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Dear John

Latest episode

S4 E17 · Poor John (2)

About Dear John

Dear John is a comedy TV series that premiered on NBC on October 6, 1988. It has 4 seasons and 90 episodes so far and has ended. The latest episode, Season 4 Episode 17 "Poor John (2)", aired on July 22, 1992.

Dear John starred Judd Hirsch as easygoing Drake Prep high school teacher John Lacey who is dumped by his wife, Wendy, via a Dear John letter. Wendy ends up with everything in the divorce settlement, including custody of the couple's son, forcing John to move into an apartment in Ozone Park, Queens. John soon joins the One-2-One Club, a self help group for divorced, widowed or lonely people. The group is led by Louise (Jane Carr), a sex-obsessed British woman. Other members of the group include Kate McCarron (Isabella Hofmann), a sweet divorcée; Kirk Morris (Jere Burns), a cocky ladies' man; Ralph Drang (Harry Groener), a shy and neurotic tollbooth collector; Bonnie Philbert (Billie Bird), a feisty senior citizen; and Tom, Mrs. Philbert's quiet boyfriend (Tom Willett).

  • Comedy

Last updated

Episodes

90 episodes · 4 seasons

Season 1

1988 · 22 episodes · Last episode: 37 years ago

Dear John Season 1 release dates →
  1. E22

    22. Bound for Gloria

    Finale
  2. E21

    21. Friends and Lovers

  3. E20

    20. Margo

    The group tells John that the knockout who's knocking him out is really a new member's transvestite husband. (TV Guide)

  4. E19

    19. Gone Camping

    On a camping trip, John and Matthew are stranded in a cabin by a snowstorm that ushers in a blizzard of chilling consequences. (TV Guide)

  5. E18

    18. Sisters

    Kate claims that her sister always steals her boyfriends, no matter how obnoxious, and to prove it Kate dates Kirk. (TV Guide)

  6. E17

    17. The Last Dance

  7. E16

    16. The Second Time Around

  8. E15

    15. For a Friend

  9. E14

    14. Love and Marriage

  10. E13

    13. Stand by Your Man

  11. E12

    12. Dream Babe

  12. E11

    11. The Return of Ricky

  13. E10

    10. Honest John

  14. E9

    9. Was It Good for Me?

  15. E8

    8. Dancing in the Dark

  16. E7

    7. Politics as Usual

  17. Dear John S1 E6 still E6

    6. Dear Mike

  18. E5

    5. Matthew's Dilemma

    John can't understand why his son Matthew won't spend time with him.

  19. E4

    4. The Younger Girl

    John's beautiful new girlfriend thrills him—until he learns her age.

  20. E3

    3. Hello/Goodbye

    A young man claims to be John' son.

  21. E2

    2. Ralph's Curse

  22. E1

    1. Pilot

    John reluctantly attends his first meeting of the One-Two-One Club -- only after mistakenly wandering into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting across the hall. (TV Guide)

Season 2

1989 · 24 episodes · Last episode: 36 years ago

Dear John Season 2 release dates →
  1. E24

    24. No More Mr. Nice Guy

    Finale
  2. E23

    23. Aunt Red

    Kate chooses John as her nephew's role model—but the boy prefers Kirk.

  3. E22

    22. To John with Love

    John basks in the adulation Mary Beth lavishes on him for helping her write an article.

  4. E21

    21. True Confessions

    The group throws a surprise birthday party for Kirk, but the surprise is on them. (TV Guide)

  5. E20

    20. John's Night Out

    Afraid he's becoming a support-group addict, John takes a night off to wing it on his own. (TV Guide)

  6. E19

    19. Babyface

    John, Kirk and Ralph give new meaning to ""change the baby"" when Louise leaves Nigel in their care. (TV Guide)

  7. E18

    18. John's New Job (2)

    John discovers his wonderful new job has a catch: the ex-student who got it for him expects a more intimate form of thanks. (Part 2 of 2)

  8. E17

    17. John's New Job (1)

    John's going to kick himself if he can't find the cash to send Matthew to Europe for a soccer tourney. (TV Guide)

  9. E16

    16. Some Nights to Remember

  10. E15

    15. Unwelcome to the Club

    An ex-con wants to join the group, and no one wants to say no to a killer whose temper is triggered by rejection. (TV Guide)

  11. Dear John S2 E14 still E14

    14. John's Friend

    Kirk takes John along for a free ski weekend, but he's left in the cold when John befriends a fellow Sherlock Holmes buff. (TV Guide)

  12. E13

    13. Kirk's Problem

    Attractive newcomer Mary Beth brings out the worst in Kirk, and it's much worse than even he imagined. (TV Guide)

  13. E12

    12. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

    John's relationship with his new lady would be just great were it not for her daughter, who thinks all her mother's dates are grown-up dweebs. (TV Guide)

  14. E11

    11. Honolulu Baby

    It's the second anniversary of the day John's wife left him (DJ Day), and the group is concerned because John is binging on junk food. Mrs. Philbert is preparing to attend her 60th high school anniversary, her first because she was always afraid of meeting her former fiance, Lloyd, and her best friend, Clara, who eloped together. John is deputized to escort her to New Jersey, where Lloyd and Clara show up after all -- so Mrs. Philbert introduces him as her fiance, invites them back to ""their"" place, and sets about seducing Lloyd with her patented technique: playing ""Honolulu Baby"" on the ukelele.

  15. E10

    10. Kate, a Date & Fate

  16. E9

    9. The Dilemma with Emma

  17. E8

    8. Fathers Know Best

  18. E7

    7. Something on the Side (aka Mike's Other Girl)

  19. E6

    6. The British Are Coming

    Unwed mother Louise needs a hubby to present to her strait-laced father---and gets more help than she can handle. (TV Guide)

  20. E5

    5. The Secret of Success

    Ralph peddles a book promoting the power of positivity, which John could use, but won't, to publish his poetry. (TV Guide)

  21. E4

    4. John's Blind Date

    After one night with John, a flight attendant is ready to fly with him forever. (TV Guide)

  22. E3

    3. Ralph's Second Chance

    Blomlika, the bride who skipped out on Ralph at their wedding reception, bounds back into his life, eager to pick up where they left off 14 months before.

  23. E2

    2. The Other Group

  24. E1

    1. A New Leash on Life

Season 3

1990 · 22 episodes · Last episode: 35 years ago

Dear John Season 3 release dates →
  1. E22

    22. John's Week Off

    Finale

    John is stranded in remove Hawaiian airports after buying a discount ticket from Kirk; Alejandro proposes to Kate.

  2. E21

    21. Matthew and the Baby

    John tries getting his son Matthew to discuss his hurt feelings about the baby his mom and John are having.

  3. E20

    20. Louise, the Hero

    After they learn she'd been institutionalized, the groups scoffs at Louise's claim she can save the financiall strapped center.

  4. E19

    19. The Poet (2)

    John huddles with the group members over whether to expose the former professor who plagaarized his poems. (Part 2 of 2)

  5. E18

    18. The Poet (1)

    When John's college poetry teacher visits, he steals some of John's poems for a book. Meanwhile, the group preps for a talent show.

  6. E17

    17. John and Kirk's Excellent Adventure

    Kirk loses John's antique watch to a pretty thief.

  7. E16

    16. Love Stories (3)

    Everyone gets dumped except Ralph; John's ex-wife Wendy brings news of a new baby. (Part 3 of 3)

  8. E15

    15. Love Stories (2)

    Jackie agrees to live with Kirk, under exacting conditions; Louse gets a date with her IRS auditor. (Part 2 of 2)

  9. E14

    14. Love Stories (1)

    John meets a pretty periodontist, Kate a suave South American, and Kirk his fiesty match. (Part 1 of 2)

  10. E13

    13. Molly and Me

    Ralph falls for a married fellow toll-taker.

  11. E12

    12. Matter of Trust (2)

  12. E11

    11. Matter of Trust (1)

    John's job is jeopardized and the group disbands after a tabloid links him to a promiscuous movie star. (Part 1 of 2)

  13. E10

    10. Homeward Bound

    John wants his aging mother to move in with him.

  14. E9

    9. Down and Out in Rego Park

    Despite interruptions by a newly svelte woman from Overeaters Anonymous (new recurring guest Olivia Brown), the groups tries to heer up Mary Beth, who's lost her job.

  15. E8

    8. The Blunder Years

    John seeks a reunion with famous adventure author Jessica Stone, whom he recalls in flashbacks as the great love of his youth.

  16. E7

    7. Hole in One

    At her aunt's funeral, Kate confronts her ex-husband Blake, a cad nonetheless loved by the rest of her family.

  17. E6

    6. Hot Lips Lacey

    John sort of fulfills his dream of playing clarinet at Carnegie Hall.

  18. E5

    5. That's Big of Me

    A new member proposes to both Kate and Louise.

  19. E4

    4. A Priest's Story

    John tries to mediate a fight over a woman between Kirk and his amazingly similar brother—a priest.

  20. E3

    3. And Baby Makes Four (2)

    Feeling pressured and rushed, John breaks into the insemination clinc to retrieve his sperm.

  21. E2

    2. And Baby Makes Four (1)

    John hopes for a reconciliation whe his ex-wife Wendy says she wants another child—but she only wants her sperm.

  22. E1

    1. Pretty Man

    John goes on a blind double-date with Kirk, and finds himself mistaken for a professional escort.

Season 4

1991 · 22 episodes · Last episode: 34 years ago

Dear John Season 4 release dates →
  1. E22

    22. The Nightmare Continues

    Finale Air date TBA

    Louise encourages the group to tackle their relationship problems through creative visualization.

  2. E21

    21. Freddy's Back

    Air date TBA

    John babysits his boss's parrot.

  3. E20

    20. Adult Education

    Air date TBA

    Kirk finally gets his high school diploma.

  4. E19

    19. Heartburn and Heartache

    A doctor links John's stomach pain to Kirk.

  5. E18

    18. The Write Stuff

    Air date TBA

    John tries his hand at soap opera scripts.

  6. E17

    17. Poor John (2)

    John overextends his credit to impress his new girlfriend. (Part 2 of 2)

  7. E16

    16. Poor John (1)

    Lack of funds clouds John's ski weekend with a new flame. (Part 1 of 1)

  8. E15

    15. Who's Who

    John is suddenly willing to take risks after a near-death experience in an elevator.

  9. E14

    14. John's Divided Heart

    Scriptwriter Mary Beth sees John's problems as soap-opera fodder for her show ""The Divided Heart.""

  10. E13

    13. The Big Payday

  11. E12

    12. Do the Wrong Thing

  12. E11

    11. 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas

    John unwittingly hires a Santa Claus with problems for a Christmas party at the day-care center.

  13. E10

    10. Once I Had a Secret Love

    Louise confesses to an affair with a club member.

  14. E9

    9. I Do, Baby (2)

  15. E8

    8. I Do, Baby (1)

    Kirk claims there is good reason to terminate Kate's wedding plans; John has trouble at childbirth class.

  16. E7

    7. The Bachelor Shower

    John and Kirk's windfall at an automated bank teller comes to light at a police officer's bachelor party.

  17. E6

    6. Lust & Death

  18. E5

    5. Hello, Annie

  19. E4

    4. Whose Soap Opera Is It Anyway?

  20. E3

    3. Kate's Cop

    Kate faces her fear of intimacy by dating the cop who takes the report when the group is held at gunpoint.

  21. E2

    2. Kirk's Ex-wife

    Kirk goes into hiding when the group discovers his wife left him for another woman.

  22. E1

    1. Brothers

    Kirk convinces John they're long-lost brothers, and moves in with him.

Cast & crew

Created by John Sullivan

  • Billie Bird

    Billie Bird

    Margie Philbert

  • Paul Eiding

    Paul Eiding

    Emcee

  • Jennifer Runyon

    Jennifer Runyon

    Karen

  • Lynne Thigpen

    Lynne Thigpen

    Sarah Donnelly

  • Betsy Randle

    Betsy Randle

    Fay

  • William Sadler

    William Sadler

    Ken

  • Ruben Santiago-Hudson

    Ruben Santiago-Hudson

    Orlando

  • Lee Weaver

    Lee Weaver

    Snookie Reams

  • Michael E. Knight

    Michael E. Knight

    Freddy

  • Henry Holden

    Patient

  • Richard Portnow

    Richard Portnow

    Harry

  • Cristine Rose

    Cristine Rose

    Gloria

  • Brent Jennings

    Brent Jennings

    Frank

  • Daniel Zacapa

    Daniel Zacapa

    Brian

  • Stan Rodarte

    Stan Rodarte

    Support Group Member

  • Dakin Matthews

    Dakin Matthews

    David

Dear John FAQ

Will there be new episodes of Dear John?

Dear John has ended, so no new episodes are scheduled. The final episode aired on July 22, 1992.

When did the latest episode of Dear John come out?

The most recent episode of Dear John, Season 4 Episode 17 "Poor John (2)", aired on July 22, 1992.

How many seasons of Dear John are there?

Dear John has 4 seasons with 90 episodes in total.

When did Dear John first air?

Dear John first aired on NBC on October 6, 1988.

How do I get notified when new episodes of Dear John are released?

Download the Streambay app, follow Dear John, and you'll get a push notification the moment each new episode is released.

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