Don't feel bad if you haven't heard of this new show. I didn't. But ABC happened to air the first episode twice and I caught the second one. I had to watch because it was set in Alaska, where I was born and raised, and I'm a fan of Anne Heche, who stars.

While it has a surface similarity to NORTHERN EXPOSURE (a New Yorker in a small Alaska town), its very different in tone and quality. NORTHERN had a strong absurdist nature, while MEN is a romantic comedy-drama. NORTHERN had a stereotypical misunderstanding of Alaska facts, while MEN...well...MEN does too.

Anne Heche plays a writer of romantic-tips for women who discovers her fiance is cheating on her while on the way to a small (fictional) town in Alaska called Elmo to lecture. Emotionally shattered, she decides to settle down to learn about men in this male-skewed environment.

Anne, as usual, is marvelous -- but not all viewers likes her intense personality and that may affect your appreciation of the show. Most other actors are rather drab. As is the writing.

Ratings were okay, but it lost many viewers in the middle of the premiere. This one may not be around for long.

Here's TV.COM's webpage: http://www.tv.com/men-in-trees/show/58460/summary.html

And here's a blog written by one of the supporting actresses of her visit to the real Alaska:

http://www.tv.com/tracking/viewer.html?tid...adlines;title;0

This is actually filmed in Vancouver Canada, btw. And many actors are Canadian. The blogger was born in England, but raised in the US.

I've got copies of the first couple of episodes. I picked them up as I thought this might be something Vic would like, but I'll check it out too. Didn't even know it was set in Alaska, but that should make for some pleasant scenery at least :thumbsup:

The coast around Vancouver, British Columbia is very close to and strongly resembles the southeastern part of Alaska, where I'm from. However, I don't know if the TV show knows where their fictional town is located. But, neither did the writers of NORTHERN EXPOSURE.

Hmmm. I changed channels on MEN IN TREES's fourth episode. The story strayed from it's romantic dramedy environs into the quirky NORTHERN EXPOSURE territory. Not a good pathway to success -- promising one type of story and giving us an cheap imitation of another.

Doesn't sound good. Shows tinkering with their format this early on usually end up getting cancelled sooner rather than later.

Wouldn't break my heart to see the show cancelled (or for it to continue an unremarkable run). There are too many shows for me to watch as it is.

For fans of FRIENDS, Ross' Chinese-American girlfriend Julie from the early episodes makes an appearance here (Lauren Tom). She looks and plays much older here which is partly why I had trouble placing her.

Amen to that.

I find it practically impossible to stay on top of everything. There are the core shows that I'll watch from one season to the next. Then there's the new stuff that's coming out. And to cap things off I'll usually get into something that's been running for a few seasons already. Last year it was Grey's Anatomy and Boston Legal.

As if that weren't bad enough, the inconsiderate BBC have finally started putting out some real quality at last over recent years. Last season saw the beginning of the brilliant Life on Mars. The year before that saw the reincarnation of Doctor Who. This year there's a new Robin Hood series about to start, and then there's Torchwood later in the year. Finally, to compound matters yet further I've finally got around to starting to watch Spooks, which again, I have to say is brilliant :thumbsup:

From co-star Emily Bergl's blog:

...[MEN IN TREES has been] picked up [for the full season]! ...And if that wasn't enough good news, they're moving us to the slot after GREY'S ANATOMY beginning Nov. 30!

[If you haven't heard, GREY'S is number one in the ratings. --TV Yank]

And rightly so. Easily the best thing on television at the moment :thumbsup:

Abraham Benrubi: Men in Trees interview

According to digitalspy, Men in Trees will air on Living over the Summer. :)