The Trouble with Normal (TV series)

The show was described as "the misadventures of four paranoid young men whose fear of urban conspiracy leads them to seek counseling in a therapy group run by therapist Claire Garletti."{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Recurring members of the therapy group were played by Jim Beaver and Patricia Belcher.

• David Krumholtz as Bob Wexler
• Brad Raider as Max Perch
• Jon Cryer as Zack Mango
• Larry Joe Campbell as Stansfield Schlick
• Paget Brewster as Claire Garletti

A total of thirteen episodes of the series were ordered by ABC and completed. It was one of four series planned in order to reformat the network's Friday night block from the family sitcoms of the "TGIF" era to a more adult direction, including a marketing tie-in with KFC to feature the shows in the new Friday night lineup on the chicken chain's packaging. However, the network aired only five of those episodes in the United States before the series was canceled. All thirteen episodes were later aired in Australia.

The series was originally titled People Who Fear People. Director James Burrows was involved in the initial project but did not participate in the retitled series.{{cite web |author=Cynthia Littleton |url=https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/abc-sets-appointment-for-cryer-s-couch-trip-pilot-1117750471/ |title=ABC sets appointment for Cryer's couch trip pilot |work=Variety |date=August 17, 1999 |access-date=2017-06-14}} Original cast members Maria Pitillo and Mackenzie Astin were replaced by Paget Brewster and Brad Raider.{{cite web |author=Josef Adalian |url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/inside-move-goodman-show-gets-normal-1117785286/ |title=Inside Move: Goodman show gets 'Normal' |work=Variety |date=August 18, 2000 |access-date=2017-06-14}}

{{Episode table |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= | ProdCode= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=1

|Title=Pilot (AKA People Who Fear People)

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=Victor Fresco

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|6}}

| ProdCode= 40318-001

|ShortSummary=New neighbors Bob and Zach are each paranoid that the other is spying on them.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=2

|Title=Not the Pilot

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=Jennifer Celotta

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|13}}

| ProdCode= 40318-002

|ShortSummary=When the guys get dates, Claire reluctantly accompanies them to a bar for moral support.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=3

|Title=Clairanoia

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=Michael A. Ross

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-003

|ShortSummary=The guys become jealous when they discover Claire has another group.
Note: This episode was scheduled to air on November 10, 2000.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/442028763/?clipping_id=148805610 |first=Matthew | last=Gilbert |title=Critic's Corner |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=E20 |date=2000-10-10 |access-date=2024-06-06 }} It was replaced by an additional episode of its lead-in, Two Guys and a Girl. This happened so quickly that some sources incorrectly list this as airing.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=66syAAAAIBAJ&pg=4171%2C1123946&q=Trouble+with+Normal |title=What's on TV? |newspaper=The Gettysburg Times (Pennsylvania) |page=A10 |date=10 November 2000 |access-date=6 June 2024}}

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=4

|Title=Mail Trouble

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=David Walpert

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|27}}

| ProdCode= 40318-004

|ShortSummary=When Stansfield begins delivering Claire's mail, she complains and gets him re-routed, leaving an elderly lady and a prepubescent boy to take the fall.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=5

|Title=Unconventional Behavior

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=Jennifer Celotta

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-005

|ShortSummary=When the group attends a conspiracy convention, Bob criticizes Max's marriage, Stansfield connects with a woman (Amy Landers), and Claire discovers her new boyfriend (Charles Esten) believes in aliens.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=6

|Title=Say Cheese

|DirectedBy=Lee Shallat-Chemel

|WrittenBy=Steve Faber & Bob Fisher

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-006

|ShortSummary=Claire complains on the guys' behalf when a surveillance camera is installed in their lobby, and suddenly she finds her own apartment is on the market and her utilities have been cut. Guest-stars David Ogden Stiers.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=7

|Title=Psychologists Without Borders

|DirectedBy=Lee Shallat-Chemel

|WrittenBy=Gail Lerner

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|20}}

| ProdCode= 40318-007

|ShortSummary=A noisy neighbor (Sherri Shepherd) has been keeping Claire awake at night, so the guys try to intervene, but the situation backfires when Claire attempts to instate new boundaries. Also guest-stars Jonathan Banks.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=8

|Title=Owl Show Ya

|DirectedBy=Lee Shallat-Chemel

|WrittenBy=Michael Shipley & Jim Bernstein

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|11|3}}

| ProdCode= 40318-008

|ShortSummary=To step out of their comfort zone, Bob gets an owl and Stansford takes a dance class. Guest stars Constance Zimmer.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=9

|Title=Speech! Speech!

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=David Walpert

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-009

|ShortSummary=The guys attempt to boost Claire's career by booking her in various engagements, unaware that she's terrified of public speaking.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=10

|Title=Help Yourself

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=Michael A. Ross

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-010

|ShortSummary=When Zack lands a job at Bob's company, he goes mad with power ordering office supplies. Meanwhile, Stansfield tries to bond with his childhood idol (Eugene Roche). Guest stars Charlie Robinson and Constance Zimmer.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=11

|Title=Spy vs. Guy

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy=Steve Faber & Bob Fisher

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-011

|ShortSummary=Zack has another date with Dora (Maria Bamford), but he has trouble getting past her occupation: FBI agent. Meanwhile, with Zack dating Dora and Bob dating Kristen (Constance Zimmer), Max and Stansfield find themselves awkwardly hanging out together.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=12

|Title=Chez Schlick

|DirectedBy=Jeff McCracken

|WrittenBy=Jennifer Celotta

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-012

|ShortSummary=Stansfield gets his own apartment so he can be alone with Claire's sister (Bess Meyer). Meanwhile, Bob wakes up with a nipple ring, which causes complications with a nurse who finds it sexy.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=13

|Title=Manhattan Transference

|DirectedBy=Andy Ackerman

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Gail Lerner |t= Michael Shipley & Jim Bernstein}}

|OriginalAirDate=Unaired

| ProdCode= 40318-013

|ShortSummary=Bob and Claire realize they have feelings for one another, but their doctor-patient relationship and his girlfriend stand in their way. Meanwhile, the other guys hang out with a cool guy who encourages them to sing.

|LineColor=

}}

}}

{{reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}

• {{IMDb title|0247122|The Trouble with Normal}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble with Normal (TV series), The}}

Category:2000s American multi-camera sitcoms

Category:2000 American television series debuts

Category:2000 American television series endings

Category:Television shows set in New York City

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Television series by ABC Studios

Category:Television series by CBS Studios

Category:Television series created by Victor Fresco

Category:American Broadcasting Company sitcoms