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Small Fandom Primer: Miss Match
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yuletide! Two of my requests, however, were in fandoms I'm not sure anyone is going to offer - one, in particular, is not so much small or rare as it is nonexistent. And that sucks, because it's a fandom I love a lot. So, in the spirit of sharing the obscure fandom love, here's my Beginner's Guide To Miss Match (And Why You Should Totally Watch It).*
*Hint: Nathan Fillion
ETA: While this was put together specifically with Yuletide in mind, I think it serves as a fair primer for anyone open to watching a new show (I recommend it, obviously). Also, it's spoiler-free, except for casting.
What Is It?
Miss Match is a TV show that aired for a limited number of episodes in 2003. It's a romantic drama/comedy that centres around Kate Fox, a divorce attorney and part time matchmaker who is somewhat less successful in her own personal life - think Clueless, all grown up. It's a charming series with a great cast, created by Darren Star (who also created the excellent and equally obscure Grosse Pointe) and sadly cancelled by Fox midway through its first season.
Who Is It About?
The Heroine: Kate Fox (Alicia Silverstone)
Successful, unlucky-in-love Kate is the star of the show. She works at her father's law firm as a divorce lawyer, but is still surprisingly upbeat about love; the series begins with her branching out from matchmaking as a hobby to create a booming side business, and even starting to look for a "perfect match" for herself. I'm a big fan of Alicia Silverstone, and if you enjoyed her in Clueless, you'll like her in this; her Kate is friendly and optimistic without being naive, and she's perfect in the role.
The Best Friend: Victoria (Lake Bell)
Victoria, Kate's best friend, works as a bartender in a bar frequented by the main characters. She's sexy, sassy, and basically awesome. Of course, I could be slightly biased - I absolutely adore Lake Bell - but Victoria is a lot of fun, and her snarky pragmatism provides a great foil for Kate's optimism.
The Colleague: Nick Paine (James Roday)
Before he went on to Psych, James Roday starred as Kate's cocky, womanizing colleague and professional rival in Miss Match. Nick could have easily been sidelined as a one-note character, but he's likeable - sometimes even despite himself - and shows promising character development even over the course of the show's limited run. If you're a fan of Psych, I'd definitely recommend watching him in this.
The Love Interest: Michael Mendelson (David Conrad)
Kate meets Michael while searching for men to set up with her newest client. He initially rejects her proposition, but later accepts her offer of help, and they develop a close, UST-laden friendship. David Conrad is another actor I love, and he's charming and likeable playing against Alicia Silverstone.
The Complication: Adam Logan (Nathan Fillion)
Yep, that Nathan Fillion. Post-Firefly, pre-Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Nathan Fillion guest starred as Michael's former best friend and rival for Kate's affections. Adam is introduced midway through the series, and like Nick, the actor's performance turns what could simply have been a cocky, arrogant character into someone I genuinely cheered for (in the end, I genuinely wanted him to get the girl). In conclusion, Nathan Fillion = awesome.
Who Else Is In It?
The cast of Miss Match is one of its best features, and the guest stars are no exception. Recurring characters include Kate's father Jerry (Ryan O'Neal) and mother Lianne (JoBeth Williams), client Lauren (Dina Meyer), and high school rival Serena (Charisma Carpenter). Other guest stars have included Dave Baez, William Ragsdale, Eyal Podell, Jenna Fischer, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Josh Radnor, Bradley Cooper, Adam Goldberg, Kathleen York, Kerr Smith, Daniel Dae Kim, Christina Hendricks, Jonathan Silverman, Corbin Bernsen, Lisa Edelstein, Thomas Haden Church, and Lindsay Sloane. Oh, and Luis and Sheridan (Galen Gering and McKenzie Westmore) from Passions, playing across each other. No, seriously. And these are only some of the familiar faces you're sure to come across.
Why Should I Watch It?
Did I mention Nathan Fillion, James Roday, and Charisma Carpenter? Seriously, the cast of Miss Match is fantastic, and the actors have awesome chemistry with one another. The show is a lot better than the basic premise may make it sound, so if you're sick of "quirky female lawyer" shows, please don't let that put you off. If you're a fan of romantic comedies at all - or of shows like Psych, Greek, Gilmore Girls, and Grosse Pointe - I'd definitely recommend you give it a chance. Who knows, you might find a new favourite obscure fandom!
... And, okay, here's where I drop the cheerleader bit for a second. I'll fully admit that Miss Match is pretty much my perfect show. The premise, the cast, the execution; it's all but tailor made to appeal to my specific interests. Which means it might not be quite as beloved by everyone else. But it is a good show, well-written and well-acted, with some awesome names attached (including an episode directed by Timothy Busfield ♥); the characters are relatable, the relationships well-crafted, and there are some great female characters - always a priority of mine! Also, though it's a non-entity in fandom, it has a small but still loyal fan base - a quick look at the show's IMDB message boards shows a phenomenally large number of threads (around half the threads on the first five pages alone) asking why the show was cancelled, when it will be released on DVD, and how it can be obtained. With only eleven episodes aired, and five years after the fact, that's a pretty promising showing.
How Can I Get A Hold Of It?
So, you're interested? Maybe? Great! First, some clarification on the episodes - since, like most shows aired on Fox, it got the short end of the stick in terms of being aired. Of eighteen episodes, eleven went to air. These aired mostly in the right order - except for The Price Of Love, which has been designated episode fourteen but should actually, as far as I can tell, slot in around episode four.
The last aired episode was Who's Sari Now?; the next episode (officially episode twelve), All In The Family, seems to be missing entirely. But don't worry; if you don't know it's missing - or even if you do - you won't miss it, and it doesn't affect continuity at all. And apart from those two episodes, everything else is numbered correctly and in order. (But, for those interested, my unofficial corrected episode order:)
1. Pilot
2. Who's Your Daddy?
3. Something Nervy
4. The Price Of Love (originally #14)
5. Kate In Ex-Tasy
6. I Got You Babe
7. Addicted To Love
8. Jive Turkey
9. The Love Bandit
10. Bad Judgment
11. Santa, Baby
12. Who's Sari Now?
13. Miss Communication
14. Divorce Happens
15. Forgive And Forget
16. Most Hopeless Romantics
17. Matchmaker, Matchmaker
The entire series, including unaired episodes, can be found fairly easily via torrent files. And if anybody is interested, I can happily upload any and all episodes for those who want them.
So, in conclusion? Miss Match is smart, funny, and engaging, with an awesome cast and crew, and great characters and relationships. It's short - great for Yuletide! - easily available if you know where to look, and the good news is that, despite cancellation, the series concludes in a satisfying arc, with an actual finale. So, seriously, what are you waiting for?
yuletide! Two of my requests, however, were in fandoms I'm not sure anyone is going to offer - one, in particular, is not so much small or rare as it is nonexistent. And that sucks, because it's a fandom I love a lot. So, in the spirit of sharing the obscure fandom love, here's my Beginner's Guide To Miss Match (And Why You Should Totally Watch It).**Hint: Nathan Fillion
ETA: While this was put together specifically with Yuletide in mind, I think it serves as a fair primer for anyone open to watching a new show (I recommend it, obviously). Also, it's spoiler-free, except for casting.
What Is It?
Miss Match is a TV show that aired for a limited number of episodes in 2003. It's a romantic drama/comedy that centres around Kate Fox, a divorce attorney and part time matchmaker who is somewhat less successful in her own personal life - think Clueless, all grown up. It's a charming series with a great cast, created by Darren Star (who also created the excellent and equally obscure Grosse Pointe) and sadly cancelled by Fox midway through its first season.
Who Is It About?
The Heroine: Kate Fox (Alicia Silverstone)
Successful, unlucky-in-love Kate is the star of the show. She works at her father's law firm as a divorce lawyer, but is still surprisingly upbeat about love; the series begins with her branching out from matchmaking as a hobby to create a booming side business, and even starting to look for a "perfect match" for herself. I'm a big fan of Alicia Silverstone, and if you enjoyed her in Clueless, you'll like her in this; her Kate is friendly and optimistic without being naive, and she's perfect in the role.
The Best Friend: Victoria (Lake Bell)
Victoria, Kate's best friend, works as a bartender in a bar frequented by the main characters. She's sexy, sassy, and basically awesome. Of course, I could be slightly biased - I absolutely adore Lake Bell - but Victoria is a lot of fun, and her snarky pragmatism provides a great foil for Kate's optimism.
The Colleague: Nick Paine (James Roday)
Before he went on to Psych, James Roday starred as Kate's cocky, womanizing colleague and professional rival in Miss Match. Nick could have easily been sidelined as a one-note character, but he's likeable - sometimes even despite himself - and shows promising character development even over the course of the show's limited run. If you're a fan of Psych, I'd definitely recommend watching him in this.
The Love Interest: Michael Mendelson (David Conrad)
Kate meets Michael while searching for men to set up with her newest client. He initially rejects her proposition, but later accepts her offer of help, and they develop a close, UST-laden friendship. David Conrad is another actor I love, and he's charming and likeable playing against Alicia Silverstone.
The Complication: Adam Logan (Nathan Fillion)
Yep, that Nathan Fillion. Post-Firefly, pre-Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Nathan Fillion guest starred as Michael's former best friend and rival for Kate's affections. Adam is introduced midway through the series, and like Nick, the actor's performance turns what could simply have been a cocky, arrogant character into someone I genuinely cheered for (in the end, I genuinely wanted him to get the girl). In conclusion, Nathan Fillion = awesome.
Who Else Is In It?
The cast of Miss Match is one of its best features, and the guest stars are no exception. Recurring characters include Kate's father Jerry (Ryan O'Neal) and mother Lianne (JoBeth Williams), client Lauren (Dina Meyer), and high school rival Serena (Charisma Carpenter). Other guest stars have included Dave Baez, William Ragsdale, Eyal Podell, Jenna Fischer, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Josh Radnor, Bradley Cooper, Adam Goldberg, Kathleen York, Kerr Smith, Daniel Dae Kim, Christina Hendricks, Jonathan Silverman, Corbin Bernsen, Lisa Edelstein, Thomas Haden Church, and Lindsay Sloane. Oh, and Luis and Sheridan (Galen Gering and McKenzie Westmore) from Passions, playing across each other. No, seriously. And these are only some of the familiar faces you're sure to come across.
Why Should I Watch It?
Did I mention Nathan Fillion, James Roday, and Charisma Carpenter? Seriously, the cast of Miss Match is fantastic, and the actors have awesome chemistry with one another. The show is a lot better than the basic premise may make it sound, so if you're sick of "quirky female lawyer" shows, please don't let that put you off. If you're a fan of romantic comedies at all - or of shows like Psych, Greek, Gilmore Girls, and Grosse Pointe - I'd definitely recommend you give it a chance. Who knows, you might find a new favourite obscure fandom!
... And, okay, here's where I drop the cheerleader bit for a second. I'll fully admit that Miss Match is pretty much my perfect show. The premise, the cast, the execution; it's all but tailor made to appeal to my specific interests. Which means it might not be quite as beloved by everyone else. But it is a good show, well-written and well-acted, with some awesome names attached (including an episode directed by Timothy Busfield ♥); the characters are relatable, the relationships well-crafted, and there are some great female characters - always a priority of mine! Also, though it's a non-entity in fandom, it has a small but still loyal fan base - a quick look at the show's IMDB message boards shows a phenomenally large number of threads (around half the threads on the first five pages alone) asking why the show was cancelled, when it will be released on DVD, and how it can be obtained. With only eleven episodes aired, and five years after the fact, that's a pretty promising showing.
How Can I Get A Hold Of It?
So, you're interested? Maybe? Great! First, some clarification on the episodes - since, like most shows aired on Fox, it got the short end of the stick in terms of being aired. Of eighteen episodes, eleven went to air. These aired mostly in the right order - except for The Price Of Love, which has been designated episode fourteen but should actually, as far as I can tell, slot in around episode four.
The last aired episode was Who's Sari Now?; the next episode (officially episode twelve), All In The Family, seems to be missing entirely. But don't worry; if you don't know it's missing - or even if you do - you won't miss it, and it doesn't affect continuity at all. And apart from those two episodes, everything else is numbered correctly and in order. (But, for those interested, my unofficial corrected episode order:)
1. Pilot
2. Who's Your Daddy?
3. Something Nervy
4. The Price Of Love (originally #14)
5. Kate In Ex-Tasy
6. I Got You Babe
7. Addicted To Love
8. Jive Turkey
9. The Love Bandit
10. Bad Judgment
11. Santa, Baby
12. Who's Sari Now?
13. Miss Communication
14. Divorce Happens
15. Forgive And Forget
16. Most Hopeless Romantics
17. Matchmaker, Matchmaker
The entire series, including unaired episodes, can be found fairly easily via torrent files. And if anybody is interested, I can happily upload any and all episodes for those who want them.
So, in conclusion? Miss Match is smart, funny, and engaging, with an awesome cast and crew, and great characters and relationships. It's short - great for Yuletide! - easily available if you know where to look, and the good news is that, despite cancellation, the series concludes in a satisfying arc, with an actual finale. So, seriously, what are you waiting for?