The Trouble with Normal (TV series)

American sitcom

This article is about the television series. For the book, see The Trouble with Normal (book).

The Trouble with Normal

Also known as| People Who Fear People
Genre| Sitcom
Created by| Victor Fresco
Starring|

* David Krumholtz
* Brad Raider
* Jon Cryer
* Larry Joe Campbell
* Paget Brewster

Composer| Bruce Miller
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 13 (8 unaired)
Production
Executive producers|

* Victor Fresco
* Tim Doyle

Camera setup| Multi-camera
Running time| 30 minutes
Production companies| Garfield Grove Productions
Touchstone Television
Paramount Network Television
Original release
Network| ABC
Release| October 6 (2000-10-06) –
November 3, 2000 (2000-11-03)

The Trouble with Normal is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from October 6 to November 3, 2000.[1] The show starred David Krumholtz, Brad Raider, Jon Cryer, Larry Joe Campbell, and Paget Brewster.

## Overview

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The show was described as "the misadventures of four paranoid young men whose fear of urban conspiracy leads them to seek counseling in a therapy group run by therapist Claire Garletti."[citation needed] Recurring members of the therapy group were played by Jim Beaver and Patricia Belcher.[1]

## Cast

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* David Krumholtz as Bob Wexler
* Brad Raider as Max Perch
* Jon Cryer as Zack Mango
* Larry Joe Campbell as Stansfield Schlick
* Paget Brewster as Claire Garletti

## Production

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A total of thirteen episodes of the series were ordered by ABC and completed. It was one of four series planned in order to reformat the network's Friday night block from the family sitcoms of the "TGIF" era to a more adult direction, including a marketing tie-in with KFC to feature the shows in the new Friday night lineup on the chicken chain's packaging. However, the network aired only five of those episodes in the United States before the series was canceled. All thirteen episodes were later aired in Australia.

The series was originally titled People Who Fear People. Director James Burrows was involved in the initial project but did not participate in the retitled series.[2] Original cast members Maria Pitillo and Mackenzie Astin were replaced by Paget Brewster and Brad Raider.[3]

## Episodes

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No.| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original release date| Prod.
code

|
|
|
|
|

1| "Pilot (AKA People Who Fear People)"| Andy Ackerman| Victor Fresco| October 6, 2000 (2000-10-06)| 40318-001

New neighbors Bob and Zach are each paranoid that the other is spying on them.

2| "Not the Pilot"| Andy Ackerman| Jennifer Celotta| October 13, 2000 (2000-10-13)| 40318-002

When the guys get dates, Claire reluctantly accompanies them to a bar for moral support.

3| "Clairanoia"| Andy Ackerman| Michael A. Ross| Unaired| 40318-003

The guys become jealous when they discover Claire has another group.
Note: This episode was scheduled to air on November 10, 2000.[4] It was replaced by an additional episode of its lead-in, Two Guys and a Girl. This happened so quickly that some sources incorrectly list this as airing.[1][5]

4| "Mail Trouble"| Andy Ackerman| David Walpert| October 27, 2000 (2000-10-27)| 40318-004

When Stansfield begins delivering Claire's mail, she complains and gets him re-routed, leaving an elderly lady and a prepubescent boy to take the fall.

5| "Unconventional Behavior"| Andy Ackerman| Jennifer Celotta| Unaired| 40318-005

When the group attends a conspiracy convention, Bob criticizes Max's marriage, Stansfield connects with a woman (Amy Landers), and Claire discovers her new boyfriend (Charles Esten) believes in aliens.

6| "Say Cheese"| Lee Shallat-Chemel| Steve Faber & Bob Fisher| Unaired| 40318-006

Claire complains on the guys' behalf when a surveillance camera is installed in their lobby, and suddenly she finds her own apartment is on the market and her utilities have been cut. Guest-stars David Ogden Stiers.

7| "Psychologists Without Borders"| Lee Shallat-Chemel| Gail Lerner| October 20, 2000 (2000-10-20)| 40318-007

A noisy neighbor (Sherri Shepherd) has been keeping Claire awake at night, so the guys try to intervene, but the situation backfires when Claire attempts to instate new boundaries. Also guest-stars Jonathan Banks.

8| "Owl Show Ya"| Lee Shallat-Chemel| Michael Shipley & Jim Bernstein| November 3, 2000 (2000-11-03)| 40318-008

To step out of their comfort zone, Bob gets an owl and Stansford takes a dance class. Guest stars Constance Zimmer.

9| "Speech! Speech!"| Andy Ackerman| David Walpert| Unaired| 40318-009

The guys attempt to boost Claire's career by booking her in various engagements, unaware that she's terrified of public speaking.

10| "Help Yourself"| Andy Ackerman| Michael A. Ross| Unaired| 40318-010

When Zack lands a job at Bob's company, he goes mad with power ordering office supplies. Meanwhile, Stansfield tries to bond with his childhood idol (Eugene Roche). Guest stars Charlie Robinson and Constance Zimmer.

11| "Spy vs. Guy"| Andy Ackerman| Steve Faber & Bob Fisher| Unaired| 40318-011

Zack has another date with Dora (Maria Bamford), but he has trouble getting past her occupation: FBI agent. Meanwhile, with Zack dating Dora and Bob dating Kristen (Constance Zimmer), Max and Stansfield find themselves awkwardly hanging out together.

12| "Chez Schlick"| Jeff McCracken| Jennifer Celotta| Unaired| 40318-012

Stansfield gets his own apartment so he can be alone with Claire's sister (Bess Meyer). Meanwhile, Bob wakes up with a nipple ring, which causes complications with a nurse who finds it sexy.

13| "Manhattan Transference"| Andy Ackerman| Story by : Gail Lerner
Teleplay by : Michael Shipley & Jim Bernstein| Unaired| 40318-013

Bob and Claire realize they have feelings for one another, but their doctor-patient relationship and his girlfriend stand in their way. Meanwhile, the other guys hang out with a cool guy who encourages them to sing.

## References

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1. ^ a b c Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). "Trouble with Normal, The (Situation Comedy)". The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9 ed.). New York: Random House Publishing. p. 1426\. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
2. ^ Cynthia Littleton (August 17, 1999). "ABC sets appointment for Cryer's couch trip pilot". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
3. ^ Josef Adalian (August 18, 2000). "Inside Move: Goodman show gets 'Normal'". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
4. ^ Gilbert, Matthew (October 10, 2000). "Critic's Corner". The Boston Globe. p. E20. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
5. ^ "What's on TV?". The Gettysburg Times (Pennsylvania). November 10, 2000. p. A10. Retrieved June 6, 2024.

## External links

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Wikiquote has quotations related to The Trouble with Normal (TV series).

* The Trouble with Normal at IMDb

*[No.]: Number
*[Prod.]: Production