Cupid

1 9 9 8 – 1 9 9 9 (USA)
15 x 60 minute episodes

This romantic comedy from ABC introduced Trevor Hale (Jeremy Piven), a glib, sarcastic man who turned up in Chicago, claiming to be Cupid, the God of Love.

He also claimed that he had been sent to Earth as punishment for his sloppy work in the 1960s and 1970s, and in order to earn back his place on Mount Olympus, he must match 100 couples without the use of magic (he had been stripped of his magical powers and had to use his charm to accomplish his goal).

Trevor introduced himself as Cupid to some people he believed were a match and was assumed to be delusional and in need of psychiatric attention. He was initially sent to a mental hospital and then placed under the care of Dr Claire Allen (Paula Marshall), a psychologist and relationship expert whose job was to convince Trevor that he was not Cupid.

Stories followed Trevor as he went about bringing people together while at the same time trying to convince Claire and his frustrated actor friend, Champ (Jeffrey D Sams), that he was who he said he was.

While well received by critics, the show fared less well with viewers and was cancelled after fifteen episodes. Piven went on to star in the comedy-drama Entourage while screenwriter Rob Thomas created the critically acclaimed whodunit Veronica Mars, after which he rebooted Cupid again for ABC in 2009.

The revival – filmed in New York and featuring a new cast – was also short-lived, with only six episodes actually aired.

Cupid/Trevor Hale
Jeremy Piven
Dr Claire Allen
Paula Marshall
Albert ‘Champ’ Terrace
Jeffrey D Sams
Mike
Paul Adelstein
Laurence
Daniel Bryant
Nick
Jeffrey Vincent Parise
Tina
Noelle Bou-Sliman
Jaclyn
Melanie Paxson
Alex DeMouy
Joe Flanigan

Episodes

Pilot | The Linguist | Heaven . . . He’s in Heaven | A Truly Fractured Fairy Tale | First Loves | Meat Market | Pick-Up Schticks | Heart of the Matter | End of an Eros | Hung Jury | A Great Personality | Grand Delusions | Bachelorette Party | The Children’s Hour | Botched Makeover