‘State of Georgia’ Recap: Pilot

Raven-Symone is back on television in ABC Family’s State of Georgia. Raven plays Georgia, who has just moved to New York City to make it big as an actress. Majandra Delfino (Roswell) plays Jo, Georgia’s brainy best friend, and Loretta Devine (Grey’s Anatomy) is Georgia’s Aunt Honey.

In this episode, peppy Georgia and socially awkward Jo have been in New York for one week. They have jobs at a department store selling perfume, where they spray unfortunate shoppers with the fragrances of Britney Spears and Celine Dion. Georgia has an audition during her shift at work for the musical, Damn Yankees, and she drags a reluctant Jo along.

Upon arriving at the audition, it is clear that Georgia will have to really impress the casting director, Trent Pierce. Over the top Georgia struts into the room and belts out a few power chords. Pierce recognizes her talented voice, but tells her that she will never be a beautiful star because of her full figure. Georgia gives Pierce a speech full of confidence and leaves with Jo.

Back at her Aunt Honey’s gorgeous apartment, Georgia gets a funny and uplifting pep talk from Aunt Honey. It’s clear that she comes from a family of never-give-up-go-getting women. Full of renewed confidence, Georgia prepares to march back to Pierce’s office with a master plan to get a call back.

She arrives at Pierce’s office, dressed in a low-cut top, black mini-skirt and stilettos. Armed with a homemade picnic of fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, Georgia tempts Pierce with the Southern food and her body. Pierce, a former chubby kid, tries hard to resist, but a taste of fried food and the sight of Georgia’s cleavage have broken him.

Meanwhile, Jo comes to find Georgia, but runs into Pierce’s beautiful and jealous model girlfriend in the lobby. She comically tries to distract and stop her from going upstairs, but the girlfriend manages to get in the elevator. In true sitcom fashion, Georgia now must rush and hide from the girlfriend after she has changed Pierce’s mind about curvy girls.

In the end, Georgia gets the call back she wants, and avoids the terrifying model girlfriend. The episode closes with the hysterical Aunt Honey searching for new singles in the obituary section of the newspaper. (“They’re single now. Flu season has been good to me.”)

Raven’s new gig is definitely more of a mature role than her That’s So Raven days.Georgia seems to have been tailor-fit for Raven, with plenty of confident speeches and sassy one-liners. Delfino’s role of Jo is surprisingly funny. As the socially awkward sidekick, Jo is still a strong best friend for Georgia.

Stealing the show, however, is Aunt Honey. Even though she was only in a few minutes of the pilot episode, it’s clear she is going to be the quirky and out-there character that will surprise viewers.