SEASON FINALE RECAP & REVIEW: Parenthood “Because You’re My Sister” S4 E15

I hate that it’s Jan 25th and Parenthood is over for the season.  But I’ve said it before, I’d rather have a 15 episode season of Parenthood, than no season at all.  So if 15 is all I get and it keeps Parenthood on the air, so be it.  But I’d still rather have the full 22…it has to be said!

Adam and Kristina

It’s been a pretty emotional season.  Kristina’s cancer storyline has really dominated the tear factor, with a handful of other stories vying for their Kleenex moment, so you knew there was going to be a decision at the end of the season…was Kristina going to be in remission or was she going to die?   I’m not going to lie.  I was worried Katims was going to kill Kristina off.  Because the storytelling that would happen in the build up to her death and in the preceding episodes dealing with her passing would be so incredibly powerful and interesting, I thought Katims might go that route.  At this point, luckily, he has decided not to go in that direction.  Although I fear seeing her friend Gwen might have been a foreshadowing of things to come.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I am by no means wishing for this to happen.  NO.  WAY.  I’m just putting on my forecasting hat and, as usual, reading too much into everything.

Kristina had one more scan to make sure that the cancer hadn’t spread because something looked off in her test.  But the doctor was just being cautious thinking it was probably just her body reacting to all the treatment.  Turns out that exactly what it was!    Yeah!!!  Now he did warn her that she can’t use the “C” word (cured) for 5 years but at this point, she is cancer free!!!

I’m so happy for her and for Adam.  This whole storyline was told so beautifully.  It showed how scary and lonely it can be for a cancer patient.  But it also showed how difficult it is on the spouse.  And it showed that both sides can be flawed in their actions.  There were times Adam was trying to be supportive but in his quest to support (like with bought Kristina the trip to Hawaii to celebrate her clean health), it pushed negative buttons in Kristina.  Likewise, when Adam was doing his best to be supportive (like when he bought Kristina the wig) Kristina really overreacted to what her husband’s intentions were.  Showing the side of the cancer patient in a supportive light is a dangerous and tricky storyline to go down.  You never want to show a patient unfavorably because of what they are going through but if you are going to show this as real as possible, then you have to cross that line.  But Katims did it so well that it was never disrespectful or insensitive.   But it was a perfect ending to a very well told story from start to finish.

Joel and Julia

Speaking of a well told story, this story had some mixed emotions over the course of the season.  I didn’t have as much of a problem as some people did…until the last two episodes.   Now I am going to chalk up the fast turn around to only have 15 episodes to work with and wanting to wrap this story up on a happy note this season and not drag it out into the next one.  But is that the fastest turn around you have ever seen in a kid?  He went from being really nasty and mean to Julia and Sydney to now begging Julia to adopt him and asking Sydney to show up at his adoption ceremony because she’s his sister.  This from the kid that just 2/3 weeks earlier was saying Julia wasn’t his real mother.  It didn’t make sense to me.  And there seemed to be no explanation as to what caused him to have this major change of heart.  That’s the only part that really disappointed me.  But my assumption is that Katims really wanted the adoption to happen in the finale and there was only so much time between certain episodes to make that happen.

Other than that, the adoption was wonderful and classic Braverman.  Of course the ENTIRE family would be there to support J&J.   And I LOVED how each one of them stepped up to say how they now related to Victor and how there certain areas in life where he should reach out to them for advise.  (Oh and really Sarah, YOU’RE going to suggest relationships for your area of expertise.   Ugh.)   But the best part was at the end of the scene when they were running out and Victor said to Julia “Mom can we get ice cream?”   The look on her face when he called her mom was priceless.  I love it.

Crosby & Jasmine

I still don’t agree with Jasmine on how her mom should have been handled.  Are there some sensitivities to the situation that should be respected because of who Renee is and what she has been to Jabbar?  Absolutely.  Does that give her the right to tell Crosby and Jasmine how to parent their son?  No.  And Crosby had every right to be upset with Renee interfering with their way of raising Jabbar.  Renee wasn’t happy with their routine (Crosby getting in late and having dinner as a family when he got home.)  so she just changed it.  That isn’t right and Jasmine should have put her foot down more.  She was just as much to blame in this for putting Crosby in the position of having to be the heavy and that’s why it became worse than it needed to be…because she didn’t have his back, even though she agreed with him.  Ironically, I think Renee was right that Jabbar shouldn’t be eating dinner at 8:00pm during the week.  That should be closer to a bedtime than mealtime.  But you know what, it doesn’t matter what I think or she thinks.  The only thing that matters is what his parents think because it’s their decision.  And quite frankly, I think it’s nice that they try to do what they can to have dinner as a family, no matter what time it is.   But because Jasmine didn’t have the guts to have an honest, but respectful conversation with her mother, the situation and the tension built up and exploded when it didn’t need to and Renee’s feelings were hurt.  And somehow Crosby had to apologize, which was wrong.  If anything, Jasmine should be apologizing to Crosby and her mother, because this whole thing is her fault.

I forgave Jasmine very quickly though because I LOVE the way she told Crosby she was pregnant.  Even more, I love the fact that they went to see Renee and let her be the first one they told.  And the way Crosby told her was so sweet and adorable, it just melted my heart.  So it looks like all if forgiven and another happy ending for another Braverman sibling.

Sarah/Hank/Mark

Thankfully, this storyline is over.  Sarah finally made up her mind and decided to give it a go with Hank only to have her heart-broken by him when he told her he was closing the shop and moving to Minnesota to be with his daughter.  I have to say, I can’t blame him.  But he did tell Sarah that he loved her and wants her to move with him to snowy, icy, Minneapolis.  I say, go.  I’ve said this before, I love Lauren Graham, I don’t like her character.  Sarah isn’t bringing a whole lot to the table and her stories, quite frankly, haven’t been that interesting.  So I wouldn’t mind seeing her haul off and follow Hank to Minnesota.  But that won’t happen because LG isn’t going anywhere.  I also had a MAJOR problem with how she told Mark.  Are you kidding me? You walk into his classroom and stiffer than a board, tell him you’re going to make a go of it with Hank and good-bye.  Could she have been more cold?  For God sake he was her fiance.  Didn’t he deserve a little more warmth and respect than what she gave him?   Take him for coffee, take him for a beer.  But don’t do it at work and don’t be so cold and unfeeling that we’re wondering how you two were ever together in the first place.  I assume  she was trying to play it as awkward, which I’m sure it was.  But it came off as bitter and rude, than awkward.

Amber/Drew

A quick note on these two.  I’m glad Drew got to wrap up his story with Amy and we got to see her one more time and they were able to resolve their break up in a satisfying way.  What they went through was so hard and difficult for teenagers.  For anyone really but especially teenagers.   I’m also thrilled to see his moment of joy learning he got into Berkley, after all the sadness he’s had the last few weeks.  The only thing that was disappointing is that there is still no fallout from his moment with Sarah when he fell into her arms crying after it happened.  Does she know?  Did he tell her?   We still don’t know.  My assumption is that he did because when she was congratulating him on getting into Berkley, she told him “I told you everything would be ok.”  Now was that the gentle nod to let us know that she knew?  I’m still not 100% sure.   Either way, I’m happy for Drew and I’m very excited for him.   I’m going to say something cooky, crazy now.   Is it possible Amy didn’t go through with it and is still pregnant and that we’ll see her two seasons from now where Drew bumps into her with a kid in a stroller?   I’m just, throwing it out there.  My guess is no, but you know how my mind works!

Amber and Ryan are back together…yeah!!  As they should be.  I love this relationship and it’s so nice to see how far Amber has come from when we first met her and how mature she is being.  She is getting her life together and she is being very responsible and respectful to herself and Ryan in regards to making this relationship work the right way.  The chemistry between Whitman and Lauria is incredible so I hope Ryan will be a permanent fixture on the show moving forward.

So that’s season 4 of Parenthood.  Did you love this season?  Are you sad it’s over so soon?  I hope NBC does the right thing and brings it back.  I think they will.

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Parenthood

I think the people from Kleenex and Johnson and Johnson should give the producers of Parenthood a nice portion of their incremental profits from this year due to all the tissues and Tylenol I’ve been using during each episode.  I don’t know if I can take much more.  Oh who am I kidding….of course I can!!!!!

This season is really defined by Kristina’s cancer storyline and I couldn’t be happier with putting Monica Potter front and center.  Maybe now she’ll get some Emmy love.  Wait who am I kidding, she’s not on Modern Family.  Anyhoo, last week Kristina went in for her surgery only to find out that while the cancerous lump was removed successfully, the doctor still had some bad news.  The cancer found was a more aggressive form than previously thought and one of her lymph nodes also had cancer in it.  So Kristina is still up for quite a battle.

There has been a lot of discussion out there about how Adam and Kristina handled telling Haddie.  I’m torn on this one.  On one hand, how do you lie to your daughter about something so serious?  I know they don’t want her to worry, I know they want her to go to school.  But come on.  She’s an adult.  You can’t expect your daughter to act like an adult and then you treat her like a child when it really counts.  On the other hand, if that’s how Kristina wants to handle it, that’s her right.  And if they want to insist their daughter go to school that they are paying for, they have that right.   I have to imagine if things got really bad, they would tell Haddie to come home right away.  But if I had to pick one side or the other, I would have to go with they made a mistake and should have told Haddie.  What’s delaying college one semester or even a year if it means being around your mom and family if, God forbid, something happens to her.

As weird as this sounds, I love to see how this has impacted the extended Braverman family…more so Amber and Crosby.  I never really thought of Amber and Kristina as close.  But then I remembered her working for Kristina and all the times Amber was there for Max and I realized that they are pretty close.  It was painful to watch Amber on her first date with Ryan not be able to hold it together as she was thinking about her aunt.  (More on Amber and Ryan in a bit.)   But what really struck me was Crosby’s response.  Crosby and Kristina, to be kind, haven’t always seen eye to eye and gotten along.  In fact, there were times they down right disliked each other.  But Crosby was one of the first people to jump at the chance to help.  Even though in typical Crosby fashion, it had to be all about him.  When he asked Adam for something to do to help, Crosby didn’t like the task Adam gave him and wanted something more important to do.  Finally after whining for a while, Adam gave him the responsibility of getting Kristina her last meal before the surgery…which she had to eat by a certain time.  I really thought Crosby was going to be late and miss the food cut-off time but he showed up just in time and Kristina was really very sweet about it.  But the sweetest part was when Crosby hugged her, he couldn’t let go of her.  Oh, it was so touching!

I wonder where this storyline is going to go this season.  Do you think the writers would actually go down the path of killing Kristina?  Most people say no, but I don’t know.  This show has always done what’s in the best interest of the story and I think it would be an amazing story to see what would happen after losing Kristina. Not that I want ANYTHING to happen to Kristina because I would be devastated if Monica Potter was no longer on Parenthood anymore.   But you know what?  I’m not ruling it out as a real possibility!

Can I just say that Sarah’s character is really annoying the crap out of me this season?  I hate to say that because I LOOOOOOOOOVE Lauren Graham.  But I just want to drop Sarah off the side of a cliff.  What a terrible parent she is sometimes.  I really don’t understand how anyone with any morsel of a brain cell would think moving in with Mark after what happened with Hank was a good idea.  AND, not only do you rush this moving in thing, you do it with your 17-year-old son and without thinking a lick of how it would impact him.  Actually, she had already thought about how it would impact Drew and she knew it would be bad.  That’s why she originally told Mark she didn’t want to move forward with anything until after Drew graduated.  So much for that.  All because of one kiss.  If that doesn’t send off warning signs and alarms, I don’t know what will.  But Lord is she driving me crazy.

I’m going to go on record right now and say that I am 100% fully on the Amber/Ryan band wagon.  I love this storyline with her.  Amber has always had MISERABLE luck with men.  And now we know why…because Matt Lauria (Ryan) had to come along with his amazing smile and looks and sweep her off my feet….oops, I mean her feet.  Amber really deserves a good guy and a good heart and even though there’s a big back story with Ryan (I think) and more layers of him to peel back, I think he’s going to be a keeper for Amber!!!

The only thing I ask the writers…please give us a little more Julia and Joel?  This is shaping up to be a really fascinating storyline and I want it to be given the respect it deserves.  So please, more J&J and less Sarah and her insanity.   Thank you!

So what are your thoughts on Parenthood so far.  And where do you think this storyline with Kristina will end up?

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Glee

I haven’t talked about Glee in a while.  Actually, I haven’t talked about anything in a while.

I was so ready to give up on Glee this season.  But the last two episodes of last season, I really enjoyed.  I thought the season finale was well done and executed and I was very curious to see how the show was going to incorporate the college lives with the high school lives.   For me, when shows go down that road, I find myself much more interested in the meat of the show vs. the periphery stories.   That isn’t the case with Glee. I’m SOOOO invested in Rachel and Kurt and their adventures in NYC than what is going on with the crew at McKinley.

I want to back up to last year’s season finale for a minute because I love the way it went down.  They finally won nationals, all the kids were getting what they wanted, kids were going to new opportunities, Mr Schu got the elusive National Championship.  And then when it looked like Rachel and Finn were going to make the horrendous mistake of getting married, Finn pulled a level of maturity out of him that most men twice his age don’t have.  Showing his true love for Rachel, he put her first, he realized what they were doing is ridiculous, and put her on a train to her dreams…NYC and NYADA.  It was such a great scene because you can tell they both want to be together yet both want to branch out and chase down their potential futures.  When she was on that train singing “Roots Before Branches” crying her eyes out with Finn running next the train as it was leaving, I couldn’t help but cry.  I always loved Rachel and Finn and it broke my heart to see them take that leap of faith, apart from each other.

Return to this season and I couldn’t wait to see how this was going to work.  I’m surprised to say that I can’t get enough of Rachel and Kurt in NYC.  When she first was there by herself….alone, scared, out of her element…I wanted to run to NYADA and give her a big bear hug.  And after the rough time at school and just when she thinks she may want to run back to Lima Ohio, she turns around and there is her BFF, Kurt.  I LOVED IT!!!!  I was so happy for both of them.

The thing I like most about the way Rachel and Kurt are being handled is that it’s the most realistic storyline I’ve seen Ryan Murphy tell on this show in a while.  Here’s the big star from Lima realizing she’s just one of many big stars from lots of small towns.  How does she react?  How does it impact her confidence?  Will it shake her?  Motivate her?   How does she handle it?  Then you have Kurt.  Without a real plan until by chance, he stumbles upon an internship at Vogue.com.   Now he’s working with one of the top designers, possibly contemplating a career change.  As Carrie Bradshaw said, many people come to New York with one dream and end up staying with a completely different dream fulfilled.  I think that’s exactly what’s going to happen with Kurt.

I’m sure what people are most upset about is the last episode before the baseball break…aptly titled “The Break Up.”   The four major couples were having problems…Rachel and Finn, Kurt and Blaine, Santana and Brittany, and Will and Emma.  Two of these couples break up by the end of the episode.  Thankfully, it wasn’t Kurt and Blaine because I think their fan group might have torched Ryan Murphy’s house.  And it wasn’t Will and Emma.  It unsurprisingly was Santana and Brittany (yawn) and Rachel and Finn.  It just goes to show you, DON’T GET MARRIED IN HIGH SCHOOL!!!!

While many shippers of Rachel and Finn and Santana and Brittany are heart-broken, I’m glad the story was told.  Why?   Because this happens more times than not.  High school couples promise to stay together and then usually by the fall break, it ends.  Sometimes sadly, sometimes happily, sometimes matter-of-factly.  But 99.9% of the time, it happens.  The scene with Rachel and Finn was fantastic.  Lea Michele really knocked it out of the park.  It was devastating to watch these two have the break up on the stage where their relationship got started.   When Rachel was crying her eyes out telling Finn what a man he was for doing what he did after graduation and what a lack of man he was for ignoring her for months after he left the Army, I couldn’t help but cry with her.  Michele was outstanding.  But college is a time to find yourself and that’s exactly what Rachel needs to do.  And honestly, so does Finn.  Unfortunately by the end of his high school career, he defined himself too much by Rachel.  Finn wasn’t Finn anymore and he needs to find that self direction again.  It looks like he will back at McKinley, which is great for him.  He needs to do what’s in his best interest first.  He needs to create a life for himself before he starts creating one with another person.    So in that sense, I’m glad he and Rachel are going their separate ways…for the time being.  We’ll see what happens.

As for the McKinley crew, I really don’t care.  Brittany, Artie, Unique, Tina…I couldn’t care less.  It’s horrible to say, but it’s true.  When they are back at McKinley, I fast forward all the scenes.  The only somewhat interesting storyline is the new Rachel and the new Puck.  Although it can’t be that interesting if I can’t remember their names!

So sadly enough, I’m on board with Glee for another season.  If only Ryan Murphy can spin-off Rachel and Kurt  into their own show so I could just watch that!  It would make me so happy!!!

 

SERIES PREMIERE RECAP & REVIEW: Go On “Pilot” S1, E1

I know we are going onto episode three tomorrow night but I’m just getting around to talking about Go On.  Go On is the return of Matthew Perry (again) to headline a show.  Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Mr. Sunshine failed miserably.  So will the 3rd time be the charm for Perry?  Not only do I hope so, but I believe it will be.

SYNOPSIS

Matthew Perry is leading man Ryan King…a snarky sports broadcaster who recently lost his wife in an automobile accident.  To deal with the tragedy of losing his wife, his company insists he enroll in group counseling.  The group is led by Lauren (Laura Benanti) who we learn has no background or expertise in psychiatry but has lost 40 pounds through Weight Watchers and became one of their leading motivators.  Joining Lauren is a calamity of characters with some wacky problems (like Sonya, who uses cats as a substitute for issues with her boyfriend) to serious issues (like Owen, whose brother is in a coma after a terrible accident and Owen really struggles with talking about it.)

WHAT’S WORKING

The cast is solid.  Perry is his typical charming, witty self.  I know there are many people who don’t like Perry because they feel he plays Chandler Bing with every roll.  But I don’t think that’s the case (see his guest role on The Good Wife.)  Perry is playing a beguiling, funny, witty, sharp character that was popularized by playing Chandler Bing.  And as a result, when shows are looking for someone to play a character with those types of qualities, Perry fits the bill perfectly.  It’s the same with Jack Nicholson.  If you need a womanizing asshole with a wise ass sense of humor, who’s better than Nicholson?   No one!  Same here.  And since I love Perry, I’ll watch him any day of the week.  He wasn’t what killed those last few shows….the writing did.  But that’s not the case here.

The rest of the cast is very complimentary.  It’s a fine line between quirky and lovable and annoying and stupid.  Especially when trying to write about a cast of people in group therapy for many different reasons.  It can’t be too sad, or sappy, or out there…then you turn people off.  But so far, the writers and the cast have done an excellent job of selling funny, weird, and sentimental.  I loved the scene in the second episode where Ryan takes George (who’s blind) to a Lakers game and Ryan is giving George the play-by-play.  George tells him to knock it off, because he’s driving him crazy, and to close his eyes and listen the game.  It will tell you all you need to know.  So far though, I like everyone…especially Anne, Owen, and George.

I read one review where the critic talked about this show having a Community feel to it.  And I think they’re right.  Community is about a common element bringing a group of people together who would never normally socialize with one another.  Go On has that same premise.  I love seeing all these different personalities meshing together.

WHAT’S NOT WORKING

Right now, not much.  The only thing I will say is that Benanti hasn’t had a chance to really shine yet.  So far she’s been rather boring…which pains me to say after watching her Tony Winning performance in Gypsy on Broadway.  She’s amazing!!   But in this role, she’s really dull around this wacky, motley crew.  It’s early, so I’m holding out hope she gets better as we get to know her more.

John Cho is also pretty wasted in his role.  He only shows up sparingly so I’m not sure what the direction for his character is moving forward.  Again, it’s early so they may figure something out.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I like this show and will keep watching it.  At first I thought the potential love interest for Perry’s Ryan would be Benanti’s Lauren.  After episode 2, I’m now thinking it might be his assistant, Carrie (Allison Miller) or we may have a bit of a triangle…even though there has been no indication of a romantic relationship between Lauren and Ryan yet.  It’s still way too early after the loss of his wife, but you know it’s coming.  But since I’m in no rush for that, just keep bringing on the comedy surrounding the therapy group and I’m good!

DVRs: 4 DVRs

 

SERIES PREMIERE RECAP & REVIEW : The New Normal, “Pilot” & “Sofa’s Choice” S1, E1&2

And so it begins!!!!  The new TV is finally underway and some shows have already premiered this week.  Can you believe it?  I know I can’t.  This summer flew!!!  I’m sort of happy, though, that there are some early premieres because it will make it somewhat easier to discuss all the new shows and returning premieres, and give them their just due.  First on the 2012/2013 docket….The New Normal.

I’ve heard mixed reviews about this show.  Some people love it, some people hate it.  Some people already assumed it would be awful because it’s a Ryan Murphy show.  I have to admit, I had my reservations after he completely destroyed Glee, how this show would fair.  But my initial assessment….I liked it.

WHAT’S WORKING

The premise for this show is simple.  A gay couple is looking for a surrogate to help them start a family.  Enter Goldie Clemmons who is looking to start over after finding her husband cheating on her.  Goldie would like to go to law school and set a good example for her daughter, Shania.  Andrew Rannalls and Justin Bartha are fantastic!  Georgia King is delightful and Bebe Woods is adorable.  Rannells and Bartha are terrific as Bryan and David.  David is the partner who loves sports and was the mathlete in high school.  Bryan, I believe is a writer, who is the more flamboyant of the two, who loves to have a good time and has a great quick wit.  The thing I like most about Bryan is that he has a huge heart.  He isn’t as plastic as he appeared at times in the pilot.  I didn’t think they were going to show him in the best light for becoming a dad.   But in Sofa’s Choice, he did a great job dealing with what he thought was Shania ruining his couch as well as being there for her when she was having a rough time at school.  Bryan has a HUGE heart and you can see how David would fall in love with him.

Goldie is so sweet I get a cavity every time I watch her on-screen.  She may be a little green to the ways of the world, but she’s strong in her own way.  She has opened her eyes to the potential that is her life and she is determined to give her daughter a successful role model while keeping her own dreams still very much alive.  I love it!!!  What a great message to send.  She will do whatever it takes and work as hard as she can, on her own, to make this new life for her and Shania.  That’s something I can watch and root for every week!

Shania is also a nice ray of sunshine.  I’m usually not a huge fan of kids on-screen because they annoy me, but she is really good.  She’s smart beyond her years and has this delightful quirkiness that would normal irk me but with her I find completely charming.  And I like that she has found a kindred spirit in Bryan.

This is a show I can see watching for a while because I am truly invested in each character (save for Nana Jane) and what happens during this whole process.  How do they all get along during the pregnancy?  What happens after the baby is born?  Would Goldie consider doing this again for them?  How will this all impact Shania?   How will having a baby really impact Bryan and David and their relationship?  Will I ever see the baby in that awesome sweater Bryan bought?  If the show can keep it focused on these four and really develop these characters, I can see tuning into the New Normal for many years!

WHAT’S NOT WORKING

Do I even need to say what I have an issue with?  Let me start with the small issue before I go on to the huge bigoted one.  NeNe Leakes is my small issue.  I’m not a big fan of reality TV personalities turning into “legit” on-screen actors.   Not because they can’t, but it’s usually because they aren’t very good.  Leakes isn’t bad but I don’t understand her point on the show.  She’s Bryan’s assistant (although I’m still not 100% sure what he does for a living) and other than her few lines to him in the beginning and a punch line for Ellen Barkin’s Nana, what else does she bring to the table?   Maybe that will change overtime but I don’t like how she’s being used so far.

As for Barkin’s Jane Forest character…there are no words.  I’m serious.  I’m not naive.  I know there are racist, bigoted, homo-phobic people out there.  But you know what, I don’t find them funny.   It’s one thing if you want to have a character that pushes the envelope in their thought processes and there are ways to incorporate that stereotypical element, into a show that can be humorous.    But how Barkin’s character is written, it’s not humorous…it’s cringe-worthy.  In the pilot, she goes on and on about not liking the lesbian couple walking down the street.  Then she talks about how selling Girl Scout Cookies, one of her competition “jewed down the price so she lost.”  She calls Bryan and David “salami smokers.”  Finally, when Rocky (Leakes) walks in, she panics thinking one of “her kind of eggs” is going in her granddaughter’s body.  The second episode is worse.  Like Jane making a comment like “I studied past presidents that used to own people like our current president.”   Ouch.  But the line that had me the most pissed off from an offensive standpoint and as a TV viewer was when Jane opened the door to Bryan and David’s bathroom to see Rocky there and she says “are you sure you’re even supposed to be using this one?”  I have no way to clearly articulate how much that bothered me.  Does she really think it’s 1950?   Does she really think blacks and whites have to use separate bathrooms?  ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS?  Again, how is that funny?   Maybe I’m too uptight about this.   Maybe I’m too dumb to understand the humor.  But for me, this character is so over the top it appears more a marketing ploy than a plot driver.  And maybe that’s why I’m so annoyed with the character…because she’s so forced.  She can’t just make one comment, she has to make four or five (sometimes in the same insult.)  It’s lazy and it’s bad writing.  But it’s Ryan Murphy so of course there will be bad writing and of course he will put shock in area to create a buzz even if it doesn’t work from a storytelling perspective.  Because let’s be honest, can you name one good story he’s told on Glee the last three seasons?  Yep, me neither.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I like The New Normal.  Honestly, if they got rid of Nana Jane and found a purpose for Rocky, it would be an awesome show.  But the good parts, so far, really out weigh the bad ones so I am sticking with it.   That is until Murphy finds a way to screw this up as well.

DVR RATING:  3 1/2 DVRs

 

SEASON PREMIERE RECAP & REVIEW: Parenthood “Family Portrait” S4 E1

This is absolutely one of my favorite shows on TV.  And every season, I can’t wait for its return.  The fourth season of Parenthood did not disappoint with a very touching episode that surprised me because I’ve never liked Haddie.  So let’s start there because there was a lot going on in this episode.

Haddie/Adam/Kristina/Max

I had a feeling Sarah Ramos wasn’t going to be back much this season once we learned she was off to Cornell.  I wasn’t all that upset either because I’ve never liked the character of Haddie.  I never liked how whiny she was and how selfish she could be.  Plus, everything is the world seemed to annoy the crap out of her.  She was written perfectly as a typical teenager and Ramos did a great job executing it to a tee.  Still doesn’t mean I have to like her!   Most of this episode revolved around Haddie leaving for college.  Here’s what I don’t understand.  This is the week before she leaves correct?  So why was Kristina and Adam trying to cram ten pounds of shit into a five-pound bag (as my husband loves to say?)  Obviously Haddie wants to spend time with her friends before she leaves and she should have the right to do that.  Why would you put shopping, parties, family visits, and immediate family time all within the course of this one week?   Couldn’t you have spread it out over the summer?  It was already going to be stressful enough for all of you that week leading to Haddie heading East.   Why make it that much more stressful on all of you?

One of my biggest pet peeves about Parenthood (really the only one) is how the show always has people talking over each other.  I hate it.  It’s one of my biggest pet peeves in reality because I don’t think there is anything ruder than talking and having someone completely disregard the fact that you are speaking and begin to speak over you.  It’s as if that person is saying “what you’re saying is so insignificant and has so little value, that I am going to begin speaking because I couldn’t care less what you have to say.”   Sorry for the mini soap box, but it had to be said.  So when it happens in Parenthood, it drives me bonkers.  Adam/Kristina/Haddie/Max have always been the worst about this on the show.  Every scene they are in it’s as if 2-3 different conversations are going on.  It’s hard to follow and not the least bit entertaining.  The scene at the burger place was awful.  First, if you want to take Haddie out to celebrate her, why not ask her where she wants to go?  Second, knowing you have a son with Aspberger’s, wouldn’t you call the restaurant ahead of time to make sure they serve the same burger that your son always gets?  You know what will happen if they don’t and if you’re trying to make a nice family outing, keeping Max in check would be a good idea.  Third, how dare Kristina yell at the people behind them.  You all know I love her character but this bothered me.  Your son is pitching a fit, your oldest daughter and yelling back at him, and your youngest baby has just burst into screaming tears.  When the man turned to look at them, Kristina yelled to have him mind his own business because that wasn’t his family.  Well guess what?  When your family disrupts other people’s families from enjoying their meals, they have the right to give you the stink eye.  If you don’t like it, then make sure all hell doesn’t break loose when you go out to dinner.  I’m not saying it’s easy and I can appreciate how challenging it can be.  But you also can’t be upset with other people who may be annoyed that your family is keeping them from having a quiet, enjoyable meal.

Even with those few annoyances, overall, it was a really sweet episode for these guys.  One of the things I think the show highlighted beautifully is just how difficult it is on the sibling of a child with Aspberger’s.  We always see and hear about the parents view-point, but it’s nice to see how hard this has been on Haddie.  Haddie tries to have a nice moment with Max telling him how much she will miss him and loves him and that she appreciates his special qualities of honesty and directness.  She even gives him a present to let him know how much she cares.  But you see her get nothing back from Max.  That has to be hard and I thought Haddie handled herself very well.   Haddie always has to be the bigger person and when her parents don’t always discipline Max the way they should (like the way the blew off him destroying her room to look for his lizard) it’s hard to not want to take it out on him and it’s understandable when she does lose it.

We also got to see Kristina’s side of her baby girl going off to college.  You see how she really wanted some girl time with her daughter before she leaves.  She really puts it in perspective when she says “she’s never going to live here again.”  Actually, that’s a good thing.  You should want your child to be self-sufficient and independent.  It’s a sign they’ll be ok.  But from a mother’s view-point, her baby is grown up and moving on.  And while she’s thrilled for her, it crushes her at the same time because everything is moving to a new stage in their lives.

The scene that really got me, was the final scene.  Even though I knew it was coming, it still got me.  Haddie is at the airport about to board her flight and her parents are keeping it together (Adam’s just fine but Kristina is really trying hard to be strong and not cry) and Haddie is also very stoic.  But as soon as Haddie gets in line, she runs back to her parents, crying her eyes out, and gives them a huge hug.  It was awesome.  And I was so happy for Adam and Kristina because they got their reassurance that Haddie is going to miss them just as much as they will miss her.  Oh man, did I cry!!!

Crosby/Jasmine/Jabbar

I’m still not happy Crosby and Jasmine are married but I guess I’ll get over it at some point.  But I thought their story of the week was very interesting.  Crosby noticed Jabbar praying and wasn’t quite sure how he felt about that.  When Jasmine and Crosby confronted her mom about it, I loved seeing them as a united front and on the same page.  It was the first sign to me that I could start to like Jasmine again because that shows she’s grown.  Before she would have taken her mother’s side but not this time.  She and Crosby were a team and told her mom that something that significant should really be up to them to teach Jabbar.  And I agree with them 100%!  But her mom had a great response…then what do you plan on telling him and teaching him because he deserves to know something.  And she’s right.

Crosby goes to see his mom and dad and asks them about their spiritual background and how they handled this with them.  I was conflicted about this because in one sense, shouldn’t Crosby know his parents view points on religion and spirituality?  Wouldn’t that have already been discussed and wouldn’t he know the results of those conversations?  In another sense, I really respected how Crosby took this seriously.  Seriously enough to go to his parents and ask their advise since they didn’t grow up in a house where religion was prevalent.  He and Jasmine talked about it and he asked her what about her religious upbringing did she like.  Now of course Crosby said something that made me want to smack him upside the head (he’s usually good for at least one of those per episode) which was “well I don’t want my son belonging to some club I’m not apart of.”    Oh really?  So if Jabbar wants to be on the football team or a mathlete or part of the German club or drama club, you won’t let him because you won’t be part of it too?   That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard!    Ultimately, I think Crosby made the right decision and followed his mom’s advise in letting Jabbar figure out for himself what religion and spirituality will mean to him.   It’s a fascinating debate because can children really figure that out for themselves?  Probably not.  But there is nothing wrong with opening him up lots of different faith-based religions, learning about them, understanding them, and letting them choose which speaks the most to them…especially if religion isn’t a huge presence in your life.

Sarah/Mark/Amber/Drew

I’ll run through this part quickly.  I’m not sure why Mark was brought back.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Jason Ritter.  But it’s pretty well-known that he’s going to be in another show mid-season that Jason Katims is creating specially for him.   So he’s not going to be around.  At this point, I don’t know why Sarah just couldn’t have denied the proposal off-screen and she comes back this season single.   I though his speech to Camille was sweet about being in the picture but at the same time I was just screaming at my TV: “come on!!”  It’s a picture!!!!  I can see if other fiances were included in the picture and now he isn’t but Kristina wasn’t allowed in until she and Adam were married.  Jasmine wasn’t allowed in.  So why should it be any different?  I don’t agree with Camille’s stance, but if that’s her decision, so be it.  She should have held her ground.  Seriously though, I can see not wanting random girlfriends and boyfriends in the picture but fiances?  That doesn’t make any sense to me.  And what if one of her children didn’t believe in marriage and lived like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell?  Does that make the significant other any less family?  I think not.  Also, why not take two pictures?  One with mom, dad, and the kids and one with mom, dad, kids, significant others, and grandkids?

Sarah is searching for a new job outside of bartending and when scheduling the photographer for the family picture, noticed a Help Wanted picture in the window.  She asks Hank Rizzoli (guest star Ray Romano) if she can put her hat in the ring for the job.  I have to say, I wasn’t thrilled with the addition with Ray Romano because I was not a fan of his.  I never found him particularly funny and I hated his sitcom.  So I was nervous. I am shocked to say that I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed his character.  I liked his banter with Sarah.  I thought they had a nice connection…he’s the grumpy curmudgeon while she’s the bubbly, aloof, optimist.  She has no experience and she lies to get the job.  It fails horribly (from a logistical standpoint) but the family loved her and Hank couldn’t help but notice how great she was with the clients.  So he decides to hire her full-time to be the client liaison while she learns more about the photography business.  And I like where this is going!

Amber continues to make bad decisions but I don’t care because I love her character.  But I do have to ask, what happened to her job with Kristina?  I thought she was seeing that through and now she’s working at the Luncheonette?  I hope that gets explained (and I hope Kristina still has her job!)  But she sleeps with the lead singer of this band only to find out he has a girlfriend.  She tells Crosby, who tells Adam, who decides to fire the band.   (Loooooooooooooooong deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breath and siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.)  I was with Amber, I can’t believe Adam fired a paying customer because he upset Amber.  If anything, he should have been upset with Amber for AGAIN mixing work and pleasure to disasterous circumstances.  But at the same time, I LOVED how protective he was of her.  Ultimately, she’s still his niece.  And as he explained to Crosby who was giving Adam a hard time “you don’t have a daughter.”  I get that.  I still think it was absurd that a 20-year-old with no business experience had to explain to a 40+ year old with 20+ years of business experience that he can’t make business decisions on his personal feelings.  But I still loved the scene with Peter Krause and Mae Whitman.

Drew, kind of bores me.  I don’t know if it’s the character or the actor, but Drew is a drip.  I’m sorry.  And it looks like Amy will be breaking his heart next week.

Joel/Julia/Victor/Sydney

Wow, this is tough.  Joel and Julia are really struggling incorporating Victor into the family.  I like this storyline because I think it’s fascinating to see how you bring a child into your family who is much older.  I would guess Victor is around 7-8 years old?  So Victor has thoughts, feelings, and opinions already developed.  This isn’t something J&J can develop from scratch like they did with Sydney.  I can’t even imagine how difficult that is.  And I can appreciate the predicament of letting Victor do things they wouldn’t normally do to make him feel loved and wanted yet needing to discipline him to the point that you are truly treating him like family (to Joel’s point.)  How do you know that line?  When is the right time to stand up and say you’re in my house you need to live by my rules?   Each kid is different so how do you know?    And it just broke my heart when Julia said “I’m trying to fall in love with my son.”   You can see this is killing her.  You can see how badly she wants this but it’s hard.

I have no doubt this will work out because I think J&J are great people who want this child to have a great life.  But the process to get there will be amazing to watch.  And I’m sure it will get worse before it gets better.

Whew!!!  What a premiere!  I know it sounds like I’m being really hard on the show.  Maybe I am, but I just love it so much that when there is something I don’t like, it usually hits me harder than it should!  The ratings have me nervous, they always do so I hope Parenthood continues to have enough of a following to last a few more seasons.  Because I LOVE the Bravermans!!!

 

SEASON FINALE RECAP & REVIEW: Pretty Little Liars “The Lady Killers” S3 E12

I’ll tell you what, the networks, writers, and casts have really brought it with summer season finales.  Another awesome finale last night although I must admit nothing was surprising.   But I don’t care, because I still enjoyed it immensely!

We start the episode seeing Aria and Spencer comforting Hanna as she is bawling her eyes out while seeing a body on a gurney and Emily is covered in blood looking glazed as she’s talking to the cop about knowing the deceased.  I had seen the promo picture of that shot all over the web so my initial thoughts were that something happens to either Caleb or her mom.  After the opening sequence it was pretty clear that something happens to Caleb.   I was hoping it wasn’t that he was killed but we’d have to wait to find out for sure.

The episodes leading up to last night’s finale and all last night, the girls (especially Spencer) felt that Paige was a member of the “A” clique.  I’ve talked about this before and I’m going to say this again…why do the girls always listen to what Spencer says about who’s guilty?  I know she’s the smartest girl in the group but she’s been completely off every time she thinks she knows who “A” is.  First it was Toby, then it was Jenna, then it was Garrett, then it was Jason, now it’s Paige.   Each time she was proven wrong.  So how many times does Spencer have to be wrong before one of the girls steps up and says “Hey Spence, maybe you should take a backseat this time on the detective front because you’ve been wrong every time!”  Seriously, for someone so smart, she’s been very gullible throughout this whole thing.  Did it NEVER cross her mind (since “A” always seems to be 5 steps ahead of the girls) that “A” knew they were onto Paige and that “A” possibly planted that earring in Paige’s purse?  Really?  Not one person thought to bring that up?   Spencer sees evidence and BOOM they’re guilty.  She’d make a lousy detective or prosecutor.

I like the character of Paige but I don’t like her with Emily.  Actually I don’t like anyone with Emily because Shay Mitchell isn’t doing a good enough job (in my opinion) convincing me she’s into girls.  Not to mention, Emily is my least favorite character so that probably has something to do with it as well.  About three episodes ago, the spin of the story was setting Paige up to be part of the “A” team…which is always an indication to me that it’s a red herring designed to turn attention away from the true culprit.  As it turns out, not only did Paige have nothing to do with “A” but she became a victim herself, just not one of “A”‘s victims.

The other person we all knew was up to no good was Nate.  Since he came to town, I never believed anything he was saying and he never rubbed me the right way.  I wasn’t quite sure how he was connected to “A” but that’s where I was completely wrong…and I’m glad.  Not every story line has to do with “A” and I’m happy the writers made this separate from that.  Nate was actually named Linden and wasn’t Maya’s cousin….he was her stalker.  He didn’t like Emily and Maya together and he ended up being her killer.  He came after Emily because he felt Emily took Maya away from him.  So now he was going to take someone away from her.  He opens up his closet and we see Paige bound and gaged and looking completely frightened.  Nate/Linden brings Paige out of the closet (pardon the pun) and puts her on the couch next to Emily where he keeps threatening to kill her, just like a James Bond movie.  When he goes to get her, Emily snags a phone.  But as this is playing out, the writers pull a Silence of the Lambs moment.  We see Hanna, Aria, and Spencer walking up to the steps of a cabin and as they walk on the porch, it creaks.  Flash to inside where Nate/Linden hears a noise and goes to check it out.  A door bursts open but the girls are at a different cabin and Emily has run out with the phone (leaving Paige bound and gaged still behind.)  I know Emily got a lot of grief about leaving Paige behind. But I think what she was trying to do was get to a spot where she can get a cell signal and place a call to 911. I think she also assumed that Nate/linden would follow her so Paige was probably safe.  I ripped her more for running to the top of a lighthouse where she has no escape and nowhere to go.  I know she was looking for a signal but you don’t necessarily need high ground for a signal and putting yourself at the top of a lighthouse, puts you in a much more dangerous position!  But whatever.  Nate/Linden tracks Emily to the top of the lighthouse and as she dials 911 and gets an operator, Nate/Linden attacks her.  A major struggle ensues and Emily ends up stabbing Nate/Linden to death.  Meanwhile, Caleb comes charging up the lighthouse with his gun.  To back up, when the girls and Caleb decide to go after Emily, they aren’t 100% sure where she is at.  They have a name of a cabin but there are two locations with the same name.  The girls go to the one location (the wrong one) and Caleb goes to the other (the right one) which is why he was there.  As Emily hugs Caleb the camera flashes to the outside of the lighthouse and we hear a gun shot.

Now we have come full circle to the beginning of the episode where we see Hanna crying her eyes out and we see Caleb coming out on a gurney with a gun shot wound.  The second gurney comes out with Nate/Linden’s body. Emily and Paige are both talking to the police about what happened.  Now, the way Caleb was shot is bothering me.  I’m probably nit-picking but I thought it was weak.  We knew something was going to happen with Caleb the minute we see the gun in Hanna’s room (and tie that into the opening scene, you knew Caleb was getting shot.)  Hanna was freaking out about the gun and the danger of guns, so it was bound to happen that Caleb gets shot.   We are all to assume it was Nate/Linden that shot him right?  I mean Emily was hugging him and why the hell would she shoot him so it only made sense that it was Nate/Linden.  Again, as soon as Caleb put the gun down…he was getting shot.  So it didn’t have the impact it could have because it was so obvious this was going to happen.  Plus, Nate/Linden looked pretty dead.  I guess he woke up, tried to shoot Emily, shot Caleb instead and then really died.  I guess I can go with that.   Hopefully Caleb will be alright because I love that character and I love him with Hanna….best couple on the show!  I have a feeling he’ll be just fine.

But enough with all that, let’s get to the part of the show that had everyone on Twitter freaking out (and that’s putting it mildly.)  For the last month, PLL has been pumping it’s season finale at the BetrAyal.  Meaning someone we have grown to love and trust (so have the girls) is going to be revealed as part of the “A” team.  Not to toot my own horn (but I’m going to) I totally called it!!!  If you listen to my podcast from last week, I said my guess was either Melissa or Toby.  I eliminated Melissa because no one likes her and it wouldn’t be that big of a reveal.  So I went with Toby.  Toby made the most sense because of many reasons.  First, the girls were leery of him early in series but proved himself to be innocent and a loyal friend.  He and Spencer fell in love and he was able to gain her trust and as a result, all of the Liars’ trust.  He and Emily had always been good friends so she always stood by him.  Plus, Toby would be gone for long stretches of time where no one knew where he was or what he was doing.  Yeah he told Spencer he was “working” in Bucks County, but we didn’t know that for sure.  There were many signs pointing to Toby for a while.  Even going back to last season.  And that would be more of a tug on the heart-strings because of all the Toby/Spencer shippers out there and because he had become such a likable character.   So it was no surprise that Toby was on the “A” team but it still made the reveal brutal for many people.

The big question is, is he really part of the “A” team or is it all a rouse?  Is he posing as part of the “A” team to take them down from the inside or has he really been against the girls from the very beginning?   Having Toby revealed to us but not the girls brings a very interesting layer to future storytelling that quite frankly, the show needed.  It was starting to get a bit stale and now with this reveal, a burst of life has just been interjected into the series and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!

I have to say, even though Spencer drives me crazy, I am absolutely heartbroken for her.  I have really come to like her character and her feistiness.  When she finds this out Toby is part of the “A” team, she seriously may spontaneously combust!   And if I’m not mistaken, she’s the first Liar to lose her virginity correct?  If I’m wrong, please let me know.  But Em’s a virgin, Hanna’s a virgin.  I’m pretty sure Aria still is.  How apropos that the first Liar to lose her virginity, loses it to an “A” member.  Yikes!

I’ve already got October 23rd on my calendar for the Halloween episode and then we have to wait until January for the back 12.   I hate having to wait that long but I think I can suffer through it.

Other Thoughts From the Episode:

• Garrett completely creeped me out when he left the jail.  The smirk he gave the girls when he was released because Nate/Linden was found out to be Maya’s killer, was chilling.  Is Garrett just a creep or is he involved somehow?
• Maggie and Aria go toe to toe over telling Ezra about his son.  I love Aria.  But she has a lot of guts to give Maggie grief about lying to Ezra.  I mean of ALL the Liars, Aria should NEVER call anyone out for lying.  As Maggie told her, there is more to this story and she has no right to blow the whistle on this situation without knowing why she is doing what she is doing.  And she can easily get out of being in trouble with Ezra for not telling him.  By explaining to him that it’s not her news to tell.   Tell him the situation and if he doesn’t understand, then that’s his problem.  Plus, she’s a teenager.  Can you really hold her accountable for adult actions when she’s just a kid?   Maybe Ezra should date someone his own age if he wants a situation handled differently.    But you all know how I feel about that!
• Where was the creepy pastor?  I know that guy is up to no good.  I don’t know how he connects or why, I just know he’s bad news.  Ashley better be very careful.  I guess we’ll revisit that in the second half of Season 3.

What did you think of the finale?  Were you devastated it was Toby as the reveal?  Did you call it too?  Did you not care?   Sound off below!

 

SEASON FINALE RECAP & REVIEW: Parenthood “My Brother’s Wedding” S3 E18

I just got around to watching the last two episodes of Parenthood.  Wow did I need some major tissues.  Before I get into the episode itself I just have to ask the writers and directors of Parenthood a question….what is with the CONSTANT speaking over someone every time there is a conversation (especially a debate?)   At first I understood they were trying to keep it real since families do step on each other’s words (you should be at one of our family dinners) but it’s gotten to a gratingly ridiculous level.  Not every time a conversation is had, do people talk over each other.  So why does Parenthood feel the need to have this happen at most times?  Kristina, Adam, and Zeke did it, Kristina and Sarah did it, Adam and Crosby did it.  I just want to jump through my TV and yell SHUT THE F*#@ UP FOR ONE MINUTE AND LET (ENTER NAME HERE) FINISH THEIR DAMN THOUGHT!!!!  In all seriousness, it completely takes away from the enjoyment of a scene and sometimes it’s tricky to follow because everyone is talking at once.  Seriously the scene where Sarah comes to see Kristina about Amber, I was ready to call Jason Katims and rip him a new one.  After “please sit down and shut the door” all Sarah and Kristina did was talk at the same time.   I really wanted to hear Kristina’s explanation and I really wanted to hear Sarah’s response.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t get either very well because they both insisted on talking at the same time.  I just want to know if this is something they are being directed to do?  Are the writers writing it this way?  Is it the actors’ choice?   No matter what the reason behind it, it needs to stop.  Or at the very least be severely toned down.  This is some of the best writing on TV and I would actually like to hear the dialogue vs. having to decipher it via facial expressions because everyone is being rude and talking over each other.  Now that I have solved that problem, onto the episode.

Crosby and Jasmine

I’m getting this out-of-the-way first.  Anyone who was read any of my Parenthood posts in the past knows how I feel about Crosby and Jasmine.  I HATE them as a couple.  I don’t like the people they are when they are together.  But I knew it was only a matter of time until the show got them together again.  I was hoping it was going to be a story about them parenting Jabar apart and moving on in separate directions while working together to raise him.  I think that could have been much more interesting but we all knew that wasn’t going to happen.

So in a matter of a blink of an eye, they broke off their seemingly happy relationships because Jasmine all of a sudden realized she loves Crosby and wants to be with him and marry him….like today.  Dr. Joe and Lily hit the pike and the family is beside themselves with excitement over the idea of Crosby and Jasmine getting married at the Braverman estate.   They get married and everyone is having a great time (especially Drew and Amy!)  Save for a best man hiccup (more on that later) it was a great wedding and the couple is officially back together.  Yippee (enter sarcasm here.)

Adam and Crosby

Crosby is one of those characters I can’t figure out yet.  Sometimes I love him to no end and other times I can’t stand him and hate the way his family always picks up for his bone head ways.  I guess I’m so hard on Crosby because I know family members who are like that.  No matter how bad they screw up or screw other family members over, everyone else has to be the bigger people and make it right.  I hate that.  So that’s why at times I just want to throw Crosby through a wall.  This business deal with the Luncheonette was no different.

Adam and he were approached by a rival recording studio about buying them out.  Adam wants to discuss it and Crosby has no time for it because the Luncheonette is his dream.  Adam tries to explain to him that as business partners, they need to discuss this because that is what business partners do.  Crosby’s response: “no, there’s nothing to talk about, we’re not selling, oh and I’m getting married.”  Adam gets a call to meet the buyer who doesn’t want to go without Crosby but he says it’s just drinks and just to talk.  Adam goes and ends up walking away with an even bigger offer.  For some reason, Crosby gets even more incensed about this (as does Zeke which makes no sense….oh wait it does because Crosby is always the good guy and Adam is always the bad.)  Crosby then tells Adam he is longer then best man and a fist fight breaks out between the two of them at the Braverman’s!!!!!  In front of the whole family!!!

The next day Zeke goes to Adam’s house, tells him how wrong he is and ask how he could think of doing something so awful to Crosby and tells him to fix it.  So Adam fixes it by giving the worst best man speech at a wedding ever, and ripping up the offer from the company.  Now Crosby and Zeke are happy and everything is right with the world.

Ok, first and foremost, back off Zeke.  As usual you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.  This is between Crosby and Adam.  And it’s a business thing, not a family thing (although they did make it a family thing by fighting in front of the whole family.)  But you know who you need to blame for that?    CROSBY!  Adam didn’t bring it up.  He didn’t want to discuss it in that forum.  But the typically immature Crosby didn’t care and brought it up anyway.  So why are you bitching to Adam?   And instead of storming into HIS home with his family to lay him out for the situation, Zeke should have listened to Adam’s side and then Zeke should have had a conversation with Crosby.  Really what he should have done was mind his own business, but God forbid with that guy.

To be honest, this whole thing is Crosby’s fault.   If he just sat down with Adam and TALKED to him, they could have avoided all of this.   The thing that pisses me off is that everything is always about Crosby.  His dream, his life, his vision.  Well what about Adam?  He has a massive income drop, he has a daughter heading to Cornell, a son with Aspberger’s, and a new baby.  He is drowning in bills.  Can you really fault him for wanting to entertain the idea of selling?  NO.  Just like Adam shouldn’t blame you for wanting NOT to sell.  But Crosby never allowed for the possibility of that mature conversation to happen because he just blew Adam off and dismissed Adam’s wishes, because everything is always about him.  And as usual, Crosby gets what he wants by being an ass and guilting people into doing what he wants.  Can you tell that it really rubs me the wrong way.

Sarah, Amber, and Kristina

I already said my piece about them talking over one another so I won’t go back there.  This is a tough one.  I think I’m still going to side with Kristina here.  What Amber was doing was wrong.  It happens, but it’s wrong.  And it’s gross.  She’s not even a year removed from high school.  She’s 19.  Bob has to be in his mid to late 20s.  I’m not saying relationships that are 5-10 years in age difference can’t work.  My husband is 5 years older than me.  But when you’re talking about someone who was going to her senior prom this time last year, it’s icky.

Having said that, they are two consenting adults who have the right to do whatever they want and make whatever mistakes they choose.  I know Kristina’s first instincts were to run and stop what was happening (which she did), but I don’t agree with how she handled it.  Which by the way, if was Amber, I would never say anything to my cousin ever again.  What a snitch Haddie was!!  But she’s another one I’ve never liked.  Anyhoo, Kristina goes barging into the hotel room and embarrasses Amber, embarrasses Bob.  It was bad.  Her intentions were good and her instincts were right, but it should have been handled a little differently.

When everyone gets back, Sarah goes to see Kristina to find out what happened.  Kristina expected Sarah to be as upset as she was but Kristina was stunned when Sarah was confused as to what the problem was.  Really, Kristina how dumb can you be?   It shouldn’t surprise you at all that her mother. who is dating a man 15 years younger than her (her son and daughter’s teacher no less) who has made countless bad choices throughout her life, can’t see why this is bad.  Sarah seems angry with Kristina for interfering so Kristina asks her to leave.   See maybe, if you didn’t speak while Kristina was speaking, she could have explained why this is a bad thing and you could have listened.

I’ve mentioned before how I love Sarah, but I think she’s a bad mother.  She loves her kids and would do anything for them, there’s no denying that.  She wants to be more of a BFF with them instead of a mom to them and that’s a problem.  How could you honestly be upset with Kristina for trying to stop Amber for making a huge mistake?  And let’s list all the reasons this is a big mistake:

1. She’s 19 and he’s 7+ years older
2. She’s his employee
3. He’s her boss
4. He’s running for political office so if the affair leaked, it would be really bad
5. Her reputation will be destroyed if it got out

Should I keep going?  How as her mother does Sarah not see that?   All she seemed to care about was is he married and does Amber like him.  While those things are important, are they the point here?   NO!!  Come on Sarah.  You should be thanking your lucky stars you have a sister-in-law like Kristina who would not only care enough from stopping Amber from making a huge mistake but then would follow-up by stopping to see her and explain why she did what she did.  That’s called PARENTING!!!  By the way, that was a great scene with Kristina and Amber.  Monica Potter and Mae Whitman blew it out of the water with their subtlety.  But then again, they always do.  Kristina basically tells Amber that she made so many bad mistakes when she was younger and that she thinks so much of Amber that she wants to help her not make the same mistakes she did.  She sees so much potential in Amber and wants to see her fulfill that for herself.  It was such a nice scene.  And it worked because Amber broke it off with Bob to come back to work and pursue this as a potential career.  Good call Amber!!!   At least someone is trying to steer you in the right direction!

Julia, Joel, and Zoe

You just knew it was coming.  You knew Zoe was going to keep the baby.  Each week, the writers kept slipping little hints that this was going to happen.   I was hoping it was red herring and Julia and Joel would have their new baby boy, but it didn’t.   In the end, after all Julia did for her, Zoe decided to keep the baby.  And I was so mad at Camille.  When she was helping Joel pack the room, she had to make the comment of “well Zeke and I were afraid this was going to happen.”  You know what Camille, this is really not the time for “I told you so!”  You really think Joel wants to hear that right now?   Dear Lord!

The irony of the entire situation is that while Julia was doing things to support Zoe while pregnant and to give her the love and encouragement she was sorely missing in her life, all she really did was give Zoe the confidence and strength to go back to her family and to be a good mom to her son.  It was that strength she learned from Julia that made her believe she could raise her son.  It beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.  I still wanted to rip her heart out and set it on fire for Julia, but it made sense.  I cried and cried watching that scene.  Although it was tempered because my husband came and sat with me about 20 minutes into the show and not having watched an episode since last season and starts asking me “who’s that girl?  why are they crying?  why are you crying?   what’s going on?  what baby are they talking about?  what’s with the watch?”   If I could have stuck him in a sound proof room, I would have.

So it’s back to the beginning for J&J and they go to an adoption agency to try to get their hands on a new baby.  The agent offers a suggestion of some type of fast adoption should it happen, and they agree to it.   Well, when they say fast, they weren’t kidding.  At the wedding, they get a call that an opportunity has come up.  I can’t remember what happened but I get the impression one parent is going to jail and one is out of the picture so the boy needs a home.  But he’s about 6 or 7 years old.  J&J will take him and get him settled in.

I guess my confusion is, I thought they wanted a baby.  Not a little kid.  I know they didn’t care about race or gender, but I thought they wanted a baby.   That’s all Julia has said…she wants a baby.   Not a kid, a baby.  Guess not.  And, are they foster parents or is this their new son?  I hope they address that next season because I have no idea.  If he is their’s I can already see the storylines of he and Sydney not getting along.  He’s probably going to be manipulative and nasty but play the game in front of J&J until something happens to Sydney and it wakes him up to being a turd.   J&J figure out he’s a turd and then they fix it and everyone’s better.  Maybe I’m wrong, but I can easily see that happening.   Regardless, if he turns out to be their son, I’m so happy for them!!!!

Sarah and Mark

Sarah and Mark are finally starting to realize what we as the audience have noticed for weeks now.   They are too different and want different things as a result of being at different stages of their lives.  Neither one is wrong, it’s just different.

Mark has all these things he wants to experience.  Sarah, not so much.  Mark wants kids.  Sarah, not so much.  Mark wants to move to NY.  Sarah, might want to, but only after Drew graduates and the kids are settled.  See the pattern here?  It’s a shame because I really do like them as a couple.  But it’s clear they are on different paths.  And I really applaud Sarah for making the hard decision to break up with him.  Because it had nothing to do with not loving him and everything to do with wanting different things.  I know Mark came back and proposed to her at the wedding and cliff hanger was left as to what Sarah would say.   But the answer has to be no.  It’s easy for Mark to say, who cares about those other things, we love each other and that’s all that matters.  No kid, it isn’t.  It’s important, but it’s not everything.  And Sarah knows that.  As much as I love Jason Ritter and want him to stick around, it’s time to say good-bye to Mark Cyr.

Drew and Amy

All I want to ask is “why are you so sweaty?”  I was laughing my ass off when Drew and Amy came down stairs and Sarah asked him that.  And they were so nervous they couldn’t look at her and couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Drew and Amy decided they were both ready to have sex and decided Uncle Crosby’s wedding was the best time.  It’s actually a good idea because everyone is occupied but it’s still VERY risky.   The thing I found funny was how matter-of-fact the beginning was.  They get in the room and then stand off the side of the bed, and start stripping while starring in each other’s eyes.   Then when fully naked, get into bed.   Call me crazy but it just seemed a little stiff to me.  I know they’ve never done this before, but there had to be a more romantic way to do it than that!   It just seemed so business like.  I don’t know.    But I was happy for Drew!

So that wraps Season 3 of Parenthood.  Another solid season that should warrant a renewal from NBC in May. What did you think of the season finale and the season as a whole?  Let me know!

 

SERIES PREMIERE RECAP & REVIEW: Work It “Pilot” S1 E1

Oh boy.  The first new show I am going to review had to be a questionable one.  As I mentioned on my podcast, I was looking forward to checking out Work It because it reminded me of a show I loved as a kid….Bosom Buddies.   After watching Work It, I now realize why kids are dumb.

Work It follows the plight of Lee (played by Ben Koldyke) and Angel (played by Amaury Nolasco) who have been out of work for over a year and can’t find a job anywhere.  While getting slammed with a $900 bill from the doctor’s office (since his insurance ran out) he was trying to find another way to get a job.  At said doctor’s office, he overhears a woman talk about how her pharmaceutical firm is looking for sales people.  Unfortunately they are only looking for women.  Being a woman and knowing that there are still many instances where men get jobs over women and the pay scale still isn’t where it should be and there are still many “good old boys” out there, this is just out-of-bounds.  A firm who only wants attractive women because they believe that’s who the doctors want to sleep with?  Being in sales, I understand the doing anything to get the sale concept, but this is just wrong on MANY levels.

When Lee plans to sell his wife’s earrings to get the money for the doctor’s bill, he sees a dress hanging on her door and an idea comes to his head.   He dresses as a woman and goes for the job at the pharm firm.  He gets the job and immediately starts to make friends (kind of) with his new colleagues….Grace, the ultra competitive top sales person (played by Rebecca Mader), Kelly, the air head who likes to sleep with doctors (played by Kate Reinders) and Kristen the kook who, while really strange and out there, is very sweet and looking for a new book club buddy (played by Kirsten Eggers.)  Talk about stereotypical women in the work place…the bitch, the slut, and the ditz.  Boy this really does feel like watching a sitcom from the 80s.

Apparently, Lee and Angel made a deal that whoever got a job, would get the other job there as well.  And when Lee told Angel it wasn’t possible (but not why) Angel stormed away and told his friend is was basically a snob for not wanting him at his snobby pharm firm.  You have got to be kidding me.   You two have been out of work for over year.  The job market is atrocious.   So you are going to condemn your friend because he wasn’t able to get you a job (a job which you have no experience at)?   Last time I checked, Lee wasn’t in charge of hiring…Vanessa was.  So how can Angel make Lee feel bad?   Not to mention it was CLEAR that Lee was a sales person and has the experience and knowledge to win the job.  Angel doesn’t.  So how does Angel feel he is entitled to a job that he has no qualifications for in a competitive job market?   It was the most ridiculous thing I had ever seen.

Eventually, Lee fessed up what he needed to do to land the job and Angel is all for doing the same thing.  He dresses up and interviews with Vanessa (played by Rochelle Aytes.)   He doesn’t get the job but because he is able to change Vanessa’s flat tire later on, she hires him.  I can’t even begin to tell you how insulting that is.   But whatever.  He gets the job, everyone celebrates (except Lee’s wife who seems like a real stick in the mud) and the premise for the series is set up.

This show is just one stereotype after another.  While I’m sure many people will be able to appreciate what the show is trying to do and can relate to the tough job market and the willingness to do whatever it takes to provide for your family, I think the majority of people out there, won’t like this show.  It’s so shallow on many levels.  I would have more sympathy for Lee’s family if his wife wasn’t so nasty to him and his daughter wasn’t a spoiled brat.   The only time we see her is when she is bitching about having to use a land line because she can’t have a cell phone anymore and then finally shows her dad some kindness when he gets her a phone back by the end of the episode.  Seems like Lee is the sole provider in the house so I find it a bit odd that the first thing he does after being out of work for a year is to make sure his brat of a daughter has a cell phone.   Surely there must be more pressing bills.

Having said all that, I will admit that there were times when I laughed.  When they all sat down to have lunch together and Lee breaks out a gut busting size hoagie while the other girls are eating salads, when his ace bandage came apart under his skirt and Lee tried to hold it together.  Nothing ground breaking but simple funny moments.  I think the hardest part to over come is how these two men look NOTHING like women.  At least they could have found someone maybe a little more slight in build and softer in features to be more believable as women.  And maybe that’s what the show runners want…two men who are so masculine and large that they think it makes it funnier.   I just think it makes all the characters around them less believable and less likable because it’s hard to believe anyone would be that dumb to buy Lee and Angel as women.

I might watch one or two more episodes to see if this show improves at all.  But it isn’t looking promising!

DVRs: 0

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Parenthood “Sore Loser” & “Mr. Honesty” S3 E9 & 10

There were some MAJOR developments in the last two episodes of Parenthood.  As always, there is much to discuss about what is happening with the Braverman clan from parenting to marriage management to really bad decisions and choices.  So let’s break it down by family:

Joel/Julia/Sydney

I REALLY hate when Zeke is right.  With every fiber of my being, I hate when Zeke is right because he is such a jerk and I hate his character so much.  But in “Sore Loser”, he was 100% right and he needed to say something to Joel and Julia.  The way he goes about it is still wrong but his instincts about Sydney were dead on.  Sydney is a spoiled brat.  In Julia and Joel’s quest to make sure she feels strong and positive, they created a little monster who has no idea how to behave when things don’t go her way.

The scene where Sydney and Joel are playing Candy Land and she loses it and completely has a melt down, I couldn’t believe what I was watching.  I literally gasped out loud when she threw the cards at him and then proceeded to slap him.  My jaw hit the floor.  Now I don’t have kids so for those of you that do or are around children a lot, does that really happen?   Can kids really have that bad of a hissy fit and be so disrespectful to their parents?  It’s so hard for me to fathom.  A child accusing their own father of cheating and then getting physical with him out of frustration.  Wow.  And I have to say, Joel really did a great keeping his composure because I don’t know if I could have.

I’m really proud of J&J for not giving into Sydney’s tantrum but I wish we could have seen the calm discussion J&J had with her to explain how that behavior isn’t acceptable and how you should be a gracious loser.  I know Joel went through some of that with Sydney when playing Candy Land but I would have thought that would have went in and out of her head.   It seems like we skipped over that part.  Sydney went from her tantrum to playing chess with Zeke and being a nice loser. That seemed a little quick for me, but I admit, I am nit-picking.

As for the baby adopting storyline, you knew this was coming right?   Something was going to make this not as easy a situation as it initially seemed.  Although I thought it was going to go down one path and it went down a different one.  I am going to preference my next comments with I have no idea of the adoption laws in California and how this whole thing works.  I don’t what is right and what is wrong.  Therefore, I can only comment on what I see on-screen with my limited knowledge.  I can see both sides here.  On one side you have Zoe and Troy.  Two young kids who have created a life that they want to see go to a good family because they have decided they aren’t the best option for their child.  So before they are ready to just sign this child over, they have a conversation with J&J about it and ask about compensation for the child.  J&J are paying all her medical expenses but Troy is looking for a bigger pay-day than that.  In his research, Zoe could get $30,000 for an egg and people usually pay for adoptions so he is looking for J&J to step up and write them a check otherwise, no deal.   On the other side, you have J&J.  A wonderful, successful couple with a great home life that is ready to give a baby a good home.  J&J did not respond well to Troy’s demands.  Julia informed him that in the state of California, it is illegal to solicit money for a child.  Wait, was it illegal to solicit or pay for a baby.  I think it’s pay for a baby.  So Julia tells Troy, it isn’t going to happen because it’s illegal.  So on a side note, how does that work in CA then?  I was under the assumption that when a couple goes through the adoption procedure, there is a cost involved in getting that baby.  In CA is that not that case?  Are adoptions free there?  I’m confused.  Regardless, Julia and Joel are standing firm and are ready to walk away if this is the path Zoe and Troy are taking and I am thrilled to see them handle it that way.  I know how much they want a baby and I am glad to see that they aren’t willing to just do anything to get him/her.

You know where I thought this was going?  I thought Troy wanted to keep the baby and have them try to raise him/her themselves.   Turns out that no, he just wants a big pay-day for his child.  A part of me can understand it because they are young and need help.  But the other part of me thinks he’s a scum bucket for doing it.

Adam and Kristina

Oh boy.   Talk about something blowing up in your face.  I’ve seen this storyline happen in many shows.  Unfortunately, I’ve seen it in real life as well.   When someone cheats (or in Adam’s case, an inappropriate situation happens) and it’s a one time thing….a mistake…do you tell the other person?   What is the right thing to do?  It is such a hard question to answer and I think each situation is different so I don’t think you can make a blanket statement to cover everything.

In this particular situation, Adam should have NEVER told Kristina what happened.   Kristina has been in a very vulnerable situation lately after having just given birth to Nora.  Adam knows this.  Hell even Crosby knows this because he laid it out for Adam why this is such a bad idea.  But Adam decides to tell her anyway.  He thinks he’s doing the right thing by giving her the respect of telling her what is going on and not hiding anything but he really isn’t because he didn’t think this through.  Number One, all he did was relieve his guilt over the situation.  This wasn’t about being honest with Kristina, this was about relieving his own guilt.  Adam knew this was never going to happen again.  He has no attraction to Rachel in that way and both regretted it as soon as it happened.  So why say anything?  Number Two, he had to know that Kristina was going to want Rachel gone.  HOW DID HE NOT SEE THAT COMING?  You tell your wife, your receptionist has kissed you.  Of course her next question after did it mean anything, was it a one time thing and did you kiss her back was going to be, did you fire her?  If you were never planning to fire Rachel, you should have never told Kristina.   Then not only do you not fire her, but then you lie to Kristina about it!!!!  So you don’t want to disrespect your wife by keeping this kiss from her, but you are going to disrespect her by lying to her about firing this girl and think your wife is so dumb she’ll never notice when she calls your office or stops by to see you?  Seriously?   Come on Adam.   You have now made a meaningless situation now VERY meaningful in the way you have handled this.  And I am 100% in Kristina’s corner.  Of course she is upset, of course she is second guessing her husband’s feelings for her, of course she is going to go ballistic.  By lying about firing her, you have now made your wife feel like there is something more going on than there actually is.  No disrespect to Rachel or receptionists but it’s not like she’s their VP of Finance or their top sales person or the only person who knows how to work the equipment.   She answers phones, gets coffee, and entertains the clients.  You can’t find someone else to do that?   You can’t see how Kristina is going to think that?   I just wanted to kill him.  He should have never told Kristina but now that he has, he has no choice but to fire Rachel.  He can’t keep her around if he expects Kristina to be ok.

Sarah/Amber/Drew

While I love the character of Sarah, she’s not the greatest mom.  Don’t get me wrong, she loves her kids and she would do anything for them and always put their needs first.  I just think she has a tendency to want to be friends with Drew and Amber vs. being their mom sometimes.   They walk all over her.  And even when she tries to establish some sort of discipline, it eventually goes away because she can’t stand the idea of one of her kids being mad at her.  Prime example…Drew and his grades.  She was furious that his grades dropped and directly related it to his new relationship.  Sarah told Drew that he couldn’t see Amy during the week anymore and only on the weekends.  Which I thought was perfectly fair.  Drew goes to see Amber and Amber tells him how to get around that.   Well Drew doesn’t do a very good job and he gets caught by Sarah and everything is taken away from him…his phone, his iPod, his computer, everything.  But then after Mark Cyr tells her she’s being too hard on him, she backs off and let’s Drew see Amy again.  What’s up with that?  Sarah did the right thing.  If for nothing else, Drew needs to respect his mother when she tells him something.  But  Sarah proved that they can continue to do whatever they want because she doesn’t want them to be mad at her.  It’s the one thing that really frustrates me about her.

As for Amber, she is really struggling.  She can’t make rent, she can’t take care of her car, she can barely buy food…it’s awful.   But it’s great at the same time.  It shows that maybe it’s time to stop trying to live on your own with no education and go back to school!  But I have to say, the scene with her and Camille is heartbreaking.  You can tell she really doesn’t want to be there and it is killing her to ask for help.   I’m sure everyone has been in that situation at least once where you just need some help to stop the bleeding.  So she smartly asks for help before her situation gets any worse.  Camille helps her but also gives her advise to change what she is doing because what she is doing now, isn’t working.   Here’s an idea…..GO TO COLLEGE!!!   Sarah is also trying to help by showing her how to create a budget.  It was during this scene I wanted to drop kick Amber down a flight of stairs.  Sarah is asking her how much money she is bringing in and how much her rent is and Amber just got overwhelmed and said she didn’t know her salary or her rent and doesn’t know how to do this.  How do you not know your rent and how much you are making?  No wonder you are in trouble.  You don’t have that many bills at this point so it should be easy to track and it’s simple math…make sure you have enough coming in to satisfy what’s going back out plus a little.   Early on, it’s that simple.   If Amber can’t manage a basic checkbook, she certainly isn’t ready to be on her own and should come home and go back to school.  But when she got overwhelmed, Sarah said don’t worry we will figure out a plan and work this out.   Here’s a great plan….GO TO COLLEGE!!!!  Are you sensing a theme with me here?   I think it’s a matter of time and Amber is the kind of kid that needs to learn these things on her own.  But she’s very smart and driven and she needs to come to this decision in her own way when she is ready.  I have a feeling she may be at that point soon.

Crosby/Jasmine/Jabbar

Ugh.   And you know why I’m saying ugh.  Crosby and Jasmine slept together last week.  So now, this make Jasmine no better than Crosby by sleeping with someone else when in a relationship.  So maybe she’ll come off her high horse a bit…but I doubt it.

I don’t like these two together (I bet you never heard that before) and I was really enjoying seeing her build the relationship with Dr. Joe (whose character I really like a lot) and her and Crosby parenting without being together.  I think that storyline is much more interesting but I fear that with this latest development, the direction of this writing crew will be putting Crosby and Jasmine back together.  It cemented it for me when they both told Jabbar that they are never getting married.   Don’t like it but what are you going to do.

So what do you think of Parenthood’s amazing third season and these last two episodes?