An episode involving gender issues that is funny as well as thought provoking, this deals with sexual harassment by client Ted LePlat to Mary Jo, and upsetting Julia when she gets smacked by him as his idea of a friendly greeting. While Suzanne and Charlene find him attractive, Mary Jo is scared of losing a valuable client, something that Julia isn't concerned about when it involves the safety of her team. A date with J.D. shows the difference in men, with LePlat's Hence so smog in his treatment of women that he sings his looks will allow him to get away with anything. J.D., equally as attractive, is a complete gentleman, and he is disgusted by the thought of his girl being abused under any circumstance. The episode culminates with potential violence when Hence goes way too far, but a white knight steps in at the perfect time, but finds that Mary Jo has managed to take care of herself.
LePlat, who made a name for himself in the 1970's and 80's playing darkly handsome villains on several soap operas, is perfect here, using his fake charm to be obviously smarmy and smug. While the storyline surrounds Mary Jo's issue, all of the girls have an opportunity to have something important to say, and it's nice to see the naive Charlene and the selfish Suzanne come around when they realize what Hence is really all about. The thomason's show their light side of loving life by showing Charlene's love of music, singing into a big magic marker, and denying it when caught by Suzanne and Julia. This is a perfect episode that does not become too preachy like some later episodes would, and even in gay bars when it first was shown in the 1980's, got a round of applause with how Hence is dealt with.
LePlat, who made a name for himself in the 1970's and 80's playing darkly handsome villains on several soap operas, is perfect here, using his fake charm to be obviously smarmy and smug. While the storyline surrounds Mary Jo's issue, all of the girls have an opportunity to have something important to say, and it's nice to see the naive Charlene and the selfish Suzanne come around when they realize what Hence is really all about. The thomason's show their light side of loving life by showing Charlene's love of music, singing into a big magic marker, and denying it when caught by Suzanne and Julia. This is a perfect episode that does not become too preachy like some later episodes would, and even in gay bars when it first was shown in the 1980's, got a round of applause with how Hence is dealt with.