Petri Pelkonen This show tells about the life of a Jewish college professor called Max Bickford (Richard Dreyfuss) and his family, which includes Lester (Eric Ian Goldberg) and Nell (Katee Sackhoff), who also studies at the women's college where her father teaches.Other great characters are Andrea Haskell (Marcia Gay Harden), who's also a professor and Erica Bettis (Helen Shaver), who used to be a man.The Education of Max Bickford ran from 2001 to 2002.My question is why? Why did it last for one season only? I liked it.The comedy worked in it, the drama worked in it and the cast was magnificent.The adult actors were great, the kid actors were great.And then you could see these amazing guest stars making visits.There was Eli Wallach in three episodes as Jay Bickford, Max' father.In one episode there was Peter O'Toole as Sidney McKnight, an old professor.These legends can make any show better, and this one was good already.So why didn't it last? What can you do? Some shows go on and some don't.That's the way it goes.

fh What a waste of fine actors :-(The insightful, and touching moments are losing their impact as this viewer is no longer able to give up a "willing suspension of disbelief".Why, for example, does the surgeon need to be cold and ruthless to the family of the patient. Such direction (and lines) only jar the viewer because such behavior is simply not plausible.The behavior of Max Bickford's secretary, (a fine actor, given impossible lines) is so outrageous that the viewer is immediately aware that s/he is viewing just another Hollywood script.The precocious behavior of Max's son of 12 or 13 portrays him as a wise philosopher of 70.I could go on, but I don't believe that the writers of this show are interested in appealing to any audience above the lowest common denominator.Before these actors read one line, they should ask the director, is this the way people really behave? But, then they'd be out of a job.Sorry, Richard, I find your talent, and those of most of the cast wasted on poor script. I saw the show about the Bickford novel and I won't watch another show.

Anouk52 The portrayal of Erica (formerly Steve) and her ex-wife on the December 9 episode was excellent. As a post-operative male-to-female transsexual woman with an ex-wife of my own, I was amazed at the accuracy of the emotions the writers and actors gave these characters in the show. My only complaint was that the end result, with Erica inviting her ex-wife into the house for tea (or whatever) is a rare, rare outcome. In most cases, the ex-wife will have absolutely nothing to do with the transsexual woman, and frequently, the relationship is extremely antagonistic. (Mine is!) None the less, I applaud the creator and writers of this show for including a transsexual woman among the characters and give them all a great big, THANK YOU, for portraying us a real people, not freaks as shows such as Springer do.

mooshoo89 The shows premise, although promising, leaves a bit to be desired. There is a certain "something" missing...it is witty, the story lines are well done, and the acting is (of course) incredible. The only thing that is slightly out of place is Max's consistent writing of his own life through someone elses life. The most tender and sometimes the most enjoyable moments are those that Richard Dreyfuss spends with his son Lester (Eric Ian Goldberg) the young actor seems to be the Opie of his time, with some great acting ability and a face no one could resist! Although Max has some extremely witty subplots and one liners...you have to wonder about its staying power. Although there is no doubt that all of the actors, young and old on this show have ability and have chemistry...one must wonder about the WRITERS ability to keep coming up with fresh story lines, without making it TOO soap opera-ish.