Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Forgotten TV: SISTERS

SISTERS ran for six seasons in the nineties.  It was quirky and fun for several years. The acting was good and it wasn't set in New York City, (Illinois instead) always a plus for me. The writers managed to give each sister a distinct personality. Wish someone would stream it. DVD doesn't cut it anymore for those of us without DVD players.You can find Ward, Kurtz and Kalembier still around but Julianne Philips has mostly disappeared.


15 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I don't think I ever saw this one

Anonymous said...

Oh, I remember this one, Patti! I think I only watched it a couple of times, so I'm very, very vague about it. But I remember that it was on.

Anonymous said...

I think Julianne's fade coincided with her divorce from Bruce Springsteen. Terms were kept sealed, but apparently they did not have a pre-nup and there were some elements that Bruce did not want to be made public (including infidelity on his part). Anyway, she received a very significant settlement but with the proviso that she could never make any public pronouncement about their marriage. Who knows if that did was the cause, but you certainly don't see much of her these days.

--Deb

pattinase (abbott) said...

I'd forgotten they were married. She was certainly the weakest acting link on the show.

Jeff Meyerson said...

I saw most of them because Jackie - naturally - was a big fan. Swoosie has always been a favorite since UNCOMMON WOMEN & OTHERS. Phillips was mostly known for being the ex-Mrs. Springsteen. I see she quit acting in 1997.

It was definitely a "chick show" as the men were mostly appendages to the women.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Yeah, but one of the better ones. No hospitals and no police stations. Too much of TV takes place in those two venues. And now politics is becoming more prevalent. Stories at home are mostly the province of comedy.

Rick Robinson said...

Patti, Blu-ray DVD players cost under $100 and are a cinch to plug in and use.

I don't remember this, but I don't think I was watching much television at the time except some sports and TCM.

Todd Mason said...

I would mostly see this for a few minutes before HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET came on. And one cast member in particular could take my breath. ("Wait, there were other people on the show?") She was even more stunning in the un-glam look she usually had in ONCE AND AGAIN, her next project, but, well, damn. And aside from that, I think she was giving the best performances on SISTERS, as Kurtz was a little too mannered (old pro style) and the younger actresses not quite as good at that sort of thing. But I'll admit I didn't watch whole episodes more than a few times, similarly to Margot. "And, wait, it Wasn't just a Sela Ward solo dramatic recitation? How 'bout that."

Todd Mason said...

You know, I'm not sure I realized it was set in Illinois. Thus was Ward for that run of years in series an Illinois specialist (as ONCE was set in and around Chicago).

Todd Mason said...

Chicago series have a pretty good record, even given what mixed bags ER (the hit series, v. the good sitcom) and CHICAGO HOPE were, and the current rash of linked series on NBC might be (I've barely looked at them)...O&A, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW (the '70s hit, v. the '60s Peabody-winner), HILL STREET BUES (mostly)...

Jeff Meyerson said...

Sela Ward was definitely the best in this. Jackie says she liked Robert Klein as the "appliance king" who Swoosie married later in the series.

Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) said...

Never saw it and I love SWOOSIE KURTZ - darn!

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

This sounds vaguely familiar and I'm not sure it has been telecast on cable TV.

Todd Mason said...

Sergio--dvds, man.

Prashant...seems likely it got some exposure in India...it was about as close as US tv got to a telenovela in its time...

Yvette said...

Another terrific show I remember watching - now that you mention it, Patti. :)