''Ned & Stacey'' (or ''Ned and Stacey'') is an American
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
created by Michael J. Weithorn, and starring
Thomas Haden Church
Thomas Haden Church (born Thomas Richard McMillen; June 17, 1960) is an American actor. After starring in the 1990s sitcom ''Wings'' and playing the lead for two seasons in ''Ned & Stacey'' (1995–1997)'','' Church became known for his film work, ...
and
Debra Messing
Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing received short-lived roles on television series such as ''Ned and Stacey'' on Fox (1995–1997) and ...
as the titular couple. The series lasted two seasons, airing on
Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
from September 11, 1995, to January 27, 1997.
Premise
Stacey Colbert (Messing) is desperate to move out of her parents' house and find a place to live in New York City. However, as a freelance journalist, she can hardly make enough money to save for an apartment. One night, Stacey's sister Amanda (
Nadia Dajani
Nadia Dajani (born December 26, 1965) is an American actress. She hosts the baseball comedy web series ''Caught Off Base with Nadia''.
Early life and education
Dajani was born in Los Angeles, California on December 26, 1965. She grew up the youn ...
) and brother-in-law Eric (
Greg Germann
Gregory Andrew Germann ( ; born February 26, 1958) is an American actor who is known for playing Richard Fish on the television series '' Ally McBeal'', which earned him a Screen Actors Guild award. He also is known for his roles as Eric "Rico" ...
) set Stacey up with Eric's friend and co-worker Ned Dorsey (Church). Though Stacey is initially repulsed by the idea of dating Ned, she decides to agree to a scheme he has cooked up. For him to get a promotion at the ad agency where he is employed, he needs a wife. Stacey reluctantly agrees, as she is desperate to move out of her parents' house, and Ned has a very good apartment.
The first season revolved around Ned and Stacey's adjustment to their new situation, while they attempt to make their marriage appear real while dating other people. In the second season, Stacey moves out, and the two begin dating other people. Their constant bickering seems to evolve into something resembling a romance, but the series was cancelled before this could be fully developed.
Intro dialogue
(Spoken during the opening theme)
Ned: Why Stacey?
Stacey: Why Ned?
Ned: It was business.
Stacey: ''Strictly'' business.
Ned: Here's the deal – to get a promotion, I needed a wife.
Stacey: To get a life, I needed his apartment.
Ned: So what the hell, we up and got married.
Stacey: The only thing we have in common? We irritate each other.
Ned: Right! Enjoy the show.
This introduction does not appear in the first few episodes.
Episodes
Cast
Main
*
Thomas Haden Church
Thomas Haden Church (born Thomas Richard McMillen; June 17, 1960) is an American actor. After starring in the 1990s sitcom ''Wings'' and playing the lead for two seasons in ''Ned & Stacey'' (1995–1997)'','' Church became known for his film work, ...
as Ned Dorsey
:An uptight
advertising
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...
executive, he marries Stacey to get a promotion. Ned is initially portrayed as a self-absorbed egomaniac who uses anyone to get ahead, but he starts developing compassion and empathy for his friends, especially Stacey. Eventually, Ned falls in love with Stacey, but the series was cancelled before this was further developed.
*
Debra Messing
Debra Lynn Messing (born August 15, 1968) is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing received short-lived roles on television series such as ''Ned and Stacey'' on Fox (1995–1997) and ...
as Stacey Colbert Dorsey
:A beautiful, red-haired
journalist
A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...
with a degree from
Brandeis University
, mottoeng = "Truth even unto its innermost parts"
, established =
, type = Private research university
, accreditation = NECHE
, president = Ronald D. Liebowitz
, pro ...
, she marries Ned to get out of her parents' house and live in his apartment, which has a nice view of
Central Park
Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West Side, Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the List of New York City parks, fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban par ...
. She begins the show as a
freelance
''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...
journalist, but eventually lands a job writing for an airline magazine, ''Skyward''. Messy and neurotic, she often plays as a counterbalance for Ned's more uptight nature. Eventually, Stacey falls in love with Ned, but the series was cancelled before this was further developed.
*
Greg Germann
Gregory Andrew Germann ( ; born February 26, 1958) is an American actor who is known for playing Richard Fish on the television series '' Ally McBeal'', which earned him a Screen Actors Guild award. He also is known for his roles as Eric "Rico" ...
as Eric "Rico" Moyer
:Stacey's brother-in-law, Amanda's husband, and Ned's best friend, he is an
accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accounting or accountancy.
Accountants who have demonstrated competency through their professional associations' certification exams are certified to use titles such as Chartered Accountant, Chartered Certifi ...
at Ned's advertising firm. Called Rico by Ned, he is slightly nerdy in a good natured way, and his straight down-the-middle persona is often used to counter Ned's antics. Eric is a mellow person, who is always being used by Ned in his personal schemes. He does not mind it, since he idolizes his friend. He seldom stands up for himself, and Amanda often steps in when things threaten to get out of hand. Ned is the only person to call him Rico.
*
Nadia Dajani
Nadia Dajani (born December 26, 1965) is an American actress. She hosts the baseball comedy web series ''Caught Off Base with Nadia''.
Early life and education
Dajani was born in Los Angeles, California on December 26, 1965. She grew up the youn ...
as Amanda Moyer (née Colbert)
:Stacey's sister, and Eric's wife, she is openly critical of the fake marriage in general and Ned in particular. During season one, Amanda was working as a high-end
real estate agent
A real estate agent or real estate broker is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agen ...
. After a property investment with Ned goes wrong, she finds herself running a muffin store, Amanda's Amuffins, during season two. Eric and she have one son, named Howard. As opposed to Stacey, Amanda is strong, well-organized, and cynical. She loves Eric, and often pushes him around, but most often she does this to make him stand up for himself or act on otherwise lost opportunities.
Recurring
*
Harry Goz
Harry Goz (February 16, 1932 – September 6, 2003) was an American musical theater actor and voice actor.
Career
Goz debuted in the 1956 Broadway production of ''Bajour'', co-starring Chita Rivera and Nancy Dussault. Goz played Tevye in th ...
as Saul Colbert, father of Stacey and Amanda
*
Dori Brenner
Dori Brenner (born Dori Levine; December 16, 1946 - September 16, 2000) was an American actress. She was born in Manhattan, and went to Sarah Lawrence College and the Yale School of Drama. Her oldest sister was award-winning author Ellen Levine. He ...
as Ellen Colbert, mother of Stacey and Amanda
*
James Karen
James Karen (born Jacob Karnofsky; November 28, 1923 – October 23, 2018) was an American character actor of Broadway, film and television. Karen is known for his roles in '' Poltergeist'', ''The China Syndrome'', '' Wall Street'', ''The Retu ...
as Patrick Kirkland, Ned's boss
*
John Getz
John William Getz (born October 15, 1946) is an American character actor. After starting his acting career on stage, he has appeared in numerous television series and films.
Personal life
Getz, one of four children, was born in Davenport, Iowa, ...
as Les McDowell, Ned's colleague at the agency
*
Natalia Nogulich
Natalia Nogulich is an American film- and television actress and author.
Nogulich was born Natalija Nogulich in Chicago, Illinois, of Serbian descent. Her best-known appearances have been on '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and '' Star Tr ...
as Bernadette McDowell, Les' alcoholic wife
*
Marcia Cross
Marcia Anne Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American actress. She acted in daytime soap operas such as ''The Edge of Night'', '' Another World'', and ''One Life to Live'' before moving to primetime television with a recurring role on ''Knots ...
as Diana Huntley, Ned's girlfriend in the second season
*Andrew Arons as Howard Moyer, Amanda and Eric's son
*
Ford Rainey
Ford Rainey (August 8, 1908 – July 25, 2005) was an American film, stage, and television actor.Myrna Oliver"Ford Rainey, 96; Performed Shakespeare, Shepard and Variety of Film, TV Roles" ''Los Angeles Times'', July 26, 2005.
Early life
Rainey ...
as Nate
*
Eddie McClintock
Edward Theodore McClintock (born May 27, 1967) is an American actor, best known for his role of Secret Service agent Pete Lattimer on the Syfy series '' Warehouse 13''.
Early life
McClintock was born in Canton, Ohio, and raised by his father The ...
as Chazz Gordon
*
Ellen Albertini Dow
Ellen Rose Albertini Dow (November 16, 1913 – May 4, 2015) was an American film and television character actress and drama coach. She portrayed feisty old ladies and is best known as the rapping grandmother Rosie in ''The Wedding Singer'' ( ...
as Mrs. Palmer
Notable guest stars
Note: relevant episode given in parentheses.
*
Alan Oppenheimer
Alan Oppenheimer (born April 23, 1930) is an American actor. He has performed numerous roles on live action television since the 1960s, and he has had an active career doing voice work since the 1970s.
Early life
Oppenheimer was born in New Yor ...
as Spencer Haywood ("Pilot")
*
Simon Templeman
Simon Templeman (born January 28, 1954) is an English actor. He is known for his video game roles as Kain (Legacy of Kain), Kain in ''Legacy of Kain'', Gabriel Roman in ''Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'', Loghain in ''Dragon Age'' and Admiral Han'G ...
as Nigel Davies ("Take My Wife, Please")
*
Paulina Porizkova
Paulina Porizkova (born Pavlína Pořízková, ; 9 April 1965) is a Swedish model. Born in Czechoslovakia and raised in Sweden, Porizkova became the first Central European woman to appear on the cover of the ''Sports Illustrated'' swimsuit issu ...
as Alexa Miroslav ("Model Husband")
*
Joanna Cassidy
Joanna Cassidy (born Joanna Virginia Caskey, August 2, 1945 Brady, James"In Step With: Joanna Cassidy" ''Miami Herald'', November 25, 1990. Accessed March 14, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Born: Aug.2, 1944, in Camden, N.J.") is an American actress. ...
as Lucy Binder ("Here's to You, Mrs. Binder")
*
Loretta Devine
Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress, singer and voice actor. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of ''Dreamgir ...
as Mrs. Duncan ("Reality Check")
*
Olivia Newton-John
Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British-Australian singer, actress and activist. She was a four-time Grammy Award winner whose music career included 15 top-ten singles, including 5 number-one singles on the ...
as herself ("Reality Check")
*
Susie Essman
Susan Essman is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer and television producer, best known for her role as Susie Greene on '' Curb Your Enthusiasm'', Bobbi Wexler on ''Broad City'', and the voice of Mittens in '' Bolt''.
Early life
Es ...
as Aunt Ceil ("Thanksgiving Day Massacre")
*
Kevin Meaney
Kevin Gerard Meaney (April 23, 1956 – October 21, 2016) was an American stand-up comedian and actor.
Early life
Meaney graduated from Valhalla High School in Westchester County, New York, and attended State University of New York at Morr ...
as Chuck ("Sleepless in Manhattan")
*
John Slattery
John M. Slattery Jr. (born August 13, 1962) is an American actor and director widely known for his role as Roger Sterling Jr. in the AMC drama series ''Mad Men'' (2007–15), for which he was nominated four times for the Primetime Emmy Award fo ...
as Sam ("Threesome")
*
Kathy Griffin
Kathleen Mary Griffin (born November 4, 1960) is an American comedian and actress who has starred in television comedy specials and has released comedy albums. In 2007 and 2008, Griffin won Primetime Emmy Awards for her reality show '' Kathy ...
as Jeanne ("Accountus Interruptus")
*
Farrah Forke
Farrah Rachael Forke (January 12, 1968 – February 25, 2022) was an American actress known for her roles as Alex Lambert on the NBC sitcom ''Wings'', and Mayson Drake on '' Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman''. She also voiced the c ...
as Megan Foster ("A Tender Trap")
*
Lisa Edelstein Lisa or LISA may refer to:
People
People with the mononym
* Lisa Lisa (born 1967), American actress and lead singer of the Cult Jam
* Lisa (Japanese musician, born 1974), stylized "LISA", Japanese singer and producer
* Lisa Komine (born 1978), J ...
as Janine ("Friends and Lovers")
*
Jason Bateman
Jason Kent Bateman (born January 14, 1969) is an American actor, director and producer known for his roles of Michael Bluth in the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox/Netflix sitcom ''Arrested Development (TV series), Arrested Development'' and of Mart ...
as Bobby Van Lowe ("Pals")
*
Kenny Johnson
Kenneth Allen Johnson (born July 13, 1963) is an American actor, producer, and model. He is known for his roles as Detective Curtis Lemansky in ''The Shield'', Butch "Burner" Barnes in '' Pensacola: Wings of Gold'', Detective Ham Dewey in '' Sa ...
as Joey ("It Happened One Night")
*
Greg Grunberg
Gregory Phillip Grunberg (born July 11, 1966) is an American film and television actor best known for starring as Eric Weiss in the ABC series ''Alias'', Matt Parkman in the NBC series ''Heroes'', Temmin "Snap" Wexley in '' Star Wars: The Forc ...
as Nick ("You Bet Your Wife")
*
Alex Trebek
George Alexander Trebek (; July 22, 1940 – November 8, 2020) was a Canadian-American game show host and television personality. He is best known for hosting the syndicated general knowledge quiz game show ''Jeopardy!'' for 37 season ...
as himself ("It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Eric")
*
Sara Rue
Sara Rue (born January 26, 1979) is an American actress. She is known for her performances as Carmen Ferrara on ''Popular'', as Claude Casey on ''Less than Perfect'', and as the Attorney General in ''Idiocracy''. In 2011, she hosted The CW realit ...
as Amy ("Prom Night")
*
Jennifer Lyons
Jennifer "Jenn" Jane Lyon (February 27, 1972 – January 19, 2010) was an American actress and television personality best known for her appearance on ''Survivor: Palau''.
Early life
Jennifer Lyon was born in Nevada, but grew up in Washington ( ...
as Alice ("Prom Night")
*
Christopher Hewett
Christopher George Hewett (5 April 1921 – 3 August 2001) was an English actor and theatre director best known for his role as Lynn Aloysius Belvedere on the ABC sitcom ''Mr. Belvedere''.
Career
Hewett was born in Worthing, Sussex to Chris ...
as himself ("Saved by the Belvedere")
*
Megan Mullally
Megan Mullally (born November 12, 1958) is an American actress, comedian, and singer. She is best known for playing Karen Walker on the NBC sitcom ''Will & Grace'' (1998–2006, 2017–2020), for which she received eight Primetime Emmy Award no ...
as Wendy ("Where My Third Nepal Is Sheriff ")
**Messing and Mullally later went on to co-star in the more successful ''
Will & Grace
''Will & Grace'' is an American television sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Set in New York City, the show focuses on the friendship between best friends Will Truman (Eric McCormack), a gay lawyer, and Grace Adler (Debra Messing), ...
'', as
Grace Adler
Grace Elizabeth Adler (formerly Adler-Markus) is a fictional character and one of the two titular protagonists in the American sitcom ''Will & Grace'', portrayed by Debra Messing. A Jewish interior designer living in New York City, she lives wit ...
and
Karen Walker, respectively.
*
Lloyd Bridges
Lloyd Vernet Bridges Jr. (January 15, 1913 – March 10, 1998) was an American film, stage and television actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. He was the father of four children, includi ...
as himself ("Skippy's Revenge")
Ratings
Syndication
The series has been aired in the United Kingdom on channel
Sony TV Sony Television, Sony TV, or Sony HD may refer to any of the following television-related products from Japanese conglomerate Sony:
* Television sets designed and manufactured by Sony Corporation in Japan
** Trinitron, television hardware brand (196 ...
, which began airing the show on April 7, 2011, the day of the channel's launch. After its cancellation, the show reran on the
USA Network
USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison ...
from 1999 to 2001. The show later reran on
WE: Women's Entertainment from 2003 to 2005.
TV Guide Network began airing reruns of the show on September 12, 2011.
Oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as wel ...
also occasionally airs the show, usually on Thursday at 6 am EST. In Australia, digital channel
7mate
7mate is an Australian free-to-air digital television multichannel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010. The channel contains sport and regular programs aimed primarily to a male audience, with programming drawn from a c ...
has been showing reruns of the series in 2011. In the United States, Rural TV began airing reruns on occasion and was shown in 2015 on
FamilyNet.
Home media
In September 2005,
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (abbreviated as SPHE) is the home video distribution division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.
Background
SPHE is responsible for the distribution of the Sony Pictures lib ...
released the first season of ''Ned and Stacey'' on DVD in
Region 1. Due to low sales, season two's DVD release was cancelled. In 2014, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series, and released two compilation discs of the show.
On June 7, 2017,
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an American home video and music company founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy ...
announced it had acquired the rights to the series, and subsequently released ''Ned and Stacey – The Complete Series'' on DVD in
Region 1 on September 26, 2017.
Ned and Stacey – The Complete Series on DVD...Including Unaired Episodes! Thomas Hayden Church and Debra Messing star in Shout! Factory's 6-disc set!
''TVShowsonDVD.com''
References
Notes
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ned and Stacey
1990s American sitcoms
1995 American television series debuts
1997 American television series endings
English-language television shows
Fictional couples
Fox Broadcasting Company original programming
Television duos
Television series about advertising
Television series about families
Television series about Jews and Judaism
Television series about marriage
Television series by Sony Pictures Television
Television shows set in New York City