Jules Cobb is a mom in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter. Along for the journey is her son, her ex-husband, her husband/neighbor and her friends who together make up her dysfunctional, but supportive and caring extended family... even if they have a funny way of showing it sometimes.

Principal Steven Harper runs Winslow High School as best as he can while dealing with the demands of the faculty, the students and their parents.

Sydney Bristow, an agent who has been tricked to believe she is working for the U.S. government, is actually working for a criminal organization named the Alliance of Twelve. Upon learning this, Sydney becomes a double agent for the real CIA.

Glenn Hall runs a less-than-conventional detective. Her staff includes Roberta Young, a detective who goes to great lengths to get the job done; Manny Lott, the resident technology wiz; and Dana Plant, a former Santa Monica police detective.

A hand gun is passed between 22 loosely connected New Yorkers.

Terrorists plot to smuggle chemical warfare into New York City, and also allude to the blowing up of the World Trade Center, before 9/11/2001.