User Reviews

Episode 26 begins with the Tates and Campbells discussing Jessica's fate,leading Chester to try his hand at suicide,unsuccessfully.Jodie moves in with Carol,and Burt meets Dennis Phillips,unaware that his favorite quarterback is a homosexual("he's got his girlfriend.He's got his boyfriend!").Mary pays her convicted sister a visit,believing that Burt's nightly absences at work are signs that he's having an affair("well,at first Burt couldn't,and then I wouldn't,and then he could,and now I would,but now he can't because he's never home!") E.Ronald Mallu once more confesses his love for Jessica,but is interrupted by both Mary and Benson(Mallu would not return until next season).Tim's mother meets Corinne for the first time,and apart from calling her future daughter-in-law a slut and trying to strangle her to death,she took the news of their impending nuptials very well.Judge Anthony Petrillo(in his final series appearance)pronounces sentence on Jessica,before a surprise confession from Chester saves her(on a personal note,this made no sense,since Peter,who only met Chester once,recognized his killer before he died,and Chester did not know who his wife had an affair with until after the murder.In a brilliant example of lazy screen writing,Chester does not know why he did it,and couldn't remember anything about it,until his attempted suicide jogged his memory).He winds up in a cell with convicted killer Dutch Leitner(Donnelly Rhodes),who's wanted in 10 states,announcing that he's breaking out and taking Chester with him.An exhausted Burt arrives home at 4AM,only to have the frustrated Mary accuse him of having an affair,until he explains how difficult it's been at work,with bills,payroll,and invoices,confessing his adoring love for her.Danny tells Jodie that his plan to cut off Elaine from sex after marriage failed miserably("the girl knows a lot of tricks!") Carol walks in,believing it was Dennis that just left("the Rose Bowl queen"),and Jodie asks her why she acts jealous when he insisted he would live his own life.She cannot bring herself to tell him that she's pregnant with his child.This was the first hour-long broadcast,split into 2 episodes in syndication.

The usual funny stuff. Benson is especially good in this one. The episode quickly introduces some new story lines and situations. Danny wears the tightest jeans and tank top outfit ever.

Yes Chester's confession is a big retcon. When re-watching season 1 with knowledge that Chester would later confess to the murder I saw it made no sense. Chester never knew who Jessica had an affair with, etc. But this is a comedy and maybe the retcon is part of the parody?

Of course that makes more sense than some of the out-of-left-field other suspects. Jody?! Benson?!? Burt?!?!? I'm pretty sure they simply slotted in Jody and Benson because they were popular characters.

This episode is a one hour format. I prefer the half hour format. This one lacks the usual punchy "Will this happen? Will that happen? Will anyone care?" narrated ending summary which is a shame as they are funny. Instead we have an extended "coming attractions" advertisement which is just clips, and clips out of context aren't that funny.