ED: JUST FRIENDS (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about Ed Stevens, a New York lawyer who returns to his hometown of Stuckeyville, Ohio to manage a combination bowling alley/law office.
Ed continues to try to get Carol to leave Nick, but she refuses. Nancy is upset because she isn't getting any sleep due to Sarah, and doesn't believe Mike's claims that he slept through her cries. Ed receives a formal declaration of divorce from Liz, leaving him somewhat depressed. Since his legal business is taking up more of his time, Ed decides to start interviewing his staff to promote one of them to a managerial position. Three of Ed's old classmates seek him out for legal representation. They explain that fifteen years ago at age eighteen they and another classmate named Arthur Daily worked as busboys in a bar. They wrote a contract on a bar napkin stating that in fifteen years they would pool their resources so that if one of them got rich the rest of them would as well. The time has come and Arthur is pretending as if the whole thing never happened. Ed discovers that Arthur is the head of a multi-million dollar technology company and the other three couldn't make a success out of their lives despite their efforts.
Warren attempts to get closer to Carol by becoming a student tutor, but his attempts soon backfire. Carol wants to be friends with Ed, but Ed continues to try to involve himself romantically with her, frustrating her. Ed begins interviewing his staff and is surprised to learn that Kenny graduated from Tufts University and is a licensed pediatric nurse. Ed is dismayed when he learns that Arthur is being represented by his old law firm. Worried about being "outnumbered," Ed brings Molly, Phil, Shirley, and Kenny to court with him to pose as his "associates." Arthur's lawyers make fun of Ed and argue that this is a "nuisance suit," but Ed disagrees and he convinces the judge to set a trial date. Ed makes a video of himself lip-synching to Peter Chimera and sends it to Carol, who seems to enjoy it. However, when Ed asks her about it she claims to hate it and tells him to quit pursuing her. Ed finally admits that Carol was the only reason that he bought the bowling alley; she is not pleased with this revelation.
Nancy gets mad at Mike for bringing in Kenny to care for Sarah at night. He promises to take responsibility for Sarah himself next time. Although somewhat depressed by Carol's reaction, Ed is able to interview Shirley for the manager position. He discovers that she was an unsuccessful telemarketer before she worked at the bowling alley. She quickly makes it clear that she is not interested in being a manager and Ed sends her off. At the trial, Ed has Arthur on the stand and tries to prove to the court that the material upon which a contract is written has no bearing on its significance. Arthur's lawyer counters by claiming the contract was in jest and therefore cannot be honored. Phil is interviewed for the manager position and goes to great lengths to endear himself, enlisting the aid of customer testimonials and staging an entire routine. Ed capitulates and promotes him to manager.
Carol is out at a bar with Nick as he shares stories with assembled patrons. Ed enters and Carol tries to get him to leave, but Nick invites him to sit down and after a few beers they get to talking about Ed's personal life. Nick tries to set Ed up with a woman at the bar. Carol gets uncomfortable and leaves, Nick follows her out. The trial draws to a close and Arthur's lawyer makes his closing statement, arguing that Arthur has a right to protect his assets and shouldn't relinquish them because of a "joke." Ed counters that the contract is not a joke but a commitment between friends that deserves to be honored. Later, at the bowling alley, Arthur approaches Ed and the other three signers of the contract, apologizing for turning his back on them. Instead of giving up the money, he offers them jobs at his company, and walks away as they think about it. That night, Carol visits Ed and asks if he's willing to be her friend. He talks about the divorce papers and about what it feels like to be alone; he is frightened of that prospect. The episode ends as Ed signs the divorce papers and shares a drink with Carol. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: October 22, 2000 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:38
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:63934
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 2000-2004
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Letterman … Executive Producer
- Rob Burnett … Executive Producer, Created by
- Jon Beckerman … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Marc Buckland … Co-Executive Producer, Director
- Kathleen McGill … Producer
- Andrea Newman … Producer
- Bob Brush … Consulting Producer
- Stephen Graziano … Music by
- Foo Fighters … Theme Music by
- Tom Cavanagh … Cast, Ed Stevens
- Julie Bowen … Cast, Carol Phyllis Vessey
- Jana Marie Hupp … Cast, Nancy Burton
- Josh Randall … Cast, Mike Burton
- Lesley Boone … Cast, Molly Hudson
- Michael Ian Black … Cast, Phil Stubbs
- Rachel Cronin … Cast, Shirley Pifko
- Mike Starr … Cast, Kenny Sandusky
- Justin Long … Cast, Warren Cheswick
- Gregory Harrison … Cast, Nick Stanton
- Ted Koch … Cast, Lou Brown
- Jim Norton … Cast, Ernie
- Shuler Hensley … Cast, Bob Arnowitz
- Robert Stanton … Cast, Arthur Daily
- Paul Michael Valley … Cast, Richard Davis
- Munson Hicks … Cast, Judge Henderson
- Robert Weil … Cast, Mr. Winthrope
- Michael Heintzman … Cast, Mailman
- Jordan Leeds … Cast, Other Lawyer
- Ashley Wolfe … Cast, Marie
- Mark Fish … Cast, Video Clerk
- Raynor Scheine … Cast, Customer #1
- Sam Reni … Cast, Customer #2
- Chris McGinn … Cast, Customer #3
- Christopher Wynkoop … Cast, Customer #4
- David B. McConeghy … Cast, Bar Guy
- Christopher Carley … Cast, Kid #1