It's Like, You Know...
an Episode Guide
by Russell Wodell
Last updated:
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:00
It's Like, You Know...an Episode Guide
|
| ||||
| aired from: Mar 1999 to: Jan 2000 | 26 eps, 7 unaired | ABC | 30 min | stereo | closed captioned |
regulars:
recurring characters:
"Why is it that when people think of Los Angeles, they picture a place populated with vapid, neurotic, self-absorbed, flaky, narcissistic airheads? Because it's like, you know . . . true! Welcome to L.A., home to this eclectic clique of transplants and natives, all but one of whom think the City of Angels is sheer heaven. This is a revealing look at the City of Dreamers through the eyes of a diehard New Yorker. All of Tinsel town's pretenses-its Hollywood aura, its valley girls and its strange allure-are filtered through the mind of someone from a culture as foreign to the City of Glitter as a subway is to the Pacific Coast Highway.(ABC promotional material)"Big Apple journalist and determined L.A.-phobe Arthur is visiting the west coast to write a book about the City of Angels. He's never been to L.A. before, but Arthur already knows what he hates. He plans to stay for only two months until the book is done. But will he be able to so easily pack up and leave, or will the magic of La La Land seduce him to stay?
"Arthur's staying with his former college roommate, Robbie, another east coast transplant, now thoroughly a man of L.A. He found his fortune with an innovative pay-per-view TV scheme where people can celebrate the Jewish High Holy days in the comfort of their own homes ("Pay Per Jew"). As a member of the city's ubiquitous leisure class, he now fills his days driving around and sipping bottled water. Robbie has a friend, Shrug, a wealthy, young eccentric, whose money is old but whose purpose in life is always slightly beyond his grasp. To avoid the appearance of being just another of L.A.'s well heeled drifters, he'll cling to the preposterous story that his wealth comes from a $2,000-an-hour bookstore job. Living next door to Robbie is actress Jennifer Grey (playing herself). Lauren is typical of L.A., where nothing is quite what it seems: an adorable masseuse who also makes ends meet as a subpoena-carrying process server."
| Back to TOP of Page |
TO Title List |
SEARCH epguides.com |
Theme via SoundAmerica |
Related links via Google |
Frequently Asked Questions |
Full Menu of All Series |
Series Menu by Genre |
Current U.S. Schedule Grid |
Production credits:
Dreamworks/42 Pound Productions (a not-for-excessive-profit organization)
Created by Peter Mehlman
Producer: Andy Ackerman
Produced by Suzy Mamann Greenberg
Executive producers: Ted Harbert, Peter Mehlman
Associate producers: Bruce Alden, Rick Corcoran
Executive story editor: Allison Adler
rc: Elliott Gould, Danna
"L.A.-hating Arthur is a New York journalist who wouldn't be caught dead in Tinsel town if he wasn't writing a book about it and in need of some firsthand research. Of course, his phobia regarding Los Angeles is always in some degree of conflict with his fascination with the city where nothing is what it seems and dreams can come true. In the premiere episode, the series pilot, Arthur moves in with Robbie and proceeds to feed his feelings of antipathy for Los Angeles and channel them into his forthcoming book. He gets his first journal entry when neighbor Jennifer Grey gives him a pastrami sandwich -- with mayo. Meanwhile, Robbie becomes a local folk hero when his broken car horn prevents him from doing what all Angelenos do -- honking obnoxiously at another driver for some perceived offense. (ABC)b: 24 Mar 99 pc: 17-98-101 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman
Arthur, Shrug, Robbie, Lauren, Jennifer and all of L.A. are glued to the set watching a televised car chase, particularly when Shrug realizes that the driver is his old friend Hilo Beckworthy, on the lam for the heinous crime of lighting up a cigarette at Spago's. Jennifer, however, worries that the premiere of her career-reviving American Express TV commercial will be preempted. (When we finally see the commercial, her line is "Don't change your face without it.")
b: 31 Mar 99 pc: 17-98-102 w: Peter Mehlman d: John Whitesell NOTE: We do not actually see Hilo in this episode, only his car.rc: Danna
Shrug is haunted by the memory of a high-school love lost when he inadvertently insulted her, and goes to a local doctor who specializes in removing painful memories; Arthur tries to make a good impression on a blind date; Jennifer insults a Harvard snob and finds herself blacklisted by the "Harvard mafia"; and Robbie's relationship with supermodel Danna rests on superficial ground, as she is only attracted to him when the market pushes his stock portfolio up.
b: 7 Apr 99 pc: 17-98-105 w: Peter Mehlman & Jon Hayman d: John Whitesellrc: Ernie
Arthur feverishly tries to avoid a gift massage with Lauren so their relationship won't turn "professional"; and Shrug opens a detective agency specializing in solving life's little mysteries.
b: 14 Apr 99 pc: 17-98-103 w: Richard Doctorow d: John Whitesellrc: Ernie, Chuck, Bert
Arthur is angry when Simile restaurant refuses to serve his burger medium rare, and must may a trip to the dreaded Valley to confront the mother who is suing the restaurant for giving her son food poisoning. Meanwhile, facing creative interference from the producers of his cable TV show, Robbie hires Jennifer to give acting lessons to the rabbinical star of "Pay Per Jew".
b: 21 Apr 99 pc: 17-98-104 w: Dawn Urbant d: John Whitesellrc: Mr. Lynch, Elliott Gould, Ernie, Danna
The premise of Arthur's Tinsel town-bashing book-in-progress comes into question when his visiting New York publisher is charmed by the city's glamorous women; but reaction sets in when Mr. Lynch discovers the insincerity behind LA's instant hospitality. Meanwhile, Robbie discovers that his supermodel former girlfriend Danna is dating waiter Ernie at his favorite restaurant, Simile.
b: 28 Apr 99 pc: 17-98-111 w: Jennifer Eolin d: John Fortenberryrc: Hilo Beckworthy
Arthur covets Robbie's casual sex life, explaining that women take him too seriously; Jennifer and Lauren hang out in a bar trying to confront the critic who gave Jennifer a bad review; and prison buff Shrug visits his friend Hilo (the unseen protagonist of the high-speed chase in "The Getaway") in jail, and begs to be locked up overnight.
b: 5 May 99 pc: 17-98-107 w: Peter Mehlman d: John Fortenberry NOTE: Series put on hiatus after seven episodes, but eventually renewed for a second season.b: UNAIRED pc: 17-98-100 w: ______________ d: John Whitesell NOTE: This pilot episode will probably never be seen anywhere, as the "Welcome to L.A." became the new pilot episode for the series.
Lauren is cut off on the road by Barney the anchorman (although she does not know it at the time). She yells at him. Later she is phoned by Barney to see if she will appear in a special on road rage. She gets stage fright when the moment arrives. Shrug buys a suicide note, and meets a woman in the process. Her family is rich, but she lives as though she is not. As such, Shrug pretends he is poor and lives in Robbie's guesthouse, in effect making Robbie him. Robbie convinces Pamela that it is selfish to be working when she does not need to, and she ends up realizing he is right, so breaks up with Shrug because she feels she needs to be around 'her own kind' - rich people. Arthur researches plastic surgeons for his book, and a plastic surgeon helps him get a job on a television show. He is fired after getting a paper cut on his nose by the suicide note because the studio thinks he had a nose job.
b: UNAIRED pc: 17-98-106 w: Jeff Astrof and Mike Sikowitz d: John WhitesellJennifer helps Arthur get a new car, a '65 mustang ragtop, but it turns out to be too much for him. Robbie dates a woman who does not drive - she is a pedestrian, who are despised in L.A. - they are called 'walkies'- a disparaging term for pedestrians. Lauren dates Josh, a black man, and it is learned that Shrug is unable to get along with blacks. He tries too hard, and as such Josh does not like him. They finally end up getting along, as he likes books, but not sports, and so does Shrug, although he says to Shrug at the end "I still don't like you". Arthur and Robbie swap the mustang and Rachel with each other, so Robbie has the car, and Arthur has the girl. They feel more comfortable that way.
b: UNAIRED pc: 17-98-108 w: Amy Welsh d: John FortenberryJennifer's agent Herb dies while Lauren is giving him a massage. Jennifer gets a part on the show 'Mommy Loves Chloe' as the gynecologist, but has to use the clinical term for a woman's ... She has a problem with it, although not the slang words. "I'm fine with the slang words, it's the dictionary word I have a problem with," says Jennifer. To which Shrug has no idea what word they are talking about. Robbie is trying to obtain a growth - not a beard, just a growth. He really wants to meet the woman who plays Chloe's mommy on the show. Arthur crashes into a schoolteacher, and to stop from being sued, takes him flowers at the hospital and the teacher has decided he wants to be a Hollywood talent agent. At the coffee shop they are thinking about their own death, and Shrug has no idea what he wants in terms of arrangements made. So Jennifer suggests he go to the wake for Herb, and Shrug decides he will go to do some research. Chloe's mommy will be at the wake also, so Robbie gets invited too. Lauren keeps getting signs she should be surfing. At the wake, the director of Mommy loves Chloe agrees that Jennifer does not need to say the word, until Robbie says to him that they slept together numerous times. After hearing this, he reinstates the word. Robbie meets Chloe's Mommy and she confronts him about not even being bothered shaving to meet her. Arthur takes the teacher to the wake to try and convince him not to be a talent agent, and succeeds, so he decides he will sue after all. Shrug announces 'Oh! Vagina' rather loudly at the wake, as he has just realized what the word is. While taping Jennifer's part for the show, she is unable to say the word and quits.
b: UNAIRED pc: 17-98-109 w: Allison Adler d: John FortenberryShrug has a girlfriend - the assistant of Robbie's agent. He does not know how long to wait after sex before disengaging. Jennifer says the length of a John Denver song. Robbie has a relationship with his agent, which has been drawn up as a contract. Lauren is allergic to shellfish, but tries calamari at the cafe. She has this, and wants something stronger. She tries the crab legs but does not know they are not real. Jennifer acts as a lawyer to renegotiate Robbie's relationship contract with Maggie, his agent.
b: UNAIRED pc: 17-98-110 w: ______________ d: John Fortenberry| Back to TOP of Page |
TO Title List |
rc: Danna
Lauren dates a television star who is a Siamese twin; Jennifer alters her birth date in a government computer and almost loses her identity -- especially when her father (whom Jennifer is avoiding on a trip to New York) hires Shrug to expose the woman who is "impersonating" Jennifer.
b: 21 Sep 99 pc: 17-99-201 w: ______________ d: John FortenberryA significantly surreal episode in which the other characters are interrogated by a documentarist about Robbie's breakup with his latest girlfriend, but in typical L.A. fashion wind up talk mainly about themselves.
b: 28 Sep 99 pc: 17-99-203 w: Peter Mehlman d: John FortenberryRobbie's idea for a film about black men in space, "Do the Right Stuff," is stolen by a Hollywood movie producer; and Arthur has ambivalent feelings about leaving L.A. to go back home to New York.
b: 5 Oct 99 pc: 17-98-112 w: Peter Mehlman & Jon Hayman d: John Fortenberryrc: Mr. Lynch
Arthur's scathing book on life in L.A. is released and is a critical disaster everywhere except L.A., where everyone loves it.
b: 12 Oct 99 pc: 17-99-204 w: Jon Hayman d: John Fortenberryrc: Clark
Shrug can't remember a romantic encounter; Arthur is offered a tempting job on an L.A. paper; and Jennifer and Carrie Fisher desperately avoid calls from David Bowie.
b: 19 Oct 99 pc: 17-99-205 w: ______________ d: John FortenberryJennifer and Lauren fight over their manicurist's vibrating chair; Arthur falls for his date's psychiatrist; and Robbie and Shrug search for the perfect out-of-town girl.
b: 26 Oct 99 pc: 17-99-206 w: Jill Franklyn d: John Fortenberryrc: Hilo Beckworthy
Lauren has a spiritual awakening after God's image appears on a billboard, looking like the famous ex of Robbie's date, Val Kilmer. Meanwhile, Shrug helps his ex-con buddy Hilo open a smell bar.
b: 2 Nov 99 pc: 17-99-207 w: ______________ d: John Fortenberryrc: Clark
Jen becomes godmother to twins apparently named after Robbie, who had a one-night fling with the mother; a sexual-harassment lawyer sexually harasses Arthur; and Shrug searches out some stress to relieve his back pain.
b: 7 Dec 99 pc: 17-99-208 w: ______________ d: Leonard R. Garner Jr.rc: Ernie
Jennifer's phone number catches the eye of a war-happy Serbian leader; Arthur's old college friend Brian steals anecdotes from Arthur's life to elevate his own status; Shrug and Lauren end up on the same PMS cycle.
b: 15 Dec 99 pc: 17-99-212 w: Richard Doctorow & Jill Franklyn d: Leonard R. Garner Jr.Arthur freezes up when he enters into a May-December fling; Jen fakes her feelings for capital punishment to impress a hunk who's pro the death penalty; and Robbie sets Lauren up with a socially bankrupt stockbroker.
b: 22 Dec 99 pc: 17-99-209 w: ______________ d: Leonard R. Garner Jr.rc: Ernie, Chuck, Bert
Jennifer agrees to televise her appendix surgery live on Robbie's new Pay-Per-Cut cable show; Shrug hires himself a nanny; and Arthur's failed college career rears its ugly head when his cousin blackmails him into giving up his New York apartment -- or the cousin will spill the beans about Arthur never having graduated from college.
b: 29 Dec 99 pc: 17-99-210 w: Ethan Cohen d: Joe Regalbutorc: Ernie
Sparks fly when Jennifer dates a detective who moonlights as a volunteer fireman, and Robbie breaks the news to Shrug about buying a house. Meanwhile, Arthur frets about the ambiguity of his relationship with Lauren.
b: 5 Jan 99 pc: 17-99-213 w: Peter Mehlman d: John FortenberryRobbie and Shrug goes half's in a Van Gough, and then argue over who gets to keep it at their place once they have it. They return the painting, but are only able to get store credit. Jennifer thinks she recognizes a mechanic as a stalker from the '80's, but needs Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch) to make confirm it. Lauren has a yoga friend Wayne, and Arthur tries to warn her he is not as serene as he portrays. She discovers that he is not as he seems whilst in his van. She left something in the van, so Lauren and Arthur break into it to get it back and come across bomb making books in the back.
b: UNAIRED pc: 17-99-202 w: Peter Mehlman d: John FortenberryThe gang reflects on what they were doing when basketball star Latrel Sprewell choked his coach. Lauren's massage client was about to jump out a window, Shrug met a black man, Robbie and Jennifer were in bed together when Shrug phoned Robbie to tell him the news, and Arthur was interviewing the model Veronica Webb.
b: UNAIRED pc: 17-99-211 w: Peter Mehlman d: John Fortenberry| Back to TOP of Page |
TO Title List |
SEARCH epguides.com |
Theme via SoundAmerica |
Related links via Google |
Frequently Asked Questions |
Full Menu of All Series |
Series Menu by Genre |
Current U.S. Schedule Grid |
All of the episode titles are movie titles. Thanks to Hamish Snowden for filling in the details of the unaired episodes.