Chippings

I recognize that a catfish episode takes some effort on the part of the staff to research the thing, and for them that justifies the story taking up two episodes. But -- an experienced viewer of "Catfish" knows that Nev and Max would have sorted out the main avenues to the truth in the first 20 minutes -- are those photos of the "wife" already up on the internet? (Yes.) Who is that attorney to whom "Husband" has been sending $1,500 a month? You can't just send $1500 to "Michael - Something". Is he registered with the Texas Bar Association? How likely is it that the woman who posed for all those very smiley photos is "too shy" to video-chat" Seriously? It's all so easy to research and as we linger over more photos of the "Husband" walking around &c, I'm waiting for some actual action to solve the thing. From the preview we know they found the woman in the photos -- (Took 58 minutes to get to that..) Interesting, these catfish episodes, but frustrating.

Just re-watching my recording of he One Royal Holiday movie, and wanted to share that when I looked up Aaron Tveit, I learned that a couple of years ago when they did a "live" production of Grease on network TV, with Julianne Hough as Sandy, Aaron Tveit was a 30'ish Danny Zuko! There are a lot of photos of him in that production, going all John Travolta in a black t-shirt. If you want to check it out, it'll help minimize the stuffiness of the early Prince James character. The guy's got some range in acting! Also the Queen has some very hefty Broadway credits. Really, they should all have burst into song for at least one actual number.

I just came away from watching 'One Royal Holiday', and I really did like it. The two leads, from Broadway, were different (thank goodness!), and the script was really kind of witty, especially at the beginning. Mr. Chippings was watching with me for a little, and I wasn't actually embarrassed at what he was seeing. If I was writing a whole review, I'd have to say that the building they showed as the "palace" was really cheesy (and small too). But otherwise, really fairly different and very enjoyable.

Thank you for doing this. I watch these notes every week, hoping for a catfish, and of course I'm usually disappointed. Gives me some hours to put to more productive use each week, though.

My thought when I saw the promos was Oh Lordy they're going to Jump the Shark ! And, they did. The airplane ("Airplane") episode was just embarrassing and it's had to say who behaved worse. Oh, and have we seen Barry's new "rich" girl friend before? Updates besides that girl included Beverly's new wig - and Erika treating Geoff even worse than ever before. Plus, I almost forgot, George Segal's new mustache was very startling. Finally in the second episode I just couldn't look at the 'new' Adam. The makeover was of course the same kid but he just looked too different from the character we've been watching. Bottom line - just not getting it, and they took it one season too far, I think.

All of this. I've revered Jacques D'Amboise from 'Seven Brides' and beyond, and also very much for the work he did with young people, as presented in "He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'" He is such a sunny person, and did so much to share what he loved and knew could be valuable to kids. That said, I've watched 'way more "Catfish" than a person should admit to, and I truly have liked Nev. He's met hundreds of people, many - or most - pretty pitiful and sad, and he seems really kind and empathetic with everybody. I hope he goes quite a ways in this. Mr. D'Amboise would be so pleased.

Oh please help me.. I didn't intend to doze off right at the end of Paris, but I did. Did the couple take the teeny place right in Paris, the larger one outside, or the roomier rental in Paris? Bummer, so cranky when I woke up and it was over. Thank you !

So what in fact was her wonderful answer to the question about why, as a champion of women, she voted against measures guaranteeing women equal pay and protections ?

My favorite from the Senator was when she was asked how, as an accomplished woman herself, she could have voted against bills which protected women or gave them equal pay &c. And (I think knowing time was running down) launched into nostalgia about selling books in the1970s "and there was an article written about my selling books.." (tick tick tick) -- and never answered the question. I am so sick of politicians doing that. They must have seminars on how to do it. (I do remember Al Franken describing to Stephan Colbert how to 'deflect' a question. But she wasn't even good at it.) Argh!

.. No ... Henry Winkler was in Most Wonderful Time of the Year -- the heroine's uncle, a retired cop, who picks up Warren Christie's character in the airport. He had a lot o' attitude, and Christie's character had a lot as well. Good times. (And yes, 'Barry' is really very good.)

I had so liked Warren Christie in Most Wonderful Time of the Year, the Christmas movie that had Henry Winkler in it -- such a lot of great energy &c. So I was interested to see him in The Color of Rain this evening, from 2014. Wow, this is the most pallid, depressing thing I've seen lately. He's just so wan. Admittedly, that's the character's situation, but what a waste of story and of actor. I thought I could stick it out just to see him work, but couldn't do it.

Wow, I guess my 'vapid' was 'way too polite ! Nice scenery, though.

Well, 'Romance in the Air' is nearly over, and it's pretty darn vapid Nobody has the slightest energy .. Mister Chippings just called out to the hero "Go for the brunette!". But, we just had the Love Interest Comes With Flowers, But Sees Lady With Other Suitor trope at 20 minutes after the hour -- it usually comes later. We have been at Tahoe many times, and it's a joy to see it. But otherwise, very dull. Oh, and also I see that both Busby and Coombs were born in the same year, she reads older than he. But the minimal eye liner does help youthify her.

I agree with seacliffsal and others that there simply isn't anybody to like in this bunch, and the "problems" are simply going to be the same as ever. I can't see watching, hoping that something good will evolve. Possibly I'll catch the 'Pillow Talk' to hoot at them, but even in these days of having too much time, I don't have time for these guys. They tried it with dragging on the Family Chantel with the same issues, but now watching Andrrrrei take advantage of his (admittedly hostile) in-laws just doesn't rate as 'entertainment.' Again. Ditto Angela, ditto poor Asuelo, ditto the loathsome Larissa and too-weird Coltee. Nope. Nothing to see here.

Thank you, guys. It was just a moment in the preview, so maybe indeed in the other part. I could always wait til next week - just not mature enough to do that if I don't have to!

In watching the snippets from the forthcoming Tell-All (sic), one bit seemed to be David looking very sad -- near tears, kind of. Does anyone who bravely watched (or even read the summary entirely) recall what that was about? Realize that's certainly a Spoiler, but that's why I'm here.

No mention of Yolanda and Williams ?! The daughter hired a P.I., he found something ?? There must be some resolution, they'd better not overlook it. I do look forward to spending several minutes of my life watching Darcy consider her future. Maybe she's going to remember that she's a strong woman and will try to find the happiness she deserves? Will the words 'Jesse' and 'Tom' pass her lips? Sunday can't come soon enough, can it..

Well if you have anything else to do, it would probably be worth more than watching this. The producer / editor in charge of filling up time had a lot to do with this preview; endless shots of airports - escalators, sidewalks, so much airport. If you're hoping for a hint of what goes down with Geoffrey / Varya / Mary, or David and Lana, it's not happening here. As noted above, substance for Ash/Avery and Usman/BGL, with monologs from Ed and Stephanie. Oh, and out of 22 minutes a whole lot of commercials, which naturally can't be fast-forwarded. Time better spent dusting our knick-knacks.

Poor Lois indeed needs a lot of help, because her blank looks and stumbling replies show how disconnected she is from logic and reason. But that being said, there was a segment toward the end where Dr P kept saying "But don't you see there is no Paul, because the real Paul is here .. there is no Paul". Her question, which she couldn't quite get out and he intentionally ignored, was "But I was having communication with somebody - Human fingers were typing the messages.. There was an actual person. It isn't the people you showed me, but who were they?" Sadly, whereas Nev and Max on Catfish can follow the numbers and find the overweight girl who was bullied in high school &c &c and confront her, these scammers are behind a thicker veil. Hard as Dr P may have tried, he's never yet gotten into a Nigerian boiler-room to find the specific people who were scamming his people. But he could have, at that moment, acknowledged that she was in fact having communication with an actual person, whom she is going to have to give up. The poignant thing in segment 1 or 2 was when a couple of times when Lois said "I'm just so lonely". I feel so sorry for her, and some of the earlier victims who - before their appearances - could look forward every day to communicating with somebody who called them 'Baby' and said 'You are my world' etc .. even if they were reading it from a script. And after their appearances, they would be alone again. In Lois' case, though, she evidently did attend church, where she met the one fiance', and there are always actual people at church and useful things to be doing. (Well, maybe not this month but usually.) I'm not sure if Lois can be reconnected with reality a hundred percent, but hopefully a therapist (not interfering with her work) can help her sort it out.

I keep wondering about David, he keeps saying "They don't know her like I do, we talked for seven years". But he never says what she ever said that convinces him that he 'knows' her. When I correspond with people, I'll eventually mention what I have been doing, or what I've been interested in, and the people around me. What did she tell him, ever, about anything? Except the candy store . that. If he "knows" her, what does he know? ? It can't have all been emojis and 'You look pretty today' and 'I miss you Baby' -- can it? The story is completely bizarre and he's mad as a hatter, but the story has this empty center, too.

He was, but the girl (and I've only seen House 1) is insufferable. Quel brat. We shall see. .. Show ended. Didn't change my mind much. She's not much for listening to anybody else's opinions. Lovely apartment, though.

It's obvious that the whole Yolanda thing indeed is only worth a very few segments. I remember they started talking about a "reverse image search" two episodes ago or maybe more. I thought that on 'Catfish' Nev and Max would have done a reverse image search before the second commercial and we'd know what the deal is in the first half hour. (Ref: the Couples page where people in fact did that weeks ago. D'oh.) But TLC has taken infinitely more time than this thing is worth, teasing a single phrase over weeks. ("His account was hacked..") They must be working overtime to make this seem like a story with actual events in it, 'cuz it is not.

Is some of it over in the 'Couples' area?? (Say 'Yes' !)

This one pleases me hugely, because (1) my fave House Hunters International episodes are always the UK, and (2) I've been infatuated with Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen since he was on Changing Spaces decades ago. Like David B, he's rather in love with himself, but he's so charming it's fine with me. Enjoyed seeing Newcastle and Plymouth, too. I hope this continues to be on every Friday. (And where exactly does he shop for his suits? The black with fuchsia polka dots are kind of hard to find.)

Funny thing about the timing is that the lead on the show summary is "Tom and Darcey prepare to meet". Oddly, when they were already shown in the previews meeting at the restaurant table.