Titus: Season 02 (2000)

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Season two of the trenchant Fox network sitcom Titus begins as long-suffering garage mechanic Christopher Titus (played by comedian Christoper Titus) being forced to find a new girlfriend for his boozing, mean-spirited dad Ken (Stacy Keach) after scaring off the old man's current amour Nurse Kathy (Mary Lou Rosato). This grim little episode sets the tone for all that is to come throughout the season, as Christopher not only copes with his dysfunctional family but also his none-too-secure relationship with girlfriend Erin (Cynthia Watros) and the galloping neuroses of his best friend Tommy (David Shatraw). Also this season, Christopher barely survives a few more visits from his dangerously manic-depressive mother, with Frances Fisher taking over the role of Juanita Titus from the previous season's Christina Estabrook. Along the way, Titus and Erin become enagaged, but their intended union seems doomed from the outset, especially after the humiliating incidents occurring in "Episode 27" (no kidding, that's the title, even though it's really Episode 21). Later on, Christopher tries to expunge Erin from his life when he crawls into a bottle after losing his car shop; and still later, Erin endeavors to patch up the difference between Christopher and Ken by convincing each man that the other one is dying! But these episode pale into insignifance when compared to "Tommy'd Girlfriend No. 2", in which Christopher's buddy Tommy shows up arm and arm with the waitress with whom Christopher had slept after an argument with Erin during the previous season. Just before the Second Season finale, Christopher is rendered brain-dead after a serious drag-racing accident. Though he recovers from this brush with mortality (and a cerebral journey into "Neutral Space"), our hero is dealt another devastating blow at Season's End, when Erin calls off the engagement after Christopher's mom Juanita commits the unforgivable social faux pas of murdering her current husband at the wedding ceremony! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi