Un amore di contrabbasso

A nice enjoyable tv show, but it didn't quite have the sharp humor of the other shows that it was sandwiched between. All in the Family and Mary Tyler Moore. It was replaced by The Jefferson's. Paul Sands may have fared better in a different time slot. But then so might have a thousand other shows.

This short-lived comedy series revolved around the lives and misadventures of a concert cellist (Paul Sand) and his fellow musicians. I loved it for being one of the only series then (and since) to focus on classical music and musicians, and it had a gentle, geeky lovableness to it. I especially enjoyed Steve Landesberg as the German violinist with a very tense, uptight relationship with his demanding father. In one scene, Sand is trying to help the two men express their love for each other, and they end up facing each other in embarrassment, about 4 feet apart, as Landesberg announces "I think this is close enough". Sand's own relationship with his parents is also amusing, and almost prefigures Jerry Seinfeld by about 20 years.

I only saw a couple of episodes and cassette taped one. It had such great, funny characters. Wish they would at least put it on a DVD or bring it back for a short rerun on some of the oldies stations. Wondering who one would contact to see it get done. Never saw Paul Sand much other than in this. I loved Jack Gilford. He is an excellent character actor. Also liked the man who played the character who was in charge of seeing that everyone was in their places on time. He was not listed,but have seen him in lots of other things. Just don't know his name. I loved the premise. Good clean comedy series' are very scarce these days.

I enjoyed the comment from Rosabel in Canada and agree the series was delightful. However, I must correct one point. In the series, Paul Sand played the double bass, not the cello. Also, if a series like this is ever done again (and as a classical musician, I hope it is) then the actors need help in adequately faking the playing of their instruments. That aside, as a classical bassoonist and former double bassist, I LOVED it. I'm surprised this show wasn't a hit. It was quite funny and was a good ensemble cast. Perhaps it was ahead of its time. But I very much remember the show as I was actually playing the double bass at the time in my high school orchestra (prior to switching to the bassoon). In fact, I studied briefly with a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. On a related interesting note, I remember reading in TV Guide where Paul Sand received some basic instruction from one of the bassists in the Philharmonic.