HALF & HALF: THE BIG PILOT EPISODE {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The premiere of this comedy series about a pair of half-sisters living as neighbors after many years apart.
Mona Thorne is excited to get a new apartment; her father Charles owns the building and promised her the keys. Charles has been divorced from Mona’s mother Phyllis for many years and still do not enjoy each others’ presence. Charles reveals that he also promised the apartment to Mona’s half-sister Dee Dee, much to her resentment. He proposes that they share the apartment and use it as an opportunity to forge a friendship between the two of them. However, Mona detests Dee Dee for living a more privileged lifestyle and for her sense of entitlement. Dee Dee arrives and is excited to see Mona after many years apart, although Mona does not reciprocate her feelings. Big Dee Dee, Dee Dee’s mother, also arrives and makes snide remarks about Phyllis. She tries to coerce Mona into giving up the upstairs apartment for Dee Dee, and an argument breaks out. Eventually Charles gives it to Mona, but she discovers that the apartment is bereft of furnishings. She moves her things in with the help of her friend Spencer. She talks to him about her feelings concerning Dee Dee’s return, and how she feels as though Dee Dee has always been favored over her.
Dee Dee, having moved in to Mona’s old apartment, soon panics due to the presence of spiders. Mona suggests calling an exterminator and Dee Dee gets her to do it for her. She finds a “cute” one in the phone book and plans to come on to him when he arrives; she notes to Spencer that she is desperate for a date after spending eight months single. She attempts to convince Dee Dee to leave the apartment before the exterminator comes, and Dee Dee reveals that she always hoped that she and Mona would be able to live together and get along like real sisters. Before she can leave the exterminator, Brian, arrives and is instantly smitten with Dee Dee. He ignores Mona entirely, much to her frustration. Mona seems resigned to the notion that Dee Dee will always have everything given to her without effort while she is left to languish. Dee Dee returns home early from her date with Brian, finding that they had little in common. Mona yells at Dee Dee for taking away her opportunity to go out with Brian without even realizing it and for getting preferential treatment for their entire lives. Dee Dee feels hurt that Mona is so resistant towards her.
The next day, Brian visits Mona, having been sent there by Dee Dee. Mona assumes that Dee Dee is trying to set her up and rejects the notion, although Brian simply says he is there to check for spiders. They realize that Dee Dee attempted to set them up, and Brian figures out that he spoke to Mona over the phone and not Dee Dee. He asks her out on a date and she accepts. That night she returns and Dee Dee gets her to talk about it. Mona is forced to admit that she appreciated Dee Dee’s help and Dee Dee notes that despite Mona’s feelings she still wants to have a sisterly relationship with her, even choosing the apartment since it would put them close together. Mona still has not changed her mind but begrudgingly accepts Dee Dee’s presence for the time being. They agree to switch apartments so that Dee Dee doesn’t have to put up with the spider problem, although Big Dee Dee does extensive construction work on the upper apartment. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: UPN
- DATE: 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:20:49
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 122045
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; TV - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: UPN - TV series, 2002-2006
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Yvette Lee Bowser … Executive Producer
- Beverly Rose Kubik … Producer
- Gina Scheerer … Associate Producer
- Jeffrey Klarik … Consulting Producer, Created by, Writer
- Ellen Gittelsohn … Director
- Kip Collins … Music by
- Rachel True … Cast, Mona Thorne
- Essence Atkins … Cast, Dee Dee Thorne
- Chico Beynmon … Cast, Spencer Williams
- Valarie Pettiford … Cast, Big Dee Dee
- Telma Hopkins … Cast, Phyllis
- Obba Babatunde … Cast, Charles
- James Lesure … Cast, Brian LeFine