousreply 19September 5, 2020 7:15 AM

Hirsch was so good in Ordinary People.

by Anonymousreply 20September 5, 2020 9:21 AM

It comes on one of the mesothelioma channels. I used to watch it in the background as I was doing other stuff, such as reading DL.

by Anonymousreply 21September 5, 2020 9:49 AM

Funny enough, I just watched an episode on Antenna TV. Judd Hirsch really couldn't carry an entire show as this series clearly exhibited. Billie Bird was pretty good but not very utilized. Isabella Hofmann seemed to be going for a "bargain basement" Victoria Principal look and falls flat with delivery. Mostly the characters seem forgettable watching it now - I suppose that Jere Burns was that standout (if there was one) as mentioned above.

by Anonymousreply 22September 5, 2020 11:24 AM

Jere Burns always seemed gay to me. And could be Ellen’s twin.

by Anonymousreply 24September 5, 2020 3:06 PM

Everyone seems gay to all of you. Because you can’t handle reality.

by Anonymousreply 25September 5, 2020 4:13 PM

How do you pronounce “Jere?” I always read it as “Jeer.”

by Anonymousreply 26September 5, 2020 4:19 PM

I always hated this show for some reason. The theme song always has me scrambling for the remote. So cringeworthy.

by Anonymousreply 28September 5, 2020 4:25 PM

[quote]were there any SEXUAL problems?

British DLer here. I remember the UK version which only lasted for 2 years. I can hear the posh woman who ran the group saying that exact phrase.

The British actor who played John died not long after the second series finished so it was never brought back.

Kirsty MacColl wrote a song called Dear John about the breakdown of her marriage to Steve Lillywhite. She didn't include it on Titanic Days and the batshit crazy Eddi Reader recorded it instead.

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by Anonymousreply 30September 5, 2020 5:00 PM

They should air this show more. It was good.

by Anonymousreply 31September 13, 2020 1:57 AM

All I remember is the theme song and I really resent OP for putting it in my head again.

by Anonymousreply 32September 13, 2020 2:00 AM

I just remember the theme song being really weird for a sitcom.

by Anonymousreply 33September 13, 2020 2:17 AM

I feel like it came on or after something I did watch. I remember only the opening credits. I'm going to go google the shows before and after it, but I am guessing that some other poster will have the answer before I can find it myself.

by Anonymousreply 34September 13, 2020 2:18 AM

Another awful and weird song/intro I hated so much I never made it to the show. Lame af

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by Anonymousreply 35September 13, 2020 2:35 AM

I hadn't thought of this show for at least 25 years and would have been totally fine to never be reminded of it.

by Anonymousreply 37September 13, 2020 2:49 AM

R25, the intro to Grand is one of my faves! Though, yes, it was not your usual sitcom intro. Somebody must have thought it was too unusual because they changed it for the second season and the charm was gone.

by Anonymousreply 38September 13, 2020 5:07 AM

It’s a very late 80s lame instrumental opening. Hooperman was another one (though that was actually a pretty good show).

by Anonymousreply 39September 13, 2020 5:32 AM

I never saw Grand. But that into makes me never wanna watch it

by Anonymousreply 40September 13, 2020 1:54 PM

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