Ned and Stacey
Ned and Stacey is an American sitcom created by Michael J. Weithorn, and starring Thomas Haden Church and Debra Messing as the titular couple. The series aired on Fox from September 11, 1995, to January 27, 1997, and lasted for two seasons before being cancelled.
Premise
Stacey Colbert is desperate to move out of her parents house and find a place to live in New York City. However, as a freelance journalist, she can hardly make enough money to save for an apartment. One night, Stacey's sister Amanda and brother-in-law Eric set Stacey up with Eric's friend and co-worker Ned Dorsey. Though Stacey is initially repulsed by the idea of dating Ned, she decides to agree to a scheme he's cooked up. In order for him to get a promotion at the ad agency he's employed at, he needs a wife. Stacey reluctantly agrees as she is desperate to move out of her parents' house, and Ned has a very good apartment.The first season revolved around Ned and Stacey's adjustment to their new situation, while they attempt to make their marriage appear real and date other people. In the second season, Stacey moves out, and the two begin dating other people. Their constant bickering seems to evolve into something resembling a romance, but the series was cancelled before this could be fully developed.
Intro dialogue
Ned: Why Stacey?Stacey: Why Ned?
Ned: It was business.
Stacey: Strictly business.
Ned: Here's the deal – to get a promotion, I needed a wife.
Stacey: To get a life, I needed his apartment.
Ned: So what the hell, we up and got married.
Stacey: The only thing we have in common? We irritate each other.
Ned: Right! Enjoy the show.
This intro did not appear for the first episodes.
Episodes
Cast
Main
- Thomas Haden Church as Ned Dorsey
- Debra Messing as Stacey Colbert Dorsey
- Greg Germann as Eric "Rico" Moyer
- Nadia Dajani as Amanda Moyer
Recurring
- Harry Goz as Saul Colbert, father of Stacey and Amanda
- Dori Brenner as Ellen Colbert, mother of Stacey and Amanda
- James Karen as Patrick Kirkland, Ned's boss
- John Getz as Les McDowell, Ned's colleague at the agency
- Natalia Nogulich as Bernadette McDowell, Les' alcoholic wife
- Marcia Cross as Diana Huntley, Ned's girlfriend in the second season
- Andrew Arons as Howard Moyer, Amanda and Eric's son
- Ford Rainey as Nate
- Eddie McClintock as Chazz Gordon
- Ellen Albertini Dow as Mrs. Palmer
Notable guest stars
- Alan Oppenheimer as Spencer Haywood
- Simon Templeman as Nigel Davies
- Paulina Porizkova as Alexa Miroslav
- Joanna Cassidy as Lucy Binder
- Loretta Devine as Mrs. Duncan
- Olivia Newton-John as herself
- Susie Essman as Aunt Ceil
- Kevin Meaney as Chuck
- John Slattery as Sam
- Kathy Griffin as Jeanne
- Farrah Forke as Megan Foster
- Lisa Edelstein as Janine
- Jason Bateman as Bobby Van Lowe
- Kenny Johnson as Joey
- Greg Grunberg as Nick
- Alex Trebek as himself
- Sara Rue as Amy
- Jennifer Lyons as Alice
- Christopher Hewett as himself
- Megan Mullally as Wendy
- *Messing and Mullally would later go on to co-star in the more successful Will & Grace, as Grace Adler and Karen Walker, respectively.
- Lloyd Bridges as himself
Ratings
Syndication
The series has been aired in the United Kingdom on channel Sony TV, which began airing the show on April 7, 2011, the day of the channel's launch. After its cancellation the show reran on the USA Network from 1999 to 2001. The show later reran on WE: Women's Entertainment from 2003 to 2005.TV Guide Network began airing reruns of the show on September 12, 2011. Oxygen also occasionally airs the show, usually on Thursday at 6am EST. In Australia, digital channel 7mate has been showing reruns of the series in 2011. In the United States, Rural TV began airing reruns on occasion. The show was last seen in 2015 on FamilyNet.
Home media
In September 2005, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the first season of Ned and Stacey on DVD in Region 1. Due to low sales, season two's DVD release was canceled. In 2014, Mill Creek Entertainment acquired the rights to the series, and released two compilation discs of the show.On June 7, 2017, it was announced that Shout! Factory had acquired the rights to the series. They subsequently released Ned and Stacey – The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 on September 26, 2017.
DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
The Complete First Season | 24 | September 20, 2005 |
The Complete Series | 46 | September 26, 2017 |