Dear John

1 9 8 8 – 1 9 9 2 (USA)
90 x 30 minute episodes

Following the success of the original BBC series Dear John on British television in 1986 and 1987, the series was sold to the US where it was remade by NBC from 1988 to 1992 with the same title.

As in the original, recently divorced teacher John Lacey (Judd Hirsch) joins a support group called the One to One club, where others in a similar situation seek solace in each other’s company.

Jere Burns played the obnoxious and sleazy lounge lizard, Kirk (whose surname was changed from St Moritz in the BBC series to ‘Morris’ here), Harry Groener played the painfully introverted and insecure Ralph, with Jane Carr as the group’s sex-obsessed British leader, Louise (surname changed from Williams to Mercer here).

Isabella Hoffman co-starred as Kate McCarron, a sweet red-headed divorcee who presented a possible love interest for John.

Other regular characters included silent Tom (Tom Willett), elderly fox Mrs Margie Philbert (Billie Bird), and – starting midway through season two – southern belle Mary Beth Sutton (Susan Walters).

John Lacey
Judd Hirsch
Kirk Morris
Jere Burns
Louise Mercer
Jane Carr
Kate McCarron
Isabella Hofmann
Tom
Tom Willett
Mrs Margie Philbert
Billie Bird
Ralph Drang
Harry Groener
Mary Beth Sutton
Susan Walters
Ben Conners
William O’Leary
Annie
Marietta DePrima
Denise
Olivia Brown
Brad
Peter Jurasik
Curtis
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Wendy
Carlene Watkins
Matthew Lacey
Ben Savage (1)
Billy Corben (2)