My Best Friends Mom

The setup

Jake is broke, and a favor for his friend Tyler sounds easy: look after the house for a weekend. Episode 1 shows how easy it isn't. Tyler's mother Vanessa is already inside, the heat is unbearable, and she has a request that makes Jake's pulse hit the ceiling. Worse, Tyler calls to ask how things are going just as things are going. Then Vanessa's best friend Dana walks in through an open gate, takes in the scene and promises to keep quiet. For now. Episode 2 is Dana collecting what her silence is worth, with Vanessa not inclined to share, and Jake stuck between two women who each think he's theirs.

Why it earns its number

Most secret-affair stories give you one complicated woman. This one gives you two best friends with a rivalry that makes them funnier than the premise promises. The pace is brisk, the stakes are a ticking clock called Tyler, and the pool scene is pure petty power play.

Who should collect it: Choose it for a short, competitive love triangle with a friend's mother, a rival who barges in, and a clock ticking.