CeeBeeGee

I noticed that as well! She's telemarketing but she can afford that house?

I can empathize quite a bit with Kelley. That time when you're with that thirsty crazy person, who is desperate for attention, for validation, for engagement. And you keep trying to draw boundaries, and they keep stepping over them. And then to hear that it's for TV? Because they think this is what the producers want? You're sacrificing the dignity of not just your entire family (JFC Julie, have some pride) but possibly those of your castmates? That phone call was the death knell. Bye, b****. That last van ride, where every little thing Julie said irritated Kelley--I can empathize. Baby was ridiculous in context. The song itself is ridic, plus the fact that he clearly "lifted" (to use an innocuous word) some of the lyrics from Frank Loesser. But I have complicated feelings about the Chappelle appearance. First off, I can't stand Chappelle. He's an asshole. OTOH, David/Tokyo shouldn't have expected to be mocked by a guy who invited him on the show. I mean, dude, the guy was 20-something. Don't be an asshole. Yes, thug is problematic but the Black dude who wrote--excuse me, "wrote" (Frank Loesser)--those lyrics is inviting you to sing them! I thought it was stipulated that Matt had converted to Roman Catholicism? Because he sure doesn't seem like one.

That was horrible! It's bad enough she's in the damn gown again and drugged and forced to relive bad memories but they took away her hair as well! And yes, go away Nazi jocks. When Jason was aggressively interrogating Erica last episode, I got really pissed off. His fucking air of entitlement...No one owes you anything, asshole. That was adorable. They're so sweet together.

Oh, also meant to say that Max's being de-possessed through memories of the love of her friends is totally the climax of Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix.

I didn't quite understand why Robin was rifling through Nancy's stuff and making comments? Is she just hyper and fidgety or was there a point to that? YES!!!!! Sadie Sink as Max is fantastic. GET HOPPER OUT OF FUCKING SIBERIA! God, I am SO SICK of this storyline. I very nearly ff-ed through his scenes this episode. He gets out, he's on the snowmobile, I'm thinking "yay, he's out and finally this dollar store North of the Wall storyline is concluded"--nope. I can't stand one of my favorite characters stuck in this boring snowy morass.

Or possibly a reference to War Games (such a great movie!) where David does change his grade and Jen's.

Definitely not my experience at all. The few times I lit up with friends we absolutely hid it from our parents, in highly remote locations. I was suspicious of Owens at first but it looks as though he is truly trying to help El. I'm genuinely scared about that. They're going to kill someone, in the name of "justice."

That makes perfect sense, the Carrie reference. Although, as much as I love Carrie and as much as it still stands up (there's a reason it gets remade and rebooted and referenced so often), upon closer examination it still reads in parts as though this is how a man thinks older teenage girls act.

Yeah, couldn't GAF that Angela got pounded. Don't start none, won't get none. I kind of agree but I think both things--the crowd not intervening and then the crowd seeming aghast--can be chalked up to either: the crowd took a while to catch on to what was happening, or the whole scene is mostly from El's POV. What I think is odd is how--elaborate Angela's revenge scenarios are. That's more unusual at that age--in the 9th grade, I would think her bullying would amount to snide and mocking remarks and the like. But whatever, it's a TV show and perhaps the fact that they're freshmen (Angela and her friends seem older but if El is in the same classes, they couldn't be older than freshmen) explains it. The Firenza sweaters! I remember them fondly. Also, I don't know if this was widespread or just our HS but we went through a phase of wearing our dad's sweaters. I totally rocked Nancy's loosely structured sweater vest look in 1986. In fact I think I still have that pink sweater vest!

Uh--her editor? The firm which presumably gave her an advance and expects her to adhere to a schedule? Her professionalism is a good thing.

There was a kid in my 8th grade class whom I thought was a teacher, he was so tall and buff and just mature-looking. I was stunned to find out he was in my grade. And he hadn't been held back, either. I would bet anything it's a fantasy sequence or some other kind of fakeout. Sadie Sink is doing some fantastic work. Very subtle but still intense. And yes, that sequence went on FOREVER. And be weaker than them. That's what makes them bullies--they like flexing their power over those who can't or won't fight back. Random thoughts: Did cheerleaders in the '80s do those elaborate tumbling and stunts? None of the schools I attended had cheer routines like that. Walkmans! *sighs nostalgically* One of the first major purchases I ever made. Already cannot stand the head Hellfire dude. Although I like that his friends aren't afraid to call him out. He does seem sweet with Chrissy though. I like unlikely friendships. Close. shave, Robin. Watching Mason Dye play a high schooler is a little disorientating when the last thing I saw him in was Flowers in the Attic in 2014 (?). I'm so stoked for Lucas!!!! Poor Max, having to essentially parent herself. Oh my GOD. Poor Chrissy.

Right? I'm not Roman Catholic (I'm high church Episcopalian, close enough ;) but I have MANY friends who grew up Catholic and who went to parochial schools--and for a time I lived with my Dad in a very Catholic town and being super curious, asked a lot of questions. (My mother got nervous when I told her I wanted cross earrings, which I'd seen some of my friends wearing. She was like "uh, we don't do that.") I have never, ever known a Catholic who was anti-sex like that, or who was so sanctimonious about homsexuality. Yes, there are some homophobic RCs but it's more of a cultural, "dude, that's so gay" kind of reaction--a reflexive distaste that's much more the product of toxic masculinity than a sincere parsing of the Holy See position on homosexuality. And yes, Roman Catholics are allowed to practice a form of birth control--the rhythm method. It's horribly inefficient, but they're allowed. I'm wondering if he wasn't actually raised Catholic--the stereotype of the hyper-convert has a lot of validity. (I remember one time at church there were some newcomers to whom I was talking and both of them kept asking if I was a "cradle Episcopalian"--it seemed a big deal to them that I was.) If he converted in his late teens, say, that might explain his...demonstrative (performative, even) brand of Catholicism.

Can we please have one episode that doesn't showcase Julie? Please? The LAST thing I wanted to see was Julie getting it on with her husband. It's annoying enough with 20-somethings but that was bordering on exhibitionism.

I know. It drives me crazy. This is something against which I push back every chance I get (against homophobic self-proclaimed Xtians, that is--I fully understand why gay people and gay allies are distrustful of Xtians--they have every right to be--and I don't take it personally).

THIS! He comes off as an evangelist, not a Catholic at ALL. I've had widespread exposure to Roman Catholics--I've never met any one (certainly not a guy) who was so rigid about sex before marriage and homosexuality. Obviously YMMV but he comes off as afraid of everything and judgemental af.

It's definitely lighter, although not as light as a competition (which doesn't allow gobos and spotlights and fancy lighting arrangements). I think it's a function of how cameras don't see as well as the naked eye.

Dear God, not Austin. Is there anyone who really wants to see that cast again?

Did not know that! Interesting. The melodies are slightly different but the main musical difference is that Luck is in a major key; Baby is in a minor key. They also share similar lyrics--eg., "Luck, let a gentleman see/How nice a dame you can be/I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with/Luck, be a lady with me."

Has it ever been acknowledged on the show that Come On, Be My Baby Tonight--at best--owes a deep debt to Frank Loesser's Luck, Be a Lady Tonight? If Tokyo is getting royalties, the Loesser estate should as well.

I attended to SOI show on Long Island last Sunday--Cain and Leduc were not in it. (So fantastic to see Sinnerman live!)

Looks like I picked a bad day to watch this episode while breakfasting on pain perdu! (Although while trying not to sympathy-puke, I did have to laugh at Production's utter complete willingness to linger the shot on the vomit.) Tokyo is a damn saint. What am I missing? Is there any reason Danny and Jamie in the van on the way back from CdM didn't immediately shut down Julie's BS about "being grabbed"? Didn't immediately tell her "girl, your drunk ass tumbled out of the van onto concrete--that's why your back and your face (her makeup was soooo heavy) look busted"? Has she watched the footage? She's really dicking over Tokyo who was nothing but wonderful to her. Danny's little girl is adorable. I really, really, really wish Julie didn't suck ALL the attention and good will out of every single episode. I was hoping to see more of one of my favorite cities. Just seeing the Mardi Gras beads draped over the newel post at the bottom of the stairway makes me happy. Oh my God--that phone call. Julie is utterly psychotic. How much must she be embarrassing her family? I looked her up--she's married to some kind of well-known doctor, who is teaching at Yale right now. Having kis wife outed on TV and a manipulative psychotic who sells out her friends to "make good television" cannot be good for his academic career. You didn't "take a bullet for the cast," Julie. Watching Danny calmly, thoughtfully put a button on his relationship with Paul was a hundred times more interesting than watching your drunk ass run into trees and puke. I've heard it said that often, people who become famous are stunted emotionally at the age at which that happens. That seems to be true for JuLaRoe.

This makes me hope Ilia nails this jump and sends them all into a complete, spiraling MELTDOWN. God, they suck. The audacity of being "upset" because another skater attempts a jump that's never been done before--as though skaters "own" jumps, as though every other skater isn't out there chasing glory, trying to better the sport and themselves through ever more difficult tricks. I have no doubt Hanyu is thoroughly embarrassed by these psychos. I actually feel bad for him.

Oh my God, Julie is EXHAUSTING. I am already heartily sick of her, and I never particularly disliked her on her various Challenges. But good GOD, woman. She is just so extra. "Are you talking about me?" If she asked that once, she asked it five times. Just calm down. That was completely obnoxious. Veronica was clearly terrified and Julie was an asshole, mocking her for it. For someone so desperate to be liked, she sure does do everything she can to piss people off. If Puck is on anything, I will change the channel. I never want to see him on the TV/computer screen again. An utterly repellant "character." What he put poor dying Pedro through... I agree Chicago was the last good season (at least on a streak--Vegas kind of ruined the show but I did like San Diego and Philadelphia). I gave up on the show for awhile but tried again when they took it to Brooklyn--that had potential but there were so many psychos with anger issues that I finally just stopped watching. Oh my God. Of course Julie is wearing LuLaRoe leggings.

I'm curious--has SJP echoed MPK's and CN's "the people who don't like this season are trans-phobic" crap? I am given to understand that Nixon and Davis are now co-executive producers and as such, have some creative weight and power. But let's be real, SJP is first among equals as the uber-executive producer and her opinion carries more weight. The reason I bring this up is because I wonder if Carrie's obvious dubiousness re: Miranda's torching of her life and marriage (the conversation in the bathroom at the B'nai Mitzvah)--I wonder if SJP insisted on that, if she wanted to push back on Nixon's insistence on this storyline. What has she said about this storyline?

It doesn't cost anything to be polite. I think both the younger sons live very different lifestyles than their father did. I can imagine feeling defensive about hearing your father criticized, and even tweeting about it, but Sondra's immediate response was perfect: "He wasn't in the bed with us." I mean, kid, you hadn't even been born then. Take a seat.