The New Adventures of Old Christine

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

The New Adventures of Old Christine is a sitcom created by former Will and Grace writer Kari Lizer, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Debuting in 2006, and canceled after five seasons, it allowed Louis-Dreyfus to defeat the dreaded "Seinfeld curse."

The show revolves around divorced gym owner Christine Campbell (Louis-Dreyfus), a mess in many respects, but one who has maintained friendly relations with ex-husband Richard (Clark Gregg). One of her many neuroses is triggered by his dating a younger woman who's also named Christine (Emily Rutherford). Also in her orbit is brother/housemate Matthew (Hamish Linklater), son Richie (Trevor Gagnon), and sassy black business partner Barb (Wanda Sykes).


Tropes used in The New Adventures of Old Christine include:
  • Actor Allusion: In one episode, Christine yells 'Get out!' and shoves Barb's chest. This is an allusion to Julia Louis Dreyfus' most famous character, Elaine from Seinfeld.
  • Almost Kiss: Christine and Richard have had many of these...
  • Black Best Friend: Barb
  • Citizenship Marriage: Between Christine and Barb. Controversial example.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Matthew.
  • Did You Just Have Sex?
  • The Ditz: Oh, Christine, so much!
  • Even the Guys Want Him: Mr. Harris
  • Gaussian Girl: Every shot is slightly out of focus.
  • Incest Subtext: There's a lot of incestuous subtext between Christine and Matthew. There was even a scene in which Christine made out with him though it turned out to be a dream.
  • One-Steve Limit: Averted. The main character and her ex-husband's girlfriend are both named Christine. Christine's ex also has a girlfriend called Christine.
  • Only Sane Man: Barb and Matthew maybe the only two characters on the show who are remotely close to intelligent, but even they're not all that normal.
  • Rich Bitch: The Meanie Moms.
  • Running Gag: Everyone calling Old Christine 'old', Old Christine's drinking problem.
  • Stripper Cop Confusion: A muscular young cop named Officer Johnson arrives on Christine's doorstep to warn her of a prowler in the neighbourhood. However, it happens to be Christine's birthday and she thinks Barb has sent her a stripper. Cue one increasingly confused conversation between Christine and Officer Johnson.
  • The New Adventures: Although there aren't really any "old" adventures that occur prior to the show.
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/The_New_Adventures_of_Old_Christine?oldid=2040960"