"Life With Roger" (on topic) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

omalleyfan · 08-12-2003, 10:21 PM

does anyone else in here remember the short-lived (1996-1997) sitcom Life With Roger? I recently acquired the entire 20 episodes from someone via a trade and I find it criminal the show flopped like it did. I guess it was bad timing being on the WB before Buffy, Dawson and Charmed really established the network as a force.

It was an Odd Couple type of sitcom with Mike and another actor. Mike was a hopeless drifter who gets saved from suicide by a mild-mannered doctor on his way to his wedding. The other guy initially can't stand Roger, but before you know it, they're best friends and Roger helps save him from getting married to a girl he didn't like (just from the pilot).

If you can find episodes of this show and love Mike as Jimmy, go for it. I find it a shame this show didn't last longer than it did. Mike is hysterical on Yes Dear, but he was even better as Roger. In many ways, Roger was practically the same character as Jimmy except that he wasn't married or had kids. He dressed the same (he only took the hat off twice in the entire season, and both times were when he was dressed up in a suit) and he was the type of character you wanted to be best friends with if it was real life.

Anyone else remember this show? I also loved his eponymous show on NBC that was unfortunately cancelled after two airings, except that show never really was able to find it's own niche before NBC axed it.

LizaSfan · 08-14-2003, 01:09 AM

I THINK I remember it. You said that Roger is alot like Jimmy without kids, my friend and I say that bout Liza's character on Jesse, Christine's Linda married with kids. I luv mIke he's so funny!

omalleyfan · 08-26-2003, 02:57 PM

I might be getting a DVD burner for my birthday next month. I am certainly going to transfer this show to DVD. I'll let others know if I get it because I'd be nice and share it.

I like Yes Dear, but Roger is still my favorite Mike show. It is funny knowing that the actress who played Laney (who was the sister of Maurice Godin's character--the roommate, and was a brief love interest for Roger on the series) went on to playing the mom on Lizzie McGuire. I have never seen Lizzie, but I know that Hallie Todd is Lizzie's mom thanks to my niece.

I still think it was unfair that Roger wound up on the WB, in the days before Buffy and Dawson came on, the WB was a kiss of death, while Men Behaving Badly premiered the same season on NBC, which had somewhat of the same premise but much weaker, and that show did well in the first season, and only got cancelled because 2 of the 3 leads left. Had Roger been on NBC's schedule instead of Men Behaving Badly, I think the show would've been a hit.

There was a good 3 or 4 episodes of the 20 aired on the show that if people actually watched, could've made the show a hit. The episode with the annoying landlord comes to mind, they squeezed so much humor in 22 minutes (Roger and Jason decide to befriend their super, he turns out to be a disgusting vulgar slob, so they sever ties with him, in payback, he turns the a/c off in the apt and nails the windows shut... and then in reverse he turns the heat off so they'd freeze to death, and then he tries to cut their cable, but then he falls off the roof to his death... and then the supers mom comes and begs them to speak at his funeral, but the Super had stolen Jason's watch so he was wearing it at his funeral, so Roger speaks at the funeral and sneaks the watch back... ALL PLAYED TO COMIC PERFECTION). The only thing that sucked is that, while it aired a full season, the finale wasn't a sufficient season (series) finale. I almost wonder if Mike and Maurice hated each other or something, because in the finale, they have seperate storylines and don't appear in any of the same scenes, which was funny, since the premise was a "buddy" show, and most of the earlier episodes were Roger and Jason getting into wacky trouble

Oh well, at least Mike has finally gotten a hit on his hand.

LizaSfan · 08-26-2003, 07:48 PM

I don't remember the show, I mean I think I remember it being onand all, but I never watched it. I wish I had. I remember I LOVED Guts I watched that everyday, the end was always the best part where they chose the card or the pie thing? I just love him on Yes, Dear he's so funny. him and his character. I love how his character cares so much about his wife, and they're like real parents. They remind me of me and this guy at work.

omalleyfan · 08-29-2003, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LizaSfan
I just love him on Yes, Dear he's so funny. him and his character. I love how his character cares so much about his wife, and they're like real parents. They remind me of me and this guy at work.

you would've loved Roger if you love him as Jimmy. If Jimmy had been named Roger instead, it could've been considered a "spinoff" with Roger married. The only real difference between Jimmy and Roger are the kids and wife (since many Life With Roger episodes actually revolved around Roger dating). It's funny how similar the two characters are, because the character Mike played on Mike O'Malley Show definately had some "Mike"-ness to him, but for the most part, he was much different. Much like Greg is the "straight man" to Jimmy's wild goofy side, Jason (the Maurice Godin character) was exactly the same way to Roger. If I ever get a DVD-burner, for sure I will make you the episodes because you'll love it.

Mike rules

08-12-2003, 10:21 PM	#1
omalleyfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 12, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 199	"Life With Roger" (on topic) does anyone else in here remember the short-lived (1996-1997) sitcom Life With Roger? I recently acquired the entire 20 episodes from someone via a trade and I find it criminal the show flopped like it did. I guess it was bad timing being on the WB before Buffy, Dawson and Charmed really established the network as a force. It was an Odd Couple type of sitcom with Mike and another actor. Mike was a hopeless drifter who gets saved from suicide by a mild-mannered doctor on his way to his wedding. The other guy initially can't stand Roger, but before you know it, they're best friends and Roger helps save him from getting married to a girl he didn't like (just from the pilot). If you can find episodes of this show and love Mike as Jimmy, go for it. I find it a shame this show didn't last longer than it did. Mike is hysterical on Yes Dear, but he was even better as Roger. In many ways, Roger was practically the same character as Jimmy except that he wasn't married or had kids. He dressed the same (he only took the hat off twice in the entire season, and both times were when he was dressed up in a suit) and he was the type of character you wanted to be best friends with if it was real life. Anyone else remember this show? I also loved his eponymous show on NBC that was unfortunately cancelled after two airings, except that show never really was able to find it's own niche before NBC axed it.

08-14-2003, 01:09 AM	#2
LizaSfan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 08, 2003 Location: Sure ain't LA or Nashville Posts: 89	I THINK I remember it. You said that Roger is alot like Jimmy without kids, my friend and I say that bout Liza's character on Jesse, Christine's Linda married with kids. I luv mIke he's so funny!
	__________________ "Remember the best and biggest laughs in the world are when we laugh at ourselves" Liza (Funny Flubs) I MET LIZA "Acting's hard!" Mike O

08-26-2003, 02:57 PM	#3
omalleyfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 12, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 199	I might be getting a DVD burner for my birthday next month. I am certainly going to transfer this show to DVD. I'll let others know if I get it because I'd be nice and share it. I like Yes Dear, but Roger is still my favorite Mike show. It is funny knowing that the actress who played Laney (who was the sister of Maurice Godin's character--the roommate, and was a brief love interest for Roger on the series) went on to playing the mom on Lizzie McGuire. I have never seen Lizzie, but I know that Hallie Todd is Lizzie's mom thanks to my niece. I still think it was unfair that Roger wound up on the WB, in the days before Buffy and Dawson came on, the WB was a kiss of death, while Men Behaving Badly premiered the same season on NBC, which had somewhat of the same premise but much weaker, and that show did well in the first season, and only got cancelled because 2 of the 3 leads left. Had Roger been on NBC's schedule instead of Men Behaving Badly, I think the show would've been a hit. There was a good 3 or 4 episodes of the 20 aired on the show that if people actually watched, could've made the show a hit. The episode with the annoying landlord comes to mind, they squeezed so much humor in 22 minutes (Roger and Jason decide to befriend their super, he turns out to be a disgusting vulgar slob, so they sever ties with him, in payback, he turns the a/c off in the apt and nails the windows shut... and then in reverse he turns the heat off so they'd freeze to death, and then he tries to cut their cable, but then he falls off the roof to his death... and then the supers mom comes and begs them to speak at his funeral, but the Super had stolen Jason's watch so he was wearing it at his funeral, so Roger speaks at the funeral and sneaks the watch back... ALL PLAYED TO COMIC PERFECTION). The only thing that sucked is that, while it aired a full season, the finale wasn't a sufficient season (series) finale. I almost wonder if Mike and Maurice hated each other or something, because in the finale, they have seperate storylines and don't appear in any of the same scenes, which was funny, since the premise was a "buddy" show, and most of the earlier episodes were Roger and Jason getting into wacky trouble Oh well, at least Mike has finally gotten a hit on his hand.

08-26-2003, 07:48 PM	#4
LizaSfan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 08, 2003 Location: Sure ain't LA or Nashville Posts: 89	I don't remember the show, I mean I think I remember it being onand all, but I never watched it. I wish I had. I remember I LOVED Guts I watched that everyday, the end was always the best part where they chose the card or the pie thing? I just love him on Yes, Dear he's so funny. him and his character. I love how his character cares so much about his wife, and they're like real parents. They remind me of me and this guy at work.