# Good Advice (TV series)

Good Advice is an American television sitcom that aired for two seasons on CBS from April 2, 1993, to August 10, 1994. It was co-created and executive produced by Danny Jacobson and Norma Safford Vela; and starred Shelley Long and Treat Williams.

## Synopsis

Dr. Susan DeRuzza (Shelley Long) is a successful marriage therapist and the author of a best-selling book on the subject, Giving and Forgiving. Upon returning from a six-week promotional tour she discovers her husband of 11 years, Joey (Christopher McDonald), in bed with another woman. Furthermore, when she returns to her therapy office, she learns she is now sharing it with high-profile divorce attorney Jack Harold (Treat Williams). While Susan and Jack don't agree on the basics of relationships, love or marriage, the one thing they do share is an undeniable sexual chemistry. Susan's confidant, Artie (George Wyner), tries to lend support at the office and her sister Paige (Teri Garr) and son Michael (Ross Malinger) try to help at home.

## Cast

* Shelley Long as Susan DeRuzza
* Treat Williams as Jack Harold
* Christopher McDonald (season 1) and Peter Onorati (season 2) as Joey DeRuzza
* Ross Malinger as Michael DeRuzza
* Kiersten Warren as Lynn Casey (pilot only)
* George Wyner as Artie Cohen
* Estelle Harris as Ronnie Cohen (season 1)
* Lightfield Lewis as Sean Trombitas
* Henriette Mantel as Henriette Campbell (season 2)
* Teri Garr as Paige Anderson (season 2)

## Guest stars

* Wendie Malick as Janet
* Anne Meara as Verna
* Peter Onorati as Chazz Bigelow
* Xander Berkeley as Bernard
* Lisa Edelstein as Robin
* Laura Innes as Annie
* Liz Torres as Juanita
* Mindy Sterling as Jill
* Jean Speegle Howard as Mrs. Coulson
* Maggie Roswell as Betsy Miller

## Episodes
### Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 6 | 6 | April 2, 1993 (1993-04-02) | May 7, 1993 (1993-05-07) |
| 2 | 13 | 13 | May 23, 1994 (1994-05-23) | August 10, 1994 (1994-08-10) |

### Season 1 (1993)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Barnet Kellman | Danny Jacobson & Norma Safford Vela | April 2, 1993 (1993-04-02) | 15.6 |
| 2 | 2 | "Jack of Hearts" | Barnet Kellman | Danny Jacobson | April 9, 1993 (1993-04-09) | 12.0 |
| 3 | 3 | "Special Session" | Barnet Kellman | Danny Jacobson & Daniel Palladino | April 16, 1993 (1993-04-16) | 12.0 |
| 4 | 4 | "The Kiss" | Barnet Kellman | Gina Wendkos | April 26, 1993 (1993-04-26) | 16.6 |
| 5 | 5 | "Sunshine on My Shoulder" | Barnet Kellman | Mark Blutman & Howard Busgang | April 30, 1993 (1993-04-30) | 9.0 |
| 6 | 6 | "Turning Thirteen" | Barnet Kellman | Gary H. Miller | May 7, 1993 (1993-05-07) | 9.2 |

### Season 2 (1994)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 7 | 1 | "The Big One" | Ted Bessell | Michael Patrick King & Tom Palmer | May 23, 1994 (1994-05-23) | 11.1 |
| 8 | 2 | "Two Times Twenty" | Alan Rafkin | Peter Tolan | May 30, 1994 (1994-05-30) | 13.5 |
| 9 | 3 | "Divorce, Egyptian Style" | Robby Benson | Tom Palmer | June 6, 1994 (1994-06-06) | 16.2 |
| 10 | 4 | "Roll Out the Barrel" | Michael Lembeck | Michael Patrick King | June 15, 1994 (1994-06-15) | 8.0 |
| 11 | 5 | "Brother, Can You Spare a Date?" | Art Dielhenn | Elaine Aronson | June 29, 1994 (1994-06-29) | 9.0 |
| 12 | 6 | "The Gay Divorcee" | Ted Bessell | Jeanette Collins & Mimi Friedman | July 6, 1994 (1994-07-06) | 10.1 |
| 13 | 7 | "Making Out is Hard to Do" | Michael Lembeck | Jeanette Collins & Mimi Friedman | July 13, 1994 (1994-07-13) | 9.4 |
| 14 | 8 | "I'm Not Ready for My Closeup, Dr. DeRuzza" | Michael Patrick King | David Flebotte & David Caldwell and David Kohan & Max Mutchnick | July 20, 1994 (1994-07-20) | 9.4 |
| 15 | 9 | "Bill's as Is" | Michael Lembeck | Elaine Aronson | July 27, 1994 (1994-07-27) | 9.7 |
| 16 | 10 | "A Chance of Showers" | Ted Bessell | Elaine Aronson | August 10, 1994 (1994-08-10) | 9.5 |
| 17 | 11 | "I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore" | Ted Bessell | Michael Patrick King & Tom Palmer | Unaired | N/A |
| 18 | 12 | "Lights, Camera, Friction!" | Robby Benson | Peter Tolan | Unaired | N/A |
| 19 | 13 | "Desperately Using Susan" | Michael Lembeck | Russ Woody | Unaired | N/A |

## History

Good Advice was intended to debut at the very beginning of the 1992–1993 season, but became a mid-season replacement on CBS in spring 1993 because the network's fall schedule was overcrowded. The initial order garnered solid ratings and generally positive critical reviews. This was Shelley Long's first return to series television after leaving her role as Diane Chambers on Cheers and also the first sitcom for Treat Williams.
CBS renewed the series for a second season, set to premiere Friday, Oct. 22, 1993, but production was halted after Long became sick with the flu. Long's illness prompted the network to put the show on indefinite hiatus; the season premiere aired in the summer of 1994, but the show was cancelled after the season ended.
For the second season, Estelle Harris as Artie's mother and Christopher McDonald as Susan's ex-husband Joey were cut as regulars in lieu of bringing in Teri Garr as Susan's sister. Henriette Mantel also joined the cast in season 2.
Good Advice staff writers included Michael Patrick King and Max Mutchnick.