If you, like many, left Men in Trees after the second episode featured Anne Heche (pictured) being stalked by a stray raccoon, come back! Turns out this show, which I obviously DVR and watch at a time that’s not Friday at 9 p.m., does not suck at all when it’s not trying to be overly quirky. (ABC has even ordered four more scripts of the series — along with The Nine and Help Me Help You, btw.)
Why am I hooked on Men? Because it actually managed to surprise me by having jilted romance expert Marin (Heche) and "burly" Jack (James Tupper) get it on in Episode 5. I thought for sure it was going to be a dream sequence, but no, they did it. Twice. And unlike some shows that have to ship a guy off to a new town if he kisses his love interest early in the series’ run, Men has allowed Elmo, Alaska to be big enough for both Marin and Jack — which keeps the sexual tension alive and well and oddly satisfying. (Neither Marin nor Jack is ready for a relationship after being burned in the love department, so they’re trying to be friends. Which is working well, save that steamy kiss in the closet at her birthday party last week.)
Are you willing to give Men in Trees another chance? There’s an avalanche on tonight’s episode, people. Who doesn’t want to see how a show that only does action in the bedroom handles that?
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I’m so glad you said something!! I really, really like this show. I know that it has it’s faults, but what new show doesn’t?? I think it just needs some fine tuning. I DVR it and watch it on Saturday. The characters are very loveable I think too. I really hope they don’t cancel this either
The new shows that I hope do not get cancelled are “Men in Trees”, “Friday Night Lights” and “The Class”. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t cancel these shows!! 
I like Men in Trees a lot more than I thought I would. I’ve been watching it since it started and it reminds me of “Northern Exposure” – lots of quirky characters that you just can’t help but love! I hope it sticks around! Maybe others will give it a try now that you’ve mentioned it.
I watch this show as well and I really enjoy it. I was afraid it would get canceled after the first episode tried so hard. But now I think its found its groove and as long as they keep showing it I would like to keep watching. I think its better then anything else on that night.
Maybe if I didn’t have a broken timer so could set the VCR to record that then BSG at ten, but instead I just leave the tape recording Sci-Fi that night. So maybe if it was in a different time period.
You think Heche is quirky in Men in Trees? You should have seen her wandering around rural Fresno county on the run from aliens. Now that’s quirky!
I’ve only caught the bachelor auction episode, but it was nice seeing Abraham Benrubi with a more substantial role.
How about some more support for Friday Night Lights? Men in Trees was okay, but as much coverage given to 30 Rock and Studio 60, etc., how about backing this one up, too?
I’m up to here with dramahs on ABC, DH, Greys and Ugly Betty are enough to keep me busy on DVR SAT afternoon. NO MORE!
I love Men in Trees, I love the characters I love the whole darn thing! It is smart, whitty and honest.
I love this quirky shows, but even I who spends most of my work day here on E.W. have something to do on Friday Nights. But, if they were to put this show on Mondays at 10pm… I will finally have an alternative to Studio 60… which I can’t believe I’m still watching, since I abhor every hour, (but it does allow me to have something to trash on tuesday mornings.)
I love this show — it’s one of my favorites of the new season. Week after week I enjoy it, which can’t always be said about the other new series.
Overall, I enjoy this show. My biggest problem with it is Anne Heche. The lady just creeps me out.
How good would it have been to have someone like…oh I don’t know… Aisha Tyler as the lead? Sorry, I just can’t drop this.
Men in Trees has replaced The Ghost Whisperer as my guilty Friday night TV pleasure. I really like this show, too, and hope it sticks around.
I really like this show but I have to admit that I wouldn’t give it a second look if it weren’t for my faithful DVR (cable’s answer to TIVO). I definitley would pick it over Vegas which returns tonight but “Close to Home” is better this year now that we have our JAG guy playing yet another attorney (but wow isn’t he fun to look at). So, since I’m fortunate enough to have “TIVO”, I faithfully watch this show. It reminds me a lot of “Northern Exposure”. What’s with people in Alaska? Also, the new plot line about the Police Chief’s husband (is he dead or not and who is her son’s real father) is a great angle. Hopefully, ABC will give this show a chance. Something has to be be in the bottom. Why don’t they let some of these shows grow? I love “the Nine” too. Fortunately NBC is letting us finish “Kidnapped” which I thought was one of the best new shows of the season. Where are the days where shows were given a chance – remember “Cheers” and “Seinfeld” – they were in the 60’s when they came out of the gate. Thankfully for “Fox”, they stuck with “House”. Listen to the viewers ABC – we have TIVO and we are there!! Also, I love the girl from “Taken” (the son’s girlfriend with the snoring problem). She is so cute and I can relate to her future-mother-in-law not liking her.
I also love this show. I’ve been afraid they would cancel it, but then I read that week by week it seems to be picking up an audience!
It’s quirky, fun, romantic, dramatic and just a nice Friday evening treat after a strenuous work week!
Anne Heche is terrific as well as the entire cast and the tv production of Men in Trees.
Thank you for writing about this show! I LOVE IT! It’s my favorite new show. My sister and I watch it together and can’t believe how much we enjoy it. It’s just a GOOD show and I really hope ABC keeps it on. Never mind that James Tupper isn’t hard to look at either!
Thank you! Of all the new shows I’ve sampled this fall,
I think “Men in Trees” has the most long-term potential. The characters are adorable and the acting ensemble is fabulous. If I have a pet peeve about the show thus far, it’s that the writers are clobbering the viewers over their heads with metaphors (OK, we GET IT with the skunk and the caribou and what they symbolize!). However, the series is progressing very nicely and I’m hoping ABC is realizing that they have a real sleeper on their hands.
It is TOTALLY my new guilty pleasure show! While it isn’t the best new show of the season (that would be Friday Night Lights, Ugly Betty and Heroes), Men In Trees is SOOOO enjoyable, now, let’s move it to a better timeslot and out of the deathtrap called Fridays. Come on, even Friday Night Lights isn’t on Fridays.
I like the show, but I’ve gotta say, the echoes of Northern Exposure are ringing extremely loudly. Of course, since I really loved Northern Exposure (until the post-Joel episodes), I don’t have a problem with that.
YAY FOR MEN IN TREES!!!! My absolute new fave show. I dvr it on Friday, then my BFF comes over Saturday afternoon and we settle in and watch it back-to-back with Grey’s and Gilmore Girls. It’s our little “chick” show block. I was ECSTATIC to hear abc picked up four more episodes. The first couple episodes were a bit clunky (I’m glad they’ve eased up on the glaring metaphorical themes: oooh, I get it! Marin needed to “get her power back”…) but it’s really smoothing out and finding its groove. Who knew I could love Anne Heche this much? Not to mention dishy, yummy James Tupper. Luuurve him!
Absolutely favorite show besides House. I used to watch Anne Heche on Another World – she’s been around for quite a while. The show is great – it’s a mix between Sex and the City (which I miss terribly) and Northern Exposure (which I also loved).
I LOVED Anne Heche on Another World!!! When you saw her play twins, each very different, you realized what range she has.
But I’m guessing she won’t be on Ellen, plugging Men in Trees.
Saw recent pic of Anne Heche’s hubby in People mag…yummy, yummy…she should have gotten him a gig on her new show.
Add me to the list of those who love the show & have been an Anne Heche fan since her Vicky/Marley days on Another World. I’m so glad to see her back & hope ABC sticks with Men in Trees.
Thanks EW for giving it some much needed kudos.
I love Men In Trees. I’ve been watching it since week one, and it’s a definite guilty pleasure. The characters are all so great, and Jack is adorable.
I also really like this show and watch it each Friday night. ( Yes, that’s right, not jukin’ on the weekends and thus a non-entity consumer to television suits.) Anne Heche has tons of charisma and I like the time given to each of the relationships on the show. And, having Marin sleep with Jack was terrific and so un-networky of the show. I’m enjoying their attempts at friendship and it all rings true to me.
She was so great in “Another World”!! You really can’t help but love the characters in the show…love them!!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this show! I’ve missed northern exposure ever since it got canceled, and this brings back fond memories. I really don’t like anne heche, but have to admit she’s won me over for this show. LOVE the hunky guys too…!
I really enjoy Men in Trees a lot. Why? Because it is very different from what is on TV now. Anne Heche is surprising good. The rest of the cast is talented and fits the story well. I really hope it gets extended for the season.