"The Return of Jezebel James" (2008)TV series

Creator:

Amy Sherman
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

When a newly single, professional woman learns she's unable to conceive, she looks to her estranged younger sister to carry her baby for her.

Cast

Courtney Vine	...	Office Worker (4 episodes, 2008)
Parker Posey	...	Sarah Tompkins (3 episodes, 2008)
Lauren Ambrose	...	Coco Tompkins (3 episodes, 2008)
Scott Cohen	...	Marcus Sonti / ... (3 episodes, 2008)
Ron McLarty	...	Ronald Tompkins (3 episodes, 2008)
Michael Arden	...	Buddy (3 episodes, 2008)
Dianne Wiest	...	Talia Tompkins (2 episodes, 2008)
Ricky Garcia	...	Miguel / ... (2 episodes, 2008)
Dana Ivey	...	Molly (2 episodes, 2008)
Jasika Nicole	...	Dora / ... (2 episodes, 2008)
Jack Carpenter	...	Dash (2 episodes)

Series Directed by
Amy Sherman		(2 episodes, 2008)

Series Writing credits
Amy Sherman		(3 episodes, 2008)
Jim Armogida		(3 episodes)
Steve Armogida		(3 episodes)
Nancy Cohen		(3 episodes)
Eric Gilliland		(3 episodes)
Amy Harris		(3 episodes)
Dylan Morgan		(3 episodes)
Josh Siegal		(3 episodes)

Series Produced by
Dara Schnapper	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 2008)
Daniel Palladino	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Amy Sherman	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Donald A. Morgan		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Cindy Tolan		(3 episodes, 2008)
Jill Anthony		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Fredda Slavin		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Costume Design by
Catherine George		(6 episodes, 2008)
Susan Michalek		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Mark Schmidt	....	additional hair stylist (1 episode)

Series Production Management
James M. Huffman	....	post-production supervisor (6 episodes, 2008)
Wes Irwin	....	post-production manager (6 episodes, 2008)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Espinosa	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 2008)

Series Art Department
Julia G. Hickman	....	art department coordinator (6 episodes, 2008)
Ann Miller	....	property master (6 episodes, 2008)
Matthew Rignanese	....	art department (6 episodes, 2008)
Sarah Riggs	....	props / assistant property master (5 episodes, 2008)
Katie Kemsley	....	scenic artist (2 episodes, 2008)
Kevin L. Raper	....	additional graphic artist (2 episodes, 2008)
Charles E. McCarry	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes, 2007)
Ron Shulem	....	lead person (unknown episodes, 2007)
Jessica McDonald	....	on-set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Dan Guachione	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 2008)
Tamara Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kelly Britt	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 2008)
Rick Bruck	....	grip (6 episodes, 2008)
Justin Cheatham	....	lighting board operator (6 episodes, 2008)
Bruce Jordan	....	grip (6 episodes, 2008)
John Mazzola	....	dolly grip (6 episodes, 2008)
Brendan Quinlan	....	key grip (6 episodes, 2008)
Al Stetson	....	second grip (6 episodes, 2008)
Johnny Erbes	....	dolly grip (5 episodes, 2008)
Joe Doughan	....	dolly grip (3 episodes)
Jamie A. Marlowe	....	assistant camera (2 episodes, 2008)
Eric Felland	....	lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Michael Stumpf	....	steadicam operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Chrissy Fiorilli	....	casting associate (6 episodes, 2008)
Heather Reidenbach	....	extras casting (5 episodes, 2008)
Clint Alexander	....	casting coordinator: New York (unknown episodes)
Nickole Doro	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Maria Higgins	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Hofherr	....	assistant costume designer (6 episodes, 2008)
Nina Johnston	....	key costumer (6 episodes, 2008)
Jennifer M. Moore	....	set costumer (6 episodes, 2008)
Thomas Stokes	....	wardrobe supervisor (6 episodes, 2008)
Lauren Valentine	....	costume production assistant (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Editorial Department
Eric Lorenz	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 2008)

Series Transportation Department
Rich Bennetti	....	transportation captain (1 episode, 2008)
Paul Tumber	....	transportation (1 episode, 2008)

Series Other crew
Jenn Bubka	....	assistant to producer (6 episodes, 2008)
Erich Eilenberger	....	production assistant: Writers' Night (6 episodes, 2008)
Tina Yeh	....	production secretary (6 episodes, 2008)
Michael A. Becker	....	audience assistant (5 episodes, 2008)
Lisa Falzarano	....	background set production assistant (5 episodes, 2008)
William J. Hasler	....	script coordinator (5 episodes, 2008)
Dusty Sheckles	....	production assistant (2 episodes)

Production Companies

• Fox Broadcasting Company
• Regency Television

Distributors

• Fox Network (2007) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script clearance
• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Gotham Sound  walkies provided by

Also Known As:

Untitled Amy Sherman-Palladino Project (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Company:

Fox Broadcasting Company

Lorelai Lite (TM)

I'm a huge fan of Gilmore Girls and a huge part of my fanship (fandom? I'm not sure how to verbinate "being a fan of") is the dialogue: quicked-witted and intensely smart, it appealed to me on a fairly deep level. More than that, there was a real sense of character to back up not only Lorelai and Rory that made them more than just cardboard cut-out clichés. There was heart as much as there was humor so naturally I expected to find the same things in Amy Sherman-Palladino's newest show. But as anyone can attest, you can give the likes of Shakespeare to an ill-equipped actor and it will come off as clumsy. Whether or not it's the fault of Amy having phoned in a script that seems like it was culled from dropped scripts of GG, the show just doesn't work. Fact of the matter is that Parker Posey is a horrible stand-in for Lauren Graham's comedic talents and Posey seems to be overacting the material in front of her when the brilliance of AS-P's writing is that the jokes work best when the only laughing is from the viewer and not the "live studio audience". The laugh track *kills* the humor in the show.

What's more is that the dynamic between Sarah (Posey) and her on-screen younger sister Coco feels like it was transplanted haphazardly from Gilmore Girls, with Coco acting the role of Rory. It's infuriating because it feels like AS-P got lazy and went for the cheap laugh. I rate this show poorly because I feel that Amy Sherman-Palladino had the chance to follow up the six years of Gilmore Girls she was present for with another hit and that instead she delivered a thinly veiled insult to television audiences en masse.