Ep 20. Peanut Butter And Jealousy
- January 13, 1993
The episode "Peanut Butter And Jealousy" of Melrose Place's first season centers around the complicated relationships between the show's main characters. The episode begins with the arrival of a new tenant, Rhonda Blair, who is looking for a place to stay. She is a sweet and shy girl who immediately catches the eye of Jake, one of the male tenants at Melrose Place. We also see Billy and his girlfriend Allison trying to navigate their relationship, which has been strained due to their differing career aspirations.
At the same time, Jane, the fashion designer and owner of the apartment complex, is working on a fashion show. She enlists the help of Michael, her estranged husband, to help with the show's medical needs. Michael is still in love with Jane and tries to win her back, creating tension between him and his current wife, Kimberly.
The main focus of the episode is the growing jealousy between Jake and Billy. Jake becomes increasingly infatuated with Rhonda, which makes Billy jealous and insecure about his own relationship. Meanwhile, Allison becomes jealous of Billy's growing preoccupation with Rhonda. This sets up a love triangle where every character is competing for the attention and love of someone else.
While all of this is happening, one of the other tenants, Sandy, is trying to launch her own career as a singer. She gets her big break when a record producer agrees to hear her sing at a local club. However, her nerves get the best of her, and she freezes on stage, failing to impress the producer and costing herself her big chance.
The episode culminates in a fashion show at Jane's office. Despite some backstage drama, the show goes off without a hitch. While there, Rhonda confesses to Jake that she has a crush on him, which only adds to the tension between him and Billy. The episode ends with Jane and Michael sharing a moment where they admit that they still have feelings for each other.
Overall, "Peanut Butter And Jealousy" is a classic episode of Melrose Place, featuring all of the drama, romance, and intrigue that made the show such a hit in the 1990s. The love triangle between Jake, Billy, and Rhonda is especially captivating, and viewers will enjoy seeing how all of the different relationships play out over the course of the episode.