Mona, a self-reliant record executive, is set to move into the penthouse apartment that her father has always promised her. But her plans of getting settled in her new apartment soon come to an end when she learns that her spoiled half sister, Dee Dee, and Dee Dee's overbearing mother also lay claim to the apartment. The sisters' relationship is further strained when Dee Dee inadvertently attracts a man whom Mona was pining for.
When Dee Dee befriends Spencer, Mona becomes concerned that her sister is stealing her best friend. Meanwhile, Mona leads Dee Dee and Spencer into believing she is still dating Brian the exterminator even though he hasn't call her after their very hot date.
Dee Dee attempts to get closer to Mona by planning a joint birthday party, reminding Mona of bad memories from their childhood. Meanwhile, Dee Dee unwittingly reveals that Phyllis lied to Mona about things that have shaped her world view since she was young; and, as a birthday gift, Phyllis finally tells Mona the truth.
Mona's music-video shoot for a rapper may end in disaster when he refuses to leave the dressing room—until he meets Dee Dee. While Mona is pleased with the rapper's newfound enthusiasm for the shoot, she soon begins to worry that he's using Dee Dee.
In an attempt to win Mona's respect and stop living off her father's largesse, Dee Dee takes a job as a waitress. Meanwhile, Phyllis persuades Mona to give a video-dating service a try.
Dee Dee persuades Mona to attend a banquet that's being held in honor of their father, but the experience reminds Mona that she's the odd one out within her dad's ""new"" family.
While at a club with Spencer, Mona meets the hunky Miles. They hit it off, but their budding romance quickly trips up over matters of taste: For one, she enjoys Dawson's Creek, while he prefers BET. After a night on the dance floor, where Mona displays her lack of rhythm, Miles breaks up with her for not being ""black enough."" In an attempt to win him back, Mona remakes herself into what Dee Dee calls ""a Nubian disco queen.""
Dee Dee is smitten with her new beau, but the romance sours when she learns that he and Mona dated in high school. Although Mona gives her blessing to the union, she soon changes her mind.
Dee Dee invites Mona to a ""girls night"" with her friends, but Mona instantly feels out of place amidst the ritzy women. When Dee Dee gives Mona an expensive purse, Mona deduces that her half-sister is trying to make her over. Meanwhile, Spencer is attracted to one of Dee Dee's friends.
Mona and Phyllis attend Thanksgiving dinner at Big Dee Dee's, where Mona's grandmother is the guest of honor. But Dee Dee becomes jealous when she learns the older woman showers Mona with affection. Meanwhile, Phyllis and Big Dee Dee make a deal; and Spencer blurts out one of Mona's secrets to her mother.
When Mona and Dee Dee set Spencer up on blind date with a woman they met from the gym, Spencer falls for her hard and fast. But when Mona finds out the girl is only using Spencer to get back at her ex, she tries to warn him -- only he thinks Mona is jealous.
When Dee Dee becomes frustrated with Neil because he does not seem interested in getting intimate, he divulges that he is celibate. Meanwhile, Mona is under pressure at work and takes up smoking again, but she is too embarrassed to admit it and tries to hide it from her family.
Spencer thinks that he has gotten a girl pregant and Dee Dee and Mona force him to get an AIDS test.
Mona fears a lonely Valentine's Day, but her tears may be for naught when two men from her (recent) past both ask her on dates. Also, Dee Dee is miffed that Neil would choose work over her. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee is angry with her husband, who also chooses work over her.
When Mona mistakes a dinner date with a handsome reporter as a personal affair, she unwittingly gets quoted in a music magazine saying disparaging things about one of her music label's artists that ends up getting her fired. Meanwhile, Dee Dee utilizes her law school knowledge to try to get the story retracted.
While Mona struggles to find work after poisoning her reputation in the record industry, the reporter whose article got her fired tries to make amends and sets up a meeting for Mona to plead her case to Big Phat Slim Jim, the artist she disparaged, in hopes of getting her old job back. Meanwhile, Mona's family and friends offer their encouragement and support in their own special ways during her difficult job search.
In a strange reversal of fortunes, Dee Dee's charmed life seems to hit an unlucky streak at every turn while, ironically, the usually pessimistic Mona's life becomes auspicious from one moment to the next. When Dee Dee starts doubting herself after failing her assigned mock-court competition at school, with Mona's help she manages to regain her waning confidence by confronting a crooked businessman.
Mona dates a hunk whose looks almost compensate for his lack of brains. As a result, she tries to hide him from her friends and family, but the effort is for naught when they're invited to her father's dinner party for a U.S. senator.
Mona drags Dee Dee to a self-defense class, where she accidentally hurts her little sister while practicing a back flip. Overwhelmed with guilt, she waits on Dee Dee hand and foot, unaware that Dee Dee's milking the injury.
Mona becomes antsy about her friendship with Spencer after she has a romantic dream about him. Meanwhile, Dee Dee---who thinks the dream was about a woman---introduces Mona to a lesbian friend of hers.
When Mona has Spencer masquerade as her beau at a friend's wedding, Spencer realizes that he has romantic feelings for her, and has had them since college. Meanwhile, Dee Dee dumps her boyfriend when she learns he has matrimony on the mind.
For Mother's Day weekend, Big Dee Dee and Dee Dee vacation at an exclusive spa. Not to be outdone, Phyllis and Mona do the same, and end up in the room next door. The weekend quickly goes from weird to worse when Dee Dee blurts out that she wishes her mom was more like Phyllis.
The gals' already tenuous friendship spirals toward dissolution when Dee Dee celebrates the end of her school year by hosting a raucous celebration that keeps Mona awake all night. Things get worse when Dee Dee installs a hot tub, which floods Mona's apartment. Stepping in to mediate, their father, Charles, reminds them that ""like it or not, we're family."" But the squabbling continues, until a medical emergency involving their dad arises.
Dee Dee and Big Dee Dee plan a ""surprise"" party for Charles and Big Dee Dee's 24th wedding anniversary. While putting together a slide show, Dee Dee discovers that there are very few photographs of Mona with their father. She feels sorry for her sister and makes several attempts to cheer her up (first creating fake photos of the two, then trying to set up a lunch date for Mona and Charles), but only angers her further. Mona explains that she had accepted the fact that she and her father didn't have the closest relationship, but Dee Dee is inadvertently opening the wounds. Phyllis produces evidence that proves Charles wasn't quite as distant as it seems. Spencer develops an attraction to Camille, a photographer working with Delicious Records artists. Adam constantly tries to alert Mona about Spencer's feelings for her. He finally tells her the truth, but they discover that Spencer is involved with Camille. Meanwhile, Dee Dee becomes annoyed when her ""summer fling"" starts to get
Dee Dee takes a pregnancy test, although Mona feels that she might be overreacting (her period is only a day late). Before Dee Dee can check the results, her mother bursts and demands to use the bathroom. Big Dee Dee also takes a pregnancy test, which turns out to be positive. She is startled, but she and Charles quickly accept the news. Big Dee Dee gets to rub her pregnancy in the face of Phyllis, who had believed Big Dee Dee was going through menopause. Mona is upset to realize that Spencer has been seeing Camille for some time, but hadn't confided in her. He claims that he wanted to keep quiet until he knew the relationship could last. Phyllis chastises Mona for letting ""her"" man get away, while Adam refuses to believe that Spencer is over Mona. He insists that he is happy with Camille, adding that Mona would never want him anyway. Mona patches things up with Spencer and says that she is very happy for him.
Aspiring politician Ron Brown shows up at Mona's door in search of votes, and takes a liking to her. Phyllis quickly pushes him to ask her out, and they agree to a date. Mona then learns that Big Dee Dee recently arranged a date for Dee Dee and Ron, who have been friends since childhood. The sisters are unsure about dating the same man, but their mothers insist that it will be all right (as it is unlikely that both will be compatible with Ron). Phyllis and Big Dee Dee treat the whole thing as a personal competition. Mona and Dee Dee like Ron, but decide that he isn't worth the potential damage to their relationship. They agree to do the ""mature"" thing and stop dating Ron, but each keeps seeing him behind the other's back.
Mona tells her friends and family that she doesn't want to celebrate her birthday, as she would rather spend the day alone in quiet reflection. However, she soon becomes extremely bored. She is relieved when Big Dee Dee shows up, although she has actually forgotten Mona's birthday and is just there to see Dee Dee. The two go down to the laundry room in pursuit of Big Dee Dee's dog, and wind up trapped when an earthquake hits. They share a picnic lunch and have a revealing talk about their relationship. Meanwhile, Phyllis tracks down Charles to try to convince him to help buy a car for Mona's birthday, and they wind up stuck in an elevator. The earthquake also traps Dee Dee, Adam and Spencer in an upscale store as they shop for Mona's gift. Everyone is embarrassed when Spencer has a panic attack after the earthquake.
After Dee Dee loses her old room to the baby and Big Dee Dee misses several appointments, Dee Dee begins to worry that the baby is forcing her out of her parents' life. She suffers from so much stress that she has a breakdown and hears a doll talking to her. Mona recommends that she make an appointment with Phyllis to discuss her problem. She says that she feels as though she is the only one who is worried about the way the baby will change her life. Phyllis assures her that her reaction is perfectly natural and that she should air her concerns with Big Dee Dee. Before she gets around to it, Big Dee Dee admits to her own anxieties about the child's birth, and thanks Dee Dee for her support. The conversation reassures Dee Dee about her importance in her mother's life. Meanwhile, Spencer continually cancels on Mona because of plans with Camille. She looks to Adam to take his place, but Adam isn't too thrilled about this.
Hoping to prove herself to her father, Dee Dee goes against his wishes and tries to personally handle a tenant who has failed to pay rent for the last few months. She must come up with a new plan of attack after the man retaliates by threatening to expose several building code violations involving Dee Dee's apartment. Meanwhile, Mona reluctantly takes her mother out on the town. She feels crowded when Phyllis begins showing up regularly at her hangout and playing matchmaker for the patrons.
After another failed relationship, Mona decides to focus on her career for a while. She is determined to help Zora, a promising young singer, secure a contract with the record company. Zora mistakes Mona's efforts to boost her confidence for romantic interest and develops feelings for her. She confesses her crush to Adam, who keeps the news to himself so that he can watch the sparks fly. Mona struggles to come up with a way to handle the situation without hurting Zora's feelings. Meanwhile, Dee Dee dates a man who pays way too much attention to her feet.
Phyllis announces that she has been seeing someone for the past month. She reluctantly agrees to bring her boyfriend, Earl, to the apartment to meet the girls. Earl is handsome, sweet and romantic, and leaves everyone (including Big Dee Dee) sufficiently impressed. Dee Dee sees Earl at a restaurant with another woman, and learns that it is his wife. Mona and Dee Dee try to break the news to Phyllis, and are stunned to discover that she already knew that Earl is married. She believes that he is separated and about to get a divorce. Mona and Dee Dee try to convince her to stop seeing him. Meanwhile, Spencer discovers that being attached has suddenly made him virtually irresistible to other women.
Spencer's cousin Chauncey begins working in the mail room at the record company and blabbing everyone's secrets. He recalls the time in college that he walked in on Spencer and Mona apparently in the midst of a drunken tryst, creating friction between Spencer and Camille. The story prompts Mona to confront her feelings for Spencer, as she wonders if the reason she has been so jealous of his girlfriends is because she wants him for herself. Meanwhile, Dee Dee creates a mold of her mother's pregnant belly--which Big Dee Dee hates.
Dee Dee's cousin Barbara comes to town for Big Dee Dee's baby shower, and stays with Mona because there is no room at Dee Dee's place. Mona is furious to learn from Barbara that Dee Dee shared things that Mona had told her in confidence about the effect her mother's bitterness has had on her feelings about marriage. Mona gives Dee Dee the silent treatment, but later has a talk with Phyllis about her fears. Big Dee Dee dreads the shower because she knows the guests will insist on touching her belly. Meanwhile, Spencer gets a makeover from Adam and some friends in the hopes of impressing Camille's social crowd.
Dee Dee invites everyone over to her parents' house for Christmas. The Bay Area experiences a heatwave, which leads to a brownout that nearly ruins dinner. Spencer angrily declines Mona's invitation, as the holiday brings up many issues about his absent father. Mona later offers to help Spencer track down his father. Phyllis brings her new boyfriend, a Santa Claus she met at the children's hospital, but both she and Charles object when the man refuses to keep his hands off of her. Neil calls Dee Dee and asks to come over and speak with her. She believes that he wants her back, and is stunned when he instead announces plans to marry. She tries to use the heat to her advantage in an attempt to win back Neil, while Mona urges her to just move on.
Camille sets up Mona on a date with her best friend, the handsome and engaging Carlo, whom she hasn't seen for years. Mona is thrilled when she and Carlo hit it off, and believes he might be a long-term boyfriend prospect. However, Carlo is actually in love with Camille and wants to pursue a relationship with her. Meanwhile, Dee Dee and Big Dee Dee are desperate to find out the sex of the baby, while Charles insists that they should wait until the birth. The women try to go behind his back to the doctor.
Delicious Records is bought out; and a new boss, respected music business veteran Kai Owens, takes over the company. She is bringing many of her own associates along, so she begins conducting interviews to see which employees will get to keep their jobs. Adam, exhilarated by all of the drama, giddily celebrates each new firing by banging a gong. Mona fears that she will be the next to go because she is terrible in interviews. Despite Dee Dee's advice, she blows the interview. However, Kai respects her work so much that she promotes her to a Vice President position. This makes her Spencer's boss, and he has trouble adjusting to the situation, ignoring her orders and talking back to her. Mona worries that they will not be able to maintain their friendship. Meanwhile, Dee Dee pleads with her mother to let her make a connection with her unborn brother in some way. Big Dee Dee offers to let her name the baby.
Camille returns from a vacation in London and behaves coldly toward Spencer. She finally admits that she is desperately homesick and has decided to move back to England. Phyllis upsets Mona by giving her a gift, a cat she saved from a shelter. (She sees it as a sign that Phyllis has given up on Mona ever giving her grandchildren.) Big Dee Dee decides to record a song as a birth announcement. Mona helps Dee Dee and Big Dee Dee search for an affordable studio. Mona meets Nick, the charming and handsome producer who runs one of the studios. They immediately hit it off and make a date. She has to cancel to tend to Spencer, but Nick is understanding, and later shows up with food. Dee Dee counsels Spencer and encourages him to tell Camille his feelings. He is devastated to find that she was about to leave without saying goodbye. She says that she enjoyed their relationship, but that it moved too quickly for her. Mona doesn't have enough time to look after the cat, so she gives it
Mona tries to find time alone with Nick, but her mother and Dee Dee can't seem to get the message. Dee Dee's longtime friend Aurora comes for a visit. She was once extremely obese, but has now experienced a dramatic weight loss, thanks to a gastric bypass surgery. She is not used to having men pay attention to her, and Dee Dee worries about the fact that she seems to overreact whenever someone pays her a compliment. Meanwhile, Spencer tries to get over his break-up with Camille by hooking up with virtually every woman in the Bay Area. Dee Dee tries to keep him away from Aurora, as she believes she could get hurt. Adam is upset when everyone begins to bail out of his big ""28th"" (or 27th, 26th, 25th or 23rd) birthday bash in Las Vegas. Spencer and Aurora wake up naked and hung over in a Vegas hotel room, and Adam tells them they got married. A panicked Dee Dee, unable to find Aurora, interrupts Mona's romantic weekend with Nick. They learn what has happened to Spencer and Aurora
The Thornes' plans for a well-orchestrated C-section go by the wayside when Big Dee Dee goes into labor three weeks earlier than expected. A panicked Dee Dee turns to Mona for help. Mona handles the situation beautifully, helping Big Dee Dee get to the hospital and deal with complications such as an overly perky new nurse; and having the delivery handled by a pregnant doctor who is a week past her due date and more than a little bitter about it. Dee Dee begins to resent Mona's calm demeanor and helpful nature, especially after Big Dee Dee sends her daughter out to find a doctor and asks Mona to stay in the room. Meanwhile, Spencer and Phyllis try to track down Charles, who has gone away to a men's retreat at an isolated cabin. Mona finally confronts Dee Dee and eases her jealousy by reminding her that she can simply lie and pretend that she was useful at the birth. Charles arrives just after Big Dee Dee gives birth to their son, Drew Christian. Big Dee Dee comes up with an ""offi
Dee Dee organizes a singles mixer at a local club. She bristles at Mona's claim that she only dates a certain type of man (well-groomed and upwardly mobile), and tries to prove her wrong by picking up a tough guy named Keno. She takes off with him on his motorcycle and joins him at a bar, where she rides a mechanical bull. She has a good time exploring this new side of herself--until she runs into a very angry woman who claims to be Keno's girlfriend. Mona and Nick crash the mixer and meet up with his ex-girlfriend, Raquel. Mona is disturbed to discover that Raquel is her dead ringer, and fears that Nick is just with her because of the resemblance. Meanwhile, Dee Dee must actually care for Drew herself after firing the nanny. She is mortified when she must turn to Phyllis for help when her son will not stop crying.
Kai orders Mona to exercise some of her new power as a vice president by firing Adam. She feels terrible about doing this to her friend, but acknowledges that he isn't a very good receptionist and finally breaks the news to him. Adam is furious and refuses to take any of her calls. Mona later learns that Kai never wanted her to fire Adam (who constantly sucks up to her and shares all the gossip), and had him confused with someone else. Mona must track down Adam at his new job handing out sausage samples at the mall and convince him to put aside his pride and return. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee hires an accomplished and extremely hot male nanny to care for Drew, but realizes she must let him go after she and Dee Dee spend all of their time fantasizing about the man.
With Drew's christening approaching, Mona and Dee Dee vie for the right to be their brother's godmother. They grow increasingly competitive as they buy him gifts and try to impress Charles and Big Dee Dee. While driving home from a shopping trip, Dee Dee takes a cheap shot at Mona when she brings up the fact that she is only Drew's half-sister. Big Dee Dee is appalled by this statement and urges Dee Dee to apologize to Mona as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Phyllis tags along to church with Mona and Spencer and begins making a play for the handsome widowed pastor. She soon finds some unexpected competition in the form of a very forceful church member who is just as determined to make the pastor her man.
Dee Dee vies with her law school rival, Stephanie Seymour, for a summer internship. Dee Dee believes that she is the more qualified candidate; but Stephanie sucks up to the man in charge, Mr. Washington. She also tries to use her sex appeal to her advantage, so Dee Dee retaliates by showing up for her final interview in a revealing outfit. She gets the job, but Mr. Washington's comments and behavior prompt her to fear that she got the job for the wrong reasons--and that her new boss might want something in return. Meanwhile, Kai develops a crush on Spencer and asks Mona to pass along this information to him. Spencer is thrilled, and decides to get involved with Kai and try to use her for career advancement. However, he panics when she starts talking about a relationship during their first date.
Big Dee Dee, Phyllis, Mona and Dee Dee make plans to spend Mother's Day together at a brunch/concert. Mona is surprised to learn that Dee Dee plans to get Phyllis a present. She scrambles to find something appropriate for Big Dee Dee. Big Dee Dee grows tired of receiving gifts meant for the baby and is thrilled with Mona's gift of Louis Vuitton luggage. This upsets both Dee Dee and Phyllis, who had already bristled at the fact that Mona was spending more time with Big Dee Dee. Phyllis starts complaining about her gift (even though it is the watch she repeatedly requested). Dee Dee suddenly gives Phyllis a diamond bracelet in an attempt at one-upmanship. At the brunch, Phyllis and Big Dee Dee discover that their gifts may not have been as thoughtful as it seemed. Everyone is at each other's throats, until the bathroom attendant, separated from her family for the day, forces the mothers to see the error of their ways. Meanwhile, Charles and Spencer watch Drew while the women are
Dee Dee runs into Clay, her ex-boyfriend with the foot fetish. He tells her that he has gotten treatment for his problem, and asks to start seeing her again. Dee Dee is not interested, but Mona and Big Dee Dee convince her that he is a good guy who deserves another chance. Dee Dee follows their advice and is very happy with Clay. However, Mona and Big Dee Dee catch him rolling around half-naked with a bunch of Dee Dee's shoes. He begs them not to share this with Dee Dee, but quickly has another relapse. Meanwhile, Spencer may lose his job after he fails to clear samples on a new album. The original artist, funk singer Otis Wright, has no interest in allowing the use of his music. However, Spencer catches a lucky break when Otis develops a mutual attraction with one of his biggest fans, Phyllis.
Nick tells Mona that his parents are coming to town for the weekend, and that he would like her to meet them. Mona is very nervous, as she has never met the parents of any of her boyfriends. Nick's parents are decidedly less than thrilled by the fact that their son is dating another black woman. Mona cannot understand why they dislike her, and asks Dee Dee to help win them over. Dee Dee suspects that they are racist, and they overhear the couple making remarks that prove this. Dee Dee recommends that Mona discuss the situation with Nick. However, before she can bring up the subject, Nick proposes. Mona immediately accepts. Phyllis, Dee Dee and a jealous Spencer pretend to be happy for her, but are actually worried. Dee Dee tells Mona that she cannot just ignore the attitude of Nick's parents. Mona admits that she got caught up in the moment and isn't ready to marry Nick. She wants to go on dating; but when he cannot get any reassurance that she might want to marry him one da
Dee Dee assigns herself the task of personally helping Mona get over her break-up with Nick. She spends nearly every minute with her and forces her to attend an exercise class. Spencer and Mona plan to go away on a road trip, but Dee Dee forbids this because she is afraid of what might happen. While having lunch, Mona and Dee Dee run into Phyllis and her boyfriend, Ray. He is a popular local disc jockey whom she met after calling in a traffic tip. Dee Dee invites them to a dinner her parents are organizing in honor of her new internship. Mona finally ditches Dee Dee and goes to see Spencer. They discuss the fact that they are doing well after their break-ups, and how lucky they are to have each other. They begin kissing passionately, but Mona quickly leaves. Dee Dee is horrified, but Mona says that it felt right. Spencer confesses what happened to Adam, who warns him that Mona is still fragile but thinks they would be good together. At Dee Dee's dinner, Phyllis announces tha
Mona returns from a Hawaiian vacation and clears the air with Spencer. They reaffirm their decision to just be friends. While looking through some vacation photos with her family, Mona reveals that she can now ride a horse. She is stunned to learn that Dee Dee still has the horse their father gave her as a child, Daddy's Favorite, and that she has lied for years about having not kept the horse. (The horse led to a major rift between Charles and Phyllis that separated the sisters for a decade.) Mona decides to buy her own horse, but it doesn't quite go as planned. Meanwhile, Adam helps Spencer uncover the cause of Kai's sudden unpleasant attitude toward him.
Mona and Dee Dee agree to get each other dates as a birthday present. Dee Dee does some thorough research and finds Mona a seemingly perfect guy, James, and the two get along well enough to set up a second date. Mona waits until the last minute to begin her search and is forced to turn to a less-than-helpful Spencer and Adam as she tries desperately to track down someone for her sister. Meanwhile, Dee Dee convinces a reluctant Big Dee Dee to let Mona and Phyllis join them for a mother/daughter portrait sitting. Big Dee Dee and Phyllis see the photograph as another opportunity to outdo each other and go all out to find the flashiest outfits possible.
Mona pretends that Drew is her son in the hopes of winning over an artist that she is trying to sign who is a single mother. After her plan fails miserably, she suggests that Delicious stop chasing after artists that they have no chance of signing and instead conduct a talent search. Spencer continually bad-mouths all of Mona's ideas, and the two snipe at each other. Adam advises Spencer to finally deal with the tension between Mona and him before it destroys their friendship. Meanwhile, Dee Dee obsesses over trying to build a cabinet without any assistance; and Big Dee Dee drives Charles crazy when she tries to get over her depression by scheduling lots of ""quality time"" for them as a couple.
Mona and Dee Dee attend Neil's wedding, where their conversation with the already-nervous bride in the bathroom leads her to call off the wedding. Mona believes they should stay out of the situation to avoid causing further harm; but Dee Dee insists on taking in the devastated Neil when he shows up on her doorstep. Spencer regrets giving an overly generous tip to the stripper at Neil's bachelor party, and tries to get the woman to return it. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee fears that she and Phyllis may actually have things in common after they run into each other at a funeral and discover that they both dated the deceased.
Mona must work long hours as she prepares a major presentation for Kai about her talent search idea. She begins to lose touch with her family and friends, as she misses out on Dee Dee's weekly parties and is unaware of major news like Spencer getting a new girlfriend and Phyllis and Ray deciding to live together. Mona makes an effort to better balance her personal and professional lives, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, Adam, upset that being gay is no longer the ""in"" thing, decides that he is going to be straight.
Dee Dee is furious to discover that Mona has become friends with Dee Dee's rival, Stephanie Seymour, after meeting her through a work event. Dee Dee insists that Mona should dislike the same people that she does because it is her duty as a sister. Mona tricks the duo into having tea with her in the hopes of getting them to make peace, but things do not exactly go the way she had planned. Meanwhile, a rejected applicant for the talent search refuses to take no for an answer.
Kai reluctantly agrees to give a shot to Spencer's friend RJ Jackson, a talented and successful singer with a reputation for partying. Spencer has difficulty reining in RJ, and must resort to desperate measures to get a track recorded before the deadline. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee decides to return to the stage after helping Adam prepare for an acting showcase.
Dee Dee makes a date with her favorite author after meeting him at a book signing. All appears to be going well, but Dee Dee reconsiders the relationship after learning that Carter has full custody of his two young daughters. Meanwhile, Phyllis begins snapping at everyone and seeks refuge at Mona's apartment after disagreeing with Ray's decision to take on another shift at the radio station.
After Ray says that he cannot make the Thornes' Thanksgiving dinner due to work commitments, Spencer invites his mother (who is unaware of his reunion with Ray) to fly in for the holiday. However, Ray arrives at the gathering unexpectedly. Spencer's mother constantly argues with Ray and lashes out at Spencer for keeping secrets from her. Phyllis and Ray decide to break up because he still has some lingering feelings for his ex. Meanwhile, Dee Dee pushes Mona to be more honest with their father about her frustration over his limited involvement in her life.
After hiding the relationship for a month, Dee Dee reluctantly introduces Carter to her parents. They are surpisingly supportive. However, Big Dee Dee immediately goes to Mona and pleads with her to try to sabotage the relationship, as she and Charles believe that Carter is completely wrong for Dee Dee. Dee Dee is furious, and winds up surprised by Carter's reaction to the situation. Meanwhile, Kai provides Mona and Spencer with an assistant, who livens up the office but doesn't seem to do any actual work.
Mona fears that her new man is too good to be true, so she searches for his hidden major flaw. Dee Dee accuses her of being paranoid, but soon discovers that Mona has reason to be wary, as Roland is living out of his car. Big Dee Dee considers having her breasts enlarged, but winds up receiving comfort from Phyllis as she faces a potential health crisis. A bored and desperate Dee Dee puts on a show for an apparent peeping tom in the building across the street from her apartment.
After Dee Dee bests her at an online word game, Mona grows frustrated by the fact that she always loses to her sister. She becomes determined to beat her at something, and sees her opportunity when Dee Dee organizes a poker party for one of her law school professors. Their mothers decide to crash the event, where Phyllis winds up winning Big Dee Dee's wedding ring in the pot. Meanwhile, Adam tries to get access to a copy of Spencer's personal music playlist.
Mona becomes upset when Kai repeatedly refuses to give her credit for the Fast Track contest in interviews. Mona, at her family's urging, tries to seize some of the credit for herself, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee gets in touch with her agent so that she can resume her acting career. She winds up playing second fiddle to Coco in a dog food commercial.
After Dee Dee learns that her mother's co-star in a new play is engaged to Dee Dee's idol, esteemed attorney Maxine Shaw, Dee Dee sees an opportunity to atone for a bad interview she once had with the woman. However, Dee Dee believes she has lost her chance after Big Dee Dee (who had to finance the play to ensure she could star in it) gets Max's beau fired because she fears he will take attention away from her. Meanwhile, Mona must find a way to rein in her co-workers after Kai is delayed and leaves her in charge of a company retreat at a resort.
Mona panics when a screw-up by Spencer may cost Delicious a chance to have mega-successful producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis help judge a showcase with the talent search finalists. Meanwhile, Dee Dee tries to prove to Mona that she can get by without their father's assistance after she gets downsized from her new job before her first day.
Mona grows very nervous about her role in selecting the Fast Track winner, especially after Kai decides to step aside and leave the decision about whom Delicious will sign to Mona. Dee Dee urges Mona to have confidence in her abilities. After a workshop, studio session and live showcase, Mona, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis select the winning act.
Mona tries to comfort Dee Dee after Carter appears on a talk show and says that he is seeing someone. When she later discovers that Dee Dee and Carter have secretly reunited, an angry Mona declares that she will not help Dee Dee pick up the pieces after the new ""casual"" relationship fails. Meanwhile, Spencer tries to get into photography in the hopes of getting rich; and Dee Dee and Big Dee Dee face a crisis involving their hair stylist.
After Mona complains about being bombarded with demos and Spencer's refusal to pay back his debts, Dee Dee encourages her to become more assertive and not let people take advantage of her. Mona follows her advice and re-possesses Spencer's new jacket and shoes. However, Dee Dee's words come back to haunt her when her sister refuses to listen to a demo by Dee Dee's handsome and influential new boyfriend. Meanwhile, Phyllis enjoys being pampered at an expensive shoe store after a salesgirl mistakes her for Big Dee Dee.
Mona entertains overtures from the head of a rival record company, who hopes to hire her away from Delicious. She seeks her father's advice on how to handle the situation, leading to resentment from Phyllis. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee plans a lavish 15-month ""birthday"" party for Drew in the hopes of showing up her friends.
Phyllis recruits Mona, Spencer and Adam to help out with a telethon on Mother's Day. Big Dee Dee and Dee Dee also decide to participate. Phyllis grows so frustrated with Big Dee Dee's interference at a pre-telethon meeting that she blurts out that Big Dee Dee was pregnant before she got married. Dee Dee is shocked and hurt by the fact that this was kept a secret from her, while Mona gives Phyllis the silent treatment because she is fed up with her bluntness and inability to keep her mouth shut.
In the hopes of getting closer to Phyllis, Dee Dee sets her up with her bitter divorced professor. However, the relationship soon fizzles, and the professor seeks revenge against Phyllis by turning her in for having too many cats. Phyllis blames Dee Dee, whose efforts to correct the situation only wind up making it worse.
Dee Dee has difficulty preparing her law school valedictory speech because she is uneasy about the fact that she doesn't have a post-graduation job lined up. Big Dee Dee worsens the situation when she suggests that she give up on her career and just look for a man, then tricks her into going on a blind date. Meanwhile, Mona tries desperately to prevent her mother from moving into her neighborhood.
Dee Dee has difficulty finding a job after graduation. After she announces plans to return to school, her fed-up father not only cuts her off, but orders her to pay back all expenses accrued since her 21st birthday. Mona begins dating her handsome and charming new neighbor, Lorenzo, but her insecurities stand in the way of the relationship. Spencer changes his wardrobe in the hopes of getting people to take him more seriously.
Mona refuses to go along with Spencer's desire to sign a talentless but popular heiress to Delicious. He infuriates her by finding a way to pitch his proposal without her approval. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee is jealous when Phyllis teaches Dee Dee a series of money-saving tips to help her adjust to her new financial standing.
Mona decides to embrace her birthday for a change and throw a party honoring Dee Dee and her. However, the event is spoiled by Phylllis's gift to Mona: a certificate to have her eggs frozen at a fertility clinic. Meanwhile, Dee Dee receives a great job offer with a law firm, but decides to pass because her instincts tell her something else will come along. Her friendship with an NBA star soon leads to a new opportunity for a career.
Dee Dee begins work as a sports agent, but clashes with a cocky co-worker. They are both upset when their boss forces them to work together to bring in a hot football player. Meanwhile, Adam recommends that Mona and Spencer follow his lead by signing up for an online dating service. They decide to write each other's profiles after having difficulty completing them on their own.
After Dee Dee starts a grease fire in her apartment, a handsome fireman rescues one of Phyllis's cats from the building. Phyllis eagerly tries to set him up with Mona, but the man winds up being attracted to Phyllis. Meanwhile, Adam falls into a funk over his friends' successes, especially after learning that Spencer has purchased his own home. Spencer tries to cheer Adam and convince him to set some goals for himself.
Dee Dee and Brett run into problems with their client, a talented pitcher who won't sign his new contract because he wants to devote more time to his musical aspirations. Dee Dee asks Mona to listen to the man sing and dash his dreams of music stardom; but Delicious winds up wanting to sign him, leading to a rift between the sisters. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee must break some bad news to Phyllis after Coco chases one of Phyllis's cats into traffic.
Mona goes against her initial instincts and decides to attend her ten-year high school reunion, where her professional accomplishments cannot protect her from the cruel comments of a pair of former cheerleaders. She perks up after a successful classmate takes an interest in her. Meanwhile, things do not go as planned for Spencer when he meets his on-line sweetheart in person; and Adam tries to get rich by stealing company supplies and selling them on the Internet.
Spencer seeks Dee Dee's advice to land a sophisticated woman, and again turns to Dee Dee for help ridding himself of the woman when she proves to be unbearably controlling. Gabrielle repeatedly refuses Spencer's efforts to break up with her. Meanwhile, Mona reluctantly gives Phyllis some advice before her first big romantic weekend with Glen. Dee Dee plans a bachelor party for a client.
Dee Dee tricks Mona into joining her at a singles weekend at an exclusive new hotel. Mona meets a handsome bartender, but Dee Dee repeatedly tries to steer her away from him, claiming that she has her best interests in mind. Spencer and Adam also attend the event, thanks to Adam's successful friend. Spencer enjoys the perks of hanging out with Adam and his friends, but is surprised to discover that people believe he is also gay. Meanwhile, Big Dee Dee convinces Phyllis that her presence in the building and relationship with Glen are driving Mona away.
After Dee Dee complains about Brett's sexist treatment of her, Charles and Spencer show up at the office to confront him. Their actions backfire, as everyone at the office begins thinking of Dee Dee as a "daddy's girl." Dee Dee, with encouragement from Mona, Phyllis and Big Dee Dee, sets out to prove herself by trying to land a successful athlete who has refused to sign with any agent.
Mona realizes that she needs to slow down her relationship with Chase after they start spending so much time having sex that it begins to affect her job and other aspects of her life. Dee Dee plans a "legends ball" on behalf of her mother (who is depressed because of her floundering acting career), but finds that none of the invited guests want to attend. Spencer buys a gigantic new truck that soon leaves him financially strapped because he can't afford gas.
After throwing together a baby shower for Neil and Janet, Dee Dee becomes concerned by the fact that she is the only person in attendance who is not attached. She begins to question her life and decision to pursue her career so aggressively. Meanwhile, Mona worries that her lack of maternal instinct could have a negative effect on her relationship with Chase. She tries spending time with Drew, and receives some advice from Big Dee Dee.
Dee Dee receives the opportunity to appear on a sports talk show, only to humiliate herself by falling flat on her face. Mona objects when Spencer and Adam constantly give in to Dalis's petty demands. She finally puts her foot down, with disastrous results.
Mona fears that Chase hasn't made any special plans for Valentine's Day, so she tries to take action. Dee Dee sets Brett up on a blind date in the hopes of curing him of his bad mood concerning the holiday, which stems from a broken engagement. Spencer gets close with a rival music executive whom Mona despises. Adam grows irritated with his Valentine's date, a man with whom he's shared a yearly tryst for the past 10 years.
Mona continues to bristle at Spencer's relationship with Naomi, who seems strangely reluctant to become romantically involved with him. Mona's mother and friends encourage her to put her personal feelings about Naomi aside and help Spencer. Naomi later divulges a surprising secret to Spencer. Dee Dee has difficulty following her boss' edict to drop a female tennis player with limited marketability. Big Dee Dee gets a potential break in her acting career when she's given a callback for a low-budget horror movie.
Spencer continues to shower Naomi with affection after she reveals her HIV-positive status. However, her newfound confidence prompts her to dump him and seek to profess her love for another man. Mona tries to comfort Spencer, but he rejects her for failing to back him throughout the relationship. Dee Dee agrees to join her new actor boyfriend in a reality show, and winds up humiliated. Charles is surprisingly supportive when Big Dee Dee is asked to do a nude scene in her film debut.
Mona convinces Chase to hire Lorenzo as a pastry chef at City Sonoma. Chase become furious with Mona for not informing him that Lorenzo is her ex-boyfriend. Phyllis is bed-rested after taking a fall in the hallway of her apartment building, which Big Dee Dee and Charles happen to own.
After finding out her rival will be writing her six-month performance review for the agency, Dee Dee makes an effort to tighten up her relationship with Brett outside the office. The two have a little too much to drink one night and wake up the next morning in Dee Dee's apartment clueless as to how they got there. Mona and Spencer trick Adam into thinking he won a sweepstakes.
While Chase is out of town on a business trip, Lorenzo shares with Mona that he still has feelings for her. Although Mona remains committed to Chase, she begins to fantasize about Lorenzo. Meanwhile, Dee Dee tries to convince Big Dee Dee and Charles to financially support Adam's new career as a stand up comedian. Big Dee Dee quickly agrees when she finds out she can produce his stand-up set.
Mona is taking her break-up with Chase out on everyone, only to realize that she's also putting her professional career in jeopardy. Dee Dee's newly signed client is married but when she suspects he's having an affair she is faced with a moral dilemma. Meanwhile, Phyllis and Big Dee Dee assume the girls are planning a big Mother's Day celebration, since neither has suggested plans to celebrate.
Mona discovers everyone is hanging out with Chase behind her back. Gus leaves town, leaving Brett in charge of the office. But when Dee Dee's colleagues tell her he is envious of her new responsibilities she tries to keep the peace in the office. Meanwhile, when Mona begins to see a therapist she realizes she has to take control of her life.
In an effort to make up her mind once and for all, Mona decides she wants to date both Chase and Lorenzo. When both men agree she finds herself more confused than ever. Dee Dee meets a new guy but when Brett tells her the relationship won't stand a chance, she sets out to prove him wrong. Meanwhile, Spencer meets a new woman and when she invites a friend to join them on the date he thinks his dreams have come true.
