Sitcoms Online Photo Galleries - Just In Time

Just In Time ran from April until May 1988 on ABC.

Romantic comedy about an aggressive, modish young editor named Harry Stadlin ( Tim Matheson), who was hired to shake up sagging, West Coast Review magazine by making it, well a bit livlier. That put him directly at odds with his top political columnist, smart but oh-so-serious Joanna( Patricia Kalember). The romantic sparring began almost immediately. Harry says he'll print anything of hers that's a little more sensational? She gives him an expose of his own amorous exploits back in Chicago. And so on....

Also on the staff were fact-bending sportswriter Jack( Kevin Scannell), experiened right-hand man Steve( Alan Blumenfeld), and enthusiastic young assistant Isabel ( Nada Despotovich). Carly ( Ronnie Claire Edwards) was the drawling southern secretary and Nick ( Patrick Breen), the scuffy photographer.

A Review From USA TODAY

TV PREVIEW/BY MONICA COLLINS
Published: April 5, 1988

'Just in Time' misses the deadline on realism

" Look, I'm writing about someone who has a viable plan to avoid worldwide depression," says a magazine writer to her new editor. She wants to do serious work; he wants to jazz up her copy.

That is the most gripping scenario in Just in Time , another situation comedy that does its bit to spread worldwide depression.

Just in Time-featuring Patricia Kalember and Tim Matheson as reporter and editor for a California magazine-isn't the slightest bit spritzy, or particularly realistic.

Television doesn't do a very good job of translating print journalism into prime-time. The need to glamorize a reporter's work cancels out most of the believability.

Just in Time is supposed to show the kicky, fun side of putting out a magazine, where reporter and editor flirt across opposing sides of the journalism spectrum-not to mention the candle-lit dinner table.

The glossy is going from weekly to monthly . Harry, the editor played by Matheson , is imported from Chicago to redeem the rag. Just coming off a divorce, he's eager for a little office romance.

Matheson shows roguish flair. He has the best part. And he's no fool. He's also the show's executive producer.

As Joanna, the serious reporter, Kalember is a clunker. She spends most of her time in the office. No time for satisfying romance. But her eyes get all sparkly when Harry wants to discuss comma placement.

The sight of these two flirting with journalistic principales isn't fun. Or enlightening.

When she decides to get back at him and punish him for his gossip-news penchant, she digs up the dirt on his marital infidelities and writes a story about his personal life.

It's a story a colleague describes as her best-and one she does with one phone call. She may be a serious journalist but she doesn't check facts with various sources.

No need to worry about a Pulitzer for her. Or an Emmy for Just in Time.

For a website dedicated to Tim Matheson go to http://www.tim-matheson.co.uk/

For a website dedicated to Patricia Kalember go to http://www.patriciakalember.com/