October 7 (2005-10-07) – December 30, 2005 (2005-12-30)
Hot Properties is an American sitcom featuring four women working together in a Manhattan real estate office and aired on ABC from October 7 to December 30, 2005.
Plot
Often compared to Sex and the City and the CBS situation comedy Designing Women, this show features four single women professionals, each with distinct personalities that contribute in their failure to secure dates. The women share a passion for Oprah.
Ava is the forty-nine-year-old executive of the Hot Properties real estate firm. Her husband is half her age, but he is not aware of her age. Ava is madly in love with him, and hopes to raise a family.
Chloe is down to earth, sarcastic, and relies on self-help books for personal advice. She is very desperate to get married, but keeps dating the wrong men.
Lola is a curvy Latina who has emerged from a recent divorce, after her husband came out as gay. Throughout the show, men stare at her and compete for Lola's attention, to which she is often oblivious. Lola's desire for handsome men often leads her in pursuit of gay men, resulting in disappointment. As a result, she is often afraid to go dating. Lola hopes to improve her "gaydar" in order to avoid future disappointments.
Emerson is young and rich, with little work experience. She was engaged, but upon discovering that the fiancée was not a virgin, broke it off. She bonds instantly with her roommates.
Chloe and Ava find out that they both had a fling with the fiancé of one of their clients, Emerson Ives, who thinks that her fiancé is a virgin like she is. Ava also goes to a fertility specialist with her husband, Lola tries to re-enter the dating world, and Chloe finds out that no man has ever been "that into her."
2
"Chick Stuff"
Andy Ackerman
Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano
October 14, 2005 (2005-10-14)
Lola is really upset after her pet chicken dies and Ava tries to make her better by inviting all the girls over to her apartment.
The women have a real estate sale and to celebrate, Ava purchases tickets for each of them to attend a taping of one of Oprah’s shows in Chicago.
7
"Return of the Ring"
Jeff Melman
Andy Gordon
November 15, 2005 (2005-11-15)
Emerson tries to return her $50,000 engagement ring to Graham, but she is too scared because she is worried about what her feelings will be after she sees him.
8
"When Chloe Met Marco"
Jeff Melman
Valerie Ahern & Christian McLaughlin
November 18, 2005 (2005-11-18)
The ladies lose a sale and to make themselves feel better they clean out their purses. However, during the process, Emerson finds the receipt for her wedding dress, which she never wore.
9
"Whatever Lola Wants"
Jeff Melman
Sebastian Jones
November 25, 2005 (2005-11-25)
Chloe challenges Lola to make herself look plain and ugly to find out whether people will be less attracted to her.
10
"It's a Wonderful Christmas Carol on 34th Street"
Jeff Melman
Valerie Ahern & Christian McLaughlin
December 9, 2005 (2005-12-09)
Chloe bails on a charity Christmas party, and when her taxi crashes, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, appearing to her as the three other ladies, show her the error of her ways.
11
"Killer Bodies"
Jeff Melman
Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano
December 16, 2005 (2005-12-16)
Lola’s average-looking boyfriend Fletcher is rushed to the hospital after a mysterious heart attack which appears to have been caused by Lola’s sex appeal.
12
"GRRR"
Jeff Melman
Pamela Ribon
December 23, 2005 (2005-12-23)
Ava wonders if her happy marriage is in trouble and feels a little guilty when sparks fly between her and a client named Alec who, like her, has a much younger partner.
13
"El Dia de Compasion"
Jeff Melman
Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano
December 30, 2005 (2005-12-30)
Everyone is invited to Lola’s house to celebrate El Dia de Compasion, a traditional holiday from her country.
Reception
The show received a largely negative critical reception, with review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 30% approval rating, based on 10 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Not actually very hot at all, Hot Properties' attempts at feminine empowerment sink fast amid its many cliches, poor writing, and a baffling lack of good jokes."[1] Another review aggregator Metacritic awarding it 31 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[2] Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle called the show "stupid and annoying", along with fellow ABC sitcom Freddie.[3]
