Season 1 • Episode 12
LatestIn an effort to win recognition as a humanitarian, Chelsea agrees to host a garden party for a charitable foundation in the fight against substance abuse; unfortunately, she buys fresh produce from a roadside vendor and mistakenly serves psychedelic mushrooms to her guests. Meanwhile, Terry finds a wingnut in his candy bar, so Trudy writes a letter of complaint that lands them both in hot water.
Style & Substance was a television situation comedy that premiered on CBS July 22, 1998. The show starred Jean Smart as Chelsea Stevens, a Martha Stewart-like star of a how-to home show, and Nancy McKeon as her producer, Jane Sokol, a small-town girl new to New York City. Chelsea Stevens was an expert cook, decorator, and party planner who knew much more about thread-count than she did relationships. She was well-meaning at times, but her narcissism usually got in the way of actually understanding anyone else's problems.
Acting
Jean Smart commits to narcissistic delusion like nobody else.
Writing
Peter Tolan's sharp workplace banter before Rescue Me.
Creator
Peter Tolan
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Premiered during peak Martha Stewart saturation—Chelsea was a direct parody of America's domestic goddess before her insider trading scandal made it even funnier in retrospect.
Jean Smart won her third Emmy right after this cancellation, proving the TV gods have a sick sense of humor. Only 9 of 13 episodes aired before CBS pulled it.
US
