Notes From the Underbelly

This ensemble comedy proves that surviving the politics of pregnancy and maintaining relationships with family and friends can be just as demanding as raising a child. Andrew (series star PETER CAMBOR) and Lauren (series star JENNIFER WESTFELDT) have just found out they're going to have a baby. Surrounding Andrew and Lauren as they embark on their journey is a close-knit circle of friends, all of whom have varying opinions, experience and advice on starting a family. Julie (series star MELANIE PAXSON) and Eric (series star SUNKRISH BALA), also about to have their first child, are the overly excited, slightly obnoxious expectant parents that Andrew and Lauren hope to never become. Lauren's best friend, Cooper (series star RACHAEL HARRIS), is a divorce attorney and career woman who is skeptical of marriage altogether and will do her best to keep Lauren from becoming another member of the "mommy cult." And the main concern of Andrew's buddy Danny (series star MICHAEL WEAVER) is meeting hot women. It's up to Andrew and Lauren to juggle the freedom and spontaneity of their old lives with the responsibility of their new lives, while straddling the worlds of their carefree single friends and the ever-changing worlds of their married ones. In the series premiere, Andrew and Lauren have a difficult time following rule number one of a new pregnancy--keeping it a secret. Suddenly switching to decaffeinated coffee, becoming a teetotaler at cocktail parties and going to a gynecologist are all hard to hide from family and close friends.

Andrew and Lauren succumb to the pressures of reorganizing their lives. They realize that changes are inevitable, including getting rid of Andrew's beloved hockey table to make space, trading in the Mini Cooper for a minivan and updating an expired license--no matter how much they may love the photo. Experiencing strong cravings, Lauren jeopardizes her driving test with an ill-advised U-turn into a drive-through hamburger joint. Meanwhile, Eric and Julie also prepare to welcome their first child, practicing their parental skills with the help of a toy doll. And Cooper flirts with a newly separated man at a funeral.

Overwhelmed by the impending costs of having a baby, Andrew looks for ways to save...at Lauren's expense. To offset the extra costs, he also takes on landscaping jobs, with Danny's help, despite the fact that neither man is equipped for manual labor. Meanwhile, feeling like she's not getting through to the students she counsels, Lauren contemplates leaving her job. Julie and Cooper both offer her their opinions on whether or not she should quit. Ultimately, a chance encounter with a student outside of school helps Lauren come to a decision.

Andrew and Lauren quickly discover the pros and cons of being pregnant. Definite pluses for Andrew include Lauren's highly noticeable "pregnancy breasts," which also prove to be objects of attention for the students she counsels. On the downside, Lauren's sex drive has diminished, and Andrew worries that they won't have time to be intimate once the baby arrives. Heartened by his concerns, Lauren makes several attempts to get in the mood, only to be foiled by various events. Surprises are also in store for Danny and Cooper when they discover that they have something in common.

Andrew and Lauren disagree over the importance of breastfeeding. Lauren isn't convinced it's necessary, while Andrew is absolutely adamant about it. He claims that being a breastfed baby is what has made him the success he is today--until a visit from his mother exposes the truth about his upbringing. Meanwhile, Julie and Eric struggle to reconnect after the birth of their baby, and Cooper falls for a handsome, model-perfect mall employee whom she mistakenly thinks is all brawn and no brains.

After telling her co-workers that she is pregnant, Lauren remains determined to prove that it won't adversely affect her job. As she begins to experience the effects of pregnancy--fatigue and forgetfulness--Andrew lovingly helps her. But this gets them both into trouble when he inadvertently advises a student to put off college. Meanwhile, Julie and Cooper discover that the only thing they really have in common is Lauren.

The gang gathers to celebrate Andrew's birthday, but what should be a joyous occasion suddenly takes a hilarious turn for the worse when Andrew's old college buddy, whom he dislikes, shows up. Andrew learns that Lauren continued to date other guys during the first two months of their courtship. To deflect attention away from herself, Lauren reveals that Danny witnessed Julie and Eric having sex, and that Cooper intentionally made Danny fall off a boat during a booze cruise. Meanwhile, when Cooper sends her assistant on a last-minute errand to get a gift for Andrew, the present ends up being so lavish that it outshines Lauren's gifts.

This ensemble comedy features a group of friends in their early 30s and proves that pregnancy doesn't just change your life, but the lives of all your friends. Andrew (series star PETER CAMBOR) and Lauren (series star JENNIFER WESTFELDT) are going to have a baby. Surrounding Andrew and Lauren as they embark on their journey is a close-knit circle of friends, all of whom have varying opinions, experience and advice on starting a family. Julie (series star MELANIE PAXSON) and Eric (series star SUNKRISH BALA), are the overly excited, slightly obnoxious parents that Andrew and Lauren hope to never become. Lauren's best friend, Cooper (series star RACHAEL HARRIS), is a divorce attorney and career woman who is skeptical of marriage altogether and will do her best to keep Lauren from becoming another member of the "mommy cult." Danny (series star MICHAEL WEAVER) is Andrew's buddy who seems the furthest from settling down. It's up to Andrew and Lauren to juggle the freedom and spontaneity of their old lives with the responsibility of their new lives, while straddling the worlds of their carefree single friends and the ever-changing worlds of their married ones. In the season premiere, Andrew realizes he may be a pushover and forces himself to be more assertive. This proves to be a big turn-on for Lauren, until Andrew embraces his opinions to the point where the delicate balance of their relationship is threatened. Meanwhile, Eric and Julie hire a nanny who refuses to divulge the secret swaddling technique that instantly calms their newborn baby, Perry. And, when Danny starts cooking for Cooper in return for legal aide, the two find themselves "accidentally dating."

After a power outage, Lauren suddenly becomes paranoid about every little thing and worries that she isn't ready to take care of a baby. Andrew, on the other hand, is feeling very confident about his parenting abilities -- until he kills a mock "baby" at their infant CPR class. Meanwhile, Danny, in a class of his own, excels by flirting with the 52-year-old-teacher, and Cooper uses Julie's sexy baby blog as a way to bond with the "brown baggers" at her firm.

Lauren's cool younger sister, Heather (guest star JOANNA CANTON - "Related," "That '70s Show"), visits for a job interview and Lauren launches a campaign to convince Heather to move to Los Angeles. Lauren would love to have her sister nearby when the baby is born, but will Lauren's aggressive attempts to sell Heather on living in LA end up working against her? Meanwhile, with Lauren consumed with her sister's visit and Eric away on business, Julie convinces Cooper to keep her company. But when new mom Julie falls asleep from exhaustion, Cooper is confronted with one of her greatest fears -- a crying baby Perry.

When Cooper thinks that Lauren is becoming too wrapped up in baby stuff, she decides to make a new friend. Meanwhile, Andrew foolishly disregards the old adage "Don't work for friends," when he agrees to landscape Julie and Eric's yard in preparation for baby Perry¿s official "coming out" party. To make matters worse, Danny wants Julie and Eric to hire him to play piano at the party. Eric, for his part, must manage his wife's expectations for a blowout baby party without losing Danny and Andrew's friendship.

It seems everything is beginning to remind Lauren of the weight she's gained in the six months she's been pregnant, leaving her feeling decidedly un-sexy. Cooper, Julie and Andrew do whatever they can to help her out of her funk. Meanwhile, Danny asks Julie if he can borrow her baby to attract women in the park.