Two Guys and a Girl (titled Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place for the first two seasons) is an American television sitcom created by Rick Wiener, Kenny Schwartz, and Danny Jacobson. The series started as a short-run (thirteen episodes) mid-season replacement on March 11, 1998, on ABC. It ran for four seasons, ending with a cliffhanger finale, its 81st episode, on May 16, 2001.
The series stars Ryan Reynolds, Richard Ruccolo, and Traylor Howard as the title characters. Two recurring characters arrived in season two: Johnny Donnelly (Nathan Fillion) and Ashley Walker (Suzanne Cryer). In 2000, for the fourth season, ABC moved the sitcom from midweek to a Friday night death slot, leading to a steep drop in ratings. After the show returned to Wednesday for a two-week trial in an unsuccessful attempt to regain ratings, it was canceled in May 2001. The series finale was titled "The Internet Show", an episode in which fans of the show voted on the characters' outcome online.
Plot
Focusing on the lives of twenty-somethings Michael Bergen, Pete Dunville, and Sharon Carter, the show was originally based on the life of its creator. The fictional "Beacon Street Pizza" was based on a real pizza restaurant named Theo's Pizza in Teele Square in Somerville, Massachusetts, where show creator Kenny Schwartz worked while attending nearby Tufts University. The show is set in Boston, but was filmed at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, Los Angeles.
The series stars Ryan Reynolds as Michael Leslie "Berg" Bergen, Richard Ruccolo as Peter "Pete" Dunville, and Traylor Howard as Sharon Carter (later Carter-Donnelly). In the first two seasons, Berg, a slacker, works at a Boston pizza parlor, Beacon Street Pizza, with Pete. They both attend Tufts University with Sharon, who after graduation, works as the spokesperson for Immaculate Chemicals.
The format of the initial season varies considerably from the other seasons. The first season features Jennifer Westfeldt as Melissa, Pete's girlfriend, and David Ogden Stiers as Mr. Bauer, a delusional old man who frequents the pizza place, pretending that experiences from films are his own. The second season abandons the two characters, focusing on the interplay between Pete and Berg and their relationship with Sharon, who lives in the apartment above them. Berg eventually decides to attend medical school and become a doctor, while Pete drops out of architecture classes to become a career counselor. The second season introduces Johnny Donnelly (Nathan Fillion), a jukebox repairman who starts dating Sharon, and Ashley Walker (Suzanne Cryer), a medical school classmate of Berg's who competes with him to be top of the class.
At the beginning of season three, the pizza place setting is abandoned entirely (hence the change in the show's title), and Berg begins his medical residency. Pete becomes a vice president of a cosmetics company, and then a firefighter. Johnny and Sharon marry and become the superintendents of their apartment building. Berg dates Irene (Jillian Bach), the eccentric neighbor across the hall and Pete begins dating a fellow firefighter named Marti (Tiffani Thiessen).
Episodes
Cast and characters
Main Ryan Reynolds as Michael Eugene Leslie "Berg" Bergen – the mischievous everyman with boyish looks who often creates chaos in the lives of his friends, particularly Pete. While in college, he has difficulty settling on what he wants to do in life. Eventually, he decides to become a doctor and meets Ashley, a worthy competitor at medical school. They begin a relationship but break up due to her inability to reciprocate his feelings. Near the end of the show, he and Irene, Pete's former stalker, form a relationship. Richard Ruccolo as Peter ”Pete” Dunville – often neurotic and anxious about what may occur with his professional and romantic life. Early in the show, he is conflicted about what he wants to do in life. He switches from his dreams of becoming an architect to becoming a firefighter. He has a very brief romance with Sharon. Near the end of the show, he begins a lust-based relationship with Berg's ex-girlfriend, Ashley. Traylor Howard as Sharon Carter-Donnelly – a complex woman who is good friends with Pete and Berg. She is known for her self-confidence, but also for her inability to commit to relationships. Eventually, she manages to move past her fears and marries her boyfriend Johnny Donnelly. Jennifer Westfeldt as Melissa (1998) – Pete's love interest during the first season. She shows up numerous times after the episode "Two Guys, a Girl and an Apartment", where she and Pete break up, suggesting that episodes aired in the wrong order. Julius Carry as Bill (1998) – the smart-mouth owner of Beacon Street Pizza. He only appears during the first season. David Ogden Stiers as Mr. Bauer (1998) – only appearing in the first season, he hangs about the pizza place telling stories that are from movies but which he claims to be his own experiences. Nathan Fillion as Johnny Donnelly (1999–2001) – arrives in the second season as a jukebox repairman with eyes for Sharon. He and Sharon begin dating with the occasional break-up due to Johnny's long-time friend Shawn (Bobbie Phillips), an attractive woman who often gets in the way of their relationship. The couple marries during the third-season finale. Johnny later decides to become a fireman against Sharon's wishes. Eventually, Sharon and Johnny decide they are ready for children, as seen in the series finale. Suzanne Cryer as Ashley Walker (1999–2001) – arrives in the second season and meets Berg at medical school. Initially, she rejects Berg, hoping to keep her long-distance relationship with Justin (Jon Cryer). She eventually starts dating Berg but he then calls it off. At the end of the fourth season, she starts a sexual relationship with Pete and becomes pregnant in the series finale. Viewers were left unable to know what Ashley would do with the baby due to the show's cancellation. Jillian Bach as Irene (1999–2001) – arrives mid-season 2 as Pete's stalker. She then forms a sexual relationship with Berg, while maintaining her love for Pete. Toward the middle of season 4, she and Berg start dating but break up due to Berg's other love interest, Katie Connor. Irene then forms a relationship with the mailman, causing Berg to become extremely jealous. The two get back together after an unexpected pregnancy scare. Giuseppe Andrews as Germ (2000–2001) – a helper at Tufts Hospital who is noted for his slobbish and uncaring attitude. He first appears in "Au Revoir Pizza Place", season 3/episode 2, and returns later in the series where he becomes a close acquaintance of Pete, Berg, Sharon, and Ashley.
Recurring Maury Ginsberg as Kamen (1998–1999) – thwarted by Berg in "Two Guys, a Girl and Someone Better" where Berg ruins his life. He attempts to get back at Berg on random occasions throughout season 2. Bobbie Phillips as Shawn (1998-1999) - Johnny's fishing buddy as well as Sharon's nemesis. Shawn appeared twice in season 2 and made a third appearance in season 3. Tiffani Thiessen as Marti (2000) – another love interest of Pete's who continually sasses him at the fire station. She and Pete start dating, to Irene's chagrin. She breaks up with Pete during the fourth season after having an affair with a baseball star. Dian Bachar as Roger (2001) – A mailman Irene dates after her breakup with Berg, who always wears shorts with his uniform. Like the Cheers character Cliff Clavin, Roger behaves as if his menial job requires a great amount of skill and effort. Despite his small height, he behaves as if he were tall and muscular, frequently challenging the much more physically intimidating Berg to fights. In the finale, it is revealed that this sense of self-righteousness comes from his status as an army reservist who is trained to snap a man's neck with one hand.
Notable guest cast Carmen Electra as Isabella (1998) – a love interest of Pete's who gets between him and Berg. When Pete feels he must dump Isabella to go to 845 Arlington, Berg tries to stop him. ("Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Delivery") Kathy Kinney as Mimi (1998) – Kinney played Mimi from The Drew Carey Show on the episode "Two Guys, a Girl and a Psycho Halloween", in a short cameo appearance. Fred Willard as Frank Farber (1998) - interviews Pete in "Two Guys, A Girl and a Vacation". He talks to Pete about women he has conquered all around the world until Berg uses a Scottish accent pretending to be his long-lost love child to drive him away. Adam Carolla as himself (1998) – Carolla appeared as himself from the talk show Loveline. Pete constantly asks him for advice on dating and career issues when Pete becomes a limo driver in "Two Guys, a Girl and a Limo". Anthony Head as Dr. Staretski (1999) – a role model of Ashley's in the episode "Two Guys, a Girl and Mother's Day"; Berg is surprised to learn that he paints nudes. Jon Cryer as Justin (1999) – Ashley's long-distance boyfriend who moves to Boston to give their relationship a chance; only appears in 1 episode. ("Two Guys, a Girl and Thanksgiving") Conchata Ferrell as Shawn's mother (1999) – Ferrell plays Shawn's mother in the episode "Two Guys, a Girl and Valentine's Day". She shows excitement when meeting Berg after discovering that he is a doctor. Blink-182 (1999) – The band appears in the third season where they play at the pizza place naked. This referenced their latest single at the time, "What's My Age Again?". ("Au Revoir Pizza Place") Barenaked Ladies (1999) – The band makes an appearance in "Two Guys, a Girl and Barenaked Ladies" where they follow Pete around and sing about his current events. Nomar Garciaparra as himself (2000) – becomes a love interest of Ashley's until he falls for Pete's girlfriend Marti. Dan Finnerty & The Dan Band (2000) – make an appearance in "Bridesmaids Revisited" where Dan sings female songs throughout the episode as they follow Ashley.
Story progression
Season 1 The series premiered on March 11, 1998, as Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place. The episode entitled "The Pilot" was watched by almost 18 million viewers.
The story of season 1 centers around the pizza place. Actors such as Jennifer Westfeldt (Melissa), and Julius Carry (Bill) were credited as secondary cast members to principals Ryan Reynolds, Richard Ruccolo, and Traylor Howard. Mr. Bauer, played by David Ogden Stiers, frequently appeared around the pizza place, telling stories of life events which actually occurred in movies. Pete and Berg share an apartment, on which Pete pays the rent every month, with Berg testing experimental drugs to supplement their income. Pete structures his life around architecture and grad school, while Sharon, their friend upstairs, works for an evil corporation which exploits Earth's natural resources, much to her dislike.
The episodes contained storylines including Pete preparing for a presentation which Berg ruins; Berg stealing the Celtics' '81 championship banner; Sharon joining the softball team; and the story of how they all met. Because the episodes aired out of order, the season seems very disjointed---demonstrated by the status of Pete's relationship with Melissa: in episode 8 – "Party" Melissa and Pete are still together despite having previously broken up in episode 5 – "Apartment". On the DVD release, they are episodes 2 and 7.
Season 2 Episodes in season 2 have more of a structure. Two additional primary characters arrived: Ashley Walker (Suzanne Cryer) and Johnny Donnelly (Nathan Fillion), as well as the dismissal of characters Bill, Mr. Bauer, and Pete's long-time girlfriend Melissa.