Although an ensemble comedy, we now start seeing each of the ladies take the spotlight. The previous installment it was Lois and this one is totally a Jan episode. The wonderful thing, though, is that the writers still give the others many small but fun moments.
Jan wants to afford ballet lessons for her daughter Ellen and has taken on a second job doing calligraphy on party invitations. When Nancy gets wind of it she gives Jan a warning, which Jan ignores, getting fired in the process. The B-plot revolves around Dot's audition for a 1940s period piece. When she discovers a stain on her vintage ensemble, she asks to borrow Nancy's jeweled pin to cover it up - then loses the pin.
Many cast members having theatre backgrounds really ups the quality of episodes like this one. Everyone is giving a very believable performance. When the girls cover for Jan, here they are more reluctant than they were in the pilot. Calm and cool Lois is seen getting more annoyed and increasingly fed-up. The whole episode is a nod to the plight of single working mothers, but it is done in a more subtle way than would be done on DESIGNING WOMEN.
The highlight is the showdown scene in the middle. Nancy dresses her down for slacking off so Jan strikes back with a very personal insult, then immediately regrets it. The tension is palpable and both actresses are excellent. They are so good it's actually a little uncomfortable to watch Jan beg for forgiveness.
The sisterhood among the female characters is once again solidified when they all stay after work to help Jan complete the invitations.
There are several minutes of footage missing from the current print that airs on TV and streaming services: We don't see the kitchen scene where Nancy agrees to loan Dot the pin. Without it the situation is a little confusing.
Sonny singing "Oklahoma" at the piano wearing a cowboy hat is cut.
The tag scene establishes that Dot has found the pin and when she tries to return it, Nancy haggles to buy it back for less than what Dot reimbursed her for losing it. It's a shame so much of Gail Edwards' contribution to this episode is missing.
Jan wants to afford ballet lessons for her daughter Ellen and has taken on a second job doing calligraphy on party invitations. When Nancy gets wind of it she gives Jan a warning, which Jan ignores, getting fired in the process. The B-plot revolves around Dot's audition for a 1940s period piece. When she discovers a stain on her vintage ensemble, she asks to borrow Nancy's jeweled pin to cover it up - then loses the pin.
Many cast members having theatre backgrounds really ups the quality of episodes like this one. Everyone is giving a very believable performance. When the girls cover for Jan, here they are more reluctant than they were in the pilot. Calm and cool Lois is seen getting more annoyed and increasingly fed-up. The whole episode is a nod to the plight of single working mothers, but it is done in a more subtle way than would be done on DESIGNING WOMEN.
The highlight is the showdown scene in the middle. Nancy dresses her down for slacking off so Jan strikes back with a very personal insult, then immediately regrets it. The tension is palpable and both actresses are excellent. They are so good it's actually a little uncomfortable to watch Jan beg for forgiveness.
The sisterhood among the female characters is once again solidified when they all stay after work to help Jan complete the invitations.
There are several minutes of footage missing from the current print that airs on TV and streaming services: We don't see the kitchen scene where Nancy agrees to loan Dot the pin. Without it the situation is a little confusing.
Sonny singing "Oklahoma" at the piano wearing a cowboy hat is cut.
The tag scene establishes that Dot has found the pin and when she tries to return it, Nancy haggles to buy it back for less than what Dot reimbursed her for losing it. It's a shame so much of Gail Edwards' contribution to this episode is missing.
