As the plot summary says, this was originally about a married couple working for a Senator in Washington, DC. The second and third seasons were about the same couple, having moved to a small town, running a newspaper. The two locales had different supporting casts except for John Ritter, Markie Post, Billy Bob Thornton, and the kids. The second incarnation of "Hearts Afire" was superior--owing much to the more relaxed, quirky atmosphere of the small town, and to supporting characters there played by Conchata Ferrell and Leslie Jordan. The friction/chemistry between Thornton and Ferrell was great.
