Ever remember back to the 80s and ponder if something really happened or was it a cocaine induced delusion from a torrid weekend spent at Grace Jones backyard BBQ? Such is the case of My Two Dads. Did it really happen? Did they really make a sit-com about two guys involved with the same woman who are forced to raise her daughter after she dies? Did that really end up on TV for three seasons? Turns out the series was real. My Two Dads: The Complete First Season is proof of family justice gone weird in 1987.
“The Pilot” episode for My Two Dads is a pure product of the 80s. Paul Reiser is an uptight financial advisor who gets called into the reading of will for an ex-lover thats died. Hes disturbed to find Greg Evigan in the room. Turns out the artist was also a lover. Florence Stanley (Bernice on Fish) is a judge who explains that instead of being left money or a memento, the dead lover wants the duo to share custody of her daughter (Staci Keanan). The mom was not quite sure which one of them knocked her up and a DNA test proved inconclusive. Why didnt they just take the kid on The Maury Povich Show? He always tells us if the lazy bum is the babys daddy. Evigan enjoys having the kid around his studio. Reiser slowly wants to be a part of her life. Can two single men who arent gay come together to raise a girl?
The show seems to be The Odd Couple Adopt except Evigan isnt nearly as messy as Oscar although Reiser is as fussy as Felix. Stanley is constantly dropping by to check up on the welfare of the girl and teach the dads a life lesson. Staci Keanan is perfectly cast since she could be the child of either of the dad actors. Whose idea was it to team up the star of BJ and the Bear with the weasel from Aliens? Luckily BJ grew a beard and gave his coif an 80s high cut. Although watching the episodes makes me wonder if this show would have been funnier if the two guys were stuck raising a chimp.
The duo are constantly fighting for control over the daughter. “Sohos By You” has Reiser move them into his uptown apartment. He cant stand an artists loft. But the daughter cant relate to the very adult life in his part of town. ” Quickly the guys have to learn the trauma of a teen girl. “Crime and Punishment” has her going over the state line for a movie. “Nicoles First Date” makes the guys queasy when a boy comes calling for their little girl. How intimidating can it be to encounter two dads at the door and neither one fancies themselves the mom? “Friends and Lovers” has the daughter hook up a dad with a neighbor. Now the shoe is on the other foot. “Shell Get Over It” has Scott Baio while he was still single and under 45. “Friends of the Family” has a kid damage a door belonging to Dick Butkus. How do you pay the NFL Hall of Famer back? Does he accept dollars or take molars?
My Two Dads is a sweet series that redefines the family unit without coming close to injecting any sort of agenda about two “loving” fathers. They express love for her, but theyre real men around each other. Its a safe show since you only have to answer legal questions to kids about the two dads. The little ones might still be shocked that a family court judge can dominate a family unit. My Two Dads: The Complete First Season lets me forget that Evigan ever drove a truck and had a chimp. Now hes the loopy dad who has to work with Reisner to raise a teenager. Hard to tell which gigs is harder.
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The video transfer is fine. They give a warning about glitches, but it was nothing a fan would go nuts over. The audio is mono. The levels are decent for a three camera sit-com. Nobody goes completely off mic.
A Look Back at My Two Dads with Cast Members (16:28) has Greg Evigan and Staci Keanan discuss how they ended up on the show. Staci talks about how after the network picked up the pilot, they wanted a new girl in her role. Greg never know about this drama. Staci wishes Paul Reiser adopted her at the time. Maybe Paul will show up for a talk on the next boxset.
My Two Dads: The Complete First Season gives us a goofy 80s sitcom. What greater nightmare can their be than to be legally bound to the creepy guy from Aliens to raise a daughter? This series is best watched with an 80s style refreshment.
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Shout! Factory presents My Two Dads: The Complete First Season. Starring: Greg Evigan, Paul Reiser and Staci Keanan. Boxset Content: 22 episodes on 4 DVDs. Released on DVD: March 3, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
