TV series

Dear John

Name: Dear John
Released: 1988
Cast: Judd Hirsch, Jere Burns, Jane Carr, Isabella Hofmann, Billie Bird

1988–1992· 4 seasons· 30 min episodes★ 5.7Ended

On NBC — From Paramount Television · Ed Weinberger Productions

Life after divorce is never easy, but it's easier with friends

Create a free account to save & share

Create a free account to see where Dear John is streaming, with prices and your services first.

Where to watch

Not available to stream in US

🔔 Notify me about new seasons

Synopsis

Dear John starred Judd Hirsch as easygoing Drake Prep high school teacher John Lacey who is dumped by his wife, Wendy, via a Dear John letter. Wendy ends up with everything in the divorce settlement, including custody of the couple's son, forcing John to move into an apartment in Ozone Park, Queens. John soon joins the One-2-One Club, a self help group for divorced, widowed or lonely people. The group is led by Louise (Jane Carr), a sex-obsessed British woman. Other members of the group include Kate McCarron (Isabella Hofmann), a sweet divorcée; Kirk Morris (Jere Burns), a cocky ladies' man; Ralph Drang (Harry Groener), a shy and neurotic tollbooth collector; Bonnie Philbert (Billie Bird), a feisty senior citizen; and Tom, Mrs. Philbert's quiet boyfriend (Tom Willett).

Themes

new york city support group remake divorce sitcom

Episodes

Create a free account to track the episodes you’ve watched.

E1 PilotNext upOct 6, 1988 · 30 min
Synopsis
John reluctantly attends his first meeting of the One-Two-One Club -- only after mistakenly wandering into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting across the hall. (TV Guide)
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Betsy Randle (Fay), Richard Portnow (Harry), Cristine Rose (Gloria), Brent Jennings (Frank), Daniel Zacapa (Brian), Stan Rodarte (Support Group Member)
E2 Ralph's CurseOct 27, 1988 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert)
E3 Hello/GoodbyeNov 3, 1988 · 30 min
Synopsis
A young man claims to be John' son.
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert)
E4 The Younger GirlNov 10, 1988 · 30 min
Synopsis
John's beautiful new girlfriend thrills himâ€”until he learns her age.
Guest stars: Jennifer Runyon (Karen), William Sadler (Ken), Dakin Matthews (David), Jennifer Hirsch (Karen's Friend)
E5 Matthew's DilemmaNov 17, 1988 · 30 min
Synopsis
John can't understand why his son Matthew won't spend time with him.
Guest stars: Carlene Watkins (Wendy), Ben Savage (Matthew Lacey)
E6 Dear MikeNov 24, 1988 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Carlene Watkins (Wendy), Sam McMurray (Mike)
E7 Politics as UsualDec 1, 1988 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Jennifer Bassey (Eleanor Guthrie), Bob Snead (Steven Guthrie), Catherine MacNeal (The Party Guest), Robert G. Lee (The Waiter)
E8 Dancing in the DarkDec 15, 1988 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Carlene Watkins (Wendy), Ben Savage (Matthew Lacey), Lee Arenberg (Caroler), Christopher Bland (Caroler), Sylvia Sidney (Mrs. Lumenski)
E9 Was It Good for Me?Jan 5, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert)
E10 Honest JohnJan 12, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Carlene Watkins (Wendy), William Glover (Father Gorman), Angela Paton (Mother Superior), Trevor Eve (Ricky Fortune)
E11 The Return of RickyJan 19, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Trevor Eve (Ricky Fortune), Freddie Garrity (Freddie Garrity), Mary Anne Schafer (Helen)
E12 Dream BabeJan 26, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Keone Young (Mr. Yoshimura), Patricia Ayame Thomson (Sashiko), Yuri Ogawa (Mrs. Yoshimura)
E13 Stand by Your ManFeb 16, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Cleavon Little (Tony Larkin), Dakin Matthews (David Hennessey), Richard Blum (Barman), Doug Carfrae (The Waiter)
E14 Love and MarriageFeb 23, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Woody Harrelson (Richard), Richard Blum (The Bartender)
E15 For a FriendMar 2, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Gerrit Graham (Gary), Nancy Lane (Carol)
E16 The Second Time AroundMar 9, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Gwen Verdon (Yvonne), Barbara Rhoades (Marie)
E17 The Last DanceMar 16, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Elizabeth Maclellan (Barbara)
E18 SistersMar 30, 1989 · 30 min
Synopsis
Kate claims that her sister always steals her boyfriends, no matter how obnoxious, and to prove it Kate dates Kirk. (TV Guide)
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Wendy Schaal (Lisa)
E19 Gone CampingApr 6, 1989 · 30 min
Synopsis
On a camping trip, John and Matthew are stranded in a cabin by a snowstorm that ushers in a blizzard of chilling consequences. (TV Guide)
Guest stars: Carlene Watkins (Wendy), Ben Savage (Matthew Lacey), Tiiu Leek (The Anchorwoman), Larry McCormick (The Reporter)
E20 MargoApr 27, 1989 · 30 min
Synopsis
The group tells John that the knockout who's knocking him out is really a new member's transvestite husband. (TV Guide)
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), Richard Blum (The Bartender), Annie Golden (Sylvia), Shannon Tweed (Margo)
E21 Friends and LoversMay 4, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Billie Bird (Margie Philbert), William Sadler (Ken), Morgan Brittany (Liz), Nancy Linari (Dr. Osbourne), Elizabeth Savage (Wanda)
E22 Bound for GloriaMay 11, 1989 · 30 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Pat Crawford Brown (Kirk's Mom), Joanne Gibson (Gloria)