What About Brian S1/2: Comp

This series initially started two different ways: J.J. Abrams (creator of "Lost" and "Alias") trying to go back to his roots of simple relationship drama (year ago he created the WB hit "Felicity"); as well as Jeff Judah and Jason Katism (of "Life as We Know It" and "Freaks and Geeks" fame) trying to produce a show with their signature quirks, yet one with a premise appealing enough were they wouldn't get cancelled after 13 episodes. And so "What about Brian" was born.

The show was simple enough: Brian (Barry Watson from "7th Heaven") is a serial-dater that has never been able to keep a girlfriend around longer than several weeks. Upon the engagement of his best-friend he finds himself as a 7th-wheel among his closest friends (including his college roommate/business partner and his much-older sister). The series follows as Brian tries to search out love, as well as the various romantic entanglements/problems that his various friends find themselves in such as: affairs, new business ventures, single-parenthood, engagement, etc.. Essentially the show was about a group of early thirty-something's trying to not only make their mark on the world, but trying to share their success with "that someone special" and all the hilarity and heartache that comes with the territory.

Unfortunately for the creators and ABC, while the premise was interesting, the actors/characters likable, their was always something missing from the series. That special SPARK that a series needs in order to find itself on the lineup for the better part of a decade was missing. After airing 6 our of the produced 8 for its first season the network pulled the show, re-staffed a majority of the producers/writers, fired an actors/hired three additional actors... basically all in an effort to make the show what it could be. And while yes, the second season is an immensely pleasing 19-episode arc ultimately the series was doomed from the beginning. And like similar shows of the past (such as "once and again" which had many of the same producers) the show was never able to find a following and it was canceled due to low-ratings.

That is not to say the show is bad in any way. In fact it's highly enjoyable, its just easy to tell why people would prefer to watch it in one or two sittings, vs. weekly over the course of a year. Presented here on 5 DVDs are all 25 aired episodes (the 2 unaired episodes leftover from season 1 are not included) along with deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes interviews.

HELLLOOOOOO! This was a great show!!!ABC had it in the wrong time slot and should have re aired it from the begining during off season (at a better time slot, similar to how they do shows like wife swap) to show more viewers what they were missing!This was a more real "today" type show. They could of took the whole show alot further, boy did I have some good ideas for where they could have gone. This could have been the next Better Melrose Place. What are they thinking???? Anyhow for those of U who missed the first two seasons - the DVD's are something to check out...Only problem is you'll want more....ALOT more and if they have truly cancelled it we all are missing out!

This show deserved a lot better than what it got. The writing was both heartfelt and funny. Serious when it needed to be but lighthearted when appropriate. The show was about a group of friends which meant different stories but the center of it was their bond to each other.

I was a big fan of those show and very sad when it was officially cancelled. I recorded the episode every week and always looked forward to the next.

This set has pretty cool extras with behind-the-scenes and an unaired episode. If you were a fan of "What About Brian?" you won't be disappointed. And if you are looking for a show to make you laugh, cry, and think...this is definitely one of those.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 25 reviews  4.7 out of 5 stars