Thoughts On Northern Exposure

Thoughts on <i>Northern Exposure</i>, episode 75:

(Still trying to get back into the swing of things …)



“Mr. Sandman”:

“I'm standing outside the K-Bear studios with Walt Kupfer, who's … He's got a puzzling dream, and I'm just gonna turn the mic over to Walt, and let him tell you all about it. Walt?”

“Thanks, Chris. In my dream, I'm walking up these tower stairs. It seems to be a minaret. I keep going up and up, and around and around. I wake up exhausted, with a feeling of despair.”

“Yeah, I can dig that, Walt.”

“I can't get back to sleep. The feeling hangs with me all day. I'd like to ask whoever this dream belongs to, do I ever reach the top?”

“Well the K-Bear lines are open, if anybody can help out. Walt, good luck to you, buddy.”

“Thanks, Chris.”

“That's a minaret. Uh, possibly a winding, never-ending staircase … a tower, a sense of futility …”



-- As I mentioned before, 1993-94 was the season David Chase joined <i>Northern Exposure</i> as a co-executive producer with Frolov & Schneider. Interestingly, Chase only has a writing credit for one episode, this one. Frolov & Schneider wrote the teleplay from his story. It’s easy to understand why. Mr. Sandman” is another episode that’s less “A story/B story/C story” and more “storytelling underneath,” in this case the Northern Lights.

-- That pesky aurora borealis is causing everyone in Cicely to dream each other's’ dreams. Some people are upset by the experience, like Walt. Some people are initially amused by the glimpse into their neighbors’ psyches, like Ron. Some people want to unlock the mysteries of their neighbors’ subconscious, like Maggie, who ends up working with Joel and Holling to uncover why the latter has an aversion to food and what his dreams about his dysfunctional mother and father mean.

-- John Cullum wins the crown for this episode. In the past, Holling’s talked about his awful bloodline. We even saw proof of that when Valerie Perrine dropped by as Jackie. With Shelly’s due date approaching, it turns out Holling is frightened of being a bad parent. He can resist that. He doesn’t have to be his father, who bullied and belittled his mother and himself. Holling can be like his mother, kind and giving. “I can be good to my child.”

-- Before Holling reaches catharsis, Joel protests about misaligned dreams. The idea is a mockery of what little science there is in psychotherapy. Joel appears to come around to the idea, however, once he can’t explain why he’s dreaming about/craving sweets. Marilyn reminds Joel he told a patient he couldn’t eat candy, as his blood sugar was too high.

-- Rob Morrow earns second place for the episode with Joel’s admittance that he’s not meant to be a psychiatrist*. He also appears to reach catharsis over why he puts up barriers between himself and others. The reason isn’t what you’d expect. “I just want to go through life thinking people are happy, you know? Naive as that may sound.” It’s a brilliant plot twist, I thought.

*Joel’s only (reluctantly) acting as one because Holling won’t see anyone else but him.

-- This episode doesn’t really have a Courtship of Joel and Maggie moment, other than them walking off to enjoy a cup of tea together. They do have a fun moment sharing psychiatrist jokes. “Did you hear about the psychiatrist who's walking down the hallway? Ran into another psychiatrist. Second psychiatrist said, ‘Hello.’ First psychiatrist thought, ‘Wonder what he meant by that?’”

-- Finally, we have Maurice yet again dealing with his hypocrisy. Through “his” dreams, Ron discovers Maurice has a fetish for women’s shoes. He and Erick can’t resist making fun of Maurice, who responds by continuing to call the couple perverts as well as accusing them of cheating at poker. It’s kind of second-drawer material**, but we do get a great scene between Maurice and Ruth-Anne where she describes her live and let live attitude towards sexuality. “I’m too old to worry about what’s acceptable and what’s not.” See, Frank, edgy ‘90s television wasn’t completely grating.

**I suppose the show was planting the seeds for “I Feel the Earth Move.”

-- “You know, some of the natives up in North Dakota believe that the aurora borealis is the fire of warriors cookin' up their enemies in big old pots.” I’m going to assume Chris pulled that out of a hat, but we do have a native school in town. I could always ask. “Hey, remember that throwaway line in a 23-year-old TV episode?”

-- Ratings Roundup: I didn’t mention this in my last post, but <i>NE</i> has settled into being middle of the pack for Monday evenings. I’ll be curious to follow the trajectory for 1994-95. Did <i>NE</i>’s viewership performance justify it getting kicked out of the prime 10 p.m. Monday slot, or did CBS throw out the baby with the bathwater in trying to save <i>Chicago Hope</i>? And then there’s the “Rob is on his way out” factor.

Thoughts on episode 77:
“A Bolt from the Blue”
“Joel, I have been a bartender for 20 years. I have a pretty high tolerance for drivel. But when that man started in on fermentation processes in medieval Europe, well, I was just grateful to have a grease fire in the kitchen to attend to.”

-- It’s nice to have a friend. Realizing that helps former forest fire lookout Ranger Stan Burns (Jimmie Ray Weeks) come to terms with having to live among society. Society, however, isn’t quite ready for Stan. He’s prone to boring everyone in Cicely with long lectures about anything and everything. Joel, who called Stan his friend in the first place, does the right thing by teaching him how to be able to talk about himself and learn about others.
-- Meanwhile, being struck by lightning causes Ed to wonder if there’s any meaning behind it. After the excitement over possibly getting superhero-like powers (he doesn’t) wears off, Ed hears opposing arguments about nature being malicious (from Adam) and benevolent (from Chris). Marilyn puts Ed at ease with a legend about how ambiguous life really is.
-- Adam’s back in Cicely because he plans to murder the D’Angelos, who Maurice hired to provide fireworks for a Presidents’ Day celebration. According to Adam, the D’Angelos are not only mobsters, but were involved in Iran-Contra. He can’t let them see him, or else they’ll assassinate him. This begs the question of why Adam isn’t retreating into the woods, but we *are* talking about Adam. Maurice wants to institutionalize Adam, but Joel dithers. “I mean, threats of imminent danger are just his way of saying good morning.” Adam nevertheless succeeds in sabotaging and scaring away the D’Angelos, but makes it up to Maurice by providing an impressive fireworks show of his own.
-- Aww … standing next to Ed during the finale is Darren E. Burrows’ wife, Melinda Delgado. The couple married in 1993.
-- Ratings Roundup: The show is back to the upper echelon of Monday evenings, just behind Murphy Brown (and for one week, Love & War). In fact, “Bolt” scored the season’s highest rating, a 16.2 There’s no out and out winner with the TV movies that aired opposite “Bolt” and “Mite Makes Right.” We’ve got Steven Weber as an FBI agent gone bad (Betrayed by Love); Jason Bateman as a possible cop-killer (Confessions: Two Faces of Evil); Donna Mills sobering up (My Name Is Kate) and widower Rick Schroeder (To My Daughter with Love).

Thoughts on <i>Northern Exposure</i>, episode 79:
“Northern Hospitality”
“It's about other people, and that's the secret of entertaining. You make your guests feel welcome and at home and comfortable. If you do that honestly, then the rest of it takes care of itself.”

“There’s no place like Canada.”

“Maybe those of us who are lucky enough to touch people through art or the airwaves have an obligation to think about all those ears and eyes out there.”

-- Throughout <i>Northern Exposure</i>, Joel has always sought the approval and validation of others, regardless of whether or not he’s earned it. In “Northern Hospitality,” written by Barbara Hall, a few choice words from Adam (in his penultimate appearance) and his own guilt result in Joel giving his first dinner party.
-- It’s an ill-fated affair, due to Joel not grasping the idea -- for this party, anyway -- of the host needing to do all the work without cutting any corners. Clarify the butter, buy fresh mushrooms, have your beer and hors d'oeuvres ready, etc. Joel also proceeds to drink too much, growing bitter and self-pitying. Adam, usually the most abrasive character in any scene, has a nice moment where he calls the chicken “all right.” Forced to elaborate, he responds “as in mediocre. Try clarifying the butter next time.”
-- The next day, when Joel checks to make sure his canned mushrooms didn’t give everyone food poisoning, Adam’s in better form. He even gives a plausible guess as to who produced the can. “You know the level of the palate that you're dealing with, and yet you persist in playing these coy little games.” Maggie reminds Joel that guests, not the host, come first and it’s immature to avoid social situations just because you don’t want to hold one yourself someday. Learning his lesson, Joel agrees to attend Dave’s “In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb” brunch.
-- Meanwhile, Shelly’s upset that Holling gave up his Canadian citizenship a long time ago. She takes Randi to British Columbia, only to realize the grass is always greener on the other side of the border. Holling, fearful that Shelly won’t return, rides up to Winterfest, singing a modified version of “This Land Is Your Land,” complete with Epcot-level montage of Canadian life. It’s the B-story, folks. On the plus side, I got a kick out of seeing Ocean Hellman as Shelly’s friend and fellow mother, Iris. Hellman played prissy Alice in <i>The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</i>.
-- Finally, Chris’ story adds a few more comments to the debate over media accountability in everyday life. A listener, taxidermist Edgar Hankins, commits suicide (and kills his goat) after hearing Freddie Blassie’s “Pencil Neck Geek.” Chris, who adored the song -- it was the first thing he played after being released -- considers his responsibility as a broadcaster. He subsequently self-censors, which causes an audience revolt. In the end, life goes back to normal, with Chris playing “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix.
-- Oddly enough, Chris and Ed were about to let <i>Born in the U.S.A.</i> stay in the station library, forgetting how depressing the title song is.
-- Cooking With Marilyn: The secret to her amazing rolls is letting the dough rise three times.
-- After a nearly two year absence, Rita Taggart is back for her penultimate appearance as Edna Hancock. Taggart’s most likely in this episode as a substitute for Barry Corbin (ditto Adam Arkin), but it is worth noting she and Ocean Hellman were both regulars on David Chase’s one season wonder, <i>Almost Grown</i>. Like <i>NE</i>, <i>Almost Grown</i> aired in the 10 p.m. Monday slot.
-- Speaking of disappearances and reappearances, this is William J. White’s last episode as Dave, and James L. Dunn’s second appearance, as “Woodsy Man” rather than his usual Hayden.
-- This was the first of two episodes from director Oz Scott. Although mostly a director for hire, Scott did helm most of <i>The Jeffersons</i>’ final two seasons.
-- Ratings Roundup: <i>NE</i> returned from its Olympics break with a 15.4, coming in #2 for the night of Monday, Feb. 28, 1994. Over on ABC, <i>Heaven & Hell</i> (the finale of the <i>North & South</i> trilogy). NBC aired <i>One Woman’s Courage</i>, with alcoholic Patty Duke gathering the strength to testify against and stand up to a murderer, as well as her cheating husband. Never let it be said you didn’t get your money’s worth with one of Patty’s films.

Thoughts on <i>Northern Exposure</i>, episode 81
“Fish Story”

“What’s to ponder? … Be strong and of good courage.”

“Be good, Ma! And if you can't be good, be quick!”

“You know, Shel, Chris says it's all in the doing. Tell you the truth, I think there's a lot to be said for the having.”

-- Uncomfortable with the idea of celebrating Passover with Maggie, Joel tries to take his mind off the situation by going fishing with Ed and Chris. He ends up getting a bite from the fabled Gunaakadeit (“Goony”), described by Chris as Cicely’s version of the Loch Ness Monster. Joel’s the first resident to do so since Walt, who held on for seven hours in 1968. Breaking Walt’s record and then some, Joel ends up in a rowboat to keep his hold on Goony.
-- Dream sequence time! Joel is joined by Rabbi Schulman (Jerry Adler), who’s trying to adjust to political correctness. “It's no longer correct to refer to the Lord as a masculine presence …” Schulman also suggests that God is actually at the end of the fishing line and listens to Joel’s problem before they fall out of the boat and are eaten by Goony. Later, Schulman helps Joel realize that he shouldn’t run away from intimacy with Maggie. She, Joel and the rest of the main cast participate in a seder as the episode ends.
-- It’s interesting that Schulman uses the word “intimacy,” since Joel and Maggie’s courtship of late has felt decidedly passionless. We’ve seen them kiss. We’ve seen them get through scenes without being at each other’s throats. But I’m not really convinced there’s chemistry anymore. If you told me “Ill Wind” was their one and only time having sex, I’d believe you.
-- Meanwhile, Ruth-Anne has had all she’s going to take at the store for a while. Leaving Cicely with Chris’ motorcycle, she ends up riding with the Diablos. Jeff Melvoin once again segues into sociology, as the Diablos both lament and how their lifestyle has become part of the affluent middle class. After all, they’re fathers and businessmen, too. Having realized the only thing she’s rebelling against is arthritis, Ruth-Anne returns to Cicely. It’s a good thing, since Maurice and the other residents were pressuring Ed to reopen the store.
-- Peg Phillips and Rob Morrow are both top notch in this episode, but I think I’d give the crown to Johns Cullum and Corbett. Holling’s discovered he has a talent for painting, but loses his confidence after Maurice mocks the fact he’s using paint by numbers kits. Seeking to have Holling appreciate his process rather than his product, Chris convinces him to burn his best painting. It works, although not exactly as intended.
-- Of Note: Ruth-Anne’s place (come to think of it, does it even have a name?) is the only general store in a 100-mile radius of Cicely. You’d think there’d be a convenience place attached to some gas station.
-- Hey, It’s the Mid-’90s!: Rabbi Schulman claims not to inhale when he smokes.
-- According to the Moosechick fan site, the Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 ridden by Chris and Ruth-Anne was auction sold for $13,500. John Corbett’s initials are supposedly engraved on it.
-- This is Bill D’Elia’s last episode as an <i>NE</i> director. He spent the next 20 years largely in David E. Kelley’s stable as a director-producer.
-- Ratings Roundup: Yet again, <i>NE</i> came in second to <i>Murphy Brown</i>. March 14, 1994 was the night of “Anything But Cured,” featuring Marcia Wallace and Bob Newhart reprising the roles of Carol and Bob. Wallace was Emmy-nominated for the episode.

Episode 83:
“A Wing and a Prayer”
“Oh, who knows where this thing is going to go, anyway? It's ridiculous. But, for God's sake, don't tell anybody. … It's no big deal, really. But you know how people are. Why give them the ammunition?”

“Well, I've been called by God to do his work here on Earth, and that in itself is a miracle, that our Father chose us human beings, as imperfect as we are, to do his works.”

“She's a pilot, Joel. Can you think of any better way for a pilot to go than at the stick of an airplane? Let me tell you something. I had an old flying buddy in Pensacola. He had a son, got to be a pilot. Pretty good jet pilot. One day, he got a flamingo in the turbo. Phfft! That was it. All they found to bury was a piece of scalp and a boot. Yeah? You know what my friend told me at that funeral? That was the proudest day of his life.”

-- Decency is a tricky characteristic to depict, but it’s one of the most satisfying to watch.
-- I’m giving my crown to Darren E. Burrows, who does a fine job with Ed’s many shades. The boy next door who ends up seeing too much, namely Ruth-Anne and Walt having an obvious morning after breakfast. The guy in the neighborhood with a hot story, which he shares with Eugene the cook, then Maurice and the Haines family. The soul seeking first to make his sin just go away (I love DEB’s performance as Ed tries to convince Eugene his story was actually false), then an extreme solution (trying to quit his job on deli day after sharing even more intimate details) and finally forgiveness from both Ruth-Anne and God (both of which he earns).
-- Cynthia Geary also does well in this episode. Father McKerry (Tom Mason) arrives to baptize Randi. Before doing so, he and agnostic Holling enjoy debating the idea of what can be known and observed, like digestion of the host. They also indulge in earthly pleasures like drinking and arm-wrestling. Shelly, not reacting well to the idea of a priest acting like one of the guys, is reminded by McKerry that he may be human, but God is divine. Her faith is reaffirmed.
-- Finally, we have Maggie and Maurice’s story. They’ve bought a home-kit airplane, but while Maggie is raring to build it, Maurice wants to make sure everything’s in order. She ends up frustrated over his and Joel’s lack of faith in her abilities. Maurice later reveals to Joel that he’s glad to be past the taking chances stage of his life. For her part, Maggie successfully completes the plane.
-- The Courtship of Joel and Maggie: After spending much of the episode scoffing over the idea of making an airplane, he wants her to take him flying. She won’t, at least not for the test flight.
-- Odds and Ends: Ruth-Anne considers Ed her closest friend. If we do get an NE reboot, I’m assuming she’d have left him the store. Also, a busy night at The Brick is serving at least 50 dinners. Would the Catholic Church really allow Ruth-Anne, an atheist, to be Randi’s godmother?
-- I always get a kick out of Chris fanboying over Christianity, which I believe last occurred in “Revelations.” By the end of the episode, he’s scored the chance to assist in the baptism, is dressing like Jesus and carries a missal (in Latin, naturally) from 1953.
-- For whatever reason, NE kept recasting the Haines family. Apesanahkwat, as Lester, was the only actor to keep his role. In this episode, Marianne Jones plays Myra instead of Sue Morales. This episode also introduces the Haines’ daughter, Heather, played for the only time by Chenoa Egawa. Charmaine Craig would take over the role for season six.
-- Ratings Roundup: A 14.6, coming in third for the evening. The winner this week wasn’t Murphy Brown (which aired a rerun), but Hearts Afire. It’s most likely because the episode featured a guest appearance by Rush Limbaugh as himself. April 11, 1994 was also the premiere of 704 Hauser, starring John Amos as patriarch of the family now living in the Bunkers’ home. Considering the success of the new One Day at a Time, 704 Hauser might have just been ahead of its time.

“Gran Prix,” (Episode 85, 5/9/94)
“Yesterday’s savior is tomorrow’s Mengele.”

“I can’t believe you sold the advertising space on my feet. What about the back of the chair? You’re not gonna leave that blank, are you?”
“BullFrog Sunblock.”

“Our dead never forget the beautiful world that gave them being. They still love its winding rivers, its great mountains and sequestered vales. And they watch, in the tenderest affection, over the lonely-hearted living and often return to visit and comfort them.”

— Darren E. Burrows takes the crown for this rather weak episode, the last one written by Barbara Hall. His attempts to cure wheelchair racer Kim(Kristine Kirsten)’s tennis elbow eventually leads to a man to man fight with her demon, External Validation (Ben Reed). Prior to that, Ed’s self-esteem is bruised by both the Green Man and disgraced former plastic surgeon Dr. Saperstein (Markus Flanagan). Ed does succeed in getting Kim to have more realistic expectations, which may or may not have healed her elbow.
— Rob Morrow isn’t in this episode, hence Dr. Saperstein. Flanagan’s cute, but Saperstein’s a dud. Does anyone know why Morrow was gone? Unless this episode aired way out of production order, he would have been finished shooting Quiz Show. I couldn’t find anything about an injury, or getting married, or anything like that. Maybe Morrow got time off as a contract perk, or the powers that be wanted one more test of how well the ratings were without him. For that matter, John Cullum and Cynthia Geary also sit this episode out, while Peg Phillips does appear until the last half.
— Barry Corbin’s earlier injury continues to affect storylines. Maurice brought wheelchair racing to Cicely after his own wheelchair experience. It’s about the bucks for Maurice, which alienates racer Cliff (David McSwain). We’ve been down this road before.
— Finally, Marilyn’s boyfriend Ted (Tim Sampson) takes a job with Lester Haines, whose sleazy and insecure colors shine through. I’m burnt out on poor little rich men.
— Ratings Roundup: An 11.2, placing it at eighth place for the evening. NE had the misfortune of airing opposite the night’s big winner, the second installment of The Stand. Several of the sitcoms had high profile guests, like Kathie Lee Gifford as a potential cougar on Evening Shade and Ben Vereen as Will’s deadbeat father on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Meanwhile in romance, Blossom and Vinnie went to the prom while Jack and Dana (of Love & War) went on their first date. Ah, sweeps month.

“Lovers and Madmen” (5/23/94)

“I must advise you, Maurice. Obstructing a criminal investigation is a felony offense.”

“I'm aware of that.”

“Not to mention the irreparable harm it would do to any possibility of our future association. With that in mind, I'm giving you the opportunity to amend the record. You want to change your story?”

“That's what happened, Barbara.”

“I'm giving you a chance, Maurice.”

“That's it.”



“I mean, just 'cause she's not Snow White, I turned her into the crone with the poison apple, the archetype of ugliness, huh?”



“Holling, I've been to the Museum of Natural History a zillion times. They don't have anything like this. I mean, not even close. Based on my research, this is probably the largest preserved animal species ever found in North America.”



-- The saga of Maurice’s rare violin, introduced in “Mite Makes Right,” apparently comes to an end in this episode. It’s Barbara’s birthday, and Maurice decides to treat her to a private concert with Cal on the instrument. Okay, so Cal was only released because Maurice bribed a doctor at the mental institution with a $7,000 professional cappuccino maker. “Well, it was more like a contribution really.” And Cal’s not exactly cured. “You know, I'm not ashamed to admit it. I dream about her every night. Her scrollwork, her purfling, that exquisite belly against my neck.”

-- Cal escapes, Barbara is sickened to think she “was sexually involved with an accomplice to a felon” and Maurice learns that life in the institution is taking away Cal’s love of music. Maurice does right by Cal, letting him go free with the violin, but seems to have destroyed his relationship with Barbara.

-- Ed, with bloodhounds Roscoe and Ernie, briefly searches for Cal before having to do inventory at Ruth-Anne’s. He’s replaced by Holling, who shows signs of being not only a decent tracker, but a perceptive investigator. I’d watch <i>Holling: For Hire</i>.

-- Speaking of the Vincoeurs, Shelly has some choice words for Chris about objectification. He’s disappointed that Meredith Swanson, the girl he considered a goddess in high school, “Claudia Schiffer meets Venus de Milo,” has grown up to be a plain looking woman (Carol Barbee, who segued into writing and producing). Chris gets obnoxious, fixating over how Meredith’s once-longer hair was supposedly lighter, she used to pluck her eyebrows and her lipstick was a different shade. His feelings eventually become so strong that he ends up seeing Meredith as a witch (Mary Sabetto).

-- After being chastised and learning about Walt’s own story of judging a lover with alopecia by her looks, Chris makes up with a now-gorgeous Meredith (Darlene Vogel). Meredith admits she’s just as guilty of confusing fantasy with reality. She saw Chris as a white knight.

-- Finally, Joel literally stumbles upon a wooly mammoth. Excited about the find, Joel ends up losing it to Walt, who carves up the mammoth for food. Joel’s shock gives way to acceptance.

-- “Maybe what I'm experiencing is that euphoria you're supposed to feel just before you give up. You know, just let the lungs fill with water. Life's a mystery. One man's life-altering experience is another man's tenderloin. … I'm one of you now. I'm a Cicelian.”

-- Written by Melvoin, this was director James Hayman’s first <i>NE</i> episode since “Jules et Joel.” Hayman’s still active in TV, directing and executive producing <i>NCIS: New Orleans</i>. He’s also Annie Potts’ husband.

-- Ratings Roundup: A 10.7, tying this for sixth place with a Barbara Walters compilation special. The theme was funny people, as it was the lead in to the American Comedy Awards (remember those?). NBC won the night with <i>Fresh Prince</i>, <i>Blossom</i> and <i>The Substitute Wife</i>, involving prairie hooker Farrah Fawcett being taught homemaking by dying Lea Thompson.



Let’s take a moment to watch CBS’s fall campaign from 1994, “Everyday People”:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpCHf8IMqvg



-- It may be cheesy, but some of the observations are funny or interesting.

-- Angela Lansbury: “I am happy growing older when you consider the alternative.”

-- William Shatner: “I am concerned about the world we leave our kids.”

-- Madeline Zima: “I am almost at the point where I understand life.”

-- I didn’t spot anybody from a new program and part of me thinks that was because CBS really wanted to push familiarity in response to the ongoing network affiliation switching at the time.

-- Notable no-shows: Anyone from daytime that wasn’t on <i>CBS This Morning</i>. I’m guessing Bob Barker’s sexual harassment suit kept him from being included, but one or two of the soap stars could have been included or seen in a clip.

-- Hey, It’s 1994!: Cynthia’s rocking that baby doll dress.

-- One of these things … Candice Bergen leads both promos and ends the first, but Lansbury ends the second one.

“Dinner at Seven-Thirty” (9/19/94)
“I don't want it. I don't want this life. … I'd rather practice medicine in some hick rural outback than stay here another minute.”

“Why is it that in this society you can talk about the most intimate things? You can talk about your dysfunctional sex life. You can talk about your abduction by aliens, your tummy tuck, your breast implants. You can talk about anything. Anything except your longing for God!”

“You seem like the last person in the world to retire.”
“Well, to tell you the truth, Walt, I really don't fancy dropping dead while making rounds at Mount Sinai.”

“This evening I reached down and I picked up this poor terrified animal and felt his heart beating, just racing in its chest.”

-- Joel’s love-hate relationship with Cicely seems to come to an end in this episode, written by Frolov & Schneider and directed by Michael Fresco. As usual, F&S build their storylines from an over-arching event, in this case most of the Cicely residents living in an alternate reality Manhattan. While Joel has often spoken about his wanting to escape Cicely, this time it happens by accident. He simply drinks something he shouldn’t, a healing drink made by Ed, and walks through the wrong door for what turns out to be only a second.
-- What fun is having an alternate reality if there can’t be a few extremes, right? Cynthia Geary has the most to work with, as Shelly is not only Joel’s wife, she’s also a dissatisfied corporate attorney. Reality invades fantasy as Shelly is drawn to Holling, taking him on a carriage ride through Central Park to cure his agoraphobia. We’re encouraged to assume the couple will end up together, unlike Joel and au pair Maggie. Following Maggie’s admission to Joel that she’s unfulfilled, she decides to leave and do something else with her life.
-- The Courtship of Ruth-Anne and Walt: Their relationship has carried over to the alternate reality. Rather than being a shopkeeper, however, she’s a prominent (and stylish!) doctor.
-- Meanwhile, Chris is inarticulate and his artistic potential is stymied by a career of photographing for fashion designer Bernard. It’s nice to have Bernard back -- he’s gone one more appearance to go -- but I’d rather Marilyn in this scenario. Chris is so frustrated, he goes out on the Flesichmans’ ledge just to be heard. The experience causes the insightful Chris we all know and love to emerge.
-- Finally, Ed’s a tycoon who causes doorman “Maury” to lose his life savings. The storyline is unexpectedly resolved with a minor plot about the Fleischman children’s missing pet ferret.
-- Of Note: Joel and Shelly’s kids are named Evan and Jodie. They don’t appear to be named after anybody’s real life children. I now wouldn’t mind having those be the names of Shelly and Holling’s youngest.
-- Musical Moments: The Great American Songbook features heavily in this episode. While Holling’s renditions of “You’re the Top” and “Someone to Watch Over Me” are swell, the highlight is Ruth-Anne and Walt’s duet on “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” In a league of its own is “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody),” used excellently as Joel heads back to work. Naturally, it was replaced for the DVD.
-- Ratings Roundup: A 12.3, placing NE at sixth for the evening. CBS’ Monday night schedule was largely the same in the fall of 1994, with The Nanny now kicking off the night. Rather than Murphy Brown, however, the ratings winners were Monday Night Football and the movie-length pilot to ER. A few nights later, ER went head to head with Chicago Hope, whose failure on Thursdays would have dire repercussions for NE.