Dave's World

Dave's World is an American sitcom television series, created by Fred Barron, that aired on CBS from September 20, 1993, to June 27, 1997. The series is based on the writing of Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry.

Dave's World
Dave's World intertitle
Created byFred Barron
Based onDave Barry's Greatest Hits and Dave Barry Turns 40
by Dave Barry
StarringHarry Anderson
DeLane Matthews
Zane Carney
Andrew Ducote
Shadoe Stevens
Meshach Taylor
J.C. Wendel
Opening theme"You May Be Right" by Southside Johnny
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes98
Production
Executive producersJonathan Axelrod
James Widdoes
Fred Barron
ProducerFaye Oshima Belyeu
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesThe Producers Entertainment Group Ltd.
Axelrod-Widdoes Productions
Fred Barron Productions
(seasons 1–2)
Livestock Productions
(seasons 1–2)
Kitten in the Oven Productions
(seasons 3–4)
CBS Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 20, 1993 (1993-09-20) –
June 27, 1997 (1997-06-27)[1]

Plot

The show focuses on the daily trials and tribulations of columnist Dave Barry (Harry Anderson) and his wife, Beth (DeLane Matthews), along with their sons, Tommy (Zane Carney) and Willie (Andrew Ducote). Dave worked at the Miami Record-Dispatch (a fictionalized version of the Miami Herald, where Barry worked in real life), where Kenny Beckett (Shadoe Stevens) was his editor, although Dave typically worked from home, where Mia (J.C. Wendel) was his assistant. Neighbor Sheldon Baylor (Meshach Taylor) was a successful plastic surgeon and Dave's best friend from high school. Starting in the second season, the Barrys hired Eric (Patrick Warburton) to do some work on their house, which led to Eric and Mia dating and eventually moving next door to the Barrys and getting married. Later in the series, Dave completes a book based on his and his friends' lives during the 1960s, and Shel loses all of his money when his business manager runs off. Kenny is also fired from the newspaper and becomes a weatherman.

Setting and background

The show was set in Miami, Florida (Barry's actual city of residence), and was based on Barry's books Dave Barry's Greatest Hits and Dave Barry Turns 40.[2]

The show's theme song was a version of Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" sung by Southside Johnny; however, it is not used in the DVD releases (see below).

During the run of the show, the real Dave Barry divorced his wife, Beth.[3]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
123September 20, 1993 (1993-09-20)May 2, 1994 (1994-05-02)
225September 12, 1994 (1994-09-12)May 22, 1995 (1995-05-22)
326September 13, 1995 (1995-09-13)May 20, 1996 (1996-05-20)
424September 13, 1996 (1996-09-13)June 27, 1997 (1997-06-27)[1]

Season 1 (1993–94)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"James WiddoesFred BarronSeptember 20, 1993 (1993-09-20)21.7[4]
22"The Insecurity System"James WiddoesFred Barron and Marco PannetteSeptember 27, 1993 (1993-09-27)22.8[5]
33"Martian Death Flu"James WiddoesDonald ToddOctober 4, 1993 (1993-10-04)20.4[6]
44"The Anniversary Schmaltz"James WiddoesMarco PannetteOctober 11, 1993 (1993-10-11)21.9[7]
55"The Great Mandala of Life"James WiddoesFred BarronOctober 18, 1993 (1993-10-18)19.2[8]
66"I Sort of Saw What You Did"James WiddoesJennifer HeathOctober 22, 1993 (1993-10-22)11.7[8]
77"It's a Small Van After All"James WiddoesJennifer HeathOctober 25, 1993 (1993-10-25)20.8[9]
88"Heatwave"James WiddoesDonald ToddNovember 1, 1993 (1993-11-01)20.6[10]
99"Writer's Block"James WiddoesStuart SilvermanNovember 8, 1993 (1993-11-08)19.9[11]
1010"Educating Rita"James WiddoesFred Barron and Marco PennetteNovember 15, 1993 (1993-11-15)21.6[12]
1111"Death and Mom Take a Holiday"UnknownUnknownNovember 22, 1993 (1993-11-22)19.8[13]
1212"Exorcising with Dave Barry"James WiddoesDonald ToddNovember 29, 1993 (1993-11-29)20.6[14]
1313"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: Part 1"James WiddoesMarco PennetteDecember 13, 1993 (1993-12-13)18.7[15]
1414"I Saw Mommy Kicking Santa Claus: Part 2"UnknownUnknownDecember 20, 1993 (1993-12-20)19.3[16]
1515"Just Kidding"UnknownUnknownJanuary 3, 1994 (1994-01-03)21.5[17]
1616"The Road Taken"UnknownUnknownJanuary 10, 1994 (1994-01-10)21.9[18]
1717"Shel in Love"UnknownUnknownJanuary 24, 1994 (1994-01-24)22.6[19]
1818"Four Characters in Search of a Ring"UnknownUnknownJanuary 31, 1994 (1994-01-31)23.4[20]
1919"Lost Weekend"UnknownUnknownFebruary 28, 1994 (1994-02-28)21.4[21]
2020"Rat Story"UnknownUnknownMarch 7, 1994 (1994-03-07)22.8[22]
2121"Six Years Old and All Washed Up"UnknownUnknownMarch 14, 1994 (1994-03-14)20.7[23]
2222"The Funeral"James WiddoesMarco Pennette & Fred BarronMarch 28, 1994 (1994-03-28)18.7[24]
2323"Saved by Estelle"UnknownUnknownMay 2, 1994 (1994-05-02)14.6[25]

Season 2 (1994–95)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
241"I Lost It at the Movies"James WiddoesFred Barron & Marco PennetteSeptember 12, 1994 (1994-09-12)18.3[26]
252"The Last Auction Hero"James WiddoesCarol GarySeptember 19, 1994 (1994-09-19)19.0[27]
263"A Room with a View"Tommy ThompsonTom J. AstleSeptember 26, 1994 (1994-09-26)21.1[28]
274"Please Won't You Be My Neighbor"James WiddoesDonald ToddOctober 3, 1994 (1994-10-03)20.1[29]
285"You Can't Always Get What You Want"James WiddoesFred BarronOctober 10, 1994 (1994-10-10)20.5[30]
296"Gone with the Wind: Part 1"James WiddoesCarol GaryOctober 17, 1994 (1994-10-17)21.4[31]
307"Gone with the Wind: Part 2"James WiddoesDonald ToddOctober 24, 1994 (1994-10-24)20.1[32]
318"Lobster Envy"James WiddoesMarco Pennette & Fred BarronOctober 31, 1994 (1994-10-31)19.8[33]
329"Family Membership"James WiddoesDonald ToddNovember 7, 1994 (1994-11-07)19.7[34]
3310"One Mump or Two?"Tommy ThompsonBrian Hargrove & Jack KennyNovember 14, 1994 (1994-11-14)20.8[35]
3411"The Donor Party"James WiddoesCarol Gary & Dylan GaryNovember 21, 1994 (1994-11-21)20.2[36]
3512"How Long Has This Been Going On?"Tommy ThompsonStory by : Deborah Zoe Dawson & Jodie Mann Massimi
Teleplay by : Fred Barron & Marco Pennette
November 28, 1994 (1994-11-28)19.7[37]
3613"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"James WiddoesDonald ToddDecember 5, 1994 (1994-12-05)19.6[38]
3714"Dis Who's Coming to Dinner?"James WiddoesMark WildingJanuary 2, 1995 (1995-01-02)23.2[39]
3815"A Pool's Paradise"James WiddoesBrian Hargrove & Jack KennyJanuary 16, 1995 (1995-01-16)20.4[40]
3916"Bear with Me"James WiddoesSheryl J. AndersonJanuary 23, 1995 (1995-01-23)19.3[41]
4017"A Cut Above the Rest"James WiddoesMarco PennetteFebruary 6, 1995 (1995-02-06)20.9[42]
4118"The Country Girl"James WiddoesFred Barron & Marco PennetteFebruary 13, 1995 (1995-02-13)20.0[43]
4219"The Accidental Tourists"James WiddoesMark LeganFebruary 20, 1995 (1995-02-20)20.9[44]
4320"The Joint Venture"Paul KreppelTom J. AstleFebruary 27, 1995 (1995-02-27)20.8[45]
4421"Those Wedding Shel Blues"Jim DrakeSheryl J. AndersonMarch 13, 1995 (1995-03-13)20.5[46]
4522"Nightmare on Maple Street"James WiddoesBrian Hargrove & Jack KennyApril 10, 1995 (1995-04-10)17.1[47]
4623"The Mommies"James WiddoesMark WildingMay 8, 1995 (1995-05-08)16.0[48]
4724"Piano, No Strings"James WiddoesDonald ToddMay 15, 1995 (1995-05-15)13.7[49]
4825"Tommy Doesn't Live Here Anymore"James WiddoesMark WildingMay 22, 1995 (1995-05-22)13.7[50]

Season 3 (1995–96)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
491"Cleanliness is Next to Nakedness"Tim O'DonnellKatherine GreenSeptember 13, 1995 (1995-09-13)13.9[51]
502"It's Not About That..."James WiddoesNick LeRoseSeptember 20, 1995 (1995-09-20)15.0[52]
513"You Must(ang) Remember This"Jim DrakeBrian Hargrove & Jack KennySeptember 27, 1995 (1995-09-27)13.2[53]
524"What the Early Bird Gets"Jim DrakeTom ReederOctober 11, 1995 (1995-10-11)15.8[54]
535"Do the Write Thing"Tommy ThompsonMark LeganOctober 18, 1995 (1995-10-18)14.8[55]
546"Death of a Saleswoman"Paul KreppelSheryl J. AndersonOctober 25, 1995 (1995-10-25)12.6[56]
557"Writing Wrongs"Jim DrakeHarry AndersonNovember 1, 1995 (1995-11-01)13.7[57]
568"Catch of the Day"Tim O'DonnellNick LeRoseNovember 8, 1995 (1995-11-08)13.2[58]
579"Health Hath No Fury"James WiddoesBrian Hargrove & Jack KennyNovember 15, 1995 (1995-11-15)12.8[59]
5810"Leave a Mystery at the Beep"Jim DrakeKatherine GreenNovember 22, 1995 (1995-11-22)10.0[60]
5911"The Green-Eyed Monster"Henry WinklerTom ReederNovember 29, 1995 (1995-11-29)12.4[61]
6012"Working Stiffs"Jim DrakeTim O'DonnellDecember 20, 1995 (1995-12-20)11.8[62]
6113"Pardon My Nuptials"Jim DrakeKatherine GreenJanuary 3, 1996 (1996-01-03)12.7[63]
6214"Gator Bait"Jim DrakeNick LeRoseJanuary 10, 1996 (1996-01-10)13.1[64]
6315"Those Who Do Be Do Be Do"Jim DrakeKatherine GreenJanuary 31, 1996 (1996-01-31)13.9[65]
6416"Fame"Jim DrakeRick NewbergerFebruary 7, 1996 (1996-02-07)11.4[66]
6517"Loves Me Like a Rock"Jim DrakeRick NewbergerFebruary 14, 1996 (1996-02-14)10.7[67]
6618"Nuts and Bolts"Tommy ThompsonNick LeRoseFebruary 21, 1996 (1996-02-21)11.5[68]
6719"My Girl"Jim DrakeBrian Hargrove & Jack KennyMarch 6, 1996 (1996-03-06)11.6[69]
6820"Stayin' Alive"UnknownUnknownMarch 13, 1996 (1996-03-13)10.5[70]
6921"Do You Want to Know a Secret?"Jim DrakeKatherine GreenApril 3, 1996 (1996-04-03)9.5[71]
7022"Double Fault"Linda DayTom ReederApril 10, 1996 (1996-04-10)8.7[72]
7123"Don't Blame Me"Art DielhennRick NewbergerApril 29, 1996 (1996-04-29)15.5[73]
7224"The Good Doctor"UnknownUnknownMay 6, 1996 (1996-05-06)15.8[74]
7325"L.A. Times"James WiddoesHarry AndersonMay 13, 1996 (1996-05-13)16.2[75]
7426"It's Not About That, Either"James WiddoesNick LeRoseMay 20, 1996 (1996-05-20)14.2[76]

Season 4 (1996–97)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
751"Based on a True Story"James WiddoesRick NewbergerSeptember 13, 1996 (1996-09-13)8.6[77]
762"Solitaire"Jim DrakeTom ReederSeptember 20, 1996 (1996-09-20)10.3[78]
773"Missed Manners"Jim DrakeKatherine GreenSeptember 27, 1996 (1996-09-27)9.5[79]
784"Crime and Coconuts"UnknownUnknownOctober 4, 1996 (1996-10-04)9.9[80]
795"Miami Beached"UnknownUnknownOctober 11, 1996 (1996-10-11)10.1[81]
806"Daveberry, RFD"UnknownUnknownOctober 18, 1996 (1996-10-18)10.3[82]
817"A Very Barry Pumpkin Show"UnknownUnknownNovember 1, 1996 (1996-11-01)10.9[83]
828"Falling"UnknownUnknownNovember 8, 1996 (1996-11-08)10.8[84]
839"Stress"UnknownUnknownNovember 22, 1996 (1996-11-22)9.6[85]
8410"Starr Tours"UnknownUnknownDecember 13, 1996 (1996-12-13)8.0[86]
8511"The Importance of Missing Earnest"UnknownUnknownDecember 20, 1996 (1996-12-20)8.7[87]
8612"Does the Whale Have to Be White?"UnknownUnknownJanuary 3, 1997 (1997-01-03)10.12[88]
8713"Playdate with a Playmate"UnknownUnknownJanuary 10, 1997 (1997-01-10)11.41[89]
8814"Spontaneous Combustion"UnknownUnknownJanuary 17, 1997 (1997-01-17)10.80[90]
8915"Dave Barry, Call Your Agent"UnknownUnknownJanuary 31, 1997 (1997-01-31)10.35[91]
9016"Touched by an Agent"UnknownUnknownFebruary 7, 1997 (1997-02-07)9.98[92]
9117"Bad News Barry's"UnknownUnknownFebruary 21, 1997 (1997-02-21)9.70[93]
9218"Liar's Poker"UnknownUnknownFebruary 28, 1997 (1997-02-28)9.49[94]
9319"Testing... Testing..."UnknownUnknownApril 30, 1997 (1997-04-30)9.71[95]
9420"Tropical Depression"UnknownUnknownMay 7, 1997 (1997-05-07)9.72[96]
9521"Oh Dad, Poor Dad"UnknownUnknownJune 6, 1997 (1997-06-06)6.87[97]
9622"A Woman of Independent Seams"UnknownUnknownJune 13, 1997 (1997-06-13)6.02[98]
9723"Let Simmer, Then Grill"UnknownUnknownJune 20, 1997 (1997-06-20)5.38[99]
9824"The Creeping Peril"UnknownUnknownJune 27, 1997 (1997-06-27)[1]5.80[100]

Home media

CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount) released the first two seasons of Dave's World on DVD in Region 1 in 2008 and 2009.[101][102] The theme song for the DVD releases was replaced with a generic rock track.

On July 24, 2012, Season 3 was released as a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release via Amazon.com's CreateSpace program.[103]

DVD NameEp#Release Date
The First Season23August 12, 2008
The Second Season25February 3, 2009
The Third Season26July 24, 2012

Ratings

The show was originally a hit for CBS when it aired on Monday nights. However, by the third season, it was moved to Wednesdays, and the ratings declined. By the fourth season, the show had moved to the "Friday night death slot" and the resulting drop in ratings led to the program's cancellation.

References

External links