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The Return of Jezebel James
Common Sense Media says
Sibling rivalry sitcom is best for older teens.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the reproductive focus of this sitcom's central plot -- a successful but single woman in her 30s suddenly decides she wants to have a baby and ends up enlisting a surrogate -- means that a lot of the dialogue revolves around pregnancy and sex. That said, the references are usually suggestive and comic rather than graphic. Characters drink socially and occasionally swear (though "hell" and "damn" are about as strong as it gets).
What's the story?
In THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES, indie film darling Parker Posey stars as recently single Sarah Tompkins, a successful, stylish children's book editor in her 30s who decides that she doesn't need a husband to have children. But it turns out she can't conceive on her own, so she seeks out her estranged bohemian sister, Coco (Lauren Ambrose), and asks her to be her surrogate. The sisters' newly forged but tenuous partnership has them living under the same roof in Sarah's swanky digs, where they ultimately discover that they do, in fact, love each other -- and that they need each other more than ever.
Is it any good?
It's kind of odd to see Posey in something with a laugh track that isn't meant to be ironic, but fans of her big-screen work on should give her first stab at headlining a TV sitcom a fighting chance. Posey's talent for delivering dialogue gets her through more than one so-so joke, and her interplay with Ambrose is particularly fun to watch. The scenes that feature just the two of them are a definite highlight.
That said, the show suffers from a few improbable plot points -- like the fact that Sarah essentially decides to have a baby in the span of a two-and-a-half minute commercial break without fully realizing that it will change her life forever. But once the action gets going, Jezebel James (in case you were wondering, the show's title refers to Coco's mischievous imaginary childhood friend, Jezebel James, who once ate three months' worth of Sarah's birth control pills, among other pranks) is a fun way to spend 30 minutes, with memorable supporting characters and a unique storyline that has real potential.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the challenges that many women face in terms of wanting to "have it all": a successful career, a family, and a fulfilling romantic relationship. Do men have to make similar choices when it comes to their personal and professional lives, or is this a dilemma that only women face? In terms of Sarah's motivations, why do you think she really wants to have a baby at this point in her life? Do you think she's prepared for the realities of raising a child? Do you think she'll be a good mother? How does the media typically present parenthood? Is it realistic?
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | Fox |
| Cast: | Lauren Ambrose, Parker Posey, Scott Cohen |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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