So NoTORIous
Encyclopedia
So NoTORIous is an American sitcom
on VH1
, loosely based on the life of actress Tori Spelling
. The series debuted on April 2, 2006 and despite lasting only ten episodes, received substantial acclaim from critics.
(his name is rarely mentioned in series; he is referred to by Tori as "Daddy" and taking a cue from Charlie's Angels
is only heard off-camera). Despite the fact that her father is very wealthy, Tori tries to prove that she just wants people to like her for herself and take her seriously.
Along with Tori the show features her close friends Pete (James Carpinello
), a roommate who shares Tori's condo and has a habit of bringing women to the place every night by bragging about Tori being his roommate; Janey (Brennan Hesser
), a real estate agent with a habit for being nosy and ambitious; and Sasan (Zachary Quinto
), an openly gay (but secretly gay to his parents) Iranian-American who tends to be critical at times, hoping it will knock a little sense into Tori. She is also seen carrying her overweight pug
Mimi LaRue around, frequently while it is dressed in tacky designer clothes.
In addition, Tori also has to deal with her self-absorbed mother Candy "KiKi" Spelling, whose history of how Tori was raised and why she treats her daughter as if she doesn't exist may explain why Tori acts like she does; Margaret (Cleo King), the nanny who raised Tori and is more motherly to her than KiKi; and Ruthie Rose, her frenetic, doting, and not-so-reliable manager.
While on the set of her latest made-for-TV movie, Tori develops a crush on a gaffer named Scott (Joe Manganiello
). But when she starts getting frustrated over why he doesn't ask her out, Janey suggests that Tori throw a party at her condo as a way to get to know Scott off the set. But her perfectly planned party goes up in smoke when Pete invites a pair of potential one-night-stands, next-door neighbor Farrah Fawcett
asking for a baked potato, Sasan brings his parents...and Tori learns that Sasan's mother is wearing something that once belonged to her, thanks to KiKi selling her stuff on eBay
.
Having finally won over the man of dreams (and thanks to a pink frosted donut), Scott, Tori finally accepts his offer to go out on a date, but the choice of venue turns their first outing into a nightmare at The Improv
, where headlining comedienne Lisa Lampanelli
pokes fun at Tori after seeing a tabloid picture taken earlier in the week at a restaurant where Tori, Sasan and Janey were eating. That's when things begin to go downhill when Scott decides to avoid Tori, and when she ask the reason why, Scott revealed that he has joined a scientology
-esque denomination called "Wholeness" and encourages Tori and her friends to check it out. But the idea of following the rules of being "Whole" has Tori rethinking her future with Scott, prompting her to dump both the cult-like group...and Scott!
Desperate for a role in an upcoming drama about a prostitute, Tori comes up with a plan to land the role by bringing Janey, Sasan and Ruthie along to the premiere of a new movie where its director will show up in hopes of an audition. But when that fails, Tori decides to put the audition on tape. So she makes a stop at the "Pleasure Chest" to buy sexy clothes and props, but when she hears the name of a former TV co-star, she makes an escape, only to learn her Blackberry is not only missing, but someone has it and is using it to taunt Tori, resulting in an all-night hunt to track down the phone-stalker.
Tori becomes annoyed by Pete's new girlfriend, who has no respect for Tori. But Tori's lack of telling Pete how she feels about the situation leaves her no choice but to find other places to stay, until Nan steps in and tell her that its time that she really confront Pete at her condo.
After meeting a plastic surgeon named Carter, sparks start to fly between Tori and her new beau. But when she invites him to dinner at her parents' mansion KiKi quickly becomes so impressed with Carter that she decides to spend more time with him, leaving Tori confused over why he and her mother are hanging out a lot and Sasan upset over the fact that KiKi would choose Carter as her "Favorite" over him.
After being labeled the worst dressed in a tabloid, being replaced in a TV movie, experiencing migraines and learning that Mimi LaRue has worms, Tori feels she may have bad luck. So thanks to advice from Ruthie, Tori sees a Santeria priestess named Mama Belle (Whoopi Goldberg
), whose techniques may be weird but it seems to turn around Tori's fortunes...and KiKi's attempt to find out how her daughter did it.
Thanks in part to an argument with her friends, Tori runs into Howard, a masseur who also does massages for Farrah Fawcett, in an elevator. Howard offers Tori a free massage and suggests that the only way to patch things up with her friends is buying them massages...not knowing that Howard also has a habit of spreading gossip from one person to the next, a move that puts Tori and her friends in more negative lights.
Inspired by Janey, Tori decides to enter a mentoring program and takes in a teenage girl named Tina under her wing. But Tori may want to rethink that idea when Tina takes advantage of her by "convincing" Tori and KiKi into throwing a quinceañera
at the Spelling mansion, where the real story about Tina brings out a lot more surprises.
Tori's plans to spend Mother's Day with Nan at her church gets upstaged when KiKi decides she wants go along with them as well after her cruise to Mexico is cut short. But the true meaning about mother-daughter relationships is about to come out at the church, where Tori gets all choked up when KiKi is invited to the pulpit and is encouraged by the pastor to come up and explain to the congregation how she really feels about her mother, even though Tori's afraid to admit it because of how KiKi has really treated her and fears that she'll embarrass her in more ways than one. Tori also learns that the organist that keeps winking at Nan was also married to Nan, who doesn't want to be bothered by him.
Fed up with the fashion sizes that doesn't fit Mimi LaRue, Tori decides to launch a dog clothing line with assistance from Sasan. But when she gets a role in an F-movie in Ottawa
, She ends up taking Sasan and Pete along, hoping to balance out on working with Sasan on the new venture while filming the TV movie. However her hopes of multi-tasking starts to take its toll on Tori as she finds herself getting distracted by a bilingual director, a demanding hair stylist, a Canadian actress learning to act too-American for her role (and catching Pete's eye), and of course, the very-nice Canadian culture. And ironically, Sasan is also feeling the effects...which could put his partnership with Tori on opposite borders.
raved that the show was a "very witty, sometimes brilliantly insightful hybrid sitcom". Newsday
admired that "the writing is pointed, the direction tight. But what really makes it work is Tori herself, light, bright and vulnerably likable."
The Hollywood Reporter
called the show "considerably more ambitious than a lot of other sitcoms" and said that "It's easy to dismiss this as another attempt by Spelling to prove that her talent goes beyond her last name, but there's more to it than that. She creates an appealing character despite all the preconceptions, many of which are acknowledged and dispensed with in the first few scenes." The Los Angeles Times
conceded that "while this sort of thing has been done before - it has been done here exceedingly well."
The Chicago Tribune
began their review with "there are people in the world who'll never watch anything that stars Tori Spelling. Their loss." The review went on to praise the show; admitting that "Spelling’s surprisingly good VH1 series, is a not-at-all-guilty pleasure. It has more than its share of amusing moments, and it also has a surprising amount of heart."
The Detroit Free Press
called the show "a sassy, classy winner."
The show was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2007 GLAAD Media Awards
.
on June 1, 2006, a rarity for a first-run original series.
The series was originally intended for NBC, but when the network passed on the show the producers fielded offers from other networks who liked the project, eventually landing a deal with VH1. NBC's parent company NBC Universal Television
is the show's production company and distributor, except for the DVD release which was handled by Paramount Home Entertainment.
The series was created by Chris Alberghini, Mike Chessler, and Tori Spelling.
The song Ageless Beauty by Stars was used in a promotional trailer for the show.
The series was released on DVD, November 21, 2006.
The character Sasan is based on Tori's best friend Mehran.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, loosely based on the life of actress Tori Spelling
Tori Spelling
Victoria Davey "Tori" Spelling is an American actress. Spelling became known in the early 1990s for her role as Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210. Spelling then had roles in a string of made-for-television films, such as A Friend to Die For and Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?...
. The series debuted on April 2, 2006 and despite lasting only ten episodes, received substantial acclaim from critics.
Premise
The series follows the actress as she tries to downplay the fact that she is the daughter of Aaron SpellingAaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
(his name is rarely mentioned in series; he is referred to by Tori as "Daddy" and taking a cue from Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
is only heard off-camera). Despite the fact that her father is very wealthy, Tori tries to prove that she just wants people to like her for herself and take her seriously.
Along with Tori the show features her close friends Pete (James Carpinello
James Carpinello
James Carpinello is an American film, television, and Broadway actor who came to national attention with his appearances in Tori Spelling's VH1 sitcom So NoTORIous. He is also in Rock of Ages.-Broadway productions:...
), a roommate who shares Tori's condo and has a habit of bringing women to the place every night by bragging about Tori being his roommate; Janey (Brennan Hesser
Brennan Hesser
Brennan Hesser is an American television actress, best known for co-starring in Tori Spelling's VH1 sitcom, So NoTORIous. She also starred in Fox's drama, Jonny Zero. She also guest starred in an episode of the CBS television show, The Guardian. As a youngster, she attended the prestigious...
), a real estate agent with a habit for being nosy and ambitious; and Sasan (Zachary Quinto
Zachary Quinto
Zachary John Quinto is an American actor and producer. Quinto grew up in Pennsylvania and was active in high school musical theater. In the early 2000s he guest starred in television series and appeared in a recurring role in the serial drama 24 from 2003 to 2004...
), an openly gay (but secretly gay to his parents) Iranian-American who tends to be critical at times, hoping it will knock a little sense into Tori. She is also seen carrying her overweight pug
Pug
The pug is a "toy" breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, and a compact square body with well-developed muscle. They have been described as multum in parvo , referring to the pug's personality and...
Mimi LaRue around, frequently while it is dressed in tacky designer clothes.
In addition, Tori also has to deal with her self-absorbed mother Candy "KiKi" Spelling, whose history of how Tori was raised and why she treats her daughter as if she doesn't exist may explain why Tori acts like she does; Margaret (Cleo King), the nanny who raised Tori and is more motherly to her than KiKi; and Ruthie Rose, her frenetic, doting, and not-so-reliable manager.
Episodes
- 1. "Plucky" (April 2, 2006)
While on the set of her latest made-for-TV movie, Tori develops a crush on a gaffer named Scott (Joe Manganiello
Joe Manganiello
Joseph Michael "Joe" Manganiello is a classically-trained American film and theatre actor. He holds a BFA in acting from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama...
). But when she starts getting frustrated over why he doesn't ask her out, Janey suggests that Tori throw a party at her condo as a way to get to know Scott off the set. But her perfectly planned party goes up in smoke when Pete invites a pair of potential one-night-stands, next-door neighbor Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
asking for a baked potato, Sasan brings his parents...and Tori learns that Sasan's mother is wearing something that once belonged to her, thanks to KiKi selling her stuff on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
- 2. "Whole" (April 2, 2006)
Having finally won over the man of dreams (and thanks to a pink frosted donut), Scott, Tori finally accepts his offer to go out on a date, but the choice of venue turns their first outing into a nightmare at The Improv
The Improv
The Improv is a comedy club franchise. Originally, it was a single venue founded in 1963 by Budd Friedman and located in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City on West 44th near the SE corner of 9th Ave. A second location was opened in 1974 at 8162 Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District...
, where headlining comedienne Lisa Lampanelli
Lisa Lampanelli
Lisa Lampanelli is an American stand-up comedian and insult comic. She is noted for her racy and raunchy style of comedy, which frequently includes taboo subjects such as race and homosexuality....
pokes fun at Tori after seeing a tabloid picture taken earlier in the week at a restaurant where Tori, Sasan and Janey were eating. That's when things begin to go downhill when Scott decides to avoid Tori, and when she ask the reason why, Scott revealed that he has joined a scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
-esque denomination called "Wholeness" and encourages Tori and her friends to check it out. But the idea of following the rules of being "Whole" has Tori rethinking her future with Scott, prompting her to dump both the cult-like group...and Scott!
- 3. "Street" (April 9, 2006)
Desperate for a role in an upcoming drama about a prostitute, Tori comes up with a plan to land the role by bringing Janey, Sasan and Ruthie along to the premiere of a new movie where its director will show up in hopes of an audition. But when that fails, Tori decides to put the audition on tape. So she makes a stop at the "Pleasure Chest" to buy sexy clothes and props, but when she hears the name of a former TV co-star, she makes an escape, only to learn her Blackberry is not only missing, but someone has it and is using it to taunt Tori, resulting in an all-night hunt to track down the phone-stalker.
- 4. "Accommodating" (April 16, 2006)
Tori becomes annoyed by Pete's new girlfriend, who has no respect for Tori. But Tori's lack of telling Pete how she feels about the situation leaves her no choice but to find other places to stay, until Nan steps in and tell her that its time that she really confront Pete at her condo.
- 5. "Jealous" (April 23, 2006)
After meeting a plastic surgeon named Carter, sparks start to fly between Tori and her new beau. But when she invites him to dinner at her parents' mansion KiKi quickly becomes so impressed with Carter that she decides to spend more time with him, leaving Tori confused over why he and her mother are hanging out a lot and Sasan upset over the fact that KiKi would choose Carter as her "Favorite" over him.
- 6. "Cursed" (April 23, 2006)
After being labeled the worst dressed in a tabloid, being replaced in a TV movie, experiencing migraines and learning that Mimi LaRue has worms, Tori feels she may have bad luck. So thanks to advice from Ruthie, Tori sees a Santeria priestess named Mama Belle (Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
), whose techniques may be weird but it seems to turn around Tori's fortunes...and KiKi's attempt to find out how her daughter did it.
- 7. "Relaxed" (April 30, 2006)
Thanks in part to an argument with her friends, Tori runs into Howard, a masseur who also does massages for Farrah Fawcett, in an elevator. Howard offers Tori a free massage and suggests that the only way to patch things up with her friends is buying them massages...not knowing that Howard also has a habit of spreading gossip from one person to the next, a move that puts Tori and her friends in more negative lights.
- 8. "Charitable" (May 7, 2006)
Inspired by Janey, Tori decides to enter a mentoring program and takes in a teenage girl named Tina under her wing. But Tori may want to rethink that idea when Tina takes advantage of her by "convincing" Tori and KiKi into throwing a quinceañera
Quinceañera
Quinceañera , sometimes called "Fiesta de quince años", "Fiesta de Quinceañera", "Quince años" or simply "quince", is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of immigrants from Latin America...
at the Spelling mansion, where the real story about Tina brings out a lot more surprises.
- 9. "Soulful" (May 14, 2006)
Tori's plans to spend Mother's Day with Nan at her church gets upstaged when KiKi decides she wants go along with them as well after her cruise to Mexico is cut short. But the true meaning about mother-daughter relationships is about to come out at the church, where Tori gets all choked up when KiKi is invited to the pulpit and is encouraged by the pastor to come up and explain to the congregation how she really feels about her mother, even though Tori's afraid to admit it because of how KiKi has really treated her and fears that she'll embarrass her in more ways than one. Tori also learns that the organist that keeps winking at Nan was also married to Nan, who doesn't want to be bothered by him.
- 10. "Canadian" (June 1, 2006)
Fed up with the fashion sizes that doesn't fit Mimi LaRue, Tori decides to launch a dog clothing line with assistance from Sasan. But when she gets a role in an F-movie in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, She ends up taking Sasan and Pete along, hoping to balance out on working with Sasan on the new venture while filming the TV movie. However her hopes of multi-tasking starts to take its toll on Tori as she finds herself getting distracted by a bilingual director, a demanding hair stylist, a Canadian actress learning to act too-American for her role (and catching Pete's eye), and of course, the very-nice Canadian culture. And ironically, Sasan is also feeling the effects...which could put his partnership with Tori on opposite borders.
Critical response
The show received quite a substantial amount of positive notices from critics. The New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
raved that the show was a "very witty, sometimes brilliantly insightful hybrid sitcom". Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
admired that "the writing is pointed, the direction tight. But what really makes it work is Tori herself, light, bright and vulnerably likable."
The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
called the show "considerably more ambitious than a lot of other sitcoms" and said that "It's easy to dismiss this as another attempt by Spelling to prove that her talent goes beyond her last name, but there's more to it than that. She creates an appealing character despite all the preconceptions, many of which are acknowledged and dispensed with in the first few scenes." The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
conceded that "while this sort of thing has been done before - it has been done here exceedingly well."
The Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
began their review with "there are people in the world who'll never watch anything that stars Tori Spelling. Their loss." The review went on to praise the show; admitting that "Spelling’s surprisingly good VH1 series, is a not-at-all-guilty pleasure. It has more than its share of amusing moments, and it also has a surprising amount of heart."
The Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
called the show "a sassy, classy winner."
The show was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2007 GLAAD Media Awards
GLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
.
Additional information
Although the first nine episodes aired on VH1, the "Canadian" episode aired on its sister network LOGOLogo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
on June 1, 2006, a rarity for a first-run original series.
The series was originally intended for NBC, but when the network passed on the show the producers fielded offers from other networks who liked the project, eventually landing a deal with VH1. NBC's parent company NBC Universal Television
NBC Universal Television
NBCUniversal Television Group is an American and global television production/distribution company and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal.The company is composed of six divisions: Universal Television , NBC Universal Television Stations, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, NBCUniversal...
is the show's production company and distributor, except for the DVD release which was handled by Paramount Home Entertainment.
The series was created by Chris Alberghini, Mike Chessler, and Tori Spelling.
The song Ageless Beauty by Stars was used in a promotional trailer for the show.
The series was released on DVD, November 21, 2006.
The character Sasan is based on Tori's best friend Mehran.
Cast
- Tori SpellingTori SpellingVictoria Davey "Tori" Spelling is an American actress. Spelling became known in the early 1990s for her role as Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210. Spelling then had roles in a string of made-for-television films, such as A Friend to Die For and Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?...
(Herself) - Loni AndersonLoni AndersonLoni Kaye Anderson is an American actress who played the role of Jennifer Marlowe on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.- Early life :...
(KiKi Spelling) - James CarpinelloJames CarpinelloJames Carpinello is an American film, television, and Broadway actor who came to national attention with his appearances in Tori Spelling's VH1 sitcom So NoTORIous. He is also in Rock of Ages.-Broadway productions:...
(Pete) - Brennan HesserBrennan HesserBrennan Hesser is an American television actress, best known for co-starring in Tori Spelling's VH1 sitcom, So NoTORIous. She also starred in Fox's drama, Jonny Zero. She also guest starred in an episode of the CBS television show, The Guardian. As a youngster, she attended the prestigious...
(Janey) - Zachary QuintoZachary QuintoZachary John Quinto is an American actor and producer. Quinto grew up in Pennsylvania and was active in high school musical theater. In the early 2000s he guest starred in television series and appeared in a recurring role in the serial drama 24 from 2003 to 2004...
(Sasan) - Jeanetta ArnetteJeanetta ArnetteJeannetta Arnette is an American actress known for her television role as Miss Meara on the situation comedy Head of the Class. She has also appeared in numerous films and guest-starring roles on television...
(Ruthie Rose) - Cleo KingCleo KingCleo King is an American actress probably best known for her roles as Aunt Lou in the HBO drama series Deadwood and Helene Parks in Boston Public. She is also known for portraying police officers, most notably Officer Gardner in The Hangover, and as the abrasive yet helpful school liasion officer...
(Nanny) - Joanna Sanchez (Vilma)
- Natalija Nogulich (Touca)
- Brian GeorgeBrian GeorgeBrian George is a British-Israeli actor and voice actor for Indian accents, who typically plays guest roles for characters of South Asian descent. Perhaps his most famous role is as Pakistani restaurateur Babu Bhatt on Seinfeld.-Early life:...
(Omid) - Ariel WinterAriel WinterAriel Winter Workman , known in television shows and films as Ariel Winter, is an American teen actress and singer. Winter is best known for her current role as Alex Dunphy in the TV series Modern Family, for which she has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series, along...
(Little Tori)