[1] The series follows the dysfunctional Malloy family of Los Angeles, California: deadbeat father Jack (Geoff Pierson); toxic and narcissistic mother Jennifer (Stephanie Hodge); underachieving and seemingly dim-witted eldest son Ryan (Kevin Connolly); academically gifted, but rarely taken seriously because she looks like a model daughter Tiffany (Nikki Cox); and "forgotten" son Ross (Justin Berfield).

In the first two seasons, storylines featured Jennie's pill-popping mother Maureen Slattery (Joyce Van Patten).

In addition to other postmodern literary devices, the show and its characters regularly broke the fourth wall and mocked 1980s and 1990s American culture.

However, the series soon turned its focus to Jack Malloy, a schizophrenic, alcoholic, and lazy husband who was kicked out of the house in the pilot episode and, in a surrealistic mockery of both Alf and The Muppets, was living in an apartment with his imaginary friend: a foul mouthed, misanthropic, and sarcastic toy rabbit named Mr.

After continuing to torment her family as a poltergeist known as "Dead Mom", the Malloys realize that the show doesn't work without Jennifer as their common enemy.

The final season focused more on Tiffany and her rival Barbara Caufield (Wendy Benson), Ryan's love interest, joining the cast.

[2][3][4] Unhappily Ever After was one of the four sitcoms that aired as part of the original Wednesday night two-hour lineup that helped launch The WB network (along with The Wayans Bros., The Parent 'Hood and the short-lived Muscle).

The next clip shows the father as he walks past the first man lying face down, TV near his hands, as he enters his apartment.

The theme song played over the opening was Bobcat Goldthwait (and possibly others) singing "We married young, because of cupid.