"My Man" - Two Questions

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

I have to ask the first question because english is not my native language. When I heard Kelly or Scotty say "My Man" the first time to the other one I was absolutely stunned. When a german woman talks like that it *always* means "my husband" (I think today a gay man would use this expression for his boyfriend/spouse too).

What kind of expression is it? Something "normal" like pal or buddy? But why does a song exist with the title "My Man is a Mean Man", and a boyfriend is meant? Kelly introduces Scotty in a scene from "Three hours on a Sunday Night" to the rich woman as "This is my man, Alex Scott". I really don't understand it - but I like it very much...

The second question: watching the dvd's I had the feeling they don't use the expression very often in the third season. To prove it I would have to make a check list - maybe in one year or two... (There was someone who did this in the Pros, with the first and last names, the nicknames, dependent on the season - a really good idea, sitting in front of a tv for about two weeks 8 hours a day for a holiday *g*).

If I'm right, I don't understand why it changed. Already in the first season they were so familiar with one another, so happy, why should they leave out this expression in the third one? Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know it really.

A pic from "Carry me back to old T'sing Tao" as a symbol for "My Man":