Melissa & Joey – 2.07 –Mixed Doubles – A to Z Challenge – Day 13

“So You Think You Can Matchmake”

‘Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.’
– James A. Baldwin

Prologue

Today, I’m writing about my favorite episode of the ABC Family sitcom, Melissa & Joey.

This episode is notable for a fun allusion to Clarissa Explains It All and also features an actor that appeared in Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

The Allusion to Clarissa Explains It All: Ryder suggests that Lennox call her blog "Lennox Explains It All" when she has difficulty picking out a fitting name. Lennox refers to the idea as "original," though the name refers to the 1990s teen sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart.

Trivia: John Ducey co-starred alongside Melissa Joan Hart in the seventh season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as Leonard, Sabrina's creepy co-worker at Scorch magazine.

About the Show

Seasons: 3| No. of Episodes: 71|Premiere Date: 08/27/2010| End Date: N/A |Status: On-Air

Genre(s): Sitcom

Story in a nutshell: Mel is a local politician from a political family. When a family scandal leaves her niece, Lennox, and nephew, Ryder, without their parents, Mel takes them in. Meanwhile, Joe is a former commodities trader left bankrupt after a Ponzi scheme, and finds himself searching for a job. So when Mel finds it hard to handle an instant family and her own life, she hires Joe to become the family's new male nanny, or "manny".

Best Reason to Watch the Show: The two stars are unconventional lead choices for a ‘will they or won’t they’ scenario but it oddly works. If you are a 90’s kid like am, then you are probably super familiar with both Melissa Joan Hart (I know her best from Sabrina the Teenage Witch but she was also in Clarissa Explains It All – a show I didn’t watch during its original run but am a fan of now). You might have also been a bit obsessed with Blossom as well which starred Joey Lawrence as the dumb middle child (If Joey Lawrence or any of other Lawrence brothers weren’t a crush of yours in 90’s I don’t know if I can trust your judgment, XD). Confession: I still have Joey Lawrence’s single from when he tried to launch his singing career. The stars are what drew me in initially but I stayed because it’s a pretty good show.

The Best Thing about This Show: I’m a huge fan of ‘Who’s The Boss’ and this is basically just the 21st Century’s version of that show. It’s 30 minutes of light hearted fun with bonus inside jokes for 90’s kids who have watched a few the stars other earlier projects.
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Title: Mixed Doubles| Writer: Jennifer Glickman| Director: David Trainer
Episode Summary: After a conversation about each other constantly seeing the wrong people, Mel and Joe agree to date someone that the other person set up for them. Joe goes on a date with Ariel (Dilshad Vadsaria), one of Mel's business colleagues, and it seemingly goes well until she refuses to partake in Joe's interests. Mel sees Clark (John Ducey), a friend of Joe's, who gets overly emotional when reminiscing about his ex-wife. Lennox is kicked off of the school blog and so she decides to create her own, devoting all of her free time to it. This annoys her new boyfriend, Haskell, whom she begins to ignore.
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Awards

Character of the Night
• Mel

Best Character Interactions
• Lennox & Rider

Most Memorable Moment
• Mel trying to knit

Best Line
• Mel: You know what you need? A woman like me… that can stand you.

Best Scene
• Mel tells Joe that he is dating the wrong kind of women

That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment when you are out on a date and the other person can't stop talking about their ex. - Poor Mel, that guy Clark was super obsessed with his ex wife. She never stood a chance.

Highlights

Memorable Moments

• Mel & Joe dance together

• Rider suggests some titles for Lennox’s blog

• Ariel & Joe flirt with each other


Notable & Quotable

• Ariel: Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?
Mel: I haven’t given up on men completely just yet but if I do, you are totally at the top of my ‘if I were gay’ list.
Ariel: Aww, that’s so sweet.

• Mel: OK, hot and flaky. You’re dating puff pastry.

• Mel (about Lennox and Haskell): They totally get each other, it’s sickening.

Superb Scenes

• Mel tells Joe about her date with his friend.

• Mel and Ariel relax over wine.

• Haskell comes over and he and Lennox figure out how to make their relationship work.



Miscellaneous

Favorite Main Character
•Mel

Least Favorite Main Character
•Ryder

Favorite Side Character
• Stephanie Krause

Least Favorite Side Character
• Holly

Style Spotlight:

Did You Know?
• Did you know that Joey Lawrence starred in ‘Gimme a Break’?
• Did you know that Joey Lawrence sings the theme song for Melissa & Joey?

Fun Fact: Melissa & Joey stood as Wednesday's #1 cable TV telecast at 8 o'clock in Adults 18–34, Women 18–34, Women 18–49 and Females 12–34 Demographics.

Tasty Tidbit: Melissa Joan Hart was the first woman to direct an episode of the series.

Side Note: Hart and Lawrence have co-starred together in another ABC Family production; the 2009 television film, My Fake Fiancé.
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Grade: B+
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Comparable Shows
If you are interest in finding more shows like Melissa & Joey then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Baby Daddy, Cougar Town, State of Georgia, and/or Suburgatory.
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Up Next: I'm going right back to my bread butter of Sci-Fi & Fantasy with a strong female lead tomorrow. Be sure to come back to the blog if you are interested in hearing my thoughts on the series finale of Nikita.