The Hearts Afire TV show was a 30 minute comedy series on CBS about a conservative U.S. Senator's aide (John Hartman) who hired a diehard liberal (Georgie Anne) to be the Senator's press secretary, then moved her into his home, then moved her ex-con father into the home, and then married her. As if that wasn't enough fodder for comedy, there were numerous other oddball characters. In the second season the storyline changed dramatically. John and Georgie Anne left Washington, D.C. and moved back to John's old hometown and bought a nearly bankrupt local newspaper and attempted to save it from ruin.

Hearts Afire TV Show Cast:

John Ritter .................... John Hartman
Markie Post .................... Georgie Anne Lahti Hartman
Billy Bob Thornton ............. Billy Bob Davis
Clark Duke ..................... Elliot Hartman
Doren Fein ..................... Carson Lee Davis
Justin Burnette ................ Ben Hartman (1992-1994)
Wendie Jo Sperber .............. Mavis Davis (1992-1993)
Edward Asner ................... George Lahti (1992-1993)
Adam Carl ...................... Adam Carlson (1992-1993)
George Gaynes .................. Senator Strobe Smithers (1992-1993)
Beth Broderick ................. Dee Dee Starr (1992-1993)
Conchata Ferrell ............... Madeline Stoessinger (1993-1995)
Leslie Jordan .................. Lonnie Garr (1993-1995)
Maxine Stuart .................. Velma Davis (1993-1995)
Jordan Benedict ................ Russell (1993-1994)
Debbie Gregory ................. Vickie Bumpers (1993-1994)
Mark Harelik ................... Reed Folsom (1993-1994)
J. Skylar Testa ................ Ben Hartman (1994-1995)
Beah Richards .................. Miss Lula (1992)

Hearts Afire Trivia:

John Ritter was the son of western movie star and singing cowboy, "Tex Ritter". In fact, John and his dad's stars on the Hollwood Walk of Fame are right next to each other! And who could forget John's other series, "Three's Company", "Three's A Crowd", and "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter"! The title, "Hearts Afire", comes from a lyric in the song "That's the Way of the World" by the group, "Earth, Wind, and Fire". That song also served as one of the theme songs for Hearts Afire!

Looking at her, it's easy to believe that Markie Post ("The Fall Guy", "Night Court", "Odd Man Out") was a cheerleader in High School! Her father, Richard F. Post, is a world-renowned scientist who holds more than 25 patents in the fields of nuclear fusion, particle accelerators, electronics, and mechanical energy storage.

One of the main themes of the Hearts Afire episodes was the extreme difference in political views between John and Georgie Anne. CBS actually advertised Hearts Afire as a "politically topical comedy series". That didn't change when the Hartman's left Washington. They continuously argued about how to present a topic in their newspaper if it had any political ramifications whatsoever.

Episodes List With Original Air Dates

The First Season

1. Bees Can Sting You, Watch Out - Part 1 (9/14/1992)
2. Bees Can Sting You, Watch Out - Part 2 (9/14/1992)
3. The Big Date (9/21/1992)
4. Three Men and a Bed (9/28/1992)
5. John's Stallion (10/5/1992)
6. First Time (10/12/1992)
7. Significant Others (10/26/1992)
8. Everybody Loves My Baby (11/9/1992)
9. Conversations with my Shrink (11/16/1992)
10. The Fundamental Things Apply (11/23/1992)
11. Smithersgate (11/30/1992)
12. Everyday's a Holiday (12/14/1992)
13. While the Thomasons Slept (12/21/1992)
14. Trivial Pursuit (1/4/1993)
15. Never Play Touch Football with the Kennedys (1/11/1993)
16. Miss Starr Dates Georgie Anne's Pop (1/18/1993)
17. While the Thomasons Slept in the Lincoln Bedroom (2/1/1993)
18. Her Year with Fidel (2/8/1993)
19. Cold Feet - Part 1 (2/22/1993)
20. Cold Feet - Part 2 (2/22/1993)
21. Take My Senate Seat, Please (3/1/1993)
22. Flamingo Summer (3/15/1993)
23. Class Reunion (3/22/1993)

The Second Season

24. Lovely Always - Part 1 (10/27/1993)
25. Lovely Always - Part 2 (10/27/1993)
26. Moonlighting (11/3/1993)
27. The Great Depression (11/10/1993)
28. First Edition (11/17/1993)
29. String of Pearls (11/24/1993)
30. The Stud Club (12/8/1993)
31. Blue Christmas (12/15/1993)
32. True Confessions (12/29/1993)
33. Accelerated Dating (1/12/1994)
34. Sweet Revenge (1/19/1994)
35. The Sons of Sissy-Whatsis (2/2/1994)
36. Fatal Traction (2/9/1994)
37. Sleepless in a Small Town (3/28/1994)
38. Do the Limbaugh (4/11/1994)
39. Love in the Afternoon (4/18/1994)
40. The Big Yes (4/25/1994)

The Third Season

41. Don't Say Nothin' Bad about My Baby (9/24/1994)
42. The Virgin Lonnie (10/1/1994)
43. It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To (10/8/1994)
44. The Sock-Her Boys (10/15/1994)
45. Birth of a Donation (10/22/1994)
46. Fat Like Me (10/29/1994)
47. Born to Dance (11/26/1994)
48. Prose and Condoms (12/3/1994)
49. The Perfect Christmas (12/10/1994)
50. Help Wanted (1/11/1995)
51. Mrs. Hartman, Mrs. Hartman (1/18/1995)
52. Group Therapy (1/25/1995)
53. John and Georgie's Not-So-Excellent Adventure (2/1/1995)