Just Shoot Me, Really...

They play this show on weekends in my area. Just being around for this lets me know my weekend's gone mighty wrong. The premise is simple. A feminist and bright writer Nina Gallo, played by Laura San Giacomo, takes her father’s offer and works with him at a magazine and gets a chance to reconnect. Despite the promise indicated by the cast, writers and producers, Just Shoot Me never really rose above a B- program.

That fact is a bit puzzling. The co-stars of the series were David Spade, Wendie Malick, Enrico Colantoni and George Segal. Unlike many of the like-minded series of the type, "Just Shoot Me’s" biggest oddity was the fact that the co-workers didn’t seem to really like one another. Certainly there was sentimentality on some given episodes, but the clear off-screen chemistry belied what was unfortunately on the page. Plus, "Blush" didn’t seem like a real magazine, the office, a real work place and Segal in particular seemed to be faxing it in. Those garish vests he sported on this didn't help either.

Those Last Episodes: During the later seasons the show tempted fate by employing Rena Sofer, a well known series killer of the highest order. Also there was this big doltish guy, and a burnt-out English rock star in the cast. NBC seemed to lose faith in this, especially when they moved it to Ferdsday's at 112 o'clock.

A Non-Speller's Secret Shame: I had a ton of fun with this one. Want to see a jerk in action? I originally spelled Giacomo, "Giancomo." Not enough? You know, I've always been a fan of Wendy Malick. Good lord...