GATenn

I loved everything about this show. The acting and stories were great, and I love that it was set up like an old-school sitcom. Part of me wishes that it had taken place in Ann Romano's actual old apartment in Indianapolis.

Aside from the catchy theme song, I really appreciated that ODAAT 2.0 was an old school sitcom with a studio audience. It definitely helped that Norman Lear was involved. That man literally shaped my childhood.

The Netflix reboot of One Day At A Time had had a latin version of the original theme song sung by Gloria Estefan. It was cut to the bone when the show moved to network TV.

I would watch a movie (prequel, whatever) about Fiyero, because Jonathan Bailey. Oof.

I live in Savannah and was pleasantly surprised to see how well they portrayed the area. I particularly liked how they showed the neighbors and others going out of their way to be kind to them and make sure others are as well, which is very southern. Although, I think it was mostly because they felt sorry for Joe and the kids. The school scenes were filmed around the corner from me (literally two minutes in the car or less than 10 on foot) at Islands High School (they changed the name of the school but kept the shark mascot). I wasn't expecting to see the coffee shop I like and the seafood restaurant I've been wanting to try. I very much appreciate that this takes place here and it's treated as normal as opposed to a place overflowing with melanin-deficient refuse with horrible accents. The southern accents I did hear were well done, and I appreciated the presence of transplants (they are EVERYWHERE. I hardly know anyone who is actually from here). The entertainment industry has thankfully been getting better about southern representation over the years. I remember when MKL was all over the news and the ick of the whole thing. Just...gross.

My future husband who already has a boyfriend Cooper Koch is quite a find and has skillfully navigated questions and criticisms about the show: https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/monsters-cooper-koch-response-empathy-erik-menendez#rebelltitem2 And some funny facts about him: https://ew.com/monsters-star-cooper-koch-acting-teacher-gay-voice-8728594 https://ew.com/cooper-koch-nude-scene-monsters-8728083 He just seems so sweet and funny.

I wish they had focused a little on Diana's fraught relationship with her parents and how it was a factor in some of her extreme behavior. For example, she pushed her stepmother Raine Legge (aka Rain Legs) down the stairs. Or that she either threw herself/tipped herself/accidently fell down a flight of stairs while pregnant with William. Her story about that changed depended on who she was talking to. She was a caring and generous person, but severely mentally ill, and pushing an old lady down the stairs wasn't one of her high points. Then again, Rain Legs installed wall-to-wall carpeting in their castle over the hardwoods, and while that doesn't warrant being pushed down a flight of stairs, it's pretty unforgivable. Diana hated her (her nickname for her was Acid Raine), and didn't even want her at her wedding. She compromised by seating her behind a column so she couldn't see her. When Diana's father died, she and her brother literally ordered Rain Legs out the next day. When she started packing, they realized the suitcases/trunks belonged to their father, so they made her put her shit in trash bags, threw them down the stairs, and kicked her the fuck out. It's like rich people Jerry Springer.

Bump. I guess they didn't have time to cover everything, but I'm a little disappointed that they didn't show some of Diana's extreme behavior, like pushing her stepmother Raine Legge (aka Rain Legs, which is what they called her on the You're Wrong About podcast) down the stairs (I think that would have fit more into the Season Five timeline, so I'll go there for more on that) and making frequent harassing calls to the guy she was having an affair with after he ended it.

I would let Daddy Ryan read to me in a tent, and he’s a dozen years younger than me.

I could be wrong, but I thought it started in fall 2006 and ended up in the summer of 2007. The Cattons were rich, snobby, chaotic, and insular but harmless, really. They didn’t deserve their fate brought on by the arrival of Oliver. I particularly liked Elspeth, who seemed to be a filthy rich version of Edina Monsoon with great lines such as: ”I was a lesbian once, but it was too wet in the end. Men are so lovely and dry.” And her outfits SLAYED. I found the amount of smoking (especially indoors) revolting. Is it 1950? I find it odd that no one figured out that Oliver was up to no good. His sudden pivot to manipulative dom should have clued someone in. One of them should have let Sir James know so he could be discreetly thrown out into the night - for instance, Felix. Once it’s discovered that someone is crazy, confronting them directly is not the best option - you don’t engage. It just sets them off, and then people start dying in mazes and bathtubs and having ventilators ripped out. I think it was inferred that Sir James died by suicide, which can also be laid at Oliver’s feet.

This is exactly how my Egyptian stepmother sounds.

The only other things I can think of is that he may have been taught by Americans, or if he picked it up living in LA and being engaged to Kelly, who was from Kentucky. Otherwise, I've got nothing.

Her father was his best friend, and he bought her first baby carriage when she was born. When asked why he was unmarried, he answered that he was waiting for his future wife to grow up.

This was one of my favorite shows growing up. Oy. Aside from Linda's vocal gymnastics, the theme song(s) was/were weird. She made it sound like she was a bored housewife who took a job to empower herself, when in reality she had no choice because her husband (who was an asshole in the movie) died, followed by her car, which stranded their asses in Phoenix. She did, however, make it after all when she moved to Nashville. And speaking of that - talk about wrapping the show up in a neat little bow. How many celebrities showed up, did a number with Alice, and left her ass in Phoenix? Clearly they thought she was terrible. I could take Vera in small doses, Flo was cool and sassy, and I had to warm up to Mel. Word on the street is that Diane Ladd clashed with Linda, which is why Belle was abruptly written off (her last scene is of her on the phone on a separate set a la Chrissy from TC) and never shown in the retrospect. Apparently Polly Holiday clashed with Linda too, so there's that. IMO, it didn't hold up very well. Oh, and I just ordered one of these.

OMG, that nearly ruined the show for me. I really felt for Mitch, because damn.