Gary Unmarried: The Complete First Season

A contemporary sitcom focusing on life after divorce, Gary Unmarried hails from the same universe as Reba and The New Adventures of Old Christine, only with a largely male perspective. Jay Mohr is the unmarried Gary, a recently divorced dad jumping back into the dating pool, with Paula Marshall playing his ex, Allison, who is now involved with their old marriage counselor, Walter Krandall (Ed Begley Jr.). Gary and Allison may be living separately, but their lives are still intertwined due to shared custody of their adolescent kids, the long process of dividing up the household, and years of routine. The pair spar and trade insults in a manner we would expect from screwball-sitcom exes who keep tripping back into one another's lives while establishing personal boundaries, dealing with parenting issues, and, of course, confronting fresh relationships and sex in their newly single world. Familiar territory, to be sure, but explored with a little more snap than usual, thanks to Mohr's cheeky personality, the fizzy chemistry between him and Marshall, and the momentum provided by sitcom legend James Burrows in the director's seat. Compiling all 20 episodes from the 2008-09 debut season, DVD extras include pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes, bloopers, and a segment on Begley's campaign for energy conservation. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)