I watched the premiere of Kate & Allie on March 19th,1984 (along w/ Martin Mull's "Domestic Life" which ran from January 1984 to July, but only for 10 episodes.)
In just watching that first episode, I found a funny,intelligent sitcom that was not "cute kids and confused adults". Also, CBS had been holding for dear life to their 1970s sitcoms as long as they could, M*A*S*H was over ... and only "One Day At A Time" & "The Jeffersons" remained for Norman Lear sitcoms. Plus the sitcoms Alice. (All '70s MTM produced sitcoms were over as well).
Susan Saint James is Kate McArdle and Jane Curtin is Allie Barsky. The show also starred Ari Meyers as Kate's daughter Emma, and Frederick Koehler & Allison Smith as Allie's children Chip and Jennie. Both Kate and Allie dated men regularly, but were portrayed as strong, independent women.
The two were best friends since high school, but both now being divorced, decided to share a place to cut down considerably on living expenses.
Since this is a TV apartement, yes, it's larger than a real NY apt. Of this type and would be fairly expensive...but, it's only a TV series and hery, the kids have to sleep someplace.
Getting back to the point here.... "Kate & Allie" wasn't preachy, nor was it silly or slapstick. The kids had brains but still acted like normal everyday kids & teens.
Jane Curtain and Susan Saint James are perfectly cast to play two single,intelligent women who, while they do date, are not preoccupied by "finding a man".
I would say this has to be one of the greatest shows that CBS had to offer after the 1980s were well underway and after the end of it's 1970's triumphs. Newhart was already in it's 2nd season and Designing Women was still 2 seasons away.
So, in between came Kate & Allie for six great seasons.
The most unforgettable episode,to me, is when Allie gets stuck across town somehow with no money and no way home. She ends up walking home nearly 100 blocks.
Looking a mess... which makes people think she's a homeless woman. That show was partially filmed in the actual city of New York, which made it all the more amazing.
You could have knocked me over with a breath when it was canceled in 1989. True it was 6 seasons but in real time only 5 years and 2 months? (CBS from March 19, 1984 to May 22, 1989,) It seemed they had so much more to say about these characters. Especially with Chip growing up.
One of my favorites is when Allie has to talk to Chip about sex and Chip becomes horrified & embarrassed that his mother not only knows these things but can say them out loud and has engaged in it.
I love his line at the end of that scene after she leaves. "My mother said "condom"! " That's a classic...and so is this show. There's so many great episodes but to save room here, I'll reccomend reaing their summaries hee on IMDb and of course, viewing them when and where you can.
10 star rating all the way! (END)
--------------------------------------
** This review is an update of a former 2006 review, since that time, the full series of Kate & Allie is available for viewing on DVD. Check Cable, Satellite or Steaming services to see if it is available to view. **
In just watching that first episode, I found a funny,intelligent sitcom that was not "cute kids and confused adults". Also, CBS had been holding for dear life to their 1970s sitcoms as long as they could, M*A*S*H was over ... and only "One Day At A Time" & "The Jeffersons" remained for Norman Lear sitcoms. Plus the sitcoms Alice. (All '70s MTM produced sitcoms were over as well).
Susan Saint James is Kate McArdle and Jane Curtin is Allie Barsky. The show also starred Ari Meyers as Kate's daughter Emma, and Frederick Koehler & Allison Smith as Allie's children Chip and Jennie. Both Kate and Allie dated men regularly, but were portrayed as strong, independent women.
The two were best friends since high school, but both now being divorced, decided to share a place to cut down considerably on living expenses.
Since this is a TV apartement, yes, it's larger than a real NY apt. Of this type and would be fairly expensive...but, it's only a TV series and hery, the kids have to sleep someplace.
Getting back to the point here.... "Kate & Allie" wasn't preachy, nor was it silly or slapstick. The kids had brains but still acted like normal everyday kids & teens.
Jane Curtain and Susan Saint James are perfectly cast to play two single,intelligent women who, while they do date, are not preoccupied by "finding a man".
I would say this has to be one of the greatest shows that CBS had to offer after the 1980s were well underway and after the end of it's 1970's triumphs. Newhart was already in it's 2nd season and Designing Women was still 2 seasons away.
So, in between came Kate & Allie for six great seasons.
The most unforgettable episode,to me, is when Allie gets stuck across town somehow with no money and no way home. She ends up walking home nearly 100 blocks.
Looking a mess... which makes people think she's a homeless woman. That show was partially filmed in the actual city of New York, which made it all the more amazing.
You could have knocked me over with a breath when it was canceled in 1989. True it was 6 seasons but in real time only 5 years and 2 months? (CBS from March 19, 1984 to May 22, 1989,) It seemed they had so much more to say about these characters. Especially with Chip growing up.
One of my favorites is when Allie has to talk to Chip about sex and Chip becomes horrified & embarrassed that his mother not only knows these things but can say them out loud and has engaged in it.
I love his line at the end of that scene after she leaves. "My mother said "condom"! " That's a classic...and so is this show. There's so many great episodes but to save room here, I'll reccomend reaing their summaries hee on IMDb and of course, viewing them when and where you can.
10 star rating all the way! (END)
--------------------------------------
** This review is an update of a former 2006 review, since that time, the full series of Kate & Allie is available for viewing on DVD. Check Cable, Satellite or Steaming services to see if it is available to view. **