Freshly wed couple, Jeff (Eddie Kaye Thomas of American Pie) and Steph (Kat Foster) Woodcock have moved into their new house and next door to a couple who has enjoyed married life for 24 years. The older couple, played by Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett as Eddie and Joely Fisher as Joy, have a daughter that has just gone off to college and the pair seem to have found themselves in a nice, steady routine. Of course, they don't quite realize the rut they are in until the Woodcocks arrive and turn their married life a bit cock-eyed.
Episodes tend to focus on the older couple as they dispense knowledge to the newlyweds, find that things don't work quite the same for Jeff and Steph and try to shake up their own lives a bit. Typically a fight is involved (actually, typically both couples fight) and eventually the pairs find their own ways out of the jam.
There are quite a few great moments packed into the 22 episode first season. One of my favorite episodes is "Your Mother Or Your Wife." Here Jeff learns that convincing both his new bride and his mother that they are the best Mrs. Woodcock isn't as easy as it seems. Of course, comedy erupts when Eddie (Garrett's character) reveals all the ways he has managed this over the years (like secret vacations with his mother in Mexico).
Another goodie is "Webbie's Not Happy," where an old bachelor friend of Eddie's comes to town, and while living the free life seems to be a dream for Eddie, Joy decides to "cage the animal" and set Webbie up with a girlfriend. In an odd reversal of roles, Webbie enjoys the attached life and ends up smothering the new girl.
There are a ton of gems in this season and, like I said at the beginning, no matter your marital status, there are bound to be episodes here you will love. 'til Death: The Complete First Season contains only a few special features, but the commentaries that are there are nice. Oh and be sure to keep an eye out for Everybody Loves Raymond star, Ray Romano in a bit walk-on part.
