HAPPY ENDINGS: OF MICE & JAZZ-KWON-DO (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about six Chicago friends trying to keep their group together after a romantic upheaval.
Brad and Max advise Dave to unpack some of his things, as he has been living with them for several months. Penny is fearful for her safety after a break-in in her neighborhood, and Jane suggests that she take a self-defense class. She decides to do so and starts taking Krav Maga lessons and becomes obnoxiously assertive. Meanwhile, Alex calls Dave, frightened because she has found a mouse in her apartment. Brad sets Max up with a guy from his office, Franklin, on a date, but Max finds him incredibly dull. Max accuses Brad of setting him up with Franklin just because they are both gay, and also claims that Brad is “gaycist,” i.e. that he believes that all gay people are attracted to each other. Jane joins Penny in one of her Krav Maga lessons and Penny finds that Jane outclasses her easily. Dave installs a mousetrap in Alex’s apartment and Alex leaves him alone there to deal with it. While she is out he reminisces about living there, and finds himself missing Alex’s shower facilities, which are much better than the ones at Brad and Max’s apartment. He takes the opportunity to have a luxurious bubble bath in her bathroom while claiming to be searching for the mouse, even though his trap has successfully snatched it. He continues to claim not to be able to catch it so he can use her bathroom, and during this time he fixes several broken things around the apartment. Alex finds that she enjoys having him fix things for her, and so surreptitiously lets the mouse go so he can continue to come over.
Brad tells Jane about Max’s “gaycism” accusations, and she seems to think they may have some credence. Brad intends to show Max he is not “gaycist” by demonstrating that he and Franklin have more in common than just their homosexuality. Jane is convinced that Penny is enjoying herself as much as she is at Krav Maga, but in truth Penny is now terrified of her. Max points out to Alex that it is odd that Dave is spending so much time at the apartment they used to share. He also notes that Dave still seems reluctant to fully move in with him, and implies that he is taking the opportunity to try to get back together with her. She rushes back to the apartment and finds Dave lounging in his underwear as he hastily tries to concoct an excuse. He tries to explain that he has been taking advantage of her shower, but she mistakes this as a plea to get back together and tells him that he should go. Penny decides to learn “jazz-kwon-do,” a combination dance style and martial art, rather than Krav Maga, claiming that Jane is making things too “intense.” Jane believes that this will not help her in the event of a robbery or potential murderer, but Penny says she prefers it this way.
Dave tries to adjust to Max’s shower but it violently breaks, causing him to panic when he is sprayed with rancid water. Brad engineers another meeting between Max and Franklin, who makes an effort to try to relate to Max by discussing his interests, although his attempts are transparent and poorly executed. Max sees through this attempt, but surprisingly says that he is willing to give Franklin a second chance. He proposes that the three of them hang out together and Brad agrees. Alex allows Penny to stay in her apartment, as she is too unnerved by Jane. She enters and is approached by someone whom she immediately punches and throws to the ground. It turns out to be Dave, who snuck into Alex’s apartment to use her shower. She points out that he cannot keep coming back in this way and needs to accept that he doesn’t live there anymore. Brad tries to coach Franklin on how to behave around Max, although he has difficulty doing so. In order to prove a point, Max brings an old African-American woman he met to meet with them, demonstrating that a single shared trait among different people does not automatically ensure attraction between them. Brad is forced to admit that he is a “gaycist,” satisfying Max.
Penny, her confidence restored, challenges Jane to a fight during her Krav Maga class. Alex visits Dave and apologizes for kicking him out, believing that she was rude to do so. Dave makes it plain that he was only interested in using her shower and not in rekindling their relationship. He is somewhat smug about the fact that she apparently still has feelings for him, and has taken more steps to embracing Brad and Max’s place as his own. Penny manages to beat Jane using a combination of Krav Maga and “Jazz-Kwon-Do” techniques. This manages to resolve their differences and their friendship is restored. Penny ends up instructing all the other friends in her “Jazz-Kwon-Do” moves. Includes commercials.
(This is the first of two programs on this asset. For synopsis and credits of the second, "Happy Endings: Dave of the Dead," see ACCNUM 121873).
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 4, 2011 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 106434
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBT Collection; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2011-2013
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – AT&T phone service
- TV – Commercials – Carefree panty liners
- TV – Commercials – Claritin antihistamine
- TV – Commercials – Emerald breakfast food
- TV – Commercials – Estee Lauder perfume
- TV – Commercials – JCPenney department stores
- TV – Commercials – Kay jewelers
- TV – Commercials – Macy’s department stores
- TV – Commercials – Motorola tablets
- TV – Commercials – Propel Zero vitamin water
- TV – Commercials – Verizon phone service
- TV – Commercials – Volkswagen automobiles
- TV – Commercials – “Bridesmaids” motion picture
- TV – Commercials – “Something Borrowed” motion picture
- TV – Promos – “2011 Billboard Music Awards”
- TV – Promos – “Desperate Housewives”
- TV – Promos – “Grey’s Anatomy”
- TV – Promos – “Happy Endings”
- TV – Promos – “Private Practice”
- TV – Promos – “Wipeout”
CREDITS
- Jonathan Groff … Executive Producer
- Jamie Tarses … Executive Producer
- Joe Russo … Executive Producer
- Anthony Russo … Executive Producer
- David Caspe … Co-Executive Producer, Created by
- Josh Bycel … Co-Executive Producer
- Gail Lerner … Co-Executive Producer
- Prentice Penny … Producer
- Matthew Nodella … Producer
- Alan Brent Connell … Co-Producer
- Jason Scott Kavner … Associate Producer
- Steve Mesner … Associate Producer
- David Guarascio … Consulting Producer
- Moses Port … Consulting Producer
- Steven Cragg … Consulting Producer
- Brian Bradley … Consulting Producer
- Troy Miller … Director
- Rob Kerkovich … Writer
- Todd Waldman … Writer
- Ludwig Göransson … Music by
- Anne Fletcher … Choreographer
- Eliza Coupe … Cast, Jane Williams
- Elisha Cuthbert … Cast, Alex Kerkovich
- Zachary Knighton … Cast, Dave Rose
- Adam Pally … Cast, Max Blum
- Damon Wayans, Jr. … Cast, Brad Williams
- Casey Wilson … Cast, Penny Hartz
- Kevin Christy … Cast, Franklin
- Gil Ozeri … Cast, Yoni
- Patricia Forte … Cast, Miss Mary
- Nancy Sinclair … Cast, Instructor