THE LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

Production #177-952
Tape: August 27, 2004
Air: September 24, 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
David de Lautour (Ben Sheffield)
Ed Kerr (Rick)

Written by
Marco Pennette

Directed by
Shelley Jensen

EPISODE SYNOPSIS

     She loves one. The second one loves her. The third one is just a friend.

     And Holly Tyler spent the night with all three. At once! Or, at least tried to.

     Holly spent a tumultuous night with boyfriend Ben, would-be paramour Vince, and platonic friend Gary at Vince and Gary's apartment in tonight's new "What I Like About You" episode, "The Longest Night of the Year". It tested Vince's jealousy, Gary's gregariousness, and most of all Holly's love for Ben, which might not be too ideal after all since Val is clearly in the picture to comment and control on things. Plus, the question of Holly being ready for a real relationship (i.e. sex) and the pressure on Holly from others to have one is at issue. It's all wrapped up in the first script for new WILAY co-executive producer Marco Pennette, who provides us with funny and sweet moments throughout and challenges us to take a new look at...laundry???

     We start with Ben playing for Holly in the loft later the same evening as the last episode (Holly and Val since cleaning up from their big fight), and Ben making Holly and Val tea. Val says he's willing to give Ben a chance, which Holly takes to mean that Ben will be staying at the loft. Val objects. Lauren thinks it'd be a good idea. After Val's objection, Holly tries to convince Val that the loft is "our" loft and Holly threatens to "bloom" elsewhere with Ben. That "elsewhere" is in Brooklyn, at the swinging bachelor pad of Vince and Gary. Vince is taking up guitar as Holly and Ben crash in and ask to stay the night. Holly is concerned that Vince won't be okay with it, but Vince says he defers to Gary on those issues. Vince then tells Gary he must tell Holly she can't stay. But Gary convinces him to be open and consider Ben a new friend. But who sleeps where? Vince tries to keep the secret of the couch from Holly and Ben, but Gary blabs that it folds out into a bed. While the guys scratch out that, Holly is out in the hallway with Tina. Hol starts to realize the gravity about what she's done...three weeks with Ben, met him in London, no sex yet, doesn't even know his middle name...despite that, Tina coerces Holly to "do it". It's the "no sex yet" that gets Tina...to her, it's natural that there should be some sex after three weeks. But Holly knows that's not so.

     Now broken-up Val (she broke up with Rick in the interim) then tries to figure out her next move, in her cups thanks to a few champagne splits brought over by Lauren. It's classic drunk Val a la "The Breakup", with her saying things like "in mah grill" and pondering some of the vagaries of life, such as why England has three names ("England...Britain...the UK! Why can't they decide?"). She's also getting housewifely obsessions to run the Swiffer up and down the floors and do midnight laundry. Lauren thinks she broke up with Rick because she's afraid of the repercussions it might have for Holly and Ben, and Val comes to think it may be because she was afraid he'd break up with her.

     Back at Vince's, Holly and Ben then realize it's their first night together sleeping in the same bed, and we get to hear Holly's thoughts (another first for the series following Holly kicking down the fourth wall last week) as she and Ben settle down in the same bed (this goes without saying that it's another frontier for Amanda Bynes as an actress). Once they get into the classic "spoon" position, Holly gets a fright when she realizes the duckies on Ben's boxer shorts are moving.

     Holly then returns to the loft from Vince's, saying it's "had its ups and downs". Holly tells Val she and Ben haven't done "laundry" yet, using that as an euphemism for sex (adding "Tina's like a friggin' laundromat!"). Since she hasn't had sex with Ben after only three weeks, Holly wonders if there is seriously something wrong with herself. Val tells her that she'll figure it out. After all, Holly is "only 18", says she, and she sweetly tells Val to give her advice. And Holly asks Val to take her back -- and if she broke up with Rick to keep Rick from breaking up with her. Then, the next step -- Holly marches Val to Rick's apartment, and apologizes for being so rash, that she really does love Rick. And then Rick officially proposes to Val! The three then go into Rick's apartment to celebrate, and promptly throw Holly out, who yells after them "Go do some laundry!" 

     Marco Pennette, the writer of tonight's program, is the one of the right hands to showrunner Caryn Lucas. Last season he was an executive producer of ABC's "I'm With Her", the sitcom based on writer Chris Hinchy's relationship with wife Brooke Shields. Possibly due to his fine work on that Tollin/Robbins show, he was exalted to a high post in the new WILAY hierarchy. His first script builds on the setups of the previous episode, but he gives us a well-fleshed out and funny take on the episode's eight characters. He's ratcheted up some of the cast's characteristics, making Tina's alleged promiscuity a comic issue twice. But he's also taken the first step in giving Holly some adult conundrums as she begins a new chapter in her life. In his own way, he's taken a real concern girls have, one that would be a cover blurb on Seventeen or YM ("My Boyfriend Wants It and I Don't! Am I Weird?"), and brought it to vivid life with characters you know and trust. And he can give anyone at any point an absolute zinger, at one point having Lauren ask Val, "How drunk are you on a scale of 1 to Courtney Love?".

     It's also our first real good look at David de Lautour in his extended role as Ben. His apparent skill at the guitar makes for some funny scenes, as he makes up a song off the cuff for Gary ("Gary...I just met Gary...his name isn't Larry or Harry, it's Gary!"). He'll likely get to do more next week as "The Not-So-Simple Life" is set in a music club.

     A slightly re-edited opening sequence based on last year's debuts with Michael McMillian being excised from the opening. The scene where he is dancing with Amanda Bynes sexily backing him up now has Leslie Grossman replacing him. Leslie's grandma must be so proud. 

SHOW NOTES

In the opening scene after the titles, you can see the very top of Jennie Garth's midriff tattoo peeking out from the top of her pants.

Thanks to Procter and Gamble's product placement pact, there are at least ten cans of Pringles potato crisps in Vince's apartment. Then how do you explain those abs?

WHAAA?

In "The Odd Couple" it is established that Vince is a guitar player. In this episode he can't even play "Jingle Bells".

FUN FACTS

Gary Thorpe's middle name is Johann.

Rick's apartment number is 504.

NEXT LINE, PLEASE

LAUREN: How drunk are you, on a scale from one to Courtney Love?

VALERIE: England...Britain...the U.K.! Why can't they decide?

HOLLY: I'm the only one who hasn't done it! Vince has been around, Gary has been around, Tina has been around and around and around...

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