Daniel Palladino Movies

If nothing else, the extremely shortlived Fox comedy series The Return of Jezebel James will make a nice answer to the trivia question "In what 2008 TV show did the title character never appear?" Indie-film favorite Parker Posey starred as Sarah Thomkins, a successful editor of children's books. Recently divorced and presently involved with with handsome business executive Marcus Sonti (Scott Cohen), Sarah wanted more than anything to have a baby, but the doctors had told her that she was unable to conceive. In desperation, Sarah sought out her long-estranged younger sister Coco (Lauren Ambrose) and asked her to be a surrogate mother. At first the freespirited Coco refused, but finally acquiesced when Sarah informed her that she had transformed "Jezebel James", Coco's childhood imaginary friend, into the heroine of a new series of kiddie books. In one fell swoop, the nonexistent Jezebel went from the wedge that had driven the sisters apart, to the link that brought them back together. Outside of the above mentioned actors, the only other series regulars of consequence were Ron McLarty as Sarah and Coco's dad Ronald and Michael Arden as Sarah's obsequious assistant Buddy. Quirky to the point of irritation, The Return of Jezebel James was cancelled three weeks after its debut on March 14, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Health issues dominate this episode, as Lorelai (Lauren Graham) becomes Emily's (Kelly Bishop) chauffeur after the latter's eye surgery, and Rory (Alexis Bledel) tends to Logan's every need upon his return from the hospital. Though physically on the mend, Logan (Matt Czuchry) suffers emotionally when he reads a scathing newspaper interview granted by his father Mitchum. Elsewhere, Luke (Scott Patterson) finds out that his sister Liz (Kathleen Wilhoite) is pregnant; Jackson (Jackson Douglas) and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) must quickly dispose of a marijuana crop left behind by his former employees; and a surprise gift from her parents knocks Lorelai for a loop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Luke (Scott Patterson) are invited to the Huntzberger house on Martha's Vineyard for Valentine's Day weekend. Luke arrives still harboring hostility toward Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry), but this is quickly dissipated when Logan bails Luke out by finding a Valentine's gift for Lorelai. Alas, the weekend degenerates into a shouting match, as Logan is browbeaten by his publisher father Mitchum (Gregg Henry) for failing to follow in his footsteps -- and to top it off, Lorelei is miffed at Luke for worrying more about his daughter than their upcoming wedding. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Angry at her dad Christopher (David Sutcliffe) for his supposed interference in the Lorelei-Luke romance, Rory (Alexis Bledel) cuts him dead when he shows up at Yale. On a happier note, Rory's grandparents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) forget their mutual animosity long enough to care for a stray dog. And as Stars Hollow is blanketed by the year's first snowfall, competition heats up for the pivotal role of the "Woman of Questionable Morals" in the town's annual Revolutionary War Reenactment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Reluctantly assisted by Luke (Scott Patterson), Taylor (Michael Winters) sets about to transform Old Man Twickham's house into a museum -- but only for a two-month period. Elsewhere, Miss Patty (Liz Torres) serves up some potent punch, whereupon Rory (Alexis Bledel), Paris (Liza Weil) and Lane (Keiko Agena) boozily discuss their "boy problems." And Lorelai (Lauren Graham) worries that the magazine article about the Dragonfly will include her harsh remarks about her mother. Singer Carole King appears as music-shop owner Sophie Bloom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) returns to town, only to get a very cold shoulder when Rory (Alexis Bledel) introduces him to Logan (Matt Czuchry). Even so, Jess' presence causes Rory to do some deep thinking about her future. Meanwhile, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) devotes all her spare time and energy to her dog Paul Anka in an effort to forget her troubles. And Luke (Scott Patterson) is shocked by the brutality of the middle-school girls' soccer team that he has agreed to manage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although poor ratings had compelled the Fox network to cancel its iconoclastic, cutting-edge cartoon series Family Guy at the end of its third season in 2002, the series' astonishing popularity in rerun form on cable's Cartoon Network coupled with the spectacular sales posted by the property's initial DVD release in 2003, prompted Fox to revive the show, with brand new episodes beginning in the spring of 2005. The first of the 14 comeback adventures of the supremely dysfunctional Griffin family is "North By North Quahog," which, in addition to its expected Hitchcockian undertones, manages to find time to skewer Mel Gibson's controversial The Passion of the Christ. In later episodes, the Griffin's family dog, Brian, ends up as a substitute teacher for high-risk kids; dad Peter Griffin swallows a bunch of nickels, goes blind, and accidentally becomes a hero in a story that somehow also accommodates a guest voice appearance by Judd Hirsch; nebbishy neighbor Cleveland goes into "worm turns" mode when he is told that his wife, Loretta, has been fooling around with the libidinous Glen Quagmire; Peter takes an intelligence test and winds up losing custody of his kids (and his wife); Brian shows up as a contestant on "The Bachelorette," while son Chris Griffin is afflicted with a demonic talking pimple. Later, to pay his pharmacy bill, Peter sells daughter Meg to the druggist's son; mom Lois' kleptomania forces the family to take refuge in "Asian Town"; and Lois earns "real money" as a model in her spare time ("And so can you!"); after spending several months marooned on a desert island, Peter finds that he is even more expendable than Tom Hanks; and actor James Woods becomes Peter's very best friend -- and refuses to leave the house. Taking all this into consideration, the season finale, in which Peter and Lois go the Laverne & Shirley route at their local brewery, is as traditionalist as an episode of The Waltons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Much to the dismay of Lorelai (Lauren Graham) , the magazine article about the Dragonfly Inn still includes her harsh comments about Emily (Kelly Bishop). In other developments, Emily sponsors a Russian ballet dancer; Luke (Scott Patterson) puts in a bid for the Twickenham estate; and Rory (Alexis Bledel) may lose her internship on the newspaper before it can even get under way. But the evening's big news concerns Sookie (Melissa McCarthy), who goes into labor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard (Edward Herrmann) wants to reconcile with Floyd Stiles (Lawrence Pressman), father of his business partner Jason (Christopher Eigeman), but this proves difficult for two reasons: Richard now knows of the relationship between Jason and Lorelai (Lauren Graham), and Floyd intends to sue both Richard and his own son for stealing his clients. Meanwhile, Rory (Alexis Bledel) blows her top when she learns that Dean (Jared Padalecki) has no intention of continuing his education. And Dean's wife Lindsay (Arielle Kebbel) finally figures out that her husband's heart still belongs to Rory. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Newly divorced, Luke (Scott Patterson) realizes with startling suddenness that there is only one woman in the world for him (guess who?) Elsewhere, Rory (Alexis Bledel) worries that she might be the cause of the disintegrating marriage of Dean and Lindsay. Luke's daffy sister Liz (Kathleen Wilhoite) and her oafish beau T.J. (Michael DeLuise) decide to tie the knot in Stars Hollow. And when Professor Fleming (Michael York) is rushed to the E.R. with chest pains, Paris (Liza Weil) begins to question the wisdom of continuing her romance with him -- not so much because of the difference in ages, but because she appears to be the latest in a long line of casual campus affairs for the good professor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lorelai (Lauren Graham) is so preoccupied with getting the Dragonfly up and running, and Rory (Alexis Bledel) is so busy trying to catch up with her college class work, that the two Gilmores keep missing each other on the phone. Nor is this the only problem facing the main characters in this episode: for example, Lorelai's dad Richard (Edward Herrmann) is shocked when his mother Trix (Marion Ross) suddenly treats him as disdainfully as she does his wife, Emily (Kelly Bishop). And having been kicked out of her own house, Lane (Keiko Agena) is making a total nuisance of herself on the Yale campus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rory (Alexis Bledel) draws closer to Logan (Matt Czuchry) when she goes undercover to write a story about Yale's super-secret "Life and Death Brigade". Elsewhere, Emily (Kelly Bishop) is now aware of the relationship between Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Luke (Scott Patterson), but Lorelai is still reluctant to invite Luke to one of her mother's famous (or infamous!) Friday Night Dinners. And fellow band members Lane (Keiko Agena) and Zach (Todd Lowe) go on their first date--without ever leaving Lane's home. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

At the urging of editor Doyle (Danny Strong) at the Yale Daily News, Rory (Alexis Bledel) writes a scathingly honest review of a ballet performance -- and begins receiving threatening letters as a result. Back in Stars Hollow, Lorelei (Lauren Graham) does not take well to the news that Luke (Scott Patterson) is still dating his ex-wife Nicole (Tricia O'Kelley); Jason (Christopher Eigeman) causes family friction when he wangles an invite to Richard and Emily's Friday Night Dinner; and Lane (Keiko Agena) is upset by a gift which her mother (Emily Kuroda) wants to send to her long-distance boyfriend, Dave. Finally, Michel (Yanic Truesdale) reports for work at the Dragonfly, only to be banned from meeting with new mom Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) because of a very slight head cold. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide