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The Single Guy

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The Single Guy
GenreSitcom
Created byBrad Hall
Starring
ComposerEd Alton
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes43 (+1 Unaired Pilot)
Production
Executive producers
  • Brad Hall
  • Erwin More
  • Jonathan Silverman
  • Michael Davidoff
  • Bill Rosenthal
  • Sam Weisman
ProducerRichard Doctorow
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 21, 1995 (1995-09-21) –
April 14, 1997 (1997-04-14)

The Single Guy is an American sitcom television series that ran for two seasons on NBC, from September 21, 1995, to April 14, 1997. It starred Jonathan Silverman as struggling New York City writer Jonathan Eliot and followed several of his close friends (some of whom came and left as the show was re-tooled between seasons). The series also starred Joey Slotnick as Eliot's best friend Sam Sloan, Ming-Na Wen as Sam's wife Trudy and Ernest Borgnine as doorman Manny, throughout its entire run. The Single Guy was created by Brad Hall.

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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Notable Guest Stars

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Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
122September 21, 1995 (1995-09-21)May 16, 1996 (1996-05-16)
221September 19, 1996 (1996-09-19)April 16, 1997 (1997-04-16)

Season 1 (1995–96)

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No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"Sam WeismanBrad HallSeptember 21, 1995 (1995-09-21)29.9[1]
22"Tennis"Sam WeismanBrad HallSeptember 28, 1995 (1995-09-28)26.3[2]
33"Gift"Sam WeismanRichard DoctorowOctober 5, 1995 (1995-10-05)27.7[3]
44"Babysitting"Sam WeismanJohn MasiusOctober 12, 1995 (1995-10-12)23.5[4]
55"Charity"Sam WeismanAndrew Gottlieb & Jay Kogen & Steve PaymerOctober 19, 1995 (1995-10-19)23.9[5]
66"Neighbors"Sam WeismanDavid Kohan & Max MutchnickNovember 2, 1995 (1995-11-02)27.1[6]
77"Mugging"Sam WeismanDavid Kohan & Max Mutchnick & Richard DoctorowNovember 9, 1995 (1995-11-09)28.2[7]
88"Sister"UnknownSteve PaymerNovember 16, 1995 (1995-11-16)27.9[8]
99"Attraction"UnknownJay KogenDecember 7, 1995 (1995-12-07)23.6[9]
1010"Midnight"Sam WeismanJay KogenDecember 14, 1995 (1995-12-14)25.5[10]
1111"Communication"Sam WeismanRichard DoctorowJanuary 4, 1996 (1996-01-04)27.3[11]
1212"Nineteen"UnknownJim McCoulfJanuary 11, 1996 (1996-01-11)23.2[12]
1313"Distance"UnknownSteve PaymerJanuary 18, 1996 (1996-01-18)25.0[13]
1414"Rival"UnknownRichard DoctorowFebruary 1, 1996 (1996-02-01)26.3[14]
1515"Pudding"Sam WeismanDavid Kohan & Max MutchnickFebruary 8, 1996 (1996-02-08)24.9[15]
1616"Affair"UnknownAndrew GottliebFebruary 15, 1996 (1996-02-15)25.1[16]
1717"Wedding"UnknownBrad HallFebruary 22, 1996 (1996-02-22)25.6[17]
1818"Poetry"Craig ZiskPaul BarroseMarch 7, 1996 (1996-03-07)24.4[18]
1919"Lovenest"Craig ZiskBrad Hall & Richard DoctorowMarch 14, 1996 (1996-03-14)22.8[19]
2020"Kids"Craig ZiskAndrew Gottlieb & John MasiusMay 2, 1996 (1996-05-02)22.4[20]
2121"Pop"Craig ZiskAndrew GottliebMay 9, 1996 (1996-05-09)22.9[21]
2222"Moving"David TrainerRichard Doctorow & Jay KogenMay 16, 1996 (1996-05-16)24.5[22]

Season 2 (1996–97)

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No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
231"Mounted Cop"Craig ZiskRachel SweetSeptember 19, 1996 (1996-09-19)24.47[23]
242"Best Man"Craig ZiskGayle AbramsSeptember 26, 1996 (1996-09-26)24.07[24]
253"Good God"Craig ZiskBill RosenthalOctober 3, 1996 (1996-10-03)22.17[25]
264"Kept Man"Craig ZiskGayle AbramsOctober 10, 1996 (1996-10-10)24.86[26]
275"Strip Club"Craig ZiskAndrew GottliebOctober 17, 1996 (1996-10-17)20.05[27]
286"Love Train"Craig ZiskStephen Godchaux & Rachel SweetOctober 31, 1996 (1996-10-31)21.81[28]
297"The Virgin"Craig ZiskBill RosenthalNovember 7, 1996 (1996-11-07)24.58[29]
308"Double Date"Max TashRichard DoctorowNovember 14, 1996 (1996-11-14)25.00[30]
319"Davy Jones"Alan MyersonAndrew GottliebNovember 21, 1996 (1996-11-21)26.06[31]
3210"Deepest Cut"Kim FriedmanStephen GodchauxDecember 12, 1996 (1996-12-12)22.86[32]
3311"New Year"Craig ZiskBill RosenthalJanuary 9, 1997 (1997-01-09)24.58[33]
3412"Like Father..."Max TashStephen Godchaux & Rachel SweetJanuary 16, 1997 (1997-01-16)26.89[34]
3513"Starting Over"Craig ZiskStory by : Andrew Gottlieb & John Masius
Teleplay by : John Masius		January 23, 1997 (1997-01-23)22.15[35]
3614"Just Friends?"Pamela FrymanGayle AbramsJanuary 30, 1997 (1997-01-30)24.40[36]
3715"Macho Men"Craig ZiskRichard DoctorowFebruary 6, 1997 (1997-02-06)25.20[37]
3816"Mother Love"Andrew TsaoSuzanne Myers & Cody FarleyFebruary 13, 1997 (1997-02-13)23.59[38]
3917"Big Baby"Andrew TsaoRachel SweetFebruary 20, 1997 (1997-02-20)25.66[39]
4018"Grandfather Clause"Craig ZiskStory by : Barbara Hobart
Teleplay by : Will Gluck		March 26, 1997 (1997-03-26)8.74[40]
4119"Jonathan Hollywood"Linda DayRob Cornick & Cory JachnukApril 2, 1997 (1997-04-02)8.74[41]
4220"Au Pair"Michael ZinbergPeter Schneider & Ben CardinaleApril 9, 1997 (1997-04-09)N/A
4321"Vegas Finale"Gail MancusoKaren RussellApril 16, 1997 (1997-04-16)7.71[42]

Production and reception

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While the series was favored enough by NBC to earn a timeslot in its coveted "Must-See-TV" Thursday night line-up, it ultimately failed to generate enthusiasm with critics and viewers. It was largely written-off as a clone of the network's other "singles in the city" sitcoms that emerged in the mid-1990s, following the success of Seinfeld and Friends. The Single Guy emulated many of the same traits and tropes of those series, from the neurotic best friend who occasionally does reprehensible things, to its main character's rotating cast of flawed girlfriends. Jonathan and friends would also regularly hang out at a local coffee shop, The Bagel Cafe, which was seen by some viewers as too similar to Friends, of which David Schwimmer guest starred as his character Ross Geller.

Although the series earned high ratings, consistently attaining 4th or 5th place in the Nielsen ratings, NBC was disappointed in the show's critical failure. For its second season, the series underwent retooling. As a result, cast members Jessica Hecht and Mark Moses were let go and replaced with Olivia d'Abo and Shawn Michael Howard. Dan Cortese and Jensen Daggett were also cast in heavily recurring roles. The retooling did not work, forcing NBC to pull the series and move it to a different night in the Spring of 1997. No longer airing in between Friends and Seinfeld, ratings plummeted upon its move, with nearly two-thirds of its audience gone. Perhaps aware of its impending cancellation, the series ended its second and final season with Jonathan Eliot married in Las Vegas, thus ending his single status.

Ernest Borgnine later recalled working on the show fondly, but expressed his displeasure with the retooling and felt that it – along with behind-the-scenes dysfunction – led to its cancellation.[43][44]

References

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  1. ^ Graham, Jefferson (September 27, 1995). "NBC Sunday starters stumble". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  2. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 4, 1995. p. 3D.
  3. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 11, 1995. p. 3D.
  4. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 18, 1995. p. 3D.
  5. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 25, 1995. p. 3D.
  6. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 8, 1995. p. 3D.
  7. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 15, 1995. p. 3D.
  8. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 22, 1995. p. 3D.
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  10. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. December 20, 1995. p. 3D.
  11. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 10, 1996. p. 3D.
  12. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 17, 1996. p. 3D.
  13. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 24, 1996. p. 3D.
  14. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 7, 1996. p. 3D.
  15. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 14, 1996. p. 3D.
  16. ^ DeRosa, Robin (February 21, 1996). "Powerhouse Thursday propels NBC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  17. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 28, 1996. p. 3D.
  18. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 13, 1996. p. 3D.
  19. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 20, 1996. p. 3D.
  20. ^ DeRosa, Robin (May 8, 1996). "'ER,' 'Seinfeld,' 'Beast' lead NBC sweep". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  21. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 15, 1996. p. 3D.
  22. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 22, 1996. p. 3D.
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  27. ^ "Top Ranked Programs in Primetime for the Week of 10/14-10/20 as ranked by Nielsen Media Research". UltimateTV. Archived from the original on November 17, 1999. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
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  33. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 6–12)". The Los Angeles Times. January 15, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  34. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 13–19)". The Los Angeles Times. January 22, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  35. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 20-26)". The Los Angeles Times. January 29, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  36. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 27–Feb. 2)". The Los Angeles Times. February 3, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  37. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 3–9)". The Los Angeles Times. February 12, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  38. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 10–16)". The Los Angeles Times. February 20, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  39. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 17–23)". The Los Angeles Times. February 26, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  40. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (March 24–31)". The Los Angeles Times. April 2, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  41. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (March 31-April 6)". The Los Angeles Times. April 9, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  42. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 14–20)". The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1997. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  43. ^ "Ernest Borgnine discusses co-starring on "The Single Guy"". YouTube. November 2, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  44. ^ "Ernest Borgnine talks about Air Wolf, Single Guy, Why they made a McHale's Navy movie-Part 4 of 6". YouTube. August 12, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
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