The John Larroquette Show

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The John Larroquette Show is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 2, 1993, to October 30, 1996. Created by Don Reo, it starred John Larroquette as John Hemingway, a recovering alcoholic who runs the night shift at a seedy bus depot in St. Louis, Missouri. The show follows John as he tries to keep the station running while dealing with his own sobriety and a cast of quirky coworkers and regulars.

In its first season, the series focused on John staying sober and confronting the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The night-shift setting included colorful characters like his secretary Mahalia, the janitor Heavy Gene, and Dexter, a sandwich shop worker who clashes with John. A high-class escort named Carly added romantic tension. Starting in season two, the show moved to daytime hours, and the alcoholism storyline was reduced. The cast and tone were lightened: John exchanged his dingy apartment for a nicer one, and some characters were recast or adjusted. A wholesome romance with nurse Catherine Merrick was introduced.

The program was known for its guest stars and occasional musical elements. The theme song for the early seasons was The Skrewy St. Louis Blues, performed by David Cassidy. The show also featured cameos from celebrities such as Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, and members of Night Court. There were even sly crossovers, including a faux appearance by Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane in a season three opener.

Despite initial positive critical notes, the show struggled with ratings in a tough time slot and was canceled early in its fourth season, with six episodes unaired. NBC ultimately decided to end the series after four seasons and 84 episodes were produced.

The John Larroquette Show has not been released on home video, and for many years reruns were limited. It later resurfaced briefly on USA Network and, in 2024, Rewind TV aired the series in full in some areas. The program was noted for its noir-influenced style for a sitcom and for tackling themes like sobriety and, occasionally, race relations through a multiracial cast. John Larroquette received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1994, and guest star Betty White won an Emmy in 1996 for her appearance.