Synopsis/Details
SERIES REGULARS (LIVING & DEAD)
Isolated only child LAURIE SULLIVAN (53/living; a down-to-earth Sandra Bullock-type) was abandoned by her dad after he came out as gay and died several years later after a brief reunion. Estranged from her bitter mother, a bad marriage left Laurie with two daughters to raise on her own. So, independent Laurie moved to the Poconos with her girls and elderly maternal grandparents. There, she met her true love and they had three sons. After 25 years of relative peace and quiet, Laurie’s world is turned upside down when dead people start showing up.
But Laurie can lean on her handsome husband MIKE SULLIVAN (54/living; a self-assured Nathan Fillion-type), who’s been battling unnatural water-related issues around the house. Mike recently quit his high-paying IT job but hasn’t told anyone yet. Mike is very protective of Laurie due to her past and is her hero. Mike was looking forward to having Laurie all to himself in a couple of years…
But then the ghost of Laurie’s unrelenting leisure suit-wearing father JACK HARRISON (38/dead; an inflexible Dan Levy-type) shows up. Jack was just getting to know Laurie again when he died in 1979, so he seizes this opportunity to reconnect and explain everything to her. Well, not everything. Jack has secrets, lots and lots of secrets. And he’s completely out of touch with modern times (he hears “Ayds” and thinks it’s diet candy).
IN A FLORIDA HOSPITAL_LAURIE’s emotionally abusive mother lies near death, having her regrets comforted by a MYSTERY MAN (53; an enthusiastic Paul Rudd-type) who assures her that he'll take care of everything. As she dies, the Mystery Man vanishes—only to immediately reappear in Laurie and MIKE’s bedroom in the Pennsylvania Poconos. The Mystery Man touches Laurie’s forehead and…
Laurie has a crazy dream about her dad JACK acting out scenes from FUNNY GIRL to get her attention (it was their favorite movie). Laurie jolts awake to find that the basement is flooding. Then, the door explodes off the pantry and her dead grandparents emerge! What the hell just happened?? Turns out, a portal to the other side was opened by a supernatural power surge caused by the death of Laurie’s traumatic relationship with her mother. And when portals open, ghosts come on through.
One month later… At a hilarious and raucous family dinner with four of their zany grown kids, Laurie tries to keep things peaceful as the dead and living argue about sign language, Pork-A-Palooza, and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. Meanwhile, Mike gripes about the cost of actually feeding these ghosts. Upstairs, youngest son CHRISTOPHER (16) stops short when he sees a figure vanish before his eyes —could it be Laurie’s dad Jack? Cool!
After yet another dream, Laurie seeks advice from Mike, who’s in the basement dripping wet after the washing machine fights back during repairs. But Mike doesn’t want to talk about Jack, still angry about the pain he caused Laurie all those years ago. They do talk about the weird water-related disasters over the past month since the unexpected portal opened. No matter what happens, they’re in it together. Laurie has a feeling that the surprises aren’t over yet.
As usual, Laurie’s right. Jack snuck through the veil when the pantry portal opened; fearful of rejection, he’s been in hiding ever since. Now face-to-face for the first time in over 40 years, 53-y.o. Laurie talks with her 38-y.o. father. Laurie is reluctant but hopeful after Jack apologizes and agrees to let him stay. Mike warns Jack not to hurt Laurie but also hopes that his presence can further heal her past trauma. But lose the mustache, pal.
Christopher is happy to greet his Grandpa Jack but worries about not having told Laurie about seeing him the other night. Jack reassures Christopher but as soon as he leaves, Jack says to himself: that wasn’t me. The Mystery Man appears, smiling as he harasses an irritated Jack—is it time yet?
