On May 15, 2011, CBS canceled the series after one season, and the series finale aired the following day, May 16.[3]
Premise
Kate, Connie, Larry, and Ben are New Yorker thirtysomethings searching for love in the city. When Kate and Ben meet and fall for each other, their friends remain cynical about the relationship. Each episode ends with some of the characters in a bar which they frequent, discussing the events of the day.
The cast describes the show as one about two couples falling in love in very different ways.
Chris Parnell as Dennis Barrett, a state trooper and Connie's short-term boyfriend.
Development and production
In September 2009, creator Matt Tarses received a new pilot commitment from CBS,[4] and the network green-lit the pilot in January 2010 under the original title True Love.[5] Initial casting announcements begin in February. Minka Kelly was the first actor cast, to play the role of Kate.[6]Ashley Austin Morris joined the cast a few days later as Connie, Kate's cousin and best friend.[7]
In March, Jason Biggs committed to the series to portray Ben.[8] Other casting announcements included Hal Williams, who signed on in early March to play Earl, who works in the observation deck of the Empire State Building where Ben and Kate meet.[9] He was expected to narrate the series, but Tyler Labine ultimately performed that function.[9]Dan Fogler and Sarah Wright were cast a week later.[10] Fogler was added to portray Larry, who is Ben's best friend, with Wright playing Tiffany, a woman who hires Connie to work as a nanny for her children.
Prior to filming the pilot, there were several casting changes.[11] At the end of March, Fogler was replaced by Tyler Labine, who was originally offered the role of Larry but turned it down.[12][13] In early April, Lizzy Caplan signed on to replace Morris as Connie.[14] The pilot episode was directed by Pamela Fryman.[9]
More casting changes were announced in June. Sarah Chalke joined the cast in the role of Kate, replacing Kelly.[11] A few days later, CBS placed a 13-episode series order.[2] The order was contingent on producers finding a replacement for Caplan, who had only agreed to guest star in the pilot.[2][15][16] Caplan described filming the Mad Love pilot as a positive experience, but decided that she preferred and wanted to look for work on shows more similar to her previous series, Party Down.[17] Judy Greer came on board in late June to portray Connie, finalizing the series cast.[15][16]
Ben and Kate, two single New Yorkers, accidentally meet each other at the top of the Empire State Building and decide to make a date for later that night. Before the date Kate and Ben decide to bring their best friends, Connie and Larry to try and see if they could fall in love too, but after they meet for the first time, they instantly despise each other.
An overprotective Kate seems to forget that her younger sister Julia (Brittany Snow) is no longer a kid. Larry and Connie decide to be each other's wingmen.
Ben helps Connie with her nanny job in an attempt to befriend his girlfriend's best friend. Larry breaks up with women by avoiding them until they leave him, and Kate is determined to change his ways.
Kate spies on Ben with the building's security cameras when he's forced to work late nights with an ex-girlfriend, while Larry uses the cameras to track the movements of a mysterious woman.
Ben and Larry are forced to jump through hoops by an obnoxious client. Larry choose to participate in an annual pub quiz instead, risking both the account and his friendship with Ben.
Ben and Kate try to be more spontaneous on a day that Ben has to make an important speech. One thing leads to another and eventually Ben loses his pants, has to wear Larry's suit, and has no copy of his speech. Kate gives Ben his speech but Ben discovers that he doesn't need it. Meanwhile Connie has a book idea which does not go well. She then uses Larry's idea which allows her to come back for another interview. The episode ends with her trying to thank Larry.
When Larry loses Connie's camera they go over the entire city looking for it. Connie is very mad at Larry in the beginning of the day, but soon realizes that he is not all bad.
Kate's ex-boyfriend reveals some shocking information that could put her relationship with Ben in jeopardy, and Connie and Larry's fake date takes a very real turn.