"Dead Like Me" follows one Georgia Lass (Ellen Muth), a young woman facing adulthood with few marketable job skills and even less enthusiasm for what lies ahead. Her mother (Cynthia Stevenson), seemingly joyless in her own existence, pushes George (as she is called) to get a job - any job. On her first day of work as a file clerk, George meets her untimely death when struck by a runaway toilet seat from the MIR space station as it hurtles towards Earth at some 200 miles per hour, leaving only George's smoking shoe on the spot where the young woman stood.
The good news for George is that there is life after death. The bad news, however, is that her life after death includes another job assignment - this time as a Grim Reaper, one of those individuals whose task it is to snatch souls at the point of death and shepherd them along to their afterlife destinations. George joins the ranks of the other "undead" reapers, led by senior reaper Rube (Mandy Patinkin), a by-the-book type whose job it is to make sure George learns the ropes and starts producing. George's co-reapers include the characters of Betty (Rebecca Gayheart), a bubbly and oft-times bubbleheaded beauty; Mason (Callum Blue), a regular guy who attempts to help George in her transition; and Roxy (Jasmine Guy), a no-nonsense reaper who moonlights as a meter maid to pick up extra cash.
While George is learning the ropes of her new job in the afterlife, she must adjust to all the anxieties and concerns of any young woman starting out on her own. However, in this case, she is one of the "undead". Ironically, George's death serves as a wake-up call, offering her a unique opportunity to rediscover love and laughter, and to gain a better understanding of life "after the fact" than when she lived it the first time around.
PILOT "DEAD LIKE ME" (2 hours)
The premiere episode focuses on young Georgia "George" Lass, who is not sure what she wants to be - or if she wants to be - when a hurtling bit of space debris settles the issue. Suddenly dead, she learns that she is not headed for heaven or hell, but to an afterlife as part of a team of grim reapers who may help her find the sense of purpose in death that she missed in life. Scott Winant directed the episode written by Bryan Fuller. Original Air Date: June 27th, 2003.
Note: The working title for the series was "Dead Girl". Music featured in this episode includes "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers and "Que Sera Sera" by Pink Martini.
EPISODE 1 "DEAD GIRL WALKING"
George tries to shirk her new grim reaper responsibilities, but discovers that doing so leads to nasty consequences for the souls. She also attempts to get a real job by once again gracing the doorway of the Happy Time Temp Agency. Kevin Dowling directed the episode written by Bryan Fuller, with excerpts written by Bryan Fuller. Original Air Date: July 4th, 2003.
EPISODE 2 "CURIOUS GEORGE"
Against Rube's orders, George returns home and has an unsettling encounter with her mother; also, Reggie continues to have trouble dealing with George's death. Peter Lauer directed the episode written by Pete Ocko. Original Air Date: July 11th, 2003.
EPISODE 3 "REAPERCUSSIONS"
George finds a loophole in the "reaper rules" and decides to spare her next soul, but quickly learns that if you flip off Fate, Fate flings it back at you ten-fold. Peter Lauer directed the episode written by Dan Fesman and Harry Victor. Original Air Date: July 18th, 2003.
EPISODE 4 "REAPING HAVOC"
George realizes that even the undead need friends, but she loses one when a reaper decides to jump to the other side. James Marshall directed the episode written by J. J. Philbin. Original Air Date: July 25th, 2003.
Note: The is Rebecca Gayheart's final appearance as Betty. Music featured in this episode includes "Boom Boom Ba" by Metisse.
EPISODE 5 "MY ROOM"
George meets her new roommate, Daisy Adair, a glamorous, but annoying 1930s ingenue-turned-reaper who has joined their group. David Grossman directed the episode written by Dan Fesman and Harry Victor, with an excerpt written by Bryan Fuller. Original Air Date: August 1st, 2003.
Note: This is Laura Harris' first appearance as Daisy.
EPISODE 6 "REAPER MADNESS"
George gets her first post-mortem kiss from a doomed schizophrenic who can see the gravelings. Robert Duncan McNeill directed the episode written by Tom Spezialy. Original Air Date: August 8th, 2003.
Note: Music featured in this episode includes "Baby Cool Your Jets" by Jet Set Satellite.
EPISODE 8 "A COOK"
George gets a pet and Rube takes a shift on the grill at Der Waffle Haus. Kevin Dowling directed the episode written by Dan Fesman, John Masius and Stephen Godchaux. Original Air Date: August 15th, 2003.
Note: Showtime aired episodes 7 and 8 out of production order.
EPISODE 7 "SUNDAY MORNINGS"
George makes a new friend and discovers her dad is not the person she thought he was, while Roxy's actions cause an obnoxious lout to find religion. Peter Lauer directed the episode written by Pete Ocko. Original Air Date: August 22nd, 2003.
EPISODE 9 "BUSINESS UNFINISHED"
Daisy enlists George's help in fleecing a wealthy society matron's son, and Roxy faces her annual struggle to come to terms with her death. David Straiton directed the episode written by Dan Fesman, Harry Victor and J.J. Philbin. Original Air Date: August 29th, 2003.
EPISODE 10 "THE BICYCLE THIEF"
Needing money to buy a bicycle, George gets a new job -- and an awkward farewell party at Happy Time - while her fellow reapers face their own complications. John Whitmore, Jr. directed the episode written by Stephen Godchaux and Bridget Carpenter, with excerpts written by Bryan Fuller, Stephen Godchaux, J.J. Philbin, Tom Spezialy and Harry Victor. Original Air Date: September 5th, 2003.
EPISODE 11 "NIGHTHAWKS"
George panics when Rube is assigned to pop a soul at her family's home. John Whitmore, Jr. directed the episode written by Stephen Godchaux and Bridget Carpenter, with excerpts written by Dan Fesman, Bryan Fuller, Stephen Godchaux, J.J. Philbin, Tom Spezialy and Harry Victor. Original Air Date: September 12th, 2003.
EPISODE 12 "VACATION"
Death takes a holiday and the reapers use the break to catch up on some paperwork. John Whitmore, Jr. directed the episode written by Stephen Godchaux and Bridget Carpenter, with excerpts written by Dan Fesman, Bryan Fuller, Stephen Godchaux, J.J. Philbin, Tom Spezialy and Harry Victor. Original Air Date: September 19th, 2003.
EPISODE 13 "REST IN PEACE" (Season Finale)
While George tries to get her old job back, her family prepares to visit her grave. Helen Shaver directed the episode written by Stephen Godchaux and John Masius. Original Air Date: September 26th, 2003.
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