Episode Report Card Niki: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Flirting with Disaster
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 12 | Aired on 02.06.2001
Cut to Karen, juggling grocery bags and trying to unlock her front door. Jessie comes barreling up and brushes past her, almost knocking the bags out of Karen's arms. Karen protests, and Jessie rushes back, apologizing, and offers to take the bags, which I'm sure weigh more than she does, judging by the fact that she almost collapses under them. Karen tells her just to take one. Jessie asks Karen if she thinks Leo's home yet. Karen says no, and asks why. He's supposed to take Jessie to the museum, and she's stoked because she hasn't been since she was a little girl. Anyone else have Dr. Wise-Ass's assessment echoing in their heads at this point? Perhaps that's why Jessie has such a fondness for Leo – he lets her feel like a little kid. Karen says she hopes they have fun. "Are you kidding?" Jessie laughs. "Does Leo ever not have fun?" Karen thinks for a moment then agrees, "I guess he is kind of odd that way." She says it like it's a character flaw. Jessie says she really likes it and adds, "I mean, you and Dad aren't exactly going around playing practical jokes all the time." Karen agrees. Jessie continues to rave: "Leo makes ordinary things seem...It's like I'm in a movie when I'm with Leo, you know? Everything is bigger and more exciting." Karen pauses from putting away the groceries, and looks as though she's come to a sinking realization. She appears disturbed. Jessie asks if that's what Karen likes about Leo, too, "because [she] can see where that would be good for [Karen]." You and the rest of the world, kiddo. Karen nods sadly and ruffles Jessie's hair, then gets down to business. She hands Jessie a yogurt and tells her that she has to eat something before she goes to the museum. Karen, of course, has to rush off for a meeting or something, and can't stick around to make sure the kid actually eats it. Jessie sighs and rolls her eyes, looking peeved as Karen grabs her purse and checks her watch. She puts on a good show for her mother, though, exuberantly bidding her goodbye, no doubt trying to alleviate any suspicion or concerns. As soon as Karen leaves, Jessie looks at the yogurt with disgust, makes for the refrigerator and pops it inside.
Jessie's fridge door becomes the Manning's fridge door, as Grace disgustedly heaves it closed and complains, "It's scary in there." Zoe, standing on the counter and rifling through the cupboard, matter-of-factly says, "I told you. We should just have peanut butter and jelly." Lily bursts through the back door, laden with a pizza box and asking who wants some. "I don't even want to look at pizza," Grace bitches. "It seems to be our staple crop around here lately." Lily snipes that she was late and it was fast. Grace apologizes. Zoe moves in for a closer look at the pizza, asking, "Is pizza genetically modified?" The doorbell rings as Lily mutters, "Not that I know of." It's Rick, toting a bottle of red wine. Lily is pleasantly surprised to see him. He points at the wine and asks, "Is this a good year for 'Sorry I've been so busy'?" She counters with, "Well, I hope it's a good year for pepperoni pizza." Dude, it's always a good year for pepperoni pizza.