I do adore Jan Hooks but even she can't save this show in my eyes.... what IS the appeal ?

Well, I like the first season the best and she wasn't on it so I can't really say. I'm not a Jan Hooks fan anyway.

The last two seasons really really are lousy! Julia Duffy was no Delta Burke and Jan Hooks was no Jean Smart.

oooooh, Jean Smart? from Frasier ?

Yep! That's the one. You really need to watch the first seasons before you can form an opinion. Jude86 is right. The last 2 were lousy.

Yeah, Seasons 1-5 were really the best. Although Season 6 had its moments, it's just not the same w/o Delta Burke.

Well, I like the first season the best and she wasn't on it so I can't really say. I'm not a Jan Hooks fan anyway.i cant stand jan or jack a..s hooks as i call her

I actually loved Jan Hooks. Yes she wasn't Jean Smart. I think it was really hard for fans because Jan's character, Charlene, was never mentioned prior to her appearance. But I loved her wackieness. From my perspective, she helped revitalized season 6 since Julia Duffy gave it her all she was kind of bland, Jan's glory just was shown in her scenes. And who could forget her songs she would sing! I feel that the writing in particular in seasons 6 and 7 were awful. I cannot blame the actors.

Yep! That's the one. You really need to watch the first seasons before you can form an opinion. Jude86 is right. The last 2 were lousy.

You couldn't be more right. Anyone just trying to get into the show should never start with the last two seasons. They were terrible. The show was destined for failure after Delta Burke and Jean Smart left... Terrible.

Pam :wave:

I'll agree season 6 isn't the greatest BUT season 7 was pretty great, i loved Judith Ivey as BJ Poteet and i even thought season 6 had some excellent episodes. Personally i liked Julia Duffy as Allison. and i even liked Jan Hooks--she saved the show in many episodes her Carlene character was hilarious. i love the episode where Carlene gets her own apartment.

I actually loved Jan Hooks. Yes she wasn't Jean Smart. I think it was really hard for fans because Jan's character, Charlene, was never mentioned prior to her appearance. But I loved her wackieness. From my perspective, she helped revitalized season 6 since Julia Duffy gave it her all she was kind of bland, Jan's glory just was shown in her scenes. And who could forget her songs she would sing! I feel that the writing in particular in seasons 6 and 7 were awful. I cannot blame the actors.

I know! why didn't they just name her Darlene, Marlene or Harlene? it was so odd for them to name her Carlene after establishing Charlene's sisters were Darlene, harlene and Marlene! they could have made her Charlene's cousin or niece! that would have made sense!

I really think Hooks was trying way too hard - and it showed. She had just broken away from a stellar season on 'SNL', and she was all the rage in the media (sort of like Tina Fey has been the past year or so). Everyone wanted her, and DW nabbed her...but really didn't know what to do with her. So the writers tried to make her fit in, Hooks tried hard to fit in, and it just didn't work.

Perhaps if the Duffy character was a stronger character, then it might have all worked out better introducing the two of them.

Julia Duffy could have and should have been a terrific replacement for Delta, but the writers let her down.

They painted that character into a corner, with her Obnoxious Personality Disorder, etc. and not even Duffy could save her.

Those who dismiss these later seasons should revisit them. When the writers were on the mark, it was excellent.

For example, in the episode with Carlene's two-faced groupie/fan, "Heather", Allison was the only one who tried to tell the others the girl was up to good, and there was a big payoff at the end with Allison giving them an I-told-you-so speech.

Allison came off as a much better character when the script actually justified her superiority complex, rather than having her be an impossible pain for no reason. It's too bad the writers didn't figure this out until it was too late.

I would have loved Duffy to stay for the duration. I loved Judith Ivey as B.J. but unfortunately she threw the character mix off-balance because she was not uppity and petulant. They let Dixie Carter become the spoiled diva type in the last season, totally contrary to how Julia Sugarbaker had behaved for six seasons prior.

Check out the hair and makeup and wardrobe that last Season, btw, they ALL looked amazing!

At the time, the 1991-92 season was #6 in the Nielsen's and I figured that the show was going to go the same route as ALICE had. (Diane Ladd stepped in for a season replacing the most popular character, then bowed out and Celia Weston came on for the last three years).

I figured Julia Duffy would do her single season then leave, and Judith Ivey would be on for Seasons 7, 8 and 9. I guess the huge ratings dropped on Friday nights (to #67) gave CBS all the reason they needed to pull the plug.

I do love and will buy every Season of this show when Shout! hopefully releases them though.