The Bonnie Hunt Show

[Shindigger]

Ok, I'm not positive if this qualifies as a One Year Wonder, but was anyone else as crazy about The Bonnie Hunt Show as I was? The show was not the average, cut-and-paste sitcom at all, but rather very unique in that I believe there was some some improvising going on.

Not improvising of plots and such, but you could tell that at times, the actors would react to a reply or quip with a line that may not have been completely scripted. It really made for some truly funny scenes. Bonnie Hunt, in my eyes, is one of the funniest actresses I've seen. I became an instant fan of hers when I came upon this show. She's about the only talk show guest I get excited about seeing on these talk fests!

So am I alone on this, or does anyone else recall having the feeling of watching something that, for a change, felt like it was your own little discovery?

[TV Guy]

Not only is Bonnie a wonderful comic actress, but she's also a very talented writer/director. She was very heavily involved in the creative aspect of "The Bonnie Hunt Show", as well as "The Building", another short-lived sitcom that she starred in and produced.

She's one of those people who should really be a huge star, but hasn't been in the right place and the right time yet.

[Shindigger]

You're right TV Guy. Bonnie Hunt really deserves all the recognition and accolades she's received, and even more! But then again, Bonnie is so much more than one of the mainstream, dime-a-dozen celebrities.

I've come to see her as another Jodie Foster, in that she may not be on every talk show and in all the "Blockbuster Super Sizzlin' Summer Flicks," but you know that when she does appear in a film, it's going to be something special, solid, and enduring. So maybe it's a good thing she's not one of those Mega Stars; she's much too good for that plastic designation.

(Still, if she does become a mega star, I won't complain!)

[Madness]

She is supposedly getting another sitcom this fall on ABC!

[Shindigger]

I sure hope so MADNESS! I'll be setting my recorder every week for that one! (By the way, does anyone have any of those Bonnie episodes on tape?)

[msjanet1124]

DID THE BH SHOW HAVE HER AS A SEPERATED MOTHER THAT MOVED INTO A TRAILER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT i REMEMBER A SHOW ON NBC THAT WAS ON FOR A STINT BUT IT REALLY SHOWED PROMISE

[TJL]

On the "Bonnie Hunt Show", there was much ad-libbing, plus the video segments shown each week (Hunt played a roving reporter interviewing people on the street) were unscripted.
Same thing with "The Building." The cast was allowed to pretty much change things around on the fly, which is a rarity on TV and was also very funny.
"Building" also featured a rare sitcom appearance by David Letterman. He played a thief (complete with ski mask) who tried to rob a store Bonnie was shopping in. I wish I had that one on tape, becasue it was really funny.

[TJL]

Adding to my post from early this morning,
Bonnie Hunt and her cast members are alumni of Chicago's Second City comedy troupe, which would explain their ability to ad lib, and generally look like all the dialogue was made up.

Personally, I do not think Bonnie Hunt will have much success on TV. Don't get me wrong, I think she's great, but her future is in movies.
She wrote and directed a movie a few years back (Return To Me, with David Duchovny and Minnie Driver) which was pretty good.
I think hse should stick to writing and directing. She could be the next Nora Ephron.

[Shindigger]

TJL, Thanks for your comments on the cast of The Bonnie Hunt Show, and the reason for the great, sometimes, off-the-cuff quality of the show. I tend to agree with you too about her success on television. I do hope her new show does well, but I am glad that she is finding success in the movies! I'm still trying to track down someone who has the Bonnie Hunt Show on tape- what a treasure!

[Freakzilla]

It looks like Bonnie has finally found success on TV. I guess CBS in the '90's wasn't the right place or time for the type of show she wanted to do to be successful. Of course, it helps that 'Life with Bonnie' isn't on after a show called 'Dweebs'.

I hope LWB remains successful. I also hope that maybe, as a result of this show's success, that maybe The Building and The Bonnie Hunt Show could be released on video and DVD. But that's just a wish.

[Shindigger]

Yes Freakzilla, I too hope Life With Bonnie continues to be a success. Bonnie is such a welcome break during the week, and for the first time in a while, I have a show that I'm racing home from work to watch! Last week,I was watching some episodes I had taped previously, and my two nephews were over. Well, they seemed to get as big a laugh out of the whole thing as I did! Seeing that they are teenagers, I'm hoping that's a good sign that the under 30 set is watching too!