So, I have to admit that MELISSA & JOEY is starting to grow on me. I am not sure if it is the constant replay of the first two episodes on ABC Family or if each episode actually gets better. This episode, “Nanny Love”, was more focused on Joey and, to me, that is a good thing. When I read that the episode focused on Joey entering back into the dating field, I thought it was a bit too soon as he is not yet divorced and still carrying baggage as evidenced in the “Moving On” episode. Then again, a little distraction never hurt, right?
The episode begins with Joey being picked up, a bit unknowingly, in the grocery store. Startled, but pleasantly surprised, he decides to take her up on her offer of coffee despite having just explained that coffee causes hydration. He also manages to incorporate his divorce and bitterness in a coffee pun. All seems to be going well until the woman immediately flees after learning that Joey is a nanny. Her excuse? “One of my websites just caught on fire.” Joey becomes somewhat depressed lamenting how no woman will ever find a male nanny attractive. Mel, although trying to be supportive, basically confirms his thoughts and suggests that perhaps he lie to the next woman.
The next woman turns out to be Mel’s old sorority pal, Liz. Joey bumps into her in Mel’s office after he stops in all suited up on his way to his divorce hearing. Liz immediately mistakes him for someone with an important job and when Joey attempts to correct her, Mel interrupts and insists he is a freelance financial consultant. Liz is impressed and later texts Joey to meet for coffee. Although Joey appears to truly want to tell Liz the truth, Mel insists on letting Liz get to know the real Joey first. Her motive? Joey’s gourmet cooking that makes appearances only when he is truly happy. Gourment waffles for breakfast on happy days, but granola bars on bad days. The way Joey cooks, if I stumbled on this show without any background information, I would totally peg him for a former sous chef.
As things start to get hot and heavy between Liz and Joey, Joey begins to feel guilty. Unfortunately, this is about the time that Liz informs Mel that she has been hired to audit all of the council members. Fearing the wrath of Liz who declares she will put all of the members nuts in a vise, Mel convinces Joey to lie until the audit is over. She also gives him handy tips on how to avoid thinking about sex such as calling his mother. Despite their best efforts, however, the truth comes out when Liz follows Joey to what she thinks is his house.
Although typically a comedy cliche, this scene was one of my favorites mostly due to the acting and lines of Mel’s niece and nephew, Ryder and Lennox. After Joey tries to hide evidence that it is really Mel’s house, first Ryder appears, then Lennox and finally Mel. With each lie growing to a greater level, Joey finally tells Liz the truth about his real job. By that time, however, Liz has convinced herself that Mel and Joey are in some creepy relationship and the nanny job is just a bad lie. The kids stole this scene by starting off with a somewhat truth, Joey was raising the children because their mom was in prison, but quickly escalating to Lennox is sick due to the hat she is wearing to hide a bad haircut. It finally ends with Joey having given a kidney to Lennox. “Now I can pee again.” Oddly enough, it was the picture of Mel on the table that caused Liz to pause and not the fantastic stories spun by everyone in the room.
In the end, the truth won out when Joey once again ran into the grocery store girl who quickly assured him that she was still interested and that it was not a lame excuse she gave him last time, her servers for her website actually caught on fire. Oh, and Mel got audited naturally.
My other favorite scene in this episode of Melissa & Joey was the sorority “song” that Mel and Liz sing, or shall I say rap. Wonderfully awkward but very entertaining. Ryder also played a bigger part in this episode and I think that we are all the better for it. He had some great lines such as “I am off to find a role model” and “I always wanted a nanny in a pushup bra. Thanks a lot, God.” I thought that Ryder and Joey played off of each other well.
So, I am still a bit on the fence about this show, but as I said it is growing on me. What do you think? Has the show improved? Did you love it from the beginning? What was your favorite quote or moment from tonight’s episode of Melissa & Joey? Let us know in the comments below.
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