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I loved this series the first time around when it ran on TV. I had purchased both seasons, but season 1 got borrowed and never returned, so I was delighted to find it on eBay. The characters are engaging, the writing and acting is exceptional, and each episode is thought-provoking Life, funny, quirky, and poignant--not an easy combination to maintain throughout a 2-year run. This series is scriptwriting and acting at its best, unlike the mind-numbing programming that currently dominates basic cable offerings.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
One night a few months ago I was doing the usual late night rapid channel flitting when I suddenly came upon an episode of "Dead Like Me". I didn't know at the time that it was the pilot episode, but I could tell that it was an early one. I'd never seen the show before. In fact, I'm not certain that it even aired here in Canada during its initial run. Definitely not on the regular prime time networks. As I watched the episode, I quickly realized that the dialogue was sharp and witty, much like that found in other favourite shows of mine such as "Northern Exposure" and "Ed", except with the occasional F-bomb and other terms not heard during prime time. Just after each commercial break, the Showcase network flashed a warning stating that this show presented adult situations, nudity, sexuality, and strong language. Rightly so I might add. If you're a parent, make sure the little ones are fast asleep while you watch this show, otherwise you'll have a lot of 'splainin' to do. Anyway, getting back to the show, I was immediately, if not sooner, hooked. Barbed end, line and sinker. After the closing credits, I was overcome with satisfaction. Similar to a really good meal. The feeling lasted about 10 seconds, when I suddenly yearned to see more. Not wanting to wait another seven days until the next episode, I leaped to the computer, clicked on a popular online Book/Music/DVD site, and ordered a copy of season one. Sure it took 6 days to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. I gobbled up each of the 14 episodes, and then went for seconds. Since then, I've watched them all a third time, and done the same with the second season. Thank the technology gods that DVDs don't wear out. I have a feeling that the enjoyment and pure delight that this shortlived series brings to its fans will last long after I'm pushing up daisies. I'm also hoping that the creators of the show and the good folks over at that roaring lion company will compile and release a disc or two of the songs heard during the episodes. Great tunes, snappy dialogue, smiles-and-chuckles-inducing humour, thought-provoking situations, etc. What more could a TV show junkie like me ask for?Read full review
This was a terrific, highly amusing, really interesting and very quirky series for two seasons on the Showtime Premium Channel starting in 2003 through 2004. It's about a rather depressed 18 year old girl who calls herself "George", that suddenly loses her life when a toilet seat from a Russian satellite lands on her when the satellite breaks up on re-entering Earths atmosphere. Immediately upon her death she finds out that she's been chosen to become one of many grim reapers who roam the world, and the series follows her through her various reaping assignments and how she learns to live as one of the "Undead". Great casting and story lines made this series a cult classic. So much so, that the calls and letters to Showtime complaining about the series cancellation finally resulted in a direct to DVD movie release in February of 2009 called "Dead Like Me-Life after Death". Starring Ellen Muth as Georgia Lass AKA "George", Mandy Patinkin as Rube(Boss of the Reapers), Jasmine Guy as Roxy(a meter maid/police officer reaper), Cynthia Stevenson as Joy Lass(the joyless mother of Georgia and her sister Reggie), Greg Kean as Clancy Lass(Joy Lass' hapless husband), Laura Harris as Daisy Adair (an ex-movie actress reaper), Callum Blue as Mason (a ne'er do well reaper), Christine Willis as Deloris Herbig (as in "HER BIG brown eyes", Georges' supervisor at her "Happytime" day job), and Britt McKillip as Reggie Lass(Georgia's younger sister). Other cast members include: Crystal Dahl as Crystal(the receptionist at "Happytime"), Patricia Idlette as Kiffany with a "K",(waitress at the restaurant where the reapers meet to get their daily reaping assignments from Rube), and Talia Ranger(a "Younger" version of George in flashbacks from her earlier life). Try it, you'll like it, but only if you don't mind strong language.Read full review
I had the oppertunity last fall to meet Ellen Muth the star of Dead Like Me and before then I had never watched the show. Meeting her made me interested in seeing exactly what it was all about. I first saw an episode a few months ago on Sci-fi and from then on I was hooked. Muth plays a young sarcastic and somewhat depressed girl who is killed by a toilet seat falling from the sky. She soon after realizes that she as well as others have become grim reapers. These reapers walk amoung the living and live lives just as the living do. Each episode the reapers are giving a paper with a name of someone who is schedule to die and the reapers must make their transition to the after-life as easy as possible. The show also stars Rebecca Gayheart, Jasmine Guy, Laura Harris,Mandy Patinkin, and Callium Blue. The show is funny and full of surprises. It has a good mix of drama as well. Allthough it may sound a bit odd it is a very welcome change from the ordinary tv show. I believe that anyone with a sense of humor will love this show. It has a way of bringing humor to a dark world. Each episode brings you a new story and many diferent death senerios. From falling toilet seats to revolving doors this show gives you a humoristic look at death. And for the record Ellen Muth is just as adorable in person as she is on this show.Read full review
DEAD LIKE ME is one of those shows which form part of my "perennial favorites" collection. I purchased this series (parts one and two) because it is written with such originality and clever characterization that it provides material for thought each time I see it. The entire concept is revolutionary: each death is overseen not only by a giant deity or force purposely left vague, but also by a "grim reaper," a special corpse chosen for some unknown reason to shepherd newly dead souls into the afterlife, and to make sure each soul's passing causes no physical pain. Into this comes a young girl, taken at age 18, by a random fluke: a toilet seat from an exploded Soviet space station falls directly on her. Imagine her reaction, and follow her through her own afterlife. You'll meet a hapless bank robber from the 20's, a "flash dancer" who invented leggings, a bit player killed in the fire on GONE WITH THE WIND, and a burnout from the 60's who has as much grace as a pair of old, torn jockey shorts destined for the rag bag. This show is priceless and funny and irreverent and sad and touching, all at the same time. In other words, right up my alley.Read full review
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