by Roger Reini (rreini@wwnet.net)

Tonight, we saw the first of ten new episodes of the third season -- Marriage. We also saw the first appearance of a new character, airport security guard Sheneesha Turner (who happens to be black).

Tonight's long sketches included Kay getting married (?!?), Ruby's son Buddy almost getting married, and Sheneesha giving advice on love and lovemaking to a newlywed couple. The short bits included Chic's opinion of marriage (he doesn't care for it because it's unnatural -- it forces monogamy), Hope's vision of her ideal wedding (a very natural affair, to be held in the rain forest -- but with a honeymoon in Paris), Erin's opinions (such as they are) on marrying musicians (don't), Trevor's description of his 'marriage' to Barry (a recreated luau), and Linda's husbands (but only through 1981).

This episode was interesting. There were few big laughs (due in no small part to Kay's husband being executed), but there were a number of smaller laughs and some sly "a-ha's". I consider Hope's bit to be the funniest segment, while the sketch featuring Sydney and Kay was the best. It might be a candidate for the "best-of" special at the end of the season. It was definitely bittersweet -- sweet in that Kay found a man, bitter in that she lost him right away, with no chance of reunion in this life. Personally, I'd like to hear about Linda's husbands post-1981.

There may be an interesting trend developing here. The first season began with Romance, the second with Sex, and now the third with Marriage. What might the fourth season begin with: Children? Babies? Divorce?

NEXT: Hollywood (a unified episode -- should be good)