THINK STRAIGHT
Pilot by Charlotte Jensen
Compelling pilot establishes an intriguing character you want to follow but suffers slightly from rich white people disease. Lesbian therapist Janet loves her oncologist husband Paula, adores their young daughter Chloe, and enjoys a thriving shrink practice in Manhattan. After listening to patient Melissa complaining about her selfish ex-BF Jeremy and their matching π tattoos (she thinks 3.1415926 looks dumb on her neck yet cool on Jeremy), Janet becomes infatuated with a singer-songwriter at her coffee shop who flirts with her, she calls herself “Lola,” and the nameless guy invites her to his show. Janet suspects Paula’s new secretary Val is trouble and she’s right, with Val going down on Paula in the office elevator. Janet lies to Paula and journeys to the nightclub as “Lola” to hang out with the singer who turns out to have a π tattoo (!) on his neck. Their flirtation leads to an unprotected quickie in a bathroom stall and the pilot ends with Janet uncertain about her marriage, uncertain about Jeremy, and uncertain about her sexuality. As a series for Betsy Yarborough, think Mary Tyler Moore on steroids; a therapist in need of a therapist; plenty of uncharted psychological territory to explore week in, week out, through this compelling pursuit of a double life*.