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Questions on this page
1. Ok so what is Ed?
2. What are the critics saying about the show?
3. What about the ratings? How are they doing?
1. Ok so what is Ed?
The show is about Ed Stevens, a New York City lawyer who loses his job because of a misplaced comma and goes home to find his wife in bed with a mailman. He decides to go back home to Stuckeyville, Ohio and while he's there he is going to ask out his high school crush, the most popular girl from his high school, Carol Vessey. When he gets there he finds out she has been in a seven year relationship with his old English teacher. Before he leaves Stuckeyville, though, they share a kiss. He buys the bowling alley and moves back into town.
At first he lives with Mike and Nancy, his best friend from high school, but soon moves into his own home. He sets up a law practice in Stuckeybowl, in order to get more customers in the bowling alley. He gives out free legal advice to anyone who bowls three games. Soon Carol and Nick break up and Ed sees this as his chance. But Carol just wants to be friends. So Ed begins seeing another lawyer, Bonnie Haine. She soon leaves town for another job, opening up the opportunity for Ed and Carol.
Other characters in the show include Molly, Carol's best friend, Warren, one of the high school students, and Stuckeybowl's kooky staff, Phil, Shirley, and Kenny.
2. What are the critics saying about the show?
"...Ed would stand out. For one thing, it isn't often that the season's best new comedy is also its best new drama. ...Please, America: Find Ed."--Tom Shales, Washington Post
"...it's a charming show with its own voice, a warm tone, and a quiet wit that should be rewarded with a larger viewership."--David Bianculli, New York Daily News
"...the best new show of the season...Ed benefits from its two stars...it's why this is likely to be the show that will keep you toasty-warm all fall and winter. Grade: A"--Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly
"Best Television Shows of 2000....8. Ed"--Entertainment Weekly
"As the instantly lovable leads on NBC's acclaimed small-town comedy Ed, Cavanagh and Bowen vaulted to the ranks of TV's greatest will-they-or-won't-they couples, alongside Cheers' Sam and Diane and Reege and Kathie Lee."----Bruce Fretts, Entertainment Weekly
"Here's hoping Mr. Ed and his friends enjoy a long stay in prime time."--Mike Lipton, People Magazine
Best New Show of the Season--as voted by TV critics Electronic Media magazine poll.
"TV Guide's Top Ten Shows of 2000...6. Ed"--TV Guide
"Why You'll Love It: She's adorable. He's adorable. And they're so sickeningly sweet together you'll just have to tune in every week and cheer Ed on."--Kristin Veitch, eonline.com
The only real beacon of light in a dismal TV season--eonline.com
"...top of the class of the fall season. Offering more comedy than drama, the show is quirky, with feel-good sentiments lingering beneath clever writing."--Laura Fries, Variety
"...you can just think of it as a clever comedy with a warm undercurrent that's as winning as it is unexpected..."--Robert Bianco, USA Today
"Ed is hands down...the best new show of the season."--Bill Brioux, Toronto Sun
3. What about the ratings? How are they doing?
The best tracker for Ed ratings is at Stuckeyville. Here is the direct link to the Nielsen Ratings Tracker. It's a bar graph so you can see the ups and downs.