TV series
A life like in the movies.
The family life, romantic life, and career of Martin Tupper, a divorced New York City book editor. The show distinctively interjected clips from older black and white television series to punctuate Tupper's feelings or thoughts.
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Checked Jul 22, 2026
The family life, romantic life, and career of Martin Tupper, a divorced New York City book editor. The show distinctively interjected clips from older black and white television series to punctuate Tupper's feelings or thoughts.
Cast, crew and production details
Brian BenbenMartin Tupper
Wendie MalickJudith Tupper Stone
Chris DemetralJeremy Tupper
Jeffrey JosephEddie Charles
Dorien WilsonEddie Charles
Denny DillonToby Pedalbee
Dawnn LewisRema Hort
June GableLibby Friedman
HBOUnited StatesWatch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.
Episode 1
Martin has trouble climaxing and is referred to a therapist. Through hypnotism, she leads him to suspect he is repressing the memory of childhood abuse.
Directed by Robby BensonWritten by Bill PradyGuest stars June Gable, Colleen McDermott, Sean Masterson, Louise Fletcher, Cliff Bemis, Iqbal Theba, Meadow Williams
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Episode 2
Martin tries to seduce Judith's best friend from college, but she only has eyes for someone else…
Directed by Robert GintyGuest stars Annette O'Toole, Sandra Kinder
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Episode 3
Martin looks for a new best friend, after Eddie decides to move to LA to join a sitcom.
Directed by Jerry LondonGuest stars Sean Masterson, Steven Gilborn, Marty Rackham, Sandra Robinson, Ted McGinley, Christian Cousins, Kirsten Holmquist, Kelli McCarty
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Episode 4
Under pressure from Gibby to get an elite writer, Martin attempts to lure the writer dating Toby (who coincidentally, is an award-winning author).
Directed by Victor Levin, Michael McKeanGuest stars Jon Polito, Valerie Landsburg, Michael McKean, Sean Masterson, Doris Roberts, Steven Gilborn, Nancy Giles, Ray Wise
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Episode 5
Martin dates a woman that acts strange in public, and yet, is an etiquette expert.
Directed by Nick MarckGuest stars Barbara Alyn Woods, Molly Hagan, David Wells
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Episode 6
Jeremy's math teacher is the cause for Jeremy's low math grade.
Written by Bill PradyGuest stars Larry Miller, Liz Vassey, Richard Fancy
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Episode 7
Martin's life is examined after he dies.
Directed by John LandisGuest stars David Alan Grier, Jami Gertz, Sarah MacDonnell
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Episode 8
After Jeremy chooses to go to Richard Stone's induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame instead of with Martin on a Father's Day canoeing trip, Martin reluctantly tags along. In typical Tupper fashion, he goes home with a girl named Katrina that he meets there. It turns out that she has 2 interesting, but related surprises for Martin.
Directed by Robert GintyGuest stars Paul Williams, Shannon Kenny, Aaron Lustig, Warren Zevon, Gregory White
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Episode 9
This picks up with Martin and Katrina struggling to write songs for the new Crevice album. Katrina suffers from a light writer's block, and ends up taking inspiration from Martin's college poetry. Crevice breaks up over the creative changes, and Katrina debuts her first single as a solo artist on Eddie's show. The fan's are not pleased.
Directed by Robert GintyGuest stars Paul Williams, Christina Venuti, Shannon Kenny, Warren Zevon, Richard Kline, Paul Anthony Stewart, Downtown Julie Brown
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Episode 10
Martin's building goes co-op, and to be able to afford purchasing his apartment/condo, he dates Gibby's insane sister.
Guest stars Mindy Sterling, Larry Miller, Morwenna Banks, Michael McKean, Iqbal Theba
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Episode 11
Martin dates Judith's sister.
Directed by John LandisGuest stars Tippi Hedren, Sandra Kinder, Andrea Parker
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Episode 12
Toby is in a rut. Uses self-help book.
Directed by William MaloneGuest stars Jon Polito, Morwenna Banks, Mary Crosby, Doris Roberts, Kellye Nakahara, Judy Nazemetz
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Episode 13
Martin needs to make some quick money, so he writes for pornographic movies.
Directed by John LandisWritten by David Kohan, Max MutchnickGuest stars Joey Travolta, Traci Bingham, Larry Miller, Michael McKean, Lou DiMaggio, Karen Roe, Brian Heidik
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Episode 14
Martin tries to get a homeless woman's memoirs.
Guest stars Michael McKean, Stacey Travis, Alaina Reed Hall, Karen Lorre
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Episode 15
Eddie learns that he was adopted.
Directed by John LandisWritten by Christopher VaneGuest stars Rachel True, Richard Roundtree, Madge Sinclair, Art Evans, Marla Gibbs, Melora Walters, LaWanda Page, Nikki Crawford
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Episode 16
Martin's friend likes Toby.
Guest stars Jon Polito, Valerie Landsburg, Doris Roberts, Curtis Armstrong, Larry Randolph
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Episode 17
Martin and Judith visit Jeremy at college. Sparks ignite.
Written by Jeff GreensteinGuest stars Jane A. Rogers, Rachel True, Christina Venuti, Ann Ryerson
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Episode 18
With their relationship rekindled, Judith suggests that she and Martin join a support group for couples on their second time around.
Written by Elin Hampton, David FuryGuest stars Tippi Hedren, William Schallert, Joe Flaherty, Mimi Kennedy, Connie Ray, Tom La Grua, Nancy Dussault, Richard Roat
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Episode 19
Martin moves into Judith's high-tech apartment.
Directed by John LandisWritten by Elin Hampton, David FuryGuest stars Brent Spiner, Elaine Kagan
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Episode 20
Gibby picks Martin to represent Whitestone at the Chicago Book Fair, informing him with one weeks notice. This means a ton of extra work and pregnant Toby doesn't really feel up to it, so Martin suggests they take on a temp to lighten the load. Toby offers up her cousin Louie, and although initially reluctant, Martin assents, giving him a trial period to prove himself.
Directed by Michael McKeanWritten by Christopher VaneGuest stars Jon Polito, Michael McKean
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Episode 21
Flashback episode: Martin's fortieth birthday is approaching fast and Eddie insists on throwing him a party. Unfortunately, Judith is planning a party of her own thus bringing them into conflict. Martin suggests compromise by urging them to plan the party together. As they argue over the details, they reminisce over their past disagreements.
Written by Rob LottersteinGuest stars Tippi Hedren, William Schallert, Alan Blumenfeld, Allan Wasserman, Tyrone Batista, Darcas Macopson
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Episode 22
At a Salary Review Meeting, Gibby has some good news for Martin; Martin's to be put in charge of his own division at Whitestone, a quality publishing imprint called Camelot New Press. Things get off to a bad start however when the first round of author interviews yield nothing. Through a quirk of fate, Martin remembers an old manuscript he admired, ‘The Barrel Maker' by Julian Keppel and stays up all night reading it. He contacts the emotionally fragile author and promises to make it Whitestone's next bestseller.
Guest stars Leeza Gibbons, Morwenna Banks, Michael McKean, Paul Eiding, Shirley Prestia, Andrew Hill Newman, Tom O'Rourke, Nita Talbot
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Episode 23
Martin thinks things are getting out of hand after Judith discovers "some little tricks" to improve her sex life.
Directed by Betty ThomasWritten by Stephen EngelGuest stars Lynne Marie Stewart, Marcus Giamatti, Karen Russell
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Episode 24
Judith plans a dinner party for their couple friends, so she suggests that Martin not invite currently single Eddie. When Eddie finds out, he makes Martin feel guilty until he invites him, but the evening doesn't go well. Eddie has nothing in common with the couples and so he storms out. Next day, Martin and Judith meet a recently separated friend, Rema, whom Martin invites to their apartment for dinner, planning to also invite Eddie and match them up. Eddie begins spending all his time with Rema and hardly sees Martin.
Written by David Kohan, Max MutchnickGuest stars Dawnn Lewis, Robertson Dean, Sharon Omi, Rachel Davies, Toshi Toda, Cynthia Steele
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Episode 25
Martin's old apartment is becoming a huge money pit, costing him exorbitant maintenance fees and so he resolves to get rid of it. He has a meeting with Irwin Bader who isn't optimistic of getting much over $1,500, even though he sold it to Martin for $2,400. Libby expresses an interest on behalf of her son, but Martin passes on the idea.
Directed by Mary Kay PlaceWritten by Bill PradyGuest stars June Gable, Larry Miller, Steven Gilborn, Doug Ballard
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Episode 26
Preparing for Eddie's wedding, Martin questions whether or not he has a future with Judith.
Guest stars Dawnn Lewis, Lou Rawls, Stephanie Erb, Richard Portnow, Robert Curtis Brown, Nick Pellegrino, Patrick Bristow, LaWanda Page
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Episode 27
Martin and Judith learn Dr. Stone might be defrosted and revived.
Written by Stephen EngelGuest stars Dawnn Lewis, Tippi Hedren, Larry Miller, Michael McKean, Cynthia Frost, Sylvia Kauders, Phil Leeds, William Schallert
Where to watch Dream OnEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
