Love & War is an American sitcom television series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1992 to February 1, 1995.
Created by Diane English, the series originally starred Susan Dey as Wally Porter, a New York City restaurateur, and Jay Thomas as Jack Stein, a newspaper columnist with whom she had an on-again, off-again romance.
After the first season, however, the show was retooled and Dey was fired by the producers of the show, saying that she and Thomas had "no chemistry" together. She was replaced by Annie Potts as Dana Palladino, who bought Porter's restaurant and also became a love interest for Jack.
The show's supporting cast included Suzie Plakson, Joanna Gleason, Joel Murray, Charlie Robinson and Michael Nouri. John Hancock, who had a recurring role as a judge on L.A. Law with Susan Dey previously, portrayed bartender Ike for the first half of season one, until he died of a heart attack in late 1992. His death was subsequently written into the series and he was replaced by actor Charlie Robinson as Ike's brother Abe.
Not to be confused with the video game of the same name.
Tropes:
- Bar Brawl: In "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Thing", Jack takes a few punches after a couple of macho patrons hit on Dana, and an old-fashioned barroom brawl breaks out at the Blue Shamrock.
- Friends with Benefits: The season 3 premiere has everyone shocked to discover that after years as good friends, Ray and Meg slept together. They try to brush it off as a one-night stand but there are hints they may have given in at least once more.
- Locked in a Room: In "Something's Got to Give", Jack and Dana discover that their feelings for each other have reached a new level when they get stuck in an elevator at the Empire State Building.
- New Old Flame:
- In "The Prima Dava", Wally and Jack find Jack's old flame (guest star Tracey Ullman) sleeping in his bed ... and unwilling to leave without a fight this time.
- In "Ten Cents a Dance", Jack watches from the sidelines as a long-lost love waltzes back into Dana's life during a dance marathon.
- Practical Currency: Nadine is an aging socialite whose husband is in prison from the Savings & Loan scandal of the early Nineties. At one point she mentions she's going to visit him and bring 2 cartons of cigarettes in order to buy him his way out of his latest Noodle Incident.
- Put on a Bus: Susan Dey was fired between seasons 1 and 2. In "Just in Time", the first episode of season 2, Jack is devastated when he receives a letter from Wally explaining that she has left him, the bar, and the country.
- Sick Episode: In "Sick About You", Wally plans a special evening with Jack, but he's burning up with a temperature instead of passion. * Weird Currency: Waitress Nadine is an aging socialite whose husband is in prison from the Savings & Loan scandal of the late '80s-early '90s. At one point she mentions she's going to visit him and bring two cartons of cigarettes in order to buy him his way out of his latest Noodle Incident.
