Less Than Perfect

A lowly 'floater' for a TV network becomes the assistant to its vain newsanchor. Claudia 'Claude' Casey has Mary Richards' good-natured spunk; good thing for her, since she's resented by two snobby coworkers, who seek to sabotage her at every turn. Creator Terri Minsky was a writer on 'Sex and the City.', Claude is a temp who's delighted when she's allocated to work for a news anchorman. But some of her new colleagues are jealous and she has to prove that not only is she good at her job, but that she's no pushover!, The charming, pleasantly plump Sara Rue starred on this ABC sitcom as Claudia "Claude" Casey, a "permanent temp" working in various low-level clerical capacities in a TV news department. Claude's amusingly self-deprecating self image was given a boost when she was appointed assistant to Will Butler (Eric Roberts), the TV station's preening peacock of an anchorman. This sudden field commission from the ranks of the "peons" did not sit at all well with Claude's snooty new colleagues Lydia (Andrea Parker) and Kipp (Zachary Levi), who began concocting schemes to topple the heroine from her lofty perch. Fortunately, Claude could count on the support and encouragement from two subordinate employees who "knew her when," Owen (Andy Dick in a less manic replay of his NewsRadio character) and Ramona (Sherri Shepherd). Sort of a Mary Tyler Moore Show with weight issues, Less Than Perfect premiered October 1, 2002.