Corrected entry: Depending on the episode, before Paul and Jamie moved in together, Paul either lived A) across the street from Jamie, alone (she trusted him because he had to go home to his dog at night, which would indicate he didn't have a roommate); B) in Kramer's apartment, with no mention of a roommate; or C) somewhere with Ira. Ira also states in one episode that Paul has never lived alone.
Mad About You (1992)
1 corrected entry in show generally
Starring: Helen Hunt, Paul Reiser, John Pankow, Leila Kenzle, Maui
Continuity mistake: Jamie and Paul are at the supermarket, and Jamie is eating chips. She leans on a coin operated horse. The bag of chips in her right hand changes from front (Green Label, "Baked Lays") to back view in one shot then to front view again.
Jamie: Do you want to tell me why I just lied to our closest friends?
Paul: They wanted to take us to dinner.
Jamie: The Bastards.
Question: Why is Ursula in this show portrayed differently to how Phoebe's twin is on Friends? They're meant to be the same character.
Answer: Just think about your own life, I am sure you do not act the same with your siblings or close friends as you do with a stranger (because that is what the Buchmans essentially are to Ursula). In Mad About You, she is an extremely bad waitress and in Friends she is a jerk - those are not mutually exclusive character traits. This can also be seen in the Friends episode when Jamie and Fran are in Central Perk and run into Phoebe who answers their questions in an aloof manner and they assume it's Ursula. Is Phoebe always aloof? No. But she was to strangers asking her weird questions. Also, Ursula has been aloof with Phoebe as well (like in the one where they all turn 30 or the one where the grandmother passes away, etc).
Answer: The writers have the freedom develop the character to suit the different shows' plots. They wanted to create a certain dynamic between Phoebe and Ursula that was rather contentious and strained because it made for more tension and conflict and showcased the differences that kept the sisters estranged.
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Correction: Self-correcting error. A) Many pet owners go home to their pets because they either care to be there for the animal's sake or for their own. A roomate may not be a sufficient substitution to the pet or to the owner. It isn't only about food and water for animal lovers. Besides, if Paul has a dog, he isn't 'alone'. B) No mention of a roomate doesn't mean no roomate, just no mention. C) If Ira says Paul never lived alone, he can mean a roomate or a pet was always there. As for the locations, we find Paul moved a few times prior to living with Jamie. Without specific overlapping of dates (which can also be excused by faulty human memory), there's no mistake.
johnrosa