Relativity is a little TV series that aired for just one season in 1996-1997. But I glommed onto it, and the show earned an Emmy nod, as well as two other industry awards. If they had just given it another season, the show might have endured for years.
For starters, it was helmed by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, longtime producing partners who also helmed thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, and Once and Again, not to mention the more recent Quarterlife. Did people just get tired of relationship shows? I don’t know, but I wish Relativity had stuck around longer, because I really liked it.
It starred Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Isabel) and David Conrad (Leo) as two 20-something kids who meet in Italy, and continue their romance back home in the states. Of course, there’s more to the story. Isabel was in Italy trying to forget the fact that her boyfriend back home, Everett, had proposed to her. So she runs off to Italy and falls in love/lust with Leo, who leaves a note in her luggage thanking her for “the best four days of my life.” How romantic.
So you’ve got this love triangle going, but also a lot of other things, not the least of which is Isabel and Leo’s families (they both live in L.A.), both from different backgrounds.
We’ll forget the fact that Williams-Paisley went on to star in According to Jim. Instead, let’s talk about some of the other actors to emerge from Relativity: Adam Goldberg, currently amusing me as Delahoy on The Unusuals, and Lisa Edelstein, who plays Cuddy on House.
Edelstein played a lesbian on Relativity, and remember, this was the mid-’90s, before Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bette on The L Word came into our lives. Check out the clip below, in which a faux earthquake leads to a lesbian encounter.
Any other Relativity fans out there? According to Amazon.com, it’s not on DVD yet; let’s hope that happens soon.
Clacked by Jane Boursaw 
on Apr 30, 2009 @ 12:30 EST5EDT
You forgot Richard Schiff, Toby from “The West Wing”, here playing a loser of a father, sans beard! (Which makes 2 “West Wing” connections, since Lisa Edelstein had a recurring role in Season 1 of WW). Yes, I liked this show, too.
My introduction to the wonderful Adam Goldberg. This was a subtle, heartwarming series that didn’t go over-the-top in schmaltz. Just like every other Bedford Falls show.
I remember loving Adam’s character and storyline even if I can’t remember it now. But I have loved him every since! I would buy this on DVD.