There are other changes. George's parents, Joy (Cynthia Stevenson) and Clancy (Greg Kean), finally throw in the towel on their foundering marriage. The other reapers experience their share of good and bad luck. Sweet, if narcissistic Daisy (Laura Harris) finds religion, larceny, and love (in that order), while bad boy Brit Mason (Callum Blue) gives up the bottle only to take it up again and no-nonsense reaper boss Rube (Mandy Patinkin) spends most of the season trying to track down someone from his mortal past.

There were 15 episodes in the second season. Guest stars include Michael Des Barres as a washed-up rocker ("In Escrow"), Barbara Barrie as George's free-spirited grandmother ("Rites of Passage," "The Escape Artist"), and Eric McCormack as a cocky TV producer who falls for Daisy (three episodes, starting with "Death Defying"). Unfortunately, 2004 wouldn't turn out to be creator Bryan Fuller's lucky year. Despite fan devotion, critical praise, and Emmy nominations, both of his distinctively quirky dark comedies, Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me, would not be renewed--but at least the latter made it to the end of the year. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Stills from Dead Like Me - The Complete Second Season (Click for larger image)