Jesse is an American Sitcom that aired on NBC for two seasons between 1998 and 2000. Christina Applegate plays the title character, a single mother of a nine-year old who works at a Bavarian-themed bar owned by her father. Other characters include her brothers Darren and John, Jr., her best friends and fellow waitresses Linda and Carrie, and her new next-door neighbor Diego, a Chilean immigrant whom Jesse instantly feels a connection with.
This show was Applegate's first major project after the cancellation of Married... with Children. While somewhat neurotic, the character of Jesse was also a smart and responsible woman, and thus in many ways the exact opposite of Dumb Blonde Kelly Bundy (which is what drew Applegate to the project in first place). The show not only came from the producers of Friends, but also aired in the highly-coveted timeslot right after it. Unable to fulfill the extremely high ratings expectations for NBC's "Must See TV", the series underwent a Retool for its second season: Jesse got a new job as a nurse, her family (aside from her son) vanished without explanation, and everything became even more Friends-esque. These changes didn't help turn the show into a hit, and it ended up being Cut Short with an unresolved Cliffhanger.
This show provides examples of:
- Ascended Extra: In the second episode, Jesse gets a piece of candy stuck up her nose and meets a sarcastic male nurse named Kurt when she goes to the hospital to have it removed. One season later, Kurt becomes her co-worker and a series regular.
- Citizenship Marriage: When Diego faces deportation, he asks Jesse to marry him, but she can't bring herself to agree. Eventually she changes her mind, only to find out Linda has already married him. As the show was cancelled after this episode, the situation was left unresolved.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Jesse's father and her two brothers disappear without a trace between the seasons. The bar is also no longer mentioned.
- Elective Mute: Jesse's brother Junior has taken a vow of silence. He keeps it until midway through the first season, finally speaking up to reveal his knowledge of Jesse's boyfriend cheating on her.
- I Read It for the Articles: Inverted when Jesse finds a Playboy among Diego's belongings.Jesse: Let me guess. You read it for the articles.
Diego: No, no... there are naked women in here. - Irrevocable Message: After their first date, Jesse drunkenly pens a letter to Diego that says "I want to have your baby". Her attempt to get it back results in her getting her hand stuck in the mail slot of his front door.
- I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine: David Faustino, Applegate's Married... with Children co-star, guest starred in one episode as a car salesman.
- Romantic False Lead: First Jesse's ex Roy (who turns out to be cheater) gets between Jesse and Diego, then Diego dates a student (who turns out to be crazy) for a few episodes.
- Sex with the Ex: When Little John's father shows up again, Jesse decides to give him another shot, but he turns out to still be a scumbag.
- The Thing That Would Not Leave: Linda moves in with Diego in season two and drives him mad with her laziness and lack of cleanliness, but she won't move out voluntarily and Diego can't bring himself to throw her out either.
