"The Mind of the Married Man" (2001) TV series 2001-2002

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Creator:

Mike Binder

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Release Date:

23 September 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

An honest marriage can survive anything... except the truth.

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Mike Binder	...	Micky Barnes (20 episodes, 2001-2002)
Sonya Walger	...	Donna Barnes (20 episodes, 2001-2002)
Taylor Nichols	...	Doug Nelson (20 episodes, 2001-2002)
Jake Weber	...	Jake Berman (20 episodes, 2001-2002)

Also Known As:

My Dirty Little Mind (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (20 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Australia:MA (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Greentrees Films

Trivia:

Mike Binder's character "Mickey Barnes" goes to see a movie with his friends and wife in one episode. The movie they go to see is Minority Report (2002). Mike Binder played the character "Leo F Crow" in Minority Report.

Quotes:

[Willa Ford and her dancers, dancing to the tune of "I Wanna Be Bad", appear in front Mickey's bed]
Willa Ford: [stops dancing] Am I too young for you now?
Mickey: No. No, you're perfect.
Willa Ford: Not even in your dreams, old man.
[Willa flips him the finger and disappears]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Creating 'The Upside of Anger' (2005) (V)

Highly entertaining, poignant show!

I was reluctant to watch this show at first, fearing it would be overly manly and leaking with testosterone(yes I am a guy) as a sort of opposite to Sex in the City or maybe even a retaliation to such a program. To my pleasant surprise, though, the show packs plenty of humor, smart writing, and top notch acting. I had never been one to watch HBO original series, feeling they were out of place on a channel now inappropriately named Home Box Office that was originally meant to air uncut movies. This show turned me around though, and I look forward to when it comes on.

The main character, Micky(played by Mike Binder) is a man that I think most of us guys can identify with somehow, whether it be through his constant questioning of his own commitment to his beloved wife or, for a change of pace, not his trouble understanding woman, but in understanding himself as a man. Claims that the show is unrealistic are only true in that a lot of us may not take the chances that Micky takes and that his two friends seem to be very much playing his Id and Super Ego almost too perfectly. The lack of realism in those ways, though, is a blessed thing, for if they wasn't there, the viewer would not be able to truly understand the importance of fidelity, of love, and sacrifice which make up the theme of the series. I mean, if the show were completely realistic, then we may as well stick to our own mystifying experience and enjoy our lack of answers. The show is designed just so that it retains those necessary pieces of realism, but also takes the viewer out of reality for the purposes of showing where men make their mistakes, when they do something right, and when, most importantly, they think they are doing something wrong which is completely natural and forgivable.

Mike Binder, also the creator and director of the show, gives us a chance to truly peer into Mickey's mind and allows us to witness what may happen if we did, in fact, happen to take that invitation into an attractive strangers apartment. He shows us what his fantasies are, where his guilt comes from, and how much he truly does love his wife and strives to be the perfect husband, as well as father. Overall, the show has a message that is both positive and heart warming. It gives hope to the worrisome man, and insight to the confused wife. The acting is superb, as well as the writing. I would go into more detail, but I'm spent. Give it a chance. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.