New Life

Starring Maura Tierney as Lisa Talensen, a recently-divorced executive producer for the local TV news station in Chicago. Lisa just finally got her life together after her recent marriage went sour, due to her husband's affair with his secretary, and her "affair" with her career. Lisa got a cushy promotion to executive producer of the "Morning News with Valerie and Brian". Lisa becomes close friends with the co-anchormen: the gorgeous and superficial lush, Valerie Chastwell (Andrea Parker) and the sweet-natured and cultured gay guy, Brian Kiener (Sean Maguire). Lisa's so-called "perfect" life that she just recently put back together is thrown for a big loop late one night. Lisa gets a visit from her 19-year-old nephew, Ryan (Ryan Pinkston) and his also 19-year-old girlfriend, Chantel (Joy Lauren)--with no place to stay after their parents kicked them out of their houses, due to both dropping out of college. Lisa agrees to take in her nephew and his girlfriend into her loft apartment, which is when they drop another bomb on her: they were also kicked out because they dropped out of college...and Chantel's 4 weeks pregnant! Lisa, with no kids of her own, no man in her life, and a high-powered career under her belt, decides to suck it up and still allow them to live there (rent free) under one condition: they need to find jobs and to re-enroll into a local college.

Cast:
Maura Tierney as Lisa Talensen
Ryan Pinkston as Ryan Talensen
Joy Lauren as Chantel Burke
Andrea Parker as Valerie Chastwell
Sean Maguire as Brian Kiener

Episodes

Ep1: Pilot Episode:
At work, Lisa celebrates her fourth month as executive producer. Lisa takes in Ryan and Chantel. Lisa, with no kids of her own, no man in her life, and a high-powered career under her belt, decides to suck it up and still allow them to live there (rent free) under one condition: they need to find jobs and to re-enroll into a local college.

Ep2: Job Hunters:
Ryan and Chantel head out to look for jobs. Chantel ends up getting a part-time job at the Victoria's Secret store at the mall (as a sales associate), which she is thrilled about. Meanwhile, Ryan struggles to find a job. Lisa is happy for Chantel and still proud of Ryan for still sticking to finding a job when things don't work out too well. Meanwhile, Valerie and Brian blame each other for an on-air faux-pas, which is Valerie's chair breaks while on the air--she blames Brian for switching chairs before beginning of show.

Ep3: Bonding With Bondage:
Lisa makes an attempt to bond with Chantel to get to know her nephew's pregnant girlfriend a bit more. Chantel ends up confiding in Lisa, about how scared she is of being a mother at 19. Meanwhile, Valerie confides in her hair/make-up artist, Kimi (Margaret Cho) that she tried bondage to impress a guy--it gets around the station which mortifies Valerie. Brian and Lisa play a joke on Valerie about making her read about a news report of how popular bondage is becoming in marriages across the country (yet unbeknownst to Valerie only, the camera is turned off).

Ep4: School + Work = No Life:
Ryan and Chantel discover that their social lives are put on hold, when school for Ryan and work for Chantel are taking more priorities in their lives. Meanwhile, Lisa and Valerie set Brian up with a nice guy, Rick (Sean Hayes). Brian becomes annoyed and embarrassed by Rick's flamboyant personality becomes overpowering, Brian feels guilty but dumps Rick anyways. Which leads to Brian coming to terms with his own insecurities about being gay and locally famous.

Ep5: The Glance Of Death:
Chantel becomes jealous and upset with Ryan, when he checks out one of her model-like co-workers when he pays a visit to Chantel while working (at Victoria's Secret). Ryan tries everything he can think of in hopes trying to win a hormonal Chantel over again and get him out of the doghouse...he ends up proposing to her one day while she is working (in front of her co-workers, boss, and customers). Chantel says yes, they make up and share a passionate, serious kiss (in front of everyone!). Meanwhile, Brian bribes Valerie and Lisa to pose as a lesbian couple to go on a double date with a guy Brian has gone "ga-ga" for--until Brian and the girls become aware of the guy, Dan (Simon Rex)'s complete arrogance--and a tabloid reporter with a vengence for Valerie (who once insulted him on air).

Ep6: Sweet Revenge:
Lisa, Valerie, and Brian read Dan's tabloid story about Valerie Chastwell and her "nobody" lover, Lisa. Valerie is worried for her career and her personal life, as Lisa dwells that she is considered a "nobody". Brian apologizes profusely for making them pose as a couple. Lisa organizes a big attack on Dan and his tabloid magazine, by orchestrating an on-air "top story" about the unethical side of tabloid companies. Lisa's boss (Barry Bostwick) informs her and the staff that he likes the idea enough to debut it on air-Primetime (instead of the morning)--which makes Lisa feel important.
<<Ryan and Chantel do not appear in this episode>>
<<This episode debuts right after episode 5 on the same night>>

Ep7: News Exchanged:
Happily engaged Ryan and Chantel go down to the station and inform Lisa, Brian, and Valerie of their news of being engagement. Everyone is happy for them, even Lisa-after realizing how happy they are. Yet Lisa becomes a little jealous and depressed because her 19-year-old nephew is getting married and she isn't even dating anyone. Later that same day, Lisa bumps into her ex-husband, Tim (Steven Weber) on the street. They arrange to go out for drinks one time for old times sake...which leads to a night cap at her place. The next morning, Lisa and Tim are caught by Ryan and Chantel, as Lisa tries to quietly sneak Tim out before Ryan and Chantel wake up.

Ep8: Laws Of Love:
Chantel and Ryan get a surprise visit from Chantel's older sister, Olivia (Evan Rachel Wood). Olivia announces she's moving to New York City, after her recent split with her live-in boyfriend, as Olivia learns of Chantel and Ryan's new engagement. Meanwhile, Valerie and Brian learn about Lisa's night with Tim (thanks to Ryan and Chantel).

Ep9: Deadly Dating:
After being depressed about being dumped by a twentysomething hunk, Valerie decides to date an 80-year-old millionaire. Yet while on their third date, Valerie gives in and sleeps with him, which causes him to have a heart attack and die during sex. A mortified and scared Valerie calls for reinforcements (Brian and Lisa) to help her notify the police before the press gets a hold of this information. Meanwhile, Chantel and Ryan decide to set a date for the wedding, yet he wants it during the summer as she wants a "winter wonderland" wedding theme.

Ep10: The News About The News Show:
Lisa is called in to talk to her boss, Frank (Barry Bostwick). Frank informs her that the network wants "Morning News With Valerie and Brian" to move timeslots from 9AM to 9PM. Frank also informs her that the network loved the nightly segment about tabloid companies. Lisa shares the news with the staff. Lisa, Brian, and Valerie go out to celebrate after work. Meanwhile, Ryan is close to failing a class, so Chantel insists she can tutor him--which leads to disasterous results.

Ep11: The Side Job?: Part One
Lisa and Chantel are curious about what Ryan's "side job" consists of and why he is so sneaky and vague about it. Lisa and Chantel go out, along with Valerie and Brian, and follow Ryan to find out what his side job is exactly. The four of them are floored and shocked to find out that Ryan's side job is working as a drug dealer. As they approach him right as he's about to do a "transaction" with a "client", the "transaction" goes bad and the "client" gets violent with Ryan and roughs him up a bit before running off. Surprising the girls, Brian jumps in to break it up and "has Ryan's back". Ryan becomes humilated (by everyone finding out his side job, being attacked, and being protected by Brian) enough to say something he will soon regret (to Brian): "Hey I don't need help from a ******. Get away from me!"

Ep12: The Harsh Remark: Part Two
Brian is speechless after hearing what Ryan said to him (in front of everyone else). Brian and Valerie leave to let Lisa and Chantel talk to Ryan. Chantel is anything happy with his choice of a side job, especially because its illegal and if he got caught he could go to jail--leaving her all alone and pregnant. Lisa is furious about his job choice, but more furious about his comment to Brian. Ryan confesses that he has his own prejudices against gays and never really was fond of Brian to begin with--which leaves Lisa speechless and Chantel is an awkward position (b/c she loves Ryan and she really likes Lisa and both her friends).

Ep13: The Awkwardness Lingers On:
Lisa and the gang prepare for their first permanent primetime debut of the show. Frank gives Lisa the topics he wants to appear for the primetime debut: Anna Nicole Smith's death and a hate crime gone public about gays. Lisa awkwardly informs Valerie and Brian about the topics, which suit them each perfectly-yet it makes them a little uncomfortable due to their own experiences recently. (Valerie dated a 80-yr-old rich man like Anna Nicole Smith, and Brian recieved knowledge about how Ryan truly thinks of him and other gays like him). Lisa apologizes profusely, but they tell her its okay, its her job and not her choice. Besides the overall awkwardness of the topics, the show was a huge success and ratings boost by 30+%. Also, Chantel comes down to the station to show support to a stressed-out Lisa, as Ryan refused to show his face around the station.

Ep14: Return of Jules:
Lisa gets a surprise visit from her old high school/college best friend, Jules (Julia Roberts). Jules is a successful corporate lawyer from Boston. Jules informs her that she is a surrogate mother for her brother and sister-in-law (who can't kids of their own). Lisa is thrilled for Jules. Jules learns about Lisa's new job promotion and divorce from her ex-husband, Tim. Jules confesses a month before Lisa and Tim's wedding, Tim and Jules slept together once. At first, Lisa is a little upset that her so-called best friend would do that, but remembered it was years ago and Tim means nothing to her now. Jules is forgiven by Lisa. Meanwhile, Chantel corners and pressures Ryan to apologize to Brian for his harsh comment a few weeks ago. Ryan refuses, which makes Chantel do the unthinkable--she gives him an ultimatum: He apologizes to Brian and truly means it OR the engagement is off b/c she doesn't really know him as good as she thought.

Ep15: The Deciding and Waiting:
Ryan and Chantel go down to the station, where he decides to apologize to Brian before the show goes on air. He apologizes to Brian, in front of Chantel, Lisa, Valerie, and few other staff members; Brian accepts his apology-which makes amends between them and everyone else involved. Yet, minutes before the show goes on air, Chantel experiences extreme abdominal pains and faints. Lisa and Ryan rush her to the hospital, after Valerie and Brian say they got it covered at the station, and will meet them at hospital after the show's done. The doctors inform them that Chantel's appendix erupted and needed surgery, which worried Ryan and Lisa. Valerie and Brian arrive just as the doctor comes out to give an update from post-surgery, he informs them all that Chantel is doing fine yet she lost the baby due to the acid from her appendix erupting and the surgery.