SYNOPSIS

As the fifth season opens, Helena's adjustment to prison life is not exactly a smooth one, while Bette and Tina sweat their way through the rigorous preschool admissions process for Angelica; a lonely Tina ponders the rigors of seeking a new relationship.

Not long after extolling the virtues of Joyce during Alice's podcast, Phyllis begins to have doubts about their relationship and wonders if she should explore other sexual and romantic options, even as Joyce plans a festive "coming out" party for her at The Planet.

Classically unable to avoid temptation, Shane hooks up with a sexy real estate agent, but is discovered in the act by Paige, who furiously puts an end to their relationship. But Shane hasn't heard the last of the scorned and humiliated single mom.

Jenny returns from Mexico with a much-abused assistant in tow and a creative bombshell: she is involved with the Greek hedge fund billionaire who is financing Tina's movie company, a development that puts Jenny's script "Lez Girls" back on the fast-track for production – with Jenny attached to direct. The only person happy to see Jenny back home, in the meantime, is Shane.

Her friends try to find a new lover for Tina, but her heart's just not in the dating game, and Shane's attempt to fly "wingman" for her at Phyllis's coming-out party works out as badly as anyone would have predicted. A spark between her and Bette blows out when Jodi returns home and resumes trying to break Bette of her type-A tendencies.

Two new entrepreneurs from Miami open "Shebar," a rival lesbian nightclub near The Planet, causing Kit to be concerned about the future of her business – a worry that Shane no longer has when WAX goes up in flames, the result of arson.

Instead of being deployed to Iraq as expected, Tasha shows up Alice's apartment for a charged reunion – but what is she doing home when her unit is on its way to the Middle East?

              

    

Recap

Episode Quotes

GUEST STARS

Kristanna Loken ... Paige Sobel
Annabella Sciorra ... Kate Arden
 Jackson Allan ... Jared Sobel
Nicola Anderson ... Marrissa
Lara Babalola ... Councelor
Simone Bailly ... Grace
Dwayne Bryshun ... Ed
Julius Chapple ... Arson Investgator
Glynis Davies ... Victoria Van Kleef
Anna Hagan ... Samantha
Kathryn Kirkpatrick ... Prison Guard
Jane Lynch ... Joyce Wischnia
Brian Markinson ... Aaron Kornbluth
Lindsay Maxwell ... Lexi
Tamara Lee Noonan ... Prisoner #2
Joanna Reid ... Prisoner #1
Lucia Rijker ... Dusty
Patrick Sabongui ... Jamal
Wallace Shawn ... William
Venus Terzo ... Andrea Jills
Lucia Walters ... Camilla
Joanne Wilson ... Megan Swisher
Olivia Windbiel ... Angelica

ORIGINAL AIR DATE - U.S.
Jan 6, 2008 ... 10:00PM ... Showtime

CREW

Produced by
Kim Steer .... line producer

Film Editing by
Dave Rees

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paula S. Kyan .... third assistant director

Art Department
Samantha Schell .... assistant property master

Sound Department
Ethan Beigel .... adr mixer
Frank Morrone .... sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Kristen Branan .... head of production: Zoic Studios

Editorial Department
Kye Meechan .... assistant editor

Music Department
Howard Paar .... music supervisor

Other crew
Tim Smith .... first assistant coordinator
Debbie Hager .... assistant: Elizabeth Ziff, New York (uncredited)