The Single Guy


The Single Guy is an American sitcom television series that ran for two seasons on NBC, from September 21, 1995 to April 14, 1997. It starred Jonathan Silverman as struggling New York City writer Jonathan Eliot and followed several of his close friends. The series also starred Joey Slotnick as Eliot's best friend Sam Sloan, Ming-Na Wen as Sam's wife Trudy and Ernest Borgnine as doorman Manny, throughout its entire run. The Single Guy was created by Brad Hall.

Cast

Main

Season 1 (1995–96)

Season 2 (1996–97)

Beginning and reception

While the series was favored enough by NBC to earn a timeslot in its coveted "Must-See-TV" Thursday night line-up, it ultimately failed to generate enthusiasm with critics and viewers. It was largely written-off as one in a long line of "singles in the city" sitcoms that emerged in the mid-1990s, following the success of Seinfeld. Many of that hit show's calling cards were emulated in The Single Guy, from the neurotic best friend who occasionally does reprehensible things, to its main character's rotating cast of flawed girlfriends. Jonathan and friends would also regularly hang out at a local coffee shop, The Bagel Cafe.

Ending

Perhaps aware of its impending cancellation, the series ended its second and final season with Jonathan Eliot married in Las Vegas, thus ending his single status.
Ultimately, it was one of the highest rated shows to ever get canceled, consistently attaining 4th or 5th place in the Nielsen ratings.
Most attribute this to the fact that it was hammocked in the coveted 8:30pm EST slot, between Friends and Seinfeld. According to Entertainment Weekly, when the show was moved to a different time slot, its position in the ratings plummeted.
Ross Geller, a character from the sitcom Friends, appeared on the show.