HAPPY ENDINGS: MEIN COMING OUT (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about six Chicago friends trying to keep their group together after a romantic upheaval.
In this episode, Jane makes an elaborate brunch for her friends and Penny reveals that she has a blind date that night, meaning that she cannot be Max’s “beard” when he dines with his parents. He begs Jane to step into Penny’s place, despite Alex’s repeated offers. She refuses, saying that he should just finally come out to them. Later, however, Brad points out that Max should only come out when he is ready to and not when his friends say; Jane then reconsiders. Dave convinces Max to be honest with his parents and offers to come along for moral support, and for a free dinner. When Penny arrives at the restaurant, she meets a charming man named Doug, and upon seeing her unappealing blind date, decides to spend the evening with him instead. Dave accompanies Max to meet his parents and quickly learns that they think that he is the one who is gay. Just then, Jane shows up as Max’s “girlfriend,” having decided to help him out after all. Penny’s impromptu blind date goes well and they decide to have dinner the following night, but a glance at Doug’s credit card shows her that he has an unfortunate surname: Hitler. However, Doug assures her that his family is of no relation to the famous German, and they decide to go through with their date.
Jane assures Max and Dave that she is “parent heroin” and proceeds to charm Max’s mother and father. She returns home triumphant and tells Brad all about fooling Max’s parents; he becomes mildly jealous at her new “boyfriend.” Max calls and tells Jane that his parents are leaving town early and cannot spent time with her again. But when she goes out with Penny the next day, she spies Max and the Blums at an outdoor café. She confronts him and learns that they actually found her very annoying, especially her frequent use of Yiddish and excessive public affection. Penny prepares for her date, aided and slightly mocked by Alex. She admits that Doug’s name bothers her, speculating about what would happen if they married someday. Max calls and begs Alex to be his beard after all, and she quickly jots down his tips about winning over his parents.
Jane laments to Brad that she tried too hard and wants a second chance with the Blums; despite his warnings she heads off to their dinner. Doug comes to pick up Penny, and when he spies her doodles of their names, he suspects that she is “one of those Hitler freaks.” Penny’s protests are not helped by Alex’s notes about avoiding any mention of Judaism in front of the Blums. At dinner, Max’s mother tries to set him up with another girl, but Jane soon arrives, followed by Brad, and Max’s parents are shocked that he is dating a married woman. Alex then arrives as his “new” girlfriend and they are further shocked to learn that she is Dave’s ex. Everything is further complicated by Penny, who turns up announcing that she is “too much of a Nazi” for her new flame. Finally, Max just tells his parents the truth, and they are accepting and relieved that he is not dating any of the women. Max’s mother then offers to set up him with a guy, but Dave quickly intervenes and says that he is “taken,” to Max’s mild chagrin. In return for her help, however, Max poses as Jane’s “white husband” to help her gain entrance to a country club, a plan which fails dismally. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: April 20, 2011 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:05
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 106468
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; LGBT Collection
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2011-2013
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jonathan Groff … Executive Producer
- Jamie Tarses … Executive Producer
- Joe Russo … Executive Producer
- Anthony Russo … Executive Producer
- David Caspe … Co-Executive Producer, Created by
- Gail Lerner … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Josh Bycel … Co-Executive Producer
- Prentice Penny … Producer
- Matthew Nodella … Producer
- Alan Brent Cornell … Co-Producer
- Steve Mesner … Associate Producer
- David Guarascio … Consulting Producer
- Moses Port … Consulting Producer
- Steven Cragg … Consulting Producer
- Brian Bradley … Consulting Producer
- Jeff Melman … Director
- Ludwig Goransson … Music by
- Eliza Coupe … Cast, Jane Williams
- Elisha Cuthbert … Cast, Alex Moore
- Zachary Knighton … Cast, Dave Rose
- Adam Pally … Cast, Max Blum
- Damon Wayans Jr. … Cast, Brad Williams
- Casey Wilson … Cast, Penny Hartz
- Caroline Aaron … Cast, Pauline Blum
- Greg Cromer … Cast, Doug Hitler
- Alan Rachins … Cast, Howard Blum
- Nathan Barnatt … Cast, Roger
- Jonathan Emerson … Cast, Preston
- Matthew Rocheleau … Cast, Waiter