The Second Half

---

title: "The Second Half" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1993-american-television-series-debuts", "1994-american-television-series-endings", "1990s-american-multi-camera-sitcoms", "american-english-language-television-shows", "television-series-by-castle-rock-entertainment", "television-shows-set-in-chicago", "hispanic-and-latino-american-sitcoms", "nbc-sitcoms"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Second_Half" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

Field	Value
genre	Sitcom
creator	{{Plain list
starring	{{Plain list
composer	Robben Ford
country	United States
language	English
num_seasons	1
num_episodes	15
list_episodes	The Second Half#Episodes
executive_producer	John Mendoza
producer	Larry Spencer
camera	Multi-camera
runtime	30 minutes
company	Castle Rock Entertainment
network	NBC
first_aired
last_aired
::

| image = | caption = | genre = Sitcom | creator = {{Plain list|

• Leo Benvenuti
• Steve Rudnick
• John Mendoza | starring = {{Plain list|
• John Mendoza
• Jessica Lundy
• Joe Guzaldo
• Ellen Blain
• Brooke Stanley
• Patrick Bristow
• Wayne Knight | composer = Robben Ford | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = 15 | list_episodes = The Second Half#Episodes | executive_producer = John Mendoza | producer = Larry Spencer | camera = Multi-camera | runtime = 30 minutes | company = Castle Rock Entertainment | network = NBC | first_aired = | last_aired =

The Second Half is an American sitcom television series created by Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick and John Mendoza, that aired on NBC from September 7, 1993 to April 12, 1994. The series was executive-produced and co-created by its star, John Mendoza.

Premise

A divorced sports columnist for The Chicago Daily Post has to deal with his ex-wife, weekend visits from his two daughters and romance in the '90s. John's column was called The Second Half.

Cast

• John Mendoza as John Palmaro
• Jessica Lundy as Denise Palmaro
• Joe Guzaldo as David Keller
• Ellen Blain as Cathy Palmaro
• Brooke Stanley as Ruth Palmaro
• Patrick Bristow as Walter
• Wayne Knight as Robert Piccolo
• Mindy Cohn as Maureen Tucker

Episodes

|Title=Pilot |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=1 |DirectedBy= Barnet Kellman |WrittenBy= Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick and John Mendoza |Viewers= 15.2 |ShortSummary= John's ex-wife has to remind him that he is getting a weekend visit from his daughters. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Coughin' Up Meat |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=2 |DirectedBy= Arlene Sanford |WrittenBy= |Viewers= 12.0 |ShortSummary= A co-worker saves John's life. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Prelude to a Job |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=3 |DirectedBy= Arlene Sanford |WrittenBy= Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick |Viewers= 12.1 |ShortSummary= John's assistant becomes romantically involved with Robert. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Guess Who's Channeling Dinner? |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=4 |DirectedBy= Arlene Sanford |WrittenBy= Tom Seeley and Norm Gunzenhauser |Viewers= 10.7 |ShortSummary= John thinks his new relationship is moving too fast. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Like Father, Like John |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=5 |DirectedBy= John Fortenberry |WrittenBy= Lester Lewis |Viewers= 11.1 |ShortSummary= David tries to improve his relationship with his dad. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Same Bet Next Year |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=6 |DirectedBy= John Fortenberry |WrittenBy= |Viewers= 12.7 |ShortSummary= John becomes attracted to an old friend. A dry cleaner loses Robert's new pants. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Halloween |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=7 |DirectedBy= Arlene Sanford |WrittenBy= |Viewers= 10.5 |ShortSummary= John takes Cathy to a Halloween party. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Mr. Television |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=8 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= Leo Benvenuti and John Mendoza |Viewers= 9.8 |ShortSummary= John misses his daughter's recital when he hosts a sports TV show. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Winter Wonderlandlord |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=9 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= Alexa Junge |Viewers= 14.9 |ShortSummary= John becomes the new president of the tenant's association. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=It's My Party |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=10 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick and John Mendoza |Viewers= 9.5 |ShortSummary= John's daughters invite some friends over. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=The Gym |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=11 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick |Viewers= 8.7 |ShortSummary= Robert thinks he is losing his hair. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=Far and Awry |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=12 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= |Viewers= 8.8 |ShortSummary= John plans a mountain trip for spring break for his daughters. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=High Nooner |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=13 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= |Viewers= 9.2 |ShortSummary= John has a meeting with his ex-wife. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=One Flu Over a Nest of Cuckoos |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=14 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= |Viewers= 8.5 |ShortSummary= John cancels a trip to a golf tournament because Cathy has the flu. |LineColor=3399ff |Title=10 |OriginalAirDate= |EpisodeNumber=15 |DirectedBy= John Rich |WrittenBy= |Viewers= 8.1 |ShortSummary= Ruth has her 10th-birthday party. |LineColor=3399ff

References

References

1. "TV Listings for April 12, 1994". TV Tango.
2. TV Guide. "The Second Half Episodes". TV Guide.
3. Gable, Donna. (September 15, 1993). "Smooth start for 'seaQuest DSV'". [[USA Today]].
4. (September 22, 1993). "Nielsen ratings". [[USA Today]].
5. Gable, Donna. (September 29, 1993). "'Dave's World,' 'Harts' help CBS to victory". [[USA Today]].
6. "TV Listings for September 28, 1993". TV Tango.
7. (October 6, 1993). "Nielsen ratings". [[USA Today]].
8. "TV Listings for October 5, 1993". TV Tango.
9. Gable, Donna. (October 13, 1993). "New shows pick up steam in ABC win". [[USA Today]].
10. (October 12, 1993). "October 12, 1993". [[Reno Gazette-Journal]].
11. (October 20, 1993). "'Home Improvement' powers to No. 1". [[USA Today]].
12. "TV Listings for October 26, 1993". TV Tango.
13. DeRosa, Robin. (November 3, 1993). "ABC usurps CBS as No. 1". [[USA Today]].
14. "TV Listings for November 2, 1993". TV Tango.
15. (November 10, 1993). "Nielsen ratings". [[USA Today]].
16. "TV Listings for November 23, 1993". TV Tango.
17. DeRosa, Robin. (December 1, 1993). "Thanksgiving week tie for NBC, CBS". [[USA Today]].
18. "TV Listings for December 7, 1993". TV Tango.
19. DeRosa, Robin. (December 15, 1993). "Midler's 'Gypsy' coming up roses for CBS". [[USA Today]].
20. "TV Listings for December 14, 1993". TV Tango.
21. DeRosa, Robin. (December 22, 1993). "ABC on top for 2nd week". [[USA Today]].
22. "TV Listings for March 22, 1994". TV Tango.
23. DeRosa, Robin. (March 30, 1994). "Winner ABC can thank the academy". [[USA Today]].
24. (March 29, 1994). "March 29, 1994". [[Reno Gazette-Journal]].
25. DeRosa, Robin. (April 6, 1994). "ABC gets help from 'These Friends'". [[USA Today]].
26. "TV Listings for April 5, 1994". TV Tango.
27. DeRosa, Robin. (April 13, 1994). "Hoops figure in to CBS' net again". [[USA Today]].
28. (April 20, 1994). "Nielsen ratings". [[USA Today]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::