The Drew Carey Show is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1995, to September 8, 2004. The series is set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolves around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the comedian Drew Carey himself
. The show was created by Drew Carey and television writer Bruce Helford and produced by Mohawk Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
. It features Drew as an average guy working as the assistant director of personnel at a fictional Cleveland department store called Winfred-Louder. The show focuses on Drew's interactions with his coworkers and friends, including Lewis (Ryan Stiles), Oswald (Diedrich Bader), Kate (Christa Miller), and Mimi Bobeck (Kathy Kinney), who is known for her clownish wardrobe and rivalry with Drew
. The Drew Carey Show is known for its sharp, bawdy humor and portrayal of the working-class office environment. The show went through three phases during its nine-year run: an initial standard sitcom phase, a prime phase with more freewheeling comedy, and a later phase marked by increasingly absurd plotlines and changes to Drew's character, which some critics felt undermined the show's original appeal
. The series also experimented with different formats in its final seasons, including one-camera setups and more interconnected sets. The show included storylines such as Drew's relationships, his brother Steve's marriage to Mimi, and the group's small business selling a caffeinated alcoholic drink called Buzz Beer
. Overall, The Drew Carey Show was well-received in its early years, ranking among the Top 30 programs for four seasons, but ratings declined sharply in the final seasons before the show ended in 2004
. Key points about The Drew Carey Show:
- Aired 1995–2004 on ABC
- Set in Cleveland, Ohio
- Centers on Drew Carey as an everyman office worker
- Known for its humor about working-class life and office culture
- Featured a core group of friends and coworkers
- Went through notable tonal shifts over its run
- Created by Drew Carey and Bruce Helford
