October 14, 1998. It was a simpler time. And ABC’s “Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place” introduced a new character: Johnny, a lovable, irascible jukebox repairman. And from there, he stole both Sharon’s and our hearts. Nathan Fillion had arrived.
In episode, “Two Guys, a Girl and a Homecoming,” Sharon falls for Johnny but is worried about being seen with this decidedly blue collar hunk. I’d point you to where to watch it on Hulu or Netflix, but this is one of those shows that is sadly missing from the online streaming world. (Can someone make an internet petition to make that happen, please?)
He quickly became a fan favorite, keeping up pace for pace with co-star Ryan Reynolds. (Yes, that’s right! Two Green Lanterns in one show! Captain Mal AND Deadpool! Awesome, huh?) When Johnny moved in with Sharon into the basement of the building and they became the supers, it was like the show had finally become complete (and ditched the “and a Pizza Place” gag).
And after “Two Guys and a Girl” bid us adieu, there was, of course, Firefly. And Buffy. And Slither. And Serenity. And Waitress. And Desperate Housewives. And Dr. Horrible. And Castle. And everything else we love about Nathan Fillion. But it all started that evening fifteen years ago.
Now, I know some of you film nerds have just consulted IMDB and are about to start nit-picking about other shows and movies Fillion had been in. Yes, he was the wrong Private Ryan (the one from Minnesota not the one from Iowa) in “Saving Private Ryan.” But this was his first appearance as a recurring role in a primetime tv show that we’re celebrating. From that point on, Nathan Fillion has been a near-constant presence on our television and movie screens, and I’d like to credit this show for making his career take off. Also, “Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place” does not get the respect it deserves and we never take the time to feel nostalgic about it. That’s something that should change.
So, thank you, Sir Fillion, for fifteen years of awesome. We’ve loved every minute of it and hope we get decades more to come. And I leave you with this, from Much Ado About Nothing: