{television} hearts afire; season two (1993)

Chucking their high-powered careers in big-city politics, newlyweds John (John Ritter) and Georgie Anne (Markie Post) head for the smallest of small towns to help John's best friend (Billy Bob Thornton) resuscitate the ailing local newspaper. The high-jinks continue in the second season of this early 1990s comedy series (developed by the creator of "Designing Women"), co-starring Leslie Jordan and Conchata Ferrell.

ifreethought.com rating: *** The second season wasn't nearly as great as the first season. The cast moves from DC to a small town in the Midwest. I missed many from the original cast including Wendie Jo Sperber (Mavis Davis), Beth Broderick (Dee Dee Starr; who also starred in two second season episodes as Lee Ann Folsom, Dee Dee's sister; she would go on to play Aunt Zelda on Sabrina The Teenage Witch), Edward Asner (George Lahti), and George Gaynes (Senator Strobe Smithers), but the addition of the incredible Conchata Ferrell (Madeline Stoessinger) as well as Leslie Jordan (Lonnie Garr) makes up somewhat for the loss, but not enough. The show is still good, but not as good as the first season, mostly because of the cast cuts. The cast and location change just took some of the magic out of the show that made the first season so special. And, can I also say, who ever designed the menu for these DVDs needs to be shot because there isn't a Play All feature. You have to watch one episode, and then go back to the menu to watch another episode.