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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

Dead Like Me on DVD

Wondering what your favorite grim reaper has been up to lately? You won't have to wonder much longer: The canceled-too-soon Showtime series Dead Like Me is getting a new life (groan, sorry) on DVD. Or at least a new couple of hours: A made-for-DVD movie is in the works.

Dead Like Me starred Ellen Muth (The Truth About Jane) as a young woman named George Lass (and yes, I think her name was probably intended to make you think of Jan Brady's imaginary boyfriend, George Glass). George met an early demise when a toilet seat hurtled down from space and smashed right into her. And then, just to make matters weirder, a grim reaper named Rube (Mandy Patinkin) came along and recruited her to be a harvester of souls.

What you can't tell from that description, though, is that Dead Like Me was really charming and funny. George was still a teenager, albeit a deceased one, and she had a lot to learn about, um, life. And the unfolding of each reaper's backstory was more fascinating than any flashback on Lost. There was even a cubicle farm subplot that rivaled some of the best moments on The Office. This show had everything, including Jasmine Guy in a uniform. (A meter maid uniform, but a uniform nonetheless.)

Jasmine also looks good in cufflinks.

Throw in bizarre deaths à la Harold and Maude, the occasional murder mystery and — above all — exceptional writing week after week, and you get the idea. Oh, and did I mention the show was created by Bryan Fuller, who also brought us Wonderfalls and currently writes for Heroes? That guy knows quirkiness. And he's the reason I'm looking forward to Pushing Daisies this fall.

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  • Sally's picture

    I hate not watching it!

    And that is another reason to think of going back to the States! I miss so many interesting things on TV!  I haven't seen anything like it here, not even advertised.  But now we are getting "Weeds" which I think was on Showtime too.  At least the L Word is also coming, but here they are only on the second season.  (And thanks to you, I read all the third and fourth season!)
    Thanks for the tip on "dead like me" I hope I can catch it on DVD.
    lesbian without borders
    Washuai's picture

    Don't let region stop you

    You don't need to fly back to the states, Sally.  Why are you going to let a little thing like region coding stand in your way?  Now, I am in the states, so maybe it is easier for me to pick up a cheap $30 player and a few remote control presses later, I'm watching anything I want from anywhere in the world.  Unless it's forbidden where you live, which I doubt, because you wouldn't get things like Weeds, then I don't see it being that much harder elsewhere.  Really the difference in the cost of shipping DVDs in from out of the country, isn't so bad, either. Sure, ordering from out of the country guarantees I'm not privvy to free shipping. Of course, this doesn't help me, if the show simply isn't on DVD.  I've got to rely on things like nice people, torrents and YouTube, in those cases.

    So if you really want to see it or anything else, do a little research to decide what kind of region free player works best for you & get the DVDs. 

     I should really pick up this show on DVD, and the movie when it comes around, since I really liked it.  It was definitely a loss on Shotime's part.  My problem is the stuff I haven't seen, tends to take priority over the stuff I have.

    Sally's picture

    I don't have a problem with region!

    The problem is that they don't show things here on TV, but when they are on DVD, then I order it and play it here.  In my laptop I have NTSC (Region 1) and I also have a DVD player for PAL (Region 2). The thing is, until the shows come out, then I have to wait or find recaps or even transcripts on the internet.  Some I have downloaded, but not all.  I have Season 3 of the L Word, and saw almost every episode of season  4 already... but it's not the same to watch it later.  Thanks anyway!
    lesbian without borders
    emma's picture

    good show

    its great news about dead like me on dvd, it was a great show and i was lucky that i saw the the tv shown ad on sky one in the uk and i could not stop watching it.
    notl33t's picture

    Wow, I totally missed this series . . .

    I really wished I had caught it. It's weird that Dead Like Me just died out like that. That last clip is completely hilarious in a very uncomfortable way.
    Xaverie's picture

    That is show is the best

    That is show is the best thing to watch after someone you love dies. After my brother died, my family was exactly like George's, except that my little brother didn't hang stolen toilet seats on a tree.

    The show being continued in some way is awesome news. And we can only hope that Laura Harris is still involved.

    Samfeasor's picture

    Yay for more Dead Like Me.

    Yay for more Dead Like Me. That show was canceled way too early. It had some of the best writing and acting on TV. Stupid Showtime.
    Omega II's picture

    But will it be like season 2?

    I been conflicted about this news since I found about a week or so ago. The first season was great, but the second season(Byran left after the first season) lost it's way. If they can get the magic of the first season back then OK.
    C4it's picture

    You can see it!

    You can still see Dead Like Me on Scifi network.  In the states at least.  That was where I found out about it.  No clue what season it is in right now...  But hey, you can check it out. 

    'For want of a nail, the horseshoe was lost. For want of a horseshoe, the steed was lost. For want of a steed, the message was not delivered. For want of message, the war was lost.'

    Aidan P's picture

    Heck YEAH!

    I LOVE this show and will totally watch a movie based off it. I hate it when exceptional tv gets cancelled.....a little part of me cries everytime it does.

    gooby's picture

    Best.news.ever!!!!

    Best.news.ever!!!! Aaaaawesome. I can't even count how many times I've rewatched the two seasons. George Lass is my hero. The acting and the writing on the show was killer. Dead Like Me has the best quotes in the history of television. And best characters.

    Don't believe me? George has said funny lines like

    "I'd say I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not. I excel at not giving a shit. Experience has taught me that interest begets expectation, and expectation beget disappointment, so the key to avoiding disappointment is to avoid interest. A equals B equals C Equals A, or whatever. I also don't have a lot of interest in being a good person or a bad person. From what I can tell, either way, you're screwed. Bad people are punished by society's laws, and good people are punished by Murphy's Law. So you see my dilemma."

    It was the only show that made having a foul mouth So much fun. I usually don't like shows that swear a lot, but Dead Like Me made swearing sound awesome.

    Click here to read some of the funniest lines. God I missed the show.

    Noclaf's picture

    Must have more George.

    I love this show to death. the first season was just like my life- with dead people.

    ----

    http://noclafsaerie.blogspot.com/

    notchegeva's picture

    Why on earth was this show cancelled????

    This was one of the most surprising (in a really really good way) show I've ever seen. And I'm a TV freak! I got the first season as a gift and I watched it in one night (actually it took me longer than just the night but you get the picture). I nearly died from exhaustion but god it was worth it...

    It was funny, new, sometimes really moving, often sadly/happily true, and never disappointing... How come it was cancelled???

    God I miss this show, I was crushed when I realised there was nothing after the last episode I watched not knowing it was the last episode I would ever watched...

    So to sum up : awesome news!! Hope it is going to be as good as the show, and now I'm off to watch DLM again... If I never post again, then you know where to find me : dead in my living room because of sleep deprivation... May I become a grim reaper!

    Dorkalicious's picture

    *sigh*

    omg, how i've missed this show. glad to hear they're making a made-for-DVD movie! can't wait to see it :)

    now if only they could do the same for Carnivale...

    G's picture

    LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

    I LOVED Dead Like Me!! I was holding out hope that it would come back for another season.

    This show had some of the best characters and writing that I have ever seen on ANY show. Too bad it was never picked up on any of the other stations (Yes scifi channel, I think you should have given me a new season and not just re-runs!!!)

    This is sooooo on my "To Buy" list :-)

    blackheart's picture

    All I can say is...

    YES!!!