Liza Sows Her Oates

****Liza Sows Her Oates**** is the second episode in Season 1 of *Younger*. It premiered on March 31st, 2015 on TVLand. The episode was written by and directed by Darren Star.

## Summary

As she settles into her new 26 year-old life, Liza is tasked with marketing an older writer to a younger audience. Although she has a perfect date with Josh, she tries to convince herself to aim for someone more age-appropriate.

## PLOT

In Brooklyn, Maggie and Liza nut out the timeline of her new 26-year-old life. A unnamed young, curly haired man takes Liza's old life offline. No more facebook searches will show that 40-year-old Liza existed. Caitlin tries to message Liza just as her profile is taken offline. Liza calls Caitlin on her way to work, where Caitlin tells Liza she is staying in India because she has met a boy. Liza warns her to be careful and not to go to Goa with this boy. Josh interrupts their conversation when they bump into each other in front of Josh's tattoo studio. They make plans to meet up later.

At Empirical, Liza and Diana discuss the release date of a new book written by Joyce Carol Oates. Liza struggles coming up with ideas and turns to the internet to help. Kelsey drops past Liza's desk, dropping a new manuscript by Anton Bjornberg on her desk. Kelsey describes his work as "the hottest writer to hit Sweden since Steig Larsson." Kelsey has a meeting set up with him, and Liza offers to look at the manuscript. Kelsey invites Liza for lunch with her and Lauren so that she will have time to finish reading Anton's manuscript. At lunch Lauren mentions the new campaign her company is running for underwear and offers to send it to Liza. Lauren also notices that Liza has crows feet and offers to send her some new cream to help with that. Lauren unzips her top, exposing her top half and proceeds to take photos for #toplesstuesday on Twitter. Lauren's boobs end up trending on Twitter. Back in the office, Liza pitches an idea to Diana. She suggests moving the release date of Joyce Carol Oates new book to Tuesday because of "Topless Tuesday," and the idea of it supporting female empowerment. She creates the hashtage, #showusyouroates. While Diana looks like she disapproves of the idea, she asks Liza to get Joyce Carol Oates agent on the phone.

That night, Liza and Josh hang out again. Josh is talking about his life growing up, and the travel he did after graduating and how he got into tattooing. They run into an older man in a convertible with music blaring. They dance on the sidewalk before Josh runs off to get "the best meatballs in New York." Just as Josh runs off, two of Liza's friends from her old life, Michelle and Tom, run into her on the street. They discuss Liza's new living situation and then the fact that they are in Brooklyn for dinner. They try setting Liza up with their friend Richard who is recently divorced. As Josh comes back, Michelle and Tom just walk off. Liza lies telling him they were strangers that needed directions. Kelsey is still trying to finish Anton's manuscript, while Thad is trying for something else with Kelsey. Thad asks Kelsey why she is there if she doesn't want to have sex with him, which he plays off by saying of course not, it's just been 3 days. Thad does not give up, and Kelsey compromises by saying "in 400 pages." Josh walks Liza back to Maggie's apartment, and kisses her which catches her off guard. Liza tells Josh that she is all about work right now, she doesn't have time for a personal life. Josh takes it well, but looks disappointed as he walks away.

Maggie and Liza discuss the kiss the next morning, while Maggie is mixing paint. Liza swears the kiss is never going to happen again because of the age difference between them. Walking into work Kelsey tells Liza that she finished the book last night, even though Thad was masturbating next to her all night, Diana tells Liza they have a photoshoot that morning for #showusyouroates. Liza is happy but surprised that Diana actually took and ran with her idea. 4 women of all ages are photographed with the hashtag covering their breasts. During the photoshoot, Michelle calls Liza regarding the date with Richard. Michelle talks up Richard a lot and Liza tells her to give him her number. Diana gives permission for Liza to post the campaign shot to Twitter, with the caption "It's topless Tuesday bookworms! Show us your love for Joyce Carol Oates at ToplessTuesday ShowUsYourOates." She forgets to use hashtags. Kelsey tells Liza that she forgot the hashtags after Diana says she can't see anything on Twitter. Kelsey tells Liza that Anton is about to sign with another publishing house, saying his manager won't even let them sit down for a meeting, Liza suggests that Kelsey finds a way to meet Anton anyway. Later in the day, Diana shows Liza that the hashtag is trending on Twitter. As she is scrolling through the posts, Liza sees a picture of a topless Caitlin with her hot Indian boyfriend. She messages Caitlin telling her "you are in big trouble young lady."

That night, Liza dresses up for her date with Richard. Maggie notices how she is dressing more age appropriate which Liza defends, excited she might have better conversation with her date. Richard takes Liza to a nice Italian restaurant, where he brags about knowing a lot of information about the "food" business as he is an owner of Chipotle stores. Richard takes out his phone and says there is just one email he really needs to respond to. Liza looks disappointed but Josh sends her a text just at the right time. After the date Liza rushes to Josh's apartment where she kisses him and then walks away, leaving Josh standing outside his apartment.

## CAST

STARRING

* Sutton Foster as Liza Miller
* Debi Mazar as Maggie Amato
* Tessa Albertson as Caitlin Miller
* Nico Tortorella as Josh
* Miriam Shor as Diana Trout
* Hilary Duff as Kelsey Peters
* Molly Bernard as Lauren Heller
* Heidi Armbruster as Michelle
* Brit Whittle as Tom
* Dan Amboyser as Thad Steadman
* John Patrick Hayden as Richard

## MEMORABLE QUOTES

**Kelsey** - "Cover yourself, woman! We are not at burning man."

**Liza** - "My fantasy is restarting my career, not macking on some sweet kid who would take tattoo needles to his eyes if he knew how old I was."

**Kelsey** - "Thad masturbated next to me all night, but I did not let him break my concentration

**Liza** - "We actually haven't signed the divorce papers yet, because we can't afford the lawyers. We're actually too broke to get divorced."