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Jennifer Falls
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| Jennifer Falls | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Matthew Carlson |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Chris Allen Lee |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | TV Land |
| Release | June 4 – August 13, 2014 |
Jennifer Falls is an American sitcom created by Matthew Carlson, and starring Jaime Pressly in the title role. The series premiered on TV Land on June 4, 2014, and is the first single-camera comedy series for the network.[1][2] It was cancelled on October 3, 2014, after ten episodes.[3]
Plot
[edit]The series follows Jennifer Doyle (Jaime Pressly), a single mother who, after losing her high salary job, has to move back in with her mother, Maggie (Jessica Walter). From there, Jennifer must reassess her life and figure out how to rebuild.
Cast
[edit]Main
[edit]- Jaime Pressly as Jennifer Doyle
- Jessica Walter as Maggie Doyle, Jennifer's mother
- Missi Pyle as Dina Simac, Jennifer's childhood friend
- Ethan Suplee as Wayne Doyle, Jennifer's brother
- Nora Kirkpatrick as Stephanie Doyle, Jennifer's sister-in-law
- Dylan Gelula as Gretchen Doyle, Jennifer's daughter
Recurring
[edit]- Chris D'Elia as Adam, Jennifer's younger ex-boyfriend and Gretchen's father
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Pilot" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Matthew Carlson | June 4, 2014 | 0.890[4] | |
|
Despite being a top performer, Jennifer is fired from her VP position at a Fortune 500 company because her anger issues have made both customers and co-workers afraid to work with her. Broke and soon to be homeless, she and her daughter, Gretchen, are forced to move back in with Jennifer's mother, Maggie. To make ends meet, Jennifer accepts a position at her brother Wayne's sports bar, where she must now deal with her condescending sister-in-law, Stephanie, being her boss. Jennifer also tries to figure out why her childhood friend, Dina, refuses to speak to her. | ||||||
| 2 | "Health Club" | Peter Lauer | Michael Glouberman | June 11, 2014 | 0.744[5] | |
|
Jennifer realizes she still has a year left on her posh health club membership. After a failed attempt to get a partial refund, she decides to spend a day in the spa and runs into two women from her old office. Desperate to keep up appearances, Jennifer agrees to dinner with the women, which forces her to cancel the bowling-dinner plans she had made with Dina. To make things right, Jennifer takes Dina to a concert by her favorite group, The Black Keys, only to ditch Dina again when she discovers her workmates are in a luxury box at the concert along with Jennifer's former client. Elsewhere, Maggie tries to convince Wayne and Stephanie that they are running out of time to give her a grandchild. | ||||||
| 3 | "Triangle" | Peter Lauer | Matthew Carlson | June 18, 2014 | 0.734[6] | |
| 4 | "The Virginity Thief" | Peter Lauer | Todd Linden | June 25, 2014 | 0.681[7] | |
|
Jennifer and Dina discover that an old classmate is still in town, and that he took the virginity of each on the same night back in the mid-90s. They are determined to get back at him, but each falls for his games once again. Elsewhere, Wayne discovers his grandmother's ring that Stephanie is wearing is a fake, and Maggie admits she made a duplicate and kept the original because she didn't think the marriage would last. Wayne tries to guilt his mom into buying his forgiveness, but Maggie is one step ahead of him. | ||||||
| 5 | "Staycation" | Victor Nelli Jr. | Matthew Carlson | July 9, 2014 | 0.665[8] | |
|
Unable to afford the trip to Bora Bora that Jennifer had promised to Gretchen for her good grades, she instead rewards her daughter with a fun “staycation” in the backyard. But unexpected job interviews and family drama threaten to ruin the party. | ||||||
| 6 | "School Trouble" | Eyal Gordin | Christine Zander | July 16, 2014 | 0.454[9] | |
|
When Gretchen gets suspended for a skirmish at school, and there is evidence that she is involved in more trouble, Jennifer realizes she hasn't been there to help her daughter grow up. So she consults the woman who knows Gretchen the most: her former maid, Lupe. While waiting with Jennifer to see the principal about Gretchen, Dina notices her name is no longer on the trophy for the basketball scoring record. She seeks out the girl who broke her record, and challenges her to a one-on-one contest. Elsewhere, Wayne is trying every trick in the book to get Stephanie pregnant, but Stephanie is secretly still taking the pill. | ||||||
| 7 | "Three Dates with My Mother" | Jeff Melman | Matthew Carlson | July 23, 2014 | 0.568[10] | |
|
A stressed-out Jennifer convinces her entire family to see a psychiatrist (Kurt Fuller) for family counseling, which rubs her psychologist mother the wrong way. The counselor suggests that Wayne be more assertive with Stephanie, and orders Jennifer and Maggie to go on a dinner date and have an honest discussion about their issues. He also suggests that Jennifer should give Gretchen a week to do whatever she wants, as long as she still attends school and does nothing illegal. Near the end of the week, Gretchen realizes she is out of control and begs to have boundaries again. | ||||||
| 8 | "Dads and Dogs" | Rebecca Asher | Susan Beavers | July 30, 2014 | 0.614[11] | |
|
Adam, Gretchen's dad, comes back into hers and her mother's life. Though he has always been an easy target for blame, the tables are turned when he gives Gretchen a car and announces he's finally signed a major record deal. Meanwhile, Wayne gets a dog and struggles to keep the pet in line. But when he comes up with a solution to training the pet, Stephanie sees that he might actually make a good father. | ||||||
| 9 | "Everybody Loves Adam" | Victor Nelli Jr. | Bryan Behar & Steve Baldikoski | August 6, 2014 | 0.768[12] | |
|
Jennifer and Adam both attend Gretchen's school debate, which her team wins. Gretchen decides to attend the school's father-daughter dance with Adam, which upsets Wayne, who had already made plans to accompany his niece. Adam makes things worse when Gretchen's teacher praises how well she was raised, and he takes the credit. Elsewhere, Stephanie tries to become "besties" with Dina, and shares her secret about taking the pill behind Wayne's back. | ||||||
| 10 | "Jennifer's Song" | Jeff Melman | Marsh McCall | August 13, 2014 | 0.619[13] | |
|
Jennifer and Adam make plans to move into his home, which thrills Gretchen. Jennifer later learns, however, that Adam not only kept a secret about having a green card wife, but he also lied about his record deal and owes a recording studio $8,000 (plus one Greek yogurt). Meanwhile, Stephanie confides to Maggie "as a patient" that she has deceived Wayne, causing Maggie to try and break the news to a clueless Wayne by way of a thinly-veiled story. | ||||||
Production and development
[edit]On August 5, 2013, TV Land placed a multi-camera pilot order on Jennifer Falls, with Jaime Pressly identified for the lead role. The pilot was written by Matthew Carlson. Larry W. Jones, Jaime Pressly, Keith Cox, Mindy Schultheis and Michael Hanel serve as executive producers, alongside Acme Productions.[14]
Casting announcements on the remaining series regular roles began in September 2013, with Missi Pyle first cast in the role of Dina, Jennifer's childhood best friend, who is hesitant to restart the friendship when Jennifer returns to town.[15] Dylan Gelula was the next actor cast in the series regular role of Gretchen, Jennifer's energetic and complicated daughter.[16] Jessica Walter then joined the series as Maggie, Jennifer's warm and welcoming yet slightly narcissistic mother.[17] Shortly after, Nora Kirkpatrick and Joel David Moore were cast in the series, with Kirkpatrick cast in the role of Stephanie, Jennifer's sister-in-law and new boss. Moore was tapped play the role of Wayne, Jennifer's brother who owns the bar where she begins to work.[18]
On January 27, 2014, TV Land placed a series order on Jennifer Falls, set to premiere in 2014. The series was originally conceived as a multi-camera before being converted into single-camera.[2] A month after the series order, Ethan Suplee replaced Joel David Moore in the role of Wayne, reuniting Pressly and Suplee who had previously co-starred together in My Name is Earl.[19] Jennifer Falls is the second TV Land original series in which Jessica Walter has appeared, following the sitcom Retired at 35 which was cancelled in 2012 after two seasons.[20]
Reception
[edit]On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an aggregate score of 56% based on 5 positive and 4 negative critic reviews.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ "TV Land Announces Summer Premiere Dates". The Futon Critic. March 26, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (January 27, 2014). "TV Lands Picks Up 'Jennifer Falls' As First Single-Camera Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ "'Jennifer Falls' Cancelled After One Season At TV Land". Deadline Hollywood. October 3, 2014. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023.
- ^ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: Game 1 of Stanley Cup Finals Wins Demo Race". The Futon Critic. June 5, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ^ @SonoftheBronx (June 16, 2014). "For TV Land on 6/11/14, in viewers: #HotInCleveland 776k, #JenniferFalls 744k" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: "So You Think You Can Dance" Tops Originals in Viewers, Demos". The Futon Critic. June 19, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: CBS Tops Originals with Return of "Big Brother"". The Futon Critic. June 26, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ^ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: "Extant," "Big Brother 16" Top Charts". The Futon Critic. July 10, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ^ Salem, Mitch (July 17, 2014). "UPDATED: THE SKED CABLE/NETWORK WEDNESDAY SCORECARD - 7/16/14". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- ^ "Wednesday 7/23/14 - TV Media Insights - TV Ratings & News - Network TV Show Reviews and Daily Ratings". TV Media Insights. July 24, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (July 31, 2014). "UPDATED: THE SKED CABLE/NETWORK WEDNESDAY SCORECARD - 7/30/14". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (August 7, 2014). "UPDATED: THE SKED CABLE/NETWORK WEDNESDAY SCORECARD - 8/6/14". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "Wednesday 8/13/14 - TV Media Insights - TV Ratings & News - Network TV Show Reviews and Daily Ratings". TV Media Insights. August 14, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ "Jaime Pressly Cast in New TV Land Pilot "Jennifer Falls"". The Futon Critic. August 5, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 18, 2013). "Missi Pyle to Co-Star in TV Land's 'Jennifer Falls' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ "Development Update: Friday, October 4". The Futon Critic. October 4, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ Ng, Philiana (October 14, 2013). "'Arrested Development's' Jessica Walter Joins TV Land's 'Jennifer Falls' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 16, 2013). "NBC Series 'Crossbones' Casts Duo; Three Added To TV Land Pilot 'Jennifer Falls'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (February 28, 2014). "Scoop: Ethan Suplee Joins Earl Costar Jaime Pressly's TV Land Comedy Jennifer Falls". TV Line. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Breaking News - Development Update: Monday, January 4". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ "Jennifer Falls". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
External links
[edit]Jennifer Falls
View on GrokipediaSeries overview
Premise
Jennifer Falls centers on Jennifer Doyle, portrayed by Jaime Pressly, a single mother and former high-powered investment banker who loses her job due to anger management issues and relocates to her small hometown with her teenage daughter, Gretchen.[7][8] Unable to maintain her previous lifestyle, she moves in with her eccentric mother, Maggie, a meddling therapist who is overbearing yet deeply loving, while taking a job as a waitress at her brother Wayne's sports bar, where she works for his wife, Stephanie.[7][1] At the heart of the series are Jennifer's motivations to rebuild her professional career and stabilize her family life after her sudden fall from success, often clashing with the quirky dynamics of her relatives. Wayne, played by Ethan Suplee, is an immature bar owner whose laid-back attitude frequently frustrates Jennifer's ambitious nature, while interactions with Maggie highlight tensions between independence and familial reliance. Meanwhile, Gretchen, portrayed by Dylan Gelula, grapples with adapting to small-town high school life, navigating new social challenges away from the urban environment she knew in Los Angeles.[7][2] The narrative explores themes of midlife reinvention, where Jennifer confronts the realities of starting over, underscoring the impacts of personal setbacks on ambitions. Family dysfunction serves as a core element, with humorous yet poignant depictions of generational conflicts and unconditional support amid everyday chaos. Overall, the series delves into economic downfall's ripple effects, portraying resilience through humor and relational bonds.[1][8][9]Format and style
Jennifer Falls employs a single-camera comedy format, representing TV Land's inaugural original scripted series in this style, which prioritizes location-based filming and naturalistic visuals over the audience-facing, soundstage-bound production typical of multi-camera sitcoms.[1] This approach, adopted after an initial multi-camera development phase, enables more fluid camera work and authentic environmental integration, distinguishing it from the network's prior reliance on traditional taped-before-a-live-studio-audience comedies.[10] By forgoing laugh tracks and static setups, the series achieves a contemporary, cinematic feel that aligns with evolving viewer expectations for comedic storytelling.[11] Episodes adhere to a 21-minute runtime, standard for half-hour network broadcasts excluding commercials, allowing for tight pacing within the half-hour slot.[12] The narrative structure interweaves workplace comedy at the central bar setting with familial drama unfolding at home, creating a rhythmic alternation between group banter in professional scenarios and intimate, character-focused moments that build emotional layers.[13] This blend supports concise story arcs per installment, emphasizing relational dynamics over extended subplots. Visually and tonally, Jennifer Falls captures small-town Americana through its small-town settings, featuring everyday establishments like the family bar that evoke a sense of nostalgic community amid contemporary challenges.[8] The light-hearted comedic tone incorporates subtle dramatic undertones, fostering a relatable warmth via quick-witted dialogue and ensemble interactions that highlight group chemistry without resorting to exaggerated antics.[14] This stylistic restraint results in a polished, ensemble-driven aesthetic that balances humor with heartfelt exploration of personal reinvention.[1]Cast
Main cast
The main cast of Jennifer Falls centers on a dysfunctional family and their close-knit circle, driving the series' humor through interpersonal conflicts, generational tensions, and workplace dynamics at the local bar. Jaime Pressly stars as Jennifer Doyle, the protagonist and a resilient but frustrated former executive who loses her high-paying investment banking job due to anger management issues, forcing her to return to her hometown, take a waitressing job at her brother's bar, and manage single motherhood while rebuilding her life.[2][1] Jessica Walter plays Maggie Doyle, Jennifer's mother and a charming yet narcissistic psychotherapist whose boundary issues and overinvolvement in her daughter's affairs generate much of the show's comic relief through sharp-witted interference.[2][15][16] Ethan Suplee portrays Wayne Doyle, Jennifer's immature brother and the laid-back owner of the local sports bar, whose slacker tendencies and easygoing but unreliable nature spark frequent sibling rivalries and highlight family dependencies.[2][17] Missi Pyle appears as Dina, Wayne's no-nonsense bartender and Jennifer's longtime childhood friend who now works at the bar, contributing lively workplace banter and occasional grudges stemming from past divergences in their lives.[2][17] Nora Kirkpatrick is cast as Stephanie Doyle, Wayne's wife and Jennifer's condescending sister-in-law who serves as her boss at the bar, adding layers of tension through her passive-aggressive interactions with the Doyle family.[2][15] Dylan Gelula depicts Gretchen Doyle, Jennifer's energetic and complicated teenage daughter, whose witty rebellion and generational clashes with her mother underscore themes of adolescence and family adaptation in their reduced circumstances.[2][18]Recurring cast
Chris D'Elia portrayed Adam, Jennifer's ex-boyfriend and Gretchen's absentee father, in three episodes of the series.[2] His character returns to town as a seemingly successful figure, injecting drama into family dynamics through his charming yet unreliable nature, such as when he receives undue credit for Gretchen's upbringing or proposes they move in together while hiding secrets.[19][20] Adam's appearances highlight tensions in Jennifer's relationships without dominating the central narrative. Other recurring supporting roles included Leslie A. Hughes as the unnamed waitress at the sports bar where Jennifer works, appearing in three episodes to provide background interactions in workplace subplots.[21] Nick Roux played Taylor, Gretchen's laid-back new boyfriend at school, in two episodes as a recurring guest star, complicating Jennifer's efforts to reconnect with her daughter.[22]Episodes
Aired episodes
The first season of Jennifer Falls consisted of ten episodes that aired on TV Land from June 4 to August 13, 2014, typically in the 10:30 p.m. ET Wednesday slot following Hot in Cleveland, with the pilot airing at 10:00 p.m. The series averaged approximately 700,000–800,000 total viewers per episode, with the premiere drawing a higher 0.27 rating in adults 18–49 (estimated at around 1 million viewers) and the series finale attracting 610,000 viewers.[23][5] The episodes are detailed in the table below, including brief synopses focused on key events.| No. | Title | Air date | Synopsis | Viewers (total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | June 4, 2014 | Jennifer Doyle, a high-powered investment banker and single mother, is fired for her anger management issues and loses her lavish lifestyle. She reluctantly moves back to her small hometown of Falls with her teenage daughter Gretchen to live with her eccentric mother Maggie and takes a job waitressing at her brother Wayne's rowdy sports bar. The episode establishes the family dynamics and Jennifer's struggle to adapt to a simpler life.[24] | ~1,000,000 (est.) |
| 2 | Health Club | June 11, 2014 | Jennifer attempts to recapture her former upscale lifestyle by rejoining her old luxury health club, where she reconnects with wealthy acquaintances from her past. This leads to tension with her new best friend Dina, as Jennifer tries to balance her old habits with her current reality at the sports bar. The plot highlights Jennifer's difficulty letting go of her previous status.[25] | 750,000 |
| 3 | Triangle | June 18, 2014 | Jennifer develops an instant attraction to a charming therapist she meets, but complications arise when she learns he is already dating her mother Maggie. The situation creates awkward family interactions and forces Jennifer to confront her competitive relationship with Maggie. Dina offers comic support amid the romantic mix-up. | N/A |
| 4 | The Virginity Thief | June 25, 2014 | Jennifer and Dina team up for revenge against a slick salesman who previously dated both of them, but their plan backfires when they find themselves charmed by him once again. The episode explores themes of vulnerability and past mistakes in relationships. Gretchen's subplot involves navigating high school social pressures. | N/A |
| 5 | Staycation | July 9, 2014 | To reward Gretchen's improved school performance, Jennifer organizes a relaxing staycation at home, but the day is disrupted by bar emergencies and family intrusions. Jennifer's attempts to create quality time reveal ongoing adjustment challenges. The plot underscores the blending of work and family life. | ~700,000 (est.) |
| 6 | School Trouble | July 16, 2014 | When Gretchen starts acting out at school, Jennifer launches an investigation into the cause, uncovering issues related to bullying and teenage angst. This leads to confrontations with school officials and reflections on her own parenting style. Wayne provides reluctant assistance in the family effort. | N/A |
| 7 | Three Dates with My Mother | July 23, 2014 | Maggie begins dating a seemingly perfect man, but Jennifer notices red flags after observing multiple dates, leading to meddling that strains their mother-daughter bond. The episode examines generational differences in romance and trust. Dina's subplot adds humor through her own dating mishaps. | N/A |
| 8 | Dads and Dogs | July 30, 2014 | Gretchen's long-absent father unexpectedly returns to town, claiming newfound success, which throws Jennifer into protective mode and stirs up old resentments. The visit prompts family discussions about responsibility and forgiveness. A side story involves Wayne's bar dealing with a stray dog. | 768,000 (est.) |
| 9 | Everybody Loves Adam | August 6, 2014 | An old flame of Jennifer's named Adam reappears and quickly wins over the family with his charisma, but Jennifer grows suspicious of his motives. The episode builds tension around trust and second chances in love. Gretchen bonds unexpectedly with Adam, complicating matters. | 768,000 |
| 10 | Jennifer's Song | August 13, 2014 | As the season finale, Jennifer channels her frustrations into writing a song about her experiences, leading to a bar performance that brings the family closer. Reflections on her journey from corporate executive to bar worker culminate in moments of growth. The plot ties up ongoing arcs with humor and heart. | 610,000 |
