This thread finds me, Adam, discussing shows on DVD that I just recently watched the entire series of. I have the cast list, and then a description of the show. I also give my opinion on the show and mention if the order of the episodes are correct or need to be changed. If they need to be changed, I’ll give you the order I prefer. Also, this is not a review of the DVD, but of the show that's on DVD. The first show is:

Hearts Afire
Three Seasons: 1992 - 1995, 51 episodes
John Hartman - played by - John Ritter
Georgie Ann Lahti/Hartman - played by - Markie Post
Billy Bob Davis - played by - Billy Bob Thornton
Mavis Davis - played by - Wendi Jo Sperber (Season 1)
Ben Hartman - played by - Justin Burnett (Seasons 1 & 2), J. Skylar Testa (Season 3)
Elliott Hartman - played by - Clark Duke
Carson Lee Davis - played by - Doren Fein
Dee Dee Starr - played by - Beth Broderick (Season 1)
Senator Strobe Smithers - played by - George Gaynes (Season 1)
George Lahti - played by - Ed Asner (Season 1)
Adam Carlson - played by - Adam Carl (Season 1)
Dr. Madeline Stoessinger - played by - Conchata Ferrell (Seasons 2 & 3)
Lonnie Garr - played by - Leslie Jordan (Seasons 2 & 3)
Vicki Bumpers - played by - Debbie Gregory (Season 2)

John Hartman and Georgie Ann Lahti are two complete opposites when it comes to politics, but both have an undying passion for one another. This is why after only a few episodes, the two begin to date. However, it was during the very first episode in which Georgie Ann moves in with John and his two young sons Ben and Elliott, because she has no where else to go. Shortly thereafter, her father, George Lahti, just released from jail, moves in and serves as a babysitter to the boys. On the work front, John and Georgie Ann work for Senator Strobe Smithers, in Washington, D.C. Others in the office include John’s childhood best friend Billy Bob Davis. His wife with Mavis. Dee Dee, the bimbo secretary, who’s having an affair with the married Senator. And Adam, a dumb intern. Billy Bob and Mavis’s marriage has been pretty rocky from the start of the show, but it’s not as bad as John and his ex-wife’s. She’s left him and became a lesbian.

Towards the end of the first season, John and Georgie Ann were married. And in the beginning of the second season, John, Georgie Ann, Billy Bob and their kids, Ben, Elliott and Carson Lee (Billy Bob’s young daughter) all moved back to the small town that John and Billy Bob grew up in. They bought The Daily Beacon and started running it, however, they hit a couple snags early on. But by the third or fourth episode, the kinks were all worked out. Hired as their printer was the weird, mama’s boy, Lonnie Garr. He had always looked up to John and Billy Bob, but both couldn’t really stand him. Also in the office was the Psychologist, Dr. Madeline Stoessinger, who runs the advice column for The Daily Beacon. A recurring character in the second season was the dumb secretary, Vicki Bumpers. In the Christmas episode of the second season, George Lahti paid a visit, just in time to learn that his daughter, Georgie Ann was pregnant.

The premiere of the third season was the episode in which Georgie Ann gave birth to Amelia Rose Hartman. There was a cast change for the role of Ben Hartman. Where the first Ben was blonde, the new Ben had dark hair. The show seemed to tackle more issues, such as what it’s like being a fat woman, kids making fun of Elliott for becoming a ballet dancer, and the kid’s soccer coach being outed as a wife beater.

During the three years, they dealt with the politics of the day. Some of these make the show a little dated, but it still has it’s humor and charm to keep it watchable. During the first season, George Bush left the White House and Bill Clinton moved in. They also talked about Lorena Bobbitt, and Amy Fisher. They even made a mention of O.J. Simpson.

After 51 episodes (54 in syndication, three of the episodes were hour long), CBS officially pulled the plug on this struggling, yet entertaining show. The final episode which did not air originally on CBS, dealt with Georgie Ann feeling like an outsider in the small town. But in the end of the episode, one lone citizen makes those feelings goes away, and she and John kiss. The End.

My feelings on this show. I never watched it when it originally aired on CBS. I saw a couple episodes on USA, but didn’t like it. It wasn’t until last year, when the entire series was already out on DVD that I decided to buy them all and give the show a chance. I’m glad I did. After watching the entire show in order, I find myself wishing there had been a fourth and/or fifth season as well. It ended much to early. The change from Washington, D.C. to the small town, in my opinion helped the show. But I know, I’m probably in the minority about that. Madeline and Lonnie were two excellent additions to the show, and having less characters, also made it more comfortable.

I also mention if the show’s order is incorrect in my opinion. Well after watching the show in the DVD presented order, I have to say that it’s just fine. The episodes are in the order I like them in.

From 1 to 10, I give the show a 7.

Thanks for posting this lately I've been think of buying heats afire. I guess I will

What’s Happening!!
Three Seasons: 1976 - 1979, 65 episodes
Roger “Raj” Thomas - played by - Ernest Thomas
Freddie “Rerun” Stubbs - played by - Fred Berry
Dwayne Nelson - played by - Haywood Nelson
Dee Thomas - played by - Danielle Spencer
Mrs. Mabel “Mama” Thomas - played by - Mabel King (Seasons 1 & 2)
Shirley Wilson - played by - Shirley Hemphill
*Big Earl Barnett - played by - John Welsh (Season 3)
*Little Earl Barnett - played by - David Hollander (Season 3)
*“The Snake” - played by - Leland Smith (Season 3)

Raj, Rerun and Dwayne were best friends. The main setting for the show was Raj’s house. There, he lived with his strict but loving “Mama” and his sarcastic sister Dee. Raj wanted to be a writer. He was a Junior in high school during the first season. His two pals, Rerun (a second time Senior) and Dwayne (a Sophomore) were always up for scheming with Raj and having fun. The three of them would either hang out at the Thomas house or Rob’s Place, the local teen hangout. Shirley was an overweight sassy waitress there. Despite her attitude, the guys loved her and she loved them. For six episodes, sprinkled throughout the first season (and one in the second) Bill Thomas, Mabel’s ex-husband and Raj and Dee’s father, appeared with his new girlfriend. Also appearing in a couple of episodes was Gene, a boarder who lived in Dee’s room, since Mabel wasn’t making enough money as a maid.

The second season found Raj and Rerun (again) as seniors in high school, while Dwayne became a junior. Episodes in the second season were on the same scale as the first season episodes, with the exception of Bill Thomas and the boarder who were both gone without explanation. In the final episode of the season, Raj graduated high school along with Rerun, who ended up spending a total of seven years in high school. The two graduates moved into an apartment together, though it was tough for Mabel to let her son go.

In the third season, while Raj and Rerun shared an apartment, Shirley moved into the Thomas’s house. However, Mabel was referred to but not seen. The actress left the show, but her character still lived in the house. Raj attended college, while Rerun worked as a Page for ABC. Dwayne became a senior in high school. Recurring characters in the third season included Little Earl, a white kid with a crush on Dee, his father a Detective nicknamed “Big Earl” and “The Snake” a dumb but nice basketball player.

After 65 episodes, ABC cancelled the low rated sitcom. The final episode saw the gang putting on a benefit show to raise money for the teen center. Shirley hosted, while Raj and Dee sang, Dwayne played the drums and Little Earl did a Steve Martin impression. Though six years later, Raj, Rerun, Dwayne, Shirley and Dee would all be reunited for “What’s Happening Now!!” this is the end for the first series. Not a very good finale, but then they didn’t know it was their final episode.

My opinions on the show are as follows: It was a good ‘70s sitcom. The first two seasons were great. But the third season lost a lot. I didn’t realize how much I liked the Mama character until she wasn’t there anymore. It was weird because in the first two seasons, the main settings were the Thomas house and Rob’s Place. In the third season the main settings were Raj and Rerun’s apartment and Rob’s Place. The Thomas house was shown, but it almost felt like going to a ghost town. Knowing Mama wasn’t going to come out of the kitchen or in through the front door, made it kind of sad and empty. This is probably why Dee started hanging around with Raj more. Instead of picking on him because they lived together, she’d visit his apartment or go to Rob’s Place more often.

One of the worst episodes of the series took place in the last season. “The Last Page” followed Rerun as he imagined what it would be like if he played the Fonz on “Happy Days,” Jack on “Three’s Company” and Mork on “Mork and Mindy.” It’s as if the writers and actors had never seen a single episode of any of those shows. It was bad. One of only two episodes that I had to really struggle to get through. The other was the classic Doobie Brothers episode, the second part. I’ve read the thread here about the episode and most of the people liked the episode and love the Doobie Brother’s concert, but I just didn’t feel like watching them sing. I wanted to watch the wacky misadventures of Raj, Rerun, Dwayne, Shirley and Dee.

As for my decision on what the order of the episodes should be, the DVD order is fine with me. It’s not a big episodic show and the order works fine. I only change the order if it’s real bad and the storyline gets screwed up because of it.

From 1 to 10, I give this show an 8. Bring on “What’s Happening Now!!” !

My next scheduled show will be "Soap". I own all four seasons, yet I never got past season one. So I'll be looking forward to watching all the episodes in order. It'll be a couple of weeks for me to make the review of it, though.

I was also thinking of buying Hearts Afire, so its nice to get some extra info on it.