Described by CBS as a "politically topical series" and created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason, the show starred John Ritter and Markie Post playing John Hartman and Georgie Anne Lahti, respectively. Supporting actors included Billy Bob Thornton and Ed Asner. The show was set in Washington, D.C., and centered on a conservative senator's aide (Ritter) and a liberal political reporter (Post) whose professional disagreements masked a growing attraction for one another. Other costars on the show included George Gaynes, Beth Broderick, and Wendie Jo Sperber. The series was itself a satire on current affairs in Washington, D.C.
John and Georgie Anne married near the end of the first season. In the second season, the show abruptly changed its setting to the Southern town where John grew up; he returned to take over the town's failing newspaper, accompanied by Georgie Anne and his two children from a previous marriage. Some of the supporting characters made the move as well, while others were superseded.
Roger Clinton, half-brother of Bill Clinton, appeared in a cameo as a restaurant singer at the end of the series' third episode, aired in September 1992.
Political pundit Rush Limbaugh guest-starred as himself on an April 1994 episode. That episode had the series' highest rating, finishing as the 8th-highest ranked show of the week during its original airing.
Characters are introduced as John and Georgie are tasked with dealing with the senator on day to day business; John's kids Elliot (Clark Duke) and Ben (Justin Burnette) become a bee wrangler and a bathroom valet respectively; Billy Bob (Billy Bob Thornton) is kicked out of the house by Mavis (Wendie Jo Sperber); and Georgie's guardian Miss Lula (Beah Richards) moves with her into John's home. They then hold a party to celebrate Dee Dee's (Beth Broderick) birthday, only for everything to go wrong.
Georgie's father, George (Ed Asner), visits after getting out of jail, and she wants him to stay over at John's house. The two then start doing things that start to annoy John, as he wonders about how Georgie's dad got out so early. The senator complains about a new implant that he has, and wants to get it removed.
John's boys are going camping with Billy Bob and Georgie's father, leaving the two at home. Elliot's pet snake is accidentally let loose, so they spend the rest of their night at a hotel in some couples' honeymoon suite. They meet and have to settle their arguments with the newlyweds.
The senator and his wife get into an argument, but neither refuses to leave; Georgie takes down another kid's mother after she beat up John; and John meets his ex-wife (Julie Cobb)'s lover (Conchata Ferrell).
Georgie goes out to find a new job, but can't since she believes that they discriminated against her because she's a woman; John is not sure why Georgie is telling Dr. Ruth about her problems; and Georgie goes on a date with her former boyfriend.
The senator's wife wants to be the senator; Georgie and Mavis take Dee Dee to dinner to find out the fact that she gets aroused by patriotism; the group find out that she is going to stop seeing the senator. John visits the senator's wife Mary Fran (Mary Ann Mobley), when she confesses that she loves him.
Elliot starts reciting stories about John that aren't true, especially one about a shark; Billy Bob convinces John that Georgie is sharing secrets with a reporter, so he makes up a false story about the senator killing someone.
Diandra and Dr. Ruth take John's kids on a tour, leaving John in a depressive mood. He hatches a plan to take the kids and his coworkers to New York City to make Diandra jealous. The RV they're in gets stuck, and the group surprise John with Christmas cheer. John finds someone to tow the RV to New York, and as everyone else is sleeping, the two romance about what Georgie wanted for Christmas, which was to have a family. The episode ends with childhood snapshots of the adult characters being shown, and the RV being towed.
John and his kids take a trip to the White House; the governor has to prepare for a senate meeting on obscene lyrics in music; Billy Bob embarrasses himself in front of Hugh Rodham; John's kids steal the president's phonebook because they wanted souvenirs, so they convince the governor to return it.
Lonnie is convinced by Georgie and Madeline to record conversations held at a secret men's only club, only to get caught. Features a brief uncredited appearance by Post's former co-star Harry Anderson from Night Court.
On November 7, 2012, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to the series and released Hearts Afire - The Complete Series on DVD on January 8, 2013.[52] The 7-disc set features all 54 episodes of the series, as well as bonus features.
