# Dave's World

Dave's World is an American sitcom television series, created by Fred Barron, that aired on CBS from September 20, 1993, to June 27, 1997. The series is based on the writing of Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry.

## Plot

The show focuses on the daily trials and tribulations of columnist Dave Barry (Harry Anderson) and his wife, Beth (DeLane Matthews), along with their sons, Tommy (Zane Carney) and Willie (Andrew Ducote). Dave worked at the Miami Record-Dispatch (a fictionalized version of the Miami Herald, where Barry worked in real life), where Kenny Beckett (Shadoe Stevens) was his editor, although Dave typically worked from home, where Mia (J.C. Wendel) was his assistant. Neighbor Sheldon Baylor (Meshach Taylor) was a successful plastic surgeon and Dave's best friend from high school. Starting in the second season, the Barrys hired Eric (Patrick Warburton) to do some work on their house, which led to Eric and Mia dating and eventually moving next door to the Barrys and getting married. Later in the series, Dave completes a book based on his and his friends' lives during the 1960s, and Shel loses all of his money when his business manager runs off. Kenny is also fired from the newspaper and becomes a weatherman.

## Setting and background

The show was set in Miami, Florida (Barry's actual city of residence), and was based on Barry's books Dave Barry's Greatest Hits and Dave Barry Turns 40.
The show's theme song was a version of Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" sung by Southside Johnny; however, it is not used in the DVD releases (see below).
During the run of the show, the real Dave Barry divorced his wife, Beth.

## Cast
### Main

* Harry Anderson as Dave Barry
* DeLane Matthews as Beth Barry
* Shadoe Stevens as Kenny Beckett
* J.C. Wendel as Mia
* Zane Carney as Tommy Barry
* Andrew Ducote as Willie Barry
* Meshach Taylor as Dr. Sheldon "Shel" Baylor
* Patrick Warburton as Eric (seasons 3–4)

### Recurring

* Tammy Lauren as Julie (season 1)
* Eugene Roche as Eric, Jr. (season 3)
* Bea Arthur as Mel Bloom (season 4)

## Episodes
### Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 23 | 23 | September 20, 1993 (1993-09-20) | May 2, 1994 (1994-05-02) |
| 2 | 25 | 25 | September 12, 1994 (1994-09-12) | May 22, 1995 (1995-05-22) |
| 3 | 26 | 26 | September 13, 1995 (1995-09-13) | May 20, 1996 (1996-05-20) |
| 4 | 24 | 24 | September 13, 1996 (1996-09-13) | June 27, 1997 (1997-06-27) |

### Season 1 (1993–94)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | James Widdoes | Fred Barron | September 20, 1993 (1993-09-20) | 21.7 |
| 2 | 2 | "The Insecurity System" | James Widdoes | Fred Barron and Marco Pannette | September 27, 1993 (1993-09-27) | 22.8 |
| 3 | 3 | "Martian Death Flu" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | October 4, 1993 (1993-10-04) | 20.4 |
| 4 | 4 | "The Anniversary Schmaltz" | James Widdoes | Marco Pannette | October 11, 1993 (1993-10-11) | 21.9 |
| 5 | 5 | "The Great Mandala of Life" | James Widdoes | Fred Barron | October 18, 1993 (1993-10-18) | 19.2 |
| 6 | 6 | "I Sort of Saw What You Did" | James Widdoes | Jennifer Heath | October 22, 1993 (1993-10-22) | 11.7 |
| 7 | 7 | "It's a Small Van After All" | James Widdoes | Jennifer Heath | October 25, 1993 (1993-10-25) | 20.8 |
| 8 | 8 | "Heatwave" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | November 1, 1993 (1993-11-01) | 20.6 |
| 9 | 9 | "Writer's Block" | James Widdoes | Stuart Silverman | November 8, 1993 (1993-11-08) | 19.9 |
| 10 | 10 | "Educating Rita" | James Widdoes | Fred Barron and Marco Pennette | November 15, 1993 (1993-11-15) | 21.6 |
| 11 | 11 | "Death and Mom Take a Holiday" | Unknown | Unknown | November 22, 1993 (1993-11-22) | 19.8 |
| 12 | 12 | "Exorcising with Dave Barry" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | November 29, 1993 (1993-11-29) | 20.6 |
| 13 | 13 | "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: Part 1" | James Widdoes | Marco Pennette | December 13, 1993 (1993-12-13) | 18.7 |
| 14 | 14 | "I Saw Mommy Kicking Santa Claus: Part 2" | Unknown | Unknown | December 20, 1993 (1993-12-20) | 19.3 |
| 15 | 15 | "Just Kidding" | Unknown | Unknown | January 3, 1994 (1994-01-03) | 21.5 |
| 16 | 16 | "The Road Taken" | Unknown | Unknown | January 10, 1994 (1994-01-10) | 21.9 |
| 17 | 17 | "Shel in Love" | Unknown | Unknown | January 24, 1994 (1994-01-24) | 22.6 |
| 18 | 18 | "Four Characters in Search of a Ring" | Unknown | Unknown | January 31, 1994 (1994-01-31) | 23.4 |
| 19 | 19 | "Lost Weekend" | Unknown | Unknown | February 28, 1994 (1994-02-28) | 21.4 |
| 20 | 20 | "Rat Story" | Unknown | Unknown | March 7, 1994 (1994-03-07) | 22.8 |
| 21 | 21 | "Six Years Old and All Washed Up" | Unknown | Unknown | March 14, 1994 (1994-03-14) | 20.7 |
| 22 | 22 | "The Funeral" | James Widdoes | Marco Pennette & Fred Barron | March 28, 1994 (1994-03-28) | 18.7 |
| 23 | 23 | "Saved by Estelle" | Unknown | Unknown | May 2, 1994 (1994-05-02) | 14.6 |

### Season 2 (1994–95)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 24 | 1 | "I Lost It at the Movies" | James Widdoes | Fred Barron & Marco Pennette | September 12, 1994 (1994-09-12) | 18.3 |
| 25 | 2 | "The Last Auction Hero" | James Widdoes | Carol Gary | September 19, 1994 (1994-09-19) | 19.0 |
| 26 | 3 | "A Room with a View" | Tommy Thompson | Tom J. Astle | September 26, 1994 (1994-09-26) | 21.1 |
| 27 | 4 | "Please Won't You Be My Neighbor" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | October 3, 1994 (1994-10-03) | 20.1 |
| 28 | 5 | "You Can't Always Get What You Want" | James Widdoes | Fred Barron | October 10, 1994 (1994-10-10) | 20.5 |
| 29 | 6 | "Gone with the Wind: Part 1" | James Widdoes | Carol Gary | October 17, 1994 (1994-10-17) | 21.4 |
| 30 | 7 | "Gone with the Wind: Part 2" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | October 24, 1994 (1994-10-24) | 20.1 |
| 31 | 8 | "Lobster Envy" | James Widdoes | Marco Pennette & Fred Barron | October 31, 1994 (1994-10-31) | 19.8 |
| 32 | 9 | "Family Membership" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | November 7, 1994 (1994-11-07) | 19.7 |
| 33 | 10 | "One Mump or Two?" | Tommy Thompson | Brian Hargrove & Jack Kenny | November 14, 1994 (1994-11-14) | 20.8 |
| 34 | 11 | "The Donor Party" | James Widdoes | Carol Gary & Dylan Gary | November 21, 1994 (1994-11-21) | 20.2 |
| 35 | 12 | "How Long Has This Been Going On?" | Tommy Thompson | Story by : Deborah Zoe Dawson & Jodie Mann Massimi Teleplay by : Fred Barron & Marco Pennette | November 28, 1994 (1994-11-28) | 19.7 |
| 36 | 13 | "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | December 5, 1994 (1994-12-05) | 19.6 |
| 37 | 14 | "Dis Who's Coming to Dinner?" | James Widdoes | Mark Wilding | January 2, 1995 (1995-01-02) | 23.2 |
| 38 | 15 | "A Pool's Paradise" | James Widdoes | Brian Hargrove & Jack Kenny | January 16, 1995 (1995-01-16) | 20.4 |
| 39 | 16 | "Bear with Me" | James Widdoes | Sheryl J. Anderson | January 23, 1995 (1995-01-23) | 19.3 |
| 40 | 17 | "A Cut Above the Rest" | James Widdoes | Marco Pennette | February 6, 1995 (1995-02-06) | 20.9 |
| 41 | 18 | "The Country Girl" | James Widdoes | Fred Barron & Marco Pennette | February 13, 1995 (1995-02-13) | 20.0 |
| 42 | 19 | "The Accidental Tourists" | James Widdoes | Mark Legan | February 20, 1995 (1995-02-20) | 20.9 |
| 43 | 20 | "The Joint Venture" | Paul Kreppel | Tom J. Astle | February 27, 1995 (1995-02-27) | 20.8 |
| 44 | 21 | "Those Wedding Shel Blues" | Jim Drake | Sheryl J. Anderson | March 13, 1995 (1995-03-13) | 20.5 |
| 45 | 22 | "Nightmare on Maple Street" | James Widdoes | Brian Hargrove & Jack Kenny | April 10, 1995 (1995-04-10) | 17.1 |
| 46 | 23 | "The Mommies" | James Widdoes | Mark Wilding | May 8, 1995 (1995-05-08) | 16.0 |
| 47 | 24 | "Piano, No Strings" | James Widdoes | Donald Todd | May 15, 1995 (1995-05-15) | 13.7 |
| 48 | 25 | "Tommy Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | James Widdoes | Mark Wilding | May 22, 1995 (1995-05-22) | 13.7 |

### Season 3 (1995–96)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 49 | 1 | "Cleanliness is Next to Nakedness" | Tim O'Donnell | Katherine Green | September 13, 1995 (1995-09-13) | 13.9 |
| 50 | 2 | "It's Not About That..." | James Widdoes | Nick LeRose | September 20, 1995 (1995-09-20) | 15.0 |
| 51 | 3 | "You Must(ang) Remember This" | Jim Drake | Brian Hargrove & Jack Kenny | September 27, 1995 (1995-09-27) | 13.2 |
| 52 | 4 | "What the Early Bird Gets" | Jim Drake | Tom Reeder | October 11, 1995 (1995-10-11) | 15.8 |
| 53 | 5 | "Do the Write Thing" | Tommy Thompson | Mark Legan | October 18, 1995 (1995-10-18) | 14.8 |
| 54 | 6 | "Death of a Saleswoman" | Paul Kreppel | Sheryl J. Anderson | October 25, 1995 (1995-10-25) | 12.6 |
| 55 | 7 | "Writing Wrongs" | Jim Drake | Harry Anderson | November 1, 1995 (1995-11-01) | 13.7 |
| 56 | 8 | "Catch of the Day" | Tim O'Donnell | Nick LeRose | November 8, 1995 (1995-11-08) | 13.2 |
| 57 | 9 | "Health Hath No Fury" | James Widdoes | Brian Hargrove & Jack Kenny | November 15, 1995 (1995-11-15) | 12.8 |
| 58 | 10 | "Leave a Mystery at the Beep" | Jim Drake | Katherine Green | November 22, 1995 (1995-11-22) | 10.0 |
| 59 | 11 | "The Green-Eyed Monster" | Henry Winkler | Tom Reeder | November 29, 1995 (1995-11-29) | 12.4 |
| 60 | 12 | "Working Stiffs" | Jim Drake | Tim O'Donnell | December 20, 1995 (1995-12-20) | 11.8 |
| 61 | 13 | "Pardon My Nuptials" | Jim Drake | Katherine Green | January 3, 1996 (1996-01-03) | 12.7 |
| 62 | 14 | "Gator Bait" | Jim Drake | Nick LeRose | January 10, 1996 (1996-01-10) | 13.1 |
| 63 | 15 | "Those Who Do Be Do Be Do" | Jim Drake | Katherine Green | January 31, 1996 (1996-01-31) | 13.9 |
| 64 | 16 | "Fame" | Jim Drake | Rick Newberger | February 7, 1996 (1996-02-07) | 11.4 |
| 65 | 17 | "Loves Me Like a Rock" | Jim Drake | Rick Newberger | February 14, 1996 (1996-02-14) | 10.7 |
| 66 | 18 | "Nuts and Bolts" | Tommy Thompson | Nick LeRose | February 21, 1996 (1996-02-21) | 11.5 |
| 67 | 19 | "My Girl" | Jim Drake | Brian Hargrove & Jack Kenny | March 6, 1996 (1996-03-06) | 11.6 |
| 68 | 20 | "Stayin' Alive" | Unknown | Unknown | March 13, 1996 (1996-03-13) | 10.5 |
| 69 | 21 | "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" | Jim Drake | Katherine Green | April 3, 1996 (1996-04-03) | 9.5 |
| 70 | 22 | "Double Fault" | Linda Day | Tom Reeder | April 10, 1996 (1996-04-10) | 8.7 |
| 71 | 23 | "Don't Blame Me" | Art Dielhenn | Rick Newberger | April 29, 1996 (1996-04-29) | 15.5 |
| 72 | 24 | "The Good Doctor" | Unknown | Unknown | May 6, 1996 (1996-05-06) | 15.8 |
| 73 | 25 | "L.A. Times" | James Widdoes | Harry Anderson | May 13, 1996 (1996-05-13) | 16.2 |
| 74 | 26 | "It's Not About That, Either" | James Widdoes | Nick LeRose | May 20, 1996 (1996-05-20) | 14.2 |

### Season 4 (1996–97)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) |
| 75 | 1 | "Based on a True Story" | James Widdoes | Rick Newberger | September 13, 1996 (1996-09-13) | 8.6 |
| 76 | 2 | "Solitaire" | Jim Drake | Tom Reeder | September 20, 1996 (1996-09-20) | 10.3 |
| 77 | 3 | "Missed Manners" | Jim Drake | Katherine Green | September 27, 1996 (1996-09-27) | 9.5 |
| 78 | 4 | "Crime and Coconuts" | Unknown | Unknown | October 4, 1996 (1996-10-04) | 9.9 |
| 79 | 5 | "Miami Beached" | Unknown | Unknown | October 11, 1996 (1996-10-11) | 10.1 |
| 80 | 6 | "Daveberry, RFD" | Unknown | Unknown | October 18, 1996 (1996-10-18) | 10.3 |
| 81 | 7 | "A Very Barry Pumpkin Show" | Unknown | Unknown | November 1, 1996 (1996-11-01) | 10.9 |
| 82 | 8 | "Falling" | Unknown | Unknown | November 8, 1996 (1996-11-08) | 10.8 |
| 83 | 9 | "Stress" | Unknown | Unknown | November 22, 1996 (1996-11-22) | 9.6 |
| 84 | 10 | "Starr Tours" | Unknown | Unknown | December 13, 1996 (1996-12-13) | 8.0 |
| 85 | 11 | "The Importance of Missing Earnest" | Unknown | Unknown | December 20, 1996 (1996-12-20) | 8.7 |
| 86 | 12 | "Does the Whale Have to Be White?" | Unknown | Unknown | January 3, 1997 (1997-01-03) | 10.12 |
| 87 | 13 | "Playdate with a Playmate" | Unknown | Unknown | January 10, 1997 (1997-01-10) | 11.41 |
| 88 | 14 | "Spontaneous Combustion" | Unknown | Unknown | January 17, 1997 (1997-01-17) | 10.80 |
| 89 | 15 | "Dave Barry, Call Your Agent" | Unknown | Unknown | January 31, 1997 (1997-01-31) | 10.35 |
| 90 | 16 | "Touched by an Agent" | Unknown | Unknown | February 7, 1997 (1997-02-07) | 9.98 |
| 91 | 17 | "Bad News Barry's" | Unknown | Unknown | February 21, 1997 (1997-02-21) | 9.70 |
| 92 | 18 | "Liar's Poker" | Unknown | Unknown | February 28, 1997 (1997-02-28) | 9.49 |
| 93 | 19 | "Testing... Testing..." | Unknown | Unknown | April 30, 1997 (1997-04-30) | 9.71 |
| 94 | 20 | "Tropical Depression" | Unknown | Unknown | May 7, 1997 (1997-05-07) | 9.72 |
| 95 | 21 | "Oh Dad, Poor Dad" | Unknown | Unknown | June 6, 1997 (1997-06-06) | 6.87 |
| 96 | 22 | "A Woman of Independent Seams" | Unknown | Unknown | June 13, 1997 (1997-06-13) | 6.02 |
| 97 | 23 | "Let Simmer, Then Grill" | Unknown | Unknown | June 20, 1997 (1997-06-20) | 5.38 |
| 98 | 24 | "The Creeping Peril" | Unknown | Unknown | June 27, 1997 (1997-06-27) | 5.80 |

## Home media

CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount) released the first two seasons of Dave's World on DVD in Region 1 in 2008 and 2009. The theme song for the DVD releases was replaced with a generic rock track.
On July 24, 2012, Season 3 was released as a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release via Amazon.com's CreateSpace program.
| DVD Name | Ep# | Release Date |
| The First Season | 23 | August 12, 2008 |
| The Second Season | 25 | February 3, 2009 |
| The Third Season | 26 | July 24, 2012 |

## Ratings

The show was originally a hit for CBS when it aired on Monday nights. However, by the third season, it was moved to Wednesdays, and the ratings declined. By the fourth season, the show had moved to the "Friday night death slot" and the resulting drop in ratings led to the program's cancellation.