Carpoolers is an American single-camera comedy series created by Bruce McCulloch which focuses on the everyday lives of four male suburbanites with different occupations, who take their private lives and issues along for the ride during their daily commute to and from work.
The series originally aired in the USA on ABC from 2 October, 2007 to 4 March, 2008. There are 13 half-hour episodes in the series, which was cancelled by ABC on 13 May, 2008.
Carpoolers premiered in South Africa on M-Net on Friday 11 July 2008, at 19h00.
Synopsis
Four guys who carpool to work every day come to savor their commute as the only safe time to commiserate about jobs, families - and secrets.
Even though "what happens in the carpool stays in the carpool," they'll go beyond the boundaries of this fast-moving commuter confessional to get involved in each other's lives and develop friendships.
Gracen (Fred Goss) is the unofficial leader of the carpool pack. As a professional mediator, he thinks he's a problem solver, but more often he's a causer.
He seeks fairness in an unfair world, and so finds himself in the middle of situations because he's compelled to be there.
In the pilot, Gracen is stunned to learn that his wife makes more money than he does, which sets his resolve to assert his manly authority.
Laird (Jerry O'Connell) is Gracen's playboy dentist neighbour and best friend. He thinks his life is an unending quest for stories - and women.
In the middle of a messy divorce, he allows himself to live a little and taunts the other carpoolers with the freedom of his near-single status. He would never admit that he secretly misses marriage.
Laird constantly leads the carpoolers into adventures, but once there, he isn't sure what to do.
Aubrey (Jerry Minor) is a sweet but intense pushover at the bottom of the family food chain. The daily ride has become the only peaceful time in his life. Forty-five minutes, two times a day - he needs the carpool the most.
Always quick to come to the carpoolers' aid, he believes in the brotherhood almost to a fault. Only the carpoolers know he's boiling inside, because "in the carpool lane, no one can hear you scream."
Dougie (Tim Peper) is the eager newlywed. He doesn't know all the rules of the Carpooler Society, often breaks them, and has to have the ways of the world explained to him by his tribal elders, the three other carpoolers.
He and his wife, Cindy, are the perfect modern couple, but as you get to know them, you start to see their cracks. Dougie is the guy who seems to have it all together, yet he's drawn to the carpoolers for a little excitement.
The carpoolers will both instigate problems for Dougie and help him deal with the realities of life to come.
Additional stars include Faith Ford (Hope and Faith) as Leila Brooker, Alison Munn (That '70s Show) as Cindy and comedian T.J. Miller (The Standard Deviants) as Marmaduke Brooker.
Carpoolers is created and executive-produced by Bruce McCulloch, who also wrote the pilot. Marsh McCall, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, David Miner and Anthony and Joe Russo are executive producers.