Rita Rocks is a Lifetime original sitcom that ran from October 20, 2008 to December 7, 2009. It is the network's first original comedy in over a decade. The series debuted alongside re-runs of Reba as part of a new comedy hour for Tuesday nights, which later changed to Monday nights. The show stars Nicole Sullivan as Rita, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Richard Ruccolo, Raviv Ullman, and Kelly Gould. On January 11, 2010, Lifetime cancelled the series after two seasons due to low ratings.
"Rita skips out on Shannon's karate lesson to jam with the band and lies to Shannon about it. When Hallie exposes the truth, Rita tries to make it up to Shannon by buying her a dog. Meanwhile, Kip is determined to stay in the band against Hallie's wishes."
"Hallie gets a job - at the store where Rita works. Is it possible for them to work together? How responsible will Hallie be with her paycheck? And how does working life affect her schoolwork?"
"Rita is starting to overextend herself with volunteering. Jay gets sucked in. Then he finds unexpected benefits. But does that mean Rita has similar ones too? Hallie and Kip turn vegetarian to save animals. How long will it last?"
"Rita gets the flu from Jay, but Patty is ready to watch Shannon. And they bond a little better than Rita likes... Jay tries a guitar video game with Kip and gets hooked, leaving Hallie out of the fun. Drastic measures are called for."
"Jay convinces Rita to accompany him to a business dinner with a potential big shot client. However, the client takes interest in Rita's band and offers them a gig at a corporate banquet. Jay fears it'll destroy the potential deal."
"After Rita finds out someone has been bullying Shannon at school, she competes with the bully's mother at a school fund-raiser. Hallie buys a used car that makes Jay reminisce about the old days."
"Hallie asks Rita for permission to go to a concert with Brody and his friends - and says it's better if Kip doesn't know, because he might get the wrong idea. However, asking Rita to keep her mouth shut has the predictable results."
"Rita tells everyone about her pregnancy - except for her boss, because of the risk that he would then not offer her any responsibility at work. Shannon wants to go to space camp."
"Patty has decided not to see the guy she went out on a date with, and does not want any fix-ups, so naturally Rita schedules their \"girls-go-to-see-a-movie\" event exactly when Jay's single friends are gathered in their living room."
"Owen is depressed over having no job, and can't concentrate on playing. Rita and Patty give him a confidence-boosting makeover. Hallie wants Kip out of Rita's band and decides to accomplish that through manipulation."
"Hallie and Kip try to be friends after their breakup. Meanwhile, Rita and Jay befriend the parents of Shannon's classmate Brianna, but are caught in the middle when Shannon decides to end her friendship with the girl."
"Rita's judgmental mother (Swoosie Kurtz) comes for a visit, throwing Rita into a whirlwind of housecleaning and junk-food hiding. But when her mom arrives with a new relaxed attitude, Rita suspects something's amiss."
"Rita worries about traveling to attend a work seminar because of Jay and her mother's constant bickering at home. With Rita away, the situation worsens when the two realize the garage door was left open and Rita's guitar has disappeared. Swoosie Kurtz guest stars."
"Marilyn (Swoosie Kurtz) persuades Patty to let her help plan Rita's baby shower, but the two can't agree on anything. Meanwhile, Kip starts dating a new girl and Hallie isn't pleased."
"Jay sees Rita's mother (Swoosie Kurtz) flirting with a man who isn't her husband. Meanwhile, Kip offers to teach Rita's neighborhood nemesis Jasper how to play the drums as a way to make money for college."
"Rita gets PTA nemesis Jennifer (Melissa Peterman) a job at her store, but soon regrets the kind act when Jennifer proves to be a slacker. Meanwhile, Jay hires Kip to do odd jobs around the house."
"Rita and Patty enter a jingle contest for a chicken company. Elsewhere, Patty tries to make her ex-husband jealous by attending her high-school reunion with Chuck."
"Rita's insecurities about her pregnant body heighten when she meets Jay's pretty new colleague Stephanie (Christine Lakin). Stephanie later reveals to Rita that Jay's been confiding in her about his new-baby fears. Meanwhile, old feelings resurface for Hallie and Kip."
"Rita and Patty secretly submit an application for Kip to a performing-arts school and he's offered an audition. But Hallie is upset to learn it is a boarding school and blames her mother for trying to keep her away from Kip."
