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
- E22Finale
- E21
21. Friends and Lovers
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- E17
17. The Last Dance
- E16
16. The Second Time Around
- E15
15. For a Friend
- E14
14. Love and Marriage
- E13
13. Stand by Your Man
- E12
12. Dream Babe
- E11
11. The Return of Ricky
- E10
10. Honest John
- E9
9. Was It Good for Me?
- E8
8. Dancing in the Dark
- E7
7. Politics as Usual
E6
6. Dear Mike
- E5
5. Matthew's Dilemma
John can't understand why his son Matthew won't spend time with him.
- E4
4. The Younger Girl
John's beautiful new girlfriend thrills him—until he learns her age.
- E3
3. Hello/Goodbye
A young man claims to be John' son.
- E2
2. Ralph's Curse
- 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
- E24
24. No More Mr. Nice Guy
Finale - E23
23. Aunt Red
Kate chooses John as her nephew's role model—but the boy prefers Kirk.
- E22
22. To John with Love
John basks in the adulation Mary Beth lavishes on him for helping her write an article.
- E21
21. True Confessions
The group throws a surprise birthday party for Kirk, but the surprise is on them. (TV Guide)
- 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)
- E19
19. Babyface
John, Kirk and Ralph give new meaning to ""change the baby"" when Louise leaves Nigel in their care. (TV Guide)
- 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)
- 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)
- E16
16. Some Nights to Remember
- 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)
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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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.
- E10
10. Kate, a Date & Fate
- E9
9. The Dilemma with Emma
- E8
8. Fathers Know Best
- E7
7. Something on the Side (aka Mike's Other Girl)
- 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)
- 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)
- E4
4. John's Blind Date
After one night with John, a flight attendant is ready to fly with him forever. (TV Guide)
- 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.
- E2
2. The Other Group
- E1
1. A New Leash on Life
Season 3
1990 · 22 episodes · Last episode: 35 years ago
- E22
22. John's Week Off
FinaleJohn is stranded in remove Hawaiian airports after buying a discount ticket from Kirk; Alejandro proposes to Kate.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
- E17
17. John and Kirk's Excellent Adventure
Kirk loses John's antique watch to a pretty thief.
- 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)
- 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)
- E14
14. Love Stories (1)
John meets a pretty periodontist, Kate a suave South American, and Kirk his fiesty match. (Part 1 of 2)
- E13
13. Molly and Me
Ralph falls for a married fellow toll-taker.
- E12
12. Matter of Trust (2)
- 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)
- E10
10. Homeward Bound
John wants his aging mother to move in with him.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- E6
6. Hot Lips Lacey
John sort of fulfills his dream of playing clarinet at Carnegie Hall.
- E5
5. That's Big of Me
A new member proposes to both Kate and Louise.
- E4
4. A Priest's Story
John tries to mediate a fight over a woman between Kirk and his amazingly similar brother—a priest.
- E3
3. And Baby Makes Four (2)
Feeling pressured and rushed, John breaks into the insemination clinc to retrieve his sperm.
- 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.
- 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
- E22
22. The Nightmare Continues
Finale Air date TBALouise encourages the group to tackle their relationship problems through creative visualization.
- E21
21. Freddy's Back
Air date TBAJohn babysits his boss's parrot.
- E20
20. Adult Education
Air date TBAKirk finally gets his high school diploma.
- E19
19. Heartburn and Heartache
A doctor links John's stomach pain to Kirk.
- E18
18. The Write Stuff
Air date TBAJohn tries his hand at soap opera scripts.
- E17
17. Poor John (2)
John overextends his credit to impress his new girlfriend. (Part 2 of 2)
- E16
16. Poor John (1)
Lack of funds clouds John's ski weekend with a new flame. (Part 1 of 1)
- E15
15. Who's Who
John is suddenly willing to take risks after a near-death experience in an elevator.
- E14
14. John's Divided Heart
Scriptwriter Mary Beth sees John's problems as soap-opera fodder for her show ""The Divided Heart.""
- E13
13. The Big Payday
- E12
12. Do the Wrong Thing
- E11
11. 'Twas the Fight Before Christmas
John unwittingly hires a Santa Claus with problems for a Christmas party at the day-care center.
- E10
10. Once I Had a Secret Love
Louise confesses to an affair with a club member.
- E9
9. I Do, Baby (2)
- E8
8. I Do, Baby (1)
Kirk claims there is good reason to terminate Kate's wedding plans; John has trouble at childbirth class.
- 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.
- E6
6. Lust & Death
- E5
5. Hello, Annie
- E4
4. Whose Soap Opera Is It Anyway?
- 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.
- E2
2. Kirk's Ex-wife
Kirk goes into hiding when the group discovers his wife left him for another woman.
- E1
1. Brothers
Kirk convinces John they're long-lost brothers, and moves in with him.
Cast & crew
Created by John Sullivan
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?
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