L.A.-hating Arthur is a New York journalist who wouldn't be caught dead in Tinsel town if he wasn't writing a book about it and in need of some firsthand research. Of course, his phobia regarding Los Angeles is always in some degree of conflict with his fascination with the city where nothing is what it seems and dreams can come true. In the premiere episode, the series pilot, Arthur moves in with Robbie and proceeds to feed his feelings of antipathy for Los Angeles and channel them into his forthcoming book. He gets his first journal entry when neighbor Jennifer Grey gives him a pastrami sandwich -- with mayo. Meanwhile, Robbie becomes a local folk hero when his broken car horn prevents him from doing what all Angelenos do -- honking obnoxiously at another driver for some perceived offense. (ABC)
Arthur, Shrug, Robbie, Lauren, Jennifer and all of L.A. are glued to the set watching a televised car chase, particularly when Shrug realizes that the driver is his old friend Hilo Beckworthy, on the lam for the heinous crime of lighting up a cigarette at Spago's. Jennifer, however, worries that the premiere of her career-reviving American Express TV commercial will be preempted. (When we finally see the commercial, her line is "Don't change your face without it.")
Shrug is haunted by the memory of a high-school love lost when he inadvertently insulted her, and goes to a local doctor who specializes in removing painful memories; Arthur tries to make a good impression on a blind date; Jennifer insults a Harvard snob and finds herself blacklisted by the "Harvard mafia"; and Robbie's relationship with supermodel Danna rests on superficial ground, as she is only attracted to him when the market pushes his stock portfolio up.
Arthur feverishly tries to avoid a gift massage with Lauren so their relationship won't turn "professional"; and Shrug opens a detective agency specializing in solving life's little mysteries.
Arthur is angry when Simile restaurant refuses to serve his burger medium rare, and must may a trip to the dreaded Valley to confront the mother who is suing the restaurant for giving her son food poisoning. Meanwhile, facing creative interference from the producers of his cable TV show, Robbie hires Jennifer to give acting lessons to the rabbinical star of "Pay Per Jew".
The premise of Arthur's Tinsel town-bashing book-in-progress comes into question when his visiting New York publisher is charmed by the city's glamorous women; but reaction sets in when Mr. Lynch discovers the insincerity behind LA's instant hospitality. Meanwhile, Robbie discovers that his supermodel former girlfriend Danna is dating waiter Ernie at his favorite restaurant, Simile.
Arthur covets Robbie's casual sex life, explaining that women take him too seriously; Jennifer and Lauren hang out in a bar trying to confront the critic who gave Jennifer a bad review; and prison buff Shrug visits his friend Hilo (the unseen protagonist of the high-speed chase in "The Getaway") in jail, and begs to be locked up overnight.
Lauren dates a television star who is a Siamese twin; Jennifer alters her birth date in a government computer and almost loses her identity -- especially when her father (whom Jennifer is avoiding on a trip to New York) hires Shrug to expose the woman who is impersonating Jennifer.
A significantly surreal episode in which the other characters are interrogated by a documentarist about Robbie's breakup with his latest girlfriend, but in typical L.A. fashion wind up talk mainly about themselves.
Robbie's idea for a film about black men in space, "Do the Right Stuff," is stolen by a Hollywood movie producer; and Arthur has ambivalent feelings about leaving L.A. to go back home to New York.
Arthur's scathing book on life in L.A. is released and is a critical disaster everywhere except L.A., where everyone loves it.
Shrug can't remember a romantic encounter; Arthur is offered a tempting job on an L.A. paper; and Jennifer and Carrie Fisher desperately avoid calls from David Bowie.
Jennifer and Lauren fight over their manicurist's vibrating chair; Arthur falls for his date's psychiatrist; and Robbie and Shrug search for the perfect out-of-town girl.
Lauren has a spiritual awakening after God's image appears on a billboard, looking like the famous ex of Robbie's date, Val Kilmer. Meanwhile, Shrug helps his ex-con buddy Hilo open a smell bar.
Jen becomes godmother to twins apparently named after Robbie, who had a one-night fling with the mother; a sexual-harassment lawyer sexually harasses Arthur; and Shrug searches out some stress to relieve his back pain.
Jennifer's phone number catches the eye of a war-happy Serbian leader; Arthur's old college friend Brian steals anecdotes from Arthur's life to elevate his own status; Shrug and Lauren end up on the same PMS cycle.
Arthur freezes up when he enters into a May-December fling; Jen fakes her feelings for capital punishment to impress a hunk who's pro the death penalty; and Robbie sets Lauren up with a socially bankrupt stockbroker.
Jennifer agrees to televise her appendix surgery live on Robbie's new Pay-Per-Cut cable show; Shrug hires himself a nanny; and Arthur's failed college career rears its ugly head when his cousin blackmails him into giving up his New York apartment -- or the cousin will spill the beans about Arthur never having graduated from college.
Sparks fly when Jennifer dates a detective who moonlights as a volunteer fireman, and Robbie breaks the news to Shrug about buying a house. Meanwhile, Arthur frets about the ambiguity of his relationship with Lauren.
Arthur lands the starring role in a sitcom.
Robbie's new girlfriend faces discrimination because she's a "walkie".
Jennifer's press agent is killed by a massage from Lauren, and the gang attend his funeral.
Shrug has trouble timing sex with his girlfriend.
Shrug and Robbie buy a Van Gogh painting as an investment. Meanwhile, Maureen McCormick and Estelle Getty help Jennifer take on Evan the Terrible, and Lauren finds out the real truth about her friend.
The gang reflects on what they were doing when basketball star Latrel Sprewell choked his coach. Lauren's massage client was about to jump out a window, Shrug met a black man, Robbie and Jennifer were in bed together when Shrug phoned Robbie to tell him the news, and Arthur was interviewing the model Veronica Webb.
Arthur, a New York writer, comes to Los Angeles to research a book on hating L.A. He stays with his college roommate Robbie, now fabulously rich and staying in the guest house of the even richer Shrug, who lives off his trust fund and feels guilty about it.
