Welcome to Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past!  On Thursdays, I will be reviewing Jennifer Slept Here, which aired on NBC in 1983 and 1984.  The entire show is currently streaming on YouTube!

This week, Jennifer gets some competition!

Episode 1.12 ‘The Tutor Who Came To Dinner”

(Dir by John Bowab, originally aired on May 5th, 1984)

Concerned about Joey’s poor grades and the fact that he is always doing things like talking to no one and apparently playing ping pong by himself, George arranges for Joey to get a tutor.

At first, Joey is upset.  He doesn’t want a tutor.  As he explains it, he just got one D and it wasn’t even in an important class.  But Joey changes his tune when Pam (Gail Edwards) arrives.  Pam is supportive, enthusiastic, and always complimentary.  She also always wears tight sweaters, which Jennifer quickly deduces is the main reason why Joey suddenly likes being tutored so much.  Soon, Joey is asking his father if he believes that younger men should date older women.

Jennifer, however, does not trust Pam and it turns out that she’s absolutely right about Pam having a secret agenda.  When Jennifer sees Pam walking through a closed door, she realizes that Pam is actually a ghost!  Pam explains that the governing body of the spirit world has decided that Joey would be better off with a different ghost in his life so they’ve sent Pam to replace Jennifer.

This brings up a lot of questions.  Jennifer Slept Here was never particularly consistent when it came to explaining why only Joey could see Jennifer or why Jennifer was even hanging around the house to begin with.  Sometimes, Jennifer was portrayed as being a somewhat bratty ghost who just liked to play pranks on the people living in the house.  Other times, Jennifer was portrayed as almost being a surrogate mother figure for Joey.  That said, I think this is the first time that it’s actually been stated that Jennifer was specifically assigned to spend time with Joey.  In fact, it almost sounds as if Jennifer is meant to be Joey’s guardian angel or something.  So, why was Jennifer assigned to Joey?  The simple solution was seem to be that it was because Joey and his family moved into Jennifer’s old house.  But if Pam is going to be Joey’s new ghost than where is Jennifer supposed to go now?  The implication is that Jennifer is going to have to leave but where is she supposed to go?  And if Joey and his family ever move, does that mean Jennifer or Pam will automatically be assigned to whoever moves into the house next or would they be expected to travel with the family?

I know I’m overthinking all of this but to me, it is relevant as to why this show didn’t last, despite having two talented and likable leads.  After twelve episodes, the show’s writers still hadn’t figured out just what exactly the true nature of Jennifer’s existence was.  It’s not surprising that this led to a show that could be rather uneven.

Anyway, Joey pretends to be a messy brat in order to convince Pam that she doesn’t want to be his ghost.  Pam seems right through Joey’s antics but she also realizes how much Joey and Jennifer care about each other so she agrees to leave.  Continuity issues aside, this was a sweet episode.  Joey really couldn’t ask for a better ghost friend.

Next week …. Jennifer Slept Here comes to an end!