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The Return of Jezebel James 1.01/1.02

by Arieanna on March 15th, 2008

The Return of Jezebel James 1.01 "Pilot" & 1.02 "Frankenstein Baby"
Air Date: March 14, 2008
Recap & Discussion

Sarah Tompkins (Parker Posey) is trying to figure out why she’s wearing pants, then a kid comes by asking for a donation. He’s a little chatty, asking about her job (kids book editor at Harper Collins). Canned laughter is a little annoying.

Sarah’s assistant Buddy (Michael Arden) comes in saying that Barnes & Noble doesn’t like the Jezebel James cover art. She sends him off on errands. Including a restaurant reservation at a fancy restaurant with a no-strings-attached guy named Marcus (Scott Cohen). The granddaughter of one of the employees has done her review of the Jezebel sequel, and loves it!

Sarah’s father Ronald (Ron McLarty) found her a couch that is quite far from still being a couch. He bothers her about breaking up with Matt, who she was with for 9 years. Not married, no kids. Sarah looks sadly at the little girl in the lobby.

We next see Sarah wanting to touch a pregnant woman’s belly. She is at the doctor’s to get pregnant - with a donor or friend. She wants a baby. But the doctor tells Sarah she has Asherman’s Syndrome, and can’t become pregnant. Sarah tells a story of how she learned how to do a cartwheel to become a cheerleader - she can do anything if she puts her mind to it. Sarah is not the adoption type - she can’t even let strangers use her toilet.

Sarah is back at Marcus’ apartment, but she’s very flustered. He wants to know if she’s ok, but they have rules not to talk about their personal lives. She tries the kissing, but breaks down crying (if you can call it that with Parker’s attempt at crying).

Sarah is sitting in a grimy cafe waiting for someone - her sister, Coco (Lauren Ambrose). Coco sits at the next booth over. The waiter is surly but funny. Coco has a troubled past - rehab then living in a Chinese food restaurant. Sarah wants a favor from Coco - she needs her uterus. She wants Coco to carry her baby - be a surrogate, and be paid for it. The other condition being that Coco live with her. Coco says no - they fight about their crappy relationship. It comes out that Sarah can’t have the baby. That’s why she’s asking.

Trying to find money to pay, Sarah dumps out her purse. The Jezebel James books falls out. Jezebel James was Coco’s imaginary friend. Sarah had commissioned a writer to create this heroine based on Jezebel. Coco asks if Sarah really wants a kid that bad. And Sarah leaves, Coco still holding the book.

Coco goes back to the apartment where she’s crashing - a bit of a dump. She reads the book.

Sarah is very emotional and behind on work. She spots Coco coming into the office. The assistant wants Coco to ‘have his baby’ but Sarah tells him to get in line. Sarah goes to Coco, and we just see them sort-of hugging.

Second episode… Sarah is in the office, and her assistant has cleared her day to leave. Marcus calls to make sure she’s not canceling their date too. Coco makes a dramatic entrance.

Sarah gives Coco a matching Hello Kitty cell phone, as an emergency phone. She seems thrilled to have Coco there. Sarah has prepared a series of notes about the neighborhood for Coco. She shoes Coco her room, which is under construction. Coco is a little annoyed by all the structure, and friendly stuff. Coco feels like Sarah thinks she’s a loser, and doesn’t want anyone else to decorate her room. Coco freaks out when they hear that their father is coming. They run around putting his gifts on display. He brings in the refurbished couch. He doesn’t even notice Coco. They lean out the porch to see if their mom, Talia (Dianne Wiest), is in the car - she needs to be ‘invited’ up.

Sarah shares her big news with her parents. That Coco will be staying with them, and doing her a wonderful favor - having her baby. Their mom is annoyed that she wasn’t asked first. Their mom told all her friends that Sarah had been married, then divorced (which they were not). And now she’s going to have a Frankenstein baby.

Sarah is wearing a hockey jersey in bed with Marcus, and is trying to be all coy about the hockey game. Sarah’s Hello Kitty phone is ringing, but she tries to ignore it. Then tries to lie about what the phone is for. Sarah calls back Coco, who said she hadn’t called. Coco’s butt had been calling her, apparently. Sarah was sitting in the shower on her phone and accidentally drenches herself when she tries to get up.

Sarah comes home to find Coco snooping through Sarah’s diary and her private letters from Matt. She wants to know her. What kind of woman is she? Why does she want Coco in her life - she’s not the organized or sensible one. Sarah says she’s an open book, not the mysterious one. That’s Coco. But she will respect Coco’s space - is happy to only know what Coco wants her to know. Coco shares that she went to Spain last year. Tension has dissipated - they go eat egg rolls and talk about sagging.

Photos CR: Richard Foreman/FOX & Cr: Eric Liebowitz/FOX

Tags: the return of jezebel james, the return of jezebel james season 1, pilot, frankenstein baby, return of jezebel james, jezebel james, scott cohen, lauren ambrose, parker posey, fox, comedy, television, amy sherman palladino

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POSTED IN: Amy Sherman-Palladino, Scott Cohen, Television Shows, The Return of Jezebel James, Where are they now