Entertainment, TV, Television - Marine Corps Times

Macabre ‘’Til Death Do Us Part’ now on DVD

In the best of worlds, the cable show “’Til Death Do Us Part” would have lasted forever. It dramatized real-life stories of people who found clever ways to kill a spouse, then were caught. As hosted by cult favorite John Waters, it was fun.

Still, it lasted only one season (2006-7). Now it’s back as a three-disc DVD set.

Why did it stop so suddenly? In part, Waters says, because there were only so many clever, real-life killings.

“People are really stupid when it comes to murder,” Waters says. The whole notion of killing your spouse is odd, he says. “You’re always the first one they suspect. ... Haven’t people heard of divorce?”

Still, people keep trying, usually because of money. The first and only season of “ ‘Til Death Do Us Part” is filled with smart-seeming schemes that failed. Waters hosts them drolly. One might expect him to be jaded by now, convinced that marriage can’t work. Actually, he’s seen some proof that it can. His dad (John Sr.) died in June at 91, still married to Waters’ mother.

“They had been married for 64 years and were incredibly happy,” Waters says.

From this warm Baltimore home, Waters began making immensely morbid movies. His parents’ reaction? “They were very supportive of me,” he says. “But they were horrified. ... It was a long way to go for them.”

Films such as the 1972 “Pink Flamingos” and the 1981 “Polyester” (released in “odorama,” no less) pushed all extremes of tastes. Earlier, cheaper films went even further in that direction. Behind these semi-outrageous films, however, was a picture of stability. Waters, 62, has long been given to suits and ties and pencil-thin mustaches.

“Every since I was young, I’ve always preferred to dress like that,” he says.

That has given him a persona that is welcome in the mainstream. Most recently, Waters was a presenter at the Tony Awards.

Two of his movies have been adapted on Broadway: “Hairspray” won a Tony for best musical; “Cry-Baby” was nominated. He’d like to see “Serial Mom” adapted, too.

Waters fits logically into “’Til Death.” “I’ve always thought of it as a pro-divorce show,” Waters said.

The first season had 13 fun episodes, but they may have used the best of the spouse-icide tales, Waters says. “It’s hard to find something that is intriguing and has plot twists.”

Besides, the original show was on Court TV. Now that channel calls itself Tru TV and avoids anything that requires actors.

So the original series now is a being treated as a one-time event.

The 13 episodes have been packaged into a three-disc list, including outtakes of the elegantly macabre John Waters at work.

From the tube:

• What: “’Til Death Do Us Part”

• Where: It reached video stores July 1.

• How much: $29.98.

• Includes: All 13 episodes, plus glimpses of Waters at work.