"Suburgatory" premiered on ABC on Wednesday night, Sept. 28 at 8:30 p.m. George Altman, is an architect and a father of a teenage girl named Tessa, who is 16 years old. They move to the suburbs from New York City after her dad finds a box of condoms in her room. Her mom left them after she was born, so she hasn't experienced a life with a mother figure. Growing up with George is all she has ever known.
Tessa is a very independent person and very much a tomboy. She is unlike anybody who lives in this suburb. She wears clothes that are very tomboy-like with jeans, a t-shirt, and some combat boots. Since she dresses like this, the whole school thinks she is a lesbian. The people who already live here wear very short clothing where you can see almost everything, down the shirt with the bra, and up the skirt or shirts. Also, almost all the women here have breast implants, which is a rude awakening for Tessa because she has never been exposed to this kind of lifestyle before.
When she goes to school they have somebody show her around which they call a "buddy." It is very rare that somebody would become friends with the new student, and Dalia is no exception. They don't get along very well. Tessa knows that she doesn't belong here and hides out in the girl's bathroom. While in the bathroom, she sees Dalia and her friends pick on a not so popular girl. When they leave, she goes to comfort the girl who was getting picked on, but she doesn't want any comfort and screams at her to get away from her.
Meanwhile, while they are in school, George meets up with his old friend, Noah, at the country club. However, Noah is not the person he remembers. George feels out of place. To make George feel more comfortable, Noah tells him that a lot of the women think he is more attractive than most of the other men in town. All the women are drooling over George, married and single.
After George goes to the country club, he goes to look at Dallas' house to put a skylight in her daughter's, Dalia's, bedroom. Once Dallas and George start talking, he starts to feel insecure that Tessa is missing a mother figure in her life. Dallas suggests that she and Dalia take Tessa and George to the mall for a shopping trip. They find Tessa walking home and take them to the mall. Tessa is very miserable at the mall, and George is clueless that this is the last thing she wants to be doing. Dallas goes into the dressing room where Tessa and Dalia are wearing the same outfit. She finds out that Tessa is in a sports bra that is ugly and unflattering. Without letting Tessa know, Dallas buys Tessa a pretty, pink bra. Even though she doesn't like it at first, she is thankful for the gift.
Later on, Tessa answers her front door to see Lisa, the dorky girl she was spying on in the bathroom. Apparently, Lisa's mother, Sheila, dropped off a casserole dish that she needs returned. Lisa apologizes for being so mean in the bathroom, and she leaves on good terms. Tessa has to remind herself that even though she's the new girl, that doesn't mean she's the only one struggling to fit in. With Tessa's newfound hope, she decides that maybe life won't be so bad in Suburgatory. Only time will tell for life in the suburbs.
I thought this was a very good start to get people into the show; it got me to like the show. I want to know what will happen, if she will make friends or anything like that. I think it is something that anybody can relate to. Tune in every Wednesday.
