Val and Holly's 'Not-Boyfriends'

Production #177-417
Tape Date: January 9, 2004
Original Airdate: February 13, 2004 

Starring
Amanda Bynes (Holly Tyler)
Jennie Garth (Valerie Tyler)
Wesley Jonathan (Gary Thorpe) 
Leslie Grossman (Lauren)
Nick Zano (Vince)
Allison Munn (Tina)

Guest Starring
Ed Kerr (Rick)

Co-Starring
Tracey McCall (Tyhler)
Patrice Jennings (Rhonda)
Andrew St. John
(Bike Messenger)

Written by
Caryn Lucas and Wil Calhoun

Directed by
Peter Bonerz

EPISODE SYNOPSIS/REVIEW    
 
     A year ago this week, we were all hearts and flowers as we shared a Valentine's day triple date on "What I Like About You". None of the couples who went out to dinner last night are still a couple. Tonight, two of the broken parties, the Tyler sisters, fight with misinterpreted kindnesses in "Val and Holly's 'Not Boyfriends'", which features more friendly hugs than tender kisses -- quite the shock considering how relationship-oriented this show has become. 

     The themes of love, loss, and wanting what we can't have run through both stories tonight. Primarily, Holly tries to read her friend Vince's behavior. During a diner session, Vince isn't his old self. When Holly offhandedly makes a crack that Vince is offended by, she feels the need to apologize. But the apology isn't quite accepted -- Vince seems a little preoccupied and in fact is packing to leave for an unspecified location. 

     Back at the loft, Holly learns from another courier that Vince's grandfather died, and that he was called to upstate New York for the funeral. Holly impulsively leaves to show Vince how much she cares for him, and Tina and Gary follow her to keep tabs on her. Holly and Vince have a pretty good time talking (he mentions games of naked leapfrog with the Engelberg sisters -- all three of them). Before she leaves, Holly hugs Vince, and she takes the double hug as a sign there might still be romance possible. So she and Tina return to Vince's apartment and cook him a candlelit return dinner, but Vince is so far removed from romance he can only tell Holly she's a good friend -- not his girlfriend.  

     Another appearance by Ed Kerr as Rick has similar themes. He's just arrived in town after a flight during which his plane suddenly dropped about 10,000 feet. During the rapid descent Rick thought he was going to be a goner, so now he's got an enhanced appreciation for everything around him. So he's been pointing out the flowers, trees, birds, and everything else. We also get a sense that Val may be headed down the same path Holly was with Vince. Rick and Val hug as well.

     And while waiting (outside?) for Holly to see how Vince was doing in Kingston, Gary and Tina shiver through a snowstorm -- in each other's arms. (And get this...Holly and Tina even made it into a double hug as well tonight! Some girls have all the damn luck.)

     The Holly-Vince dynamic seems to be teetering closer to friendship than real love, and next week's show will feature more of a flirtation with Vince as Henry begins to reenter her life in some way. Jennie Garth likes to refer to Holly's storylines as "boyfriend drama", but Amanda Bynes hasn't really explored the dramatic range possible in some of these later "triangle" episodes just yet. WILAY will never be "One Tree Hill", but we'd sort of like to see a little more oomph from Amanda some weeks. This is a week the show could have used it. The Rick/Val storyline will get a major workout in the episode two from this one, "The Big Picture", and we can be sure there will be some incredible doings there. And it will be interesting to see how much closer Tina and Gary get as a couple, and every week Allison Munn gets more delightful to watch.  

     WILAY again this week goes with a "guest" director, as they enlist longtime sitcom director Peter Bonerz for behind the chair duty this weekend. He's been directing shows since the early 70's starting with a show he starred in, "The Bob Newhart Show" (he was Dr. Jerry Robinson, the dentist). Steve Zuckerman has become a very capable fill-in for Shelley Jensen, but still there's the need to look at the characters and their actions through new eyes. 

SHOW NOTES    

Peter Bonerz makes his WILAY directing debut with the first show produced in 2004. He was Dr. Jerry Robinson on "The Bob Newhart Show" and Frank Hart on the TV version of "9 to 5", and has been directing sitcoms for almost 35 years.

Patrice Jennings' Liberty Cafe waitress character now has a name: Rhonda. Tracey McCall returns as Vince's across-the-hall neighbor, Tyhler.

The episode begins with the opening credits for the third time this season.

Vince comments about playing Naked Leapfrog with the Engelberg sisters, which is an inside reference to producer/writers Amy and Wendy Engelberg. He mentions "the one in the middle" which signifies there were at least three, maybe five or seven knowing Vince. 

From "What I Like About You" Fan Site at ABNOW! (http://www.amandabynesnow.com/wb/)