Thylacine

I don't think he was there. I didn't realize it during the episode, which probably speaks to how little I see him adding to the group dynamic. He lacks chemistry with everyone. Maybe he would have had chemistry with the tater tot?

If wanting that tater tot to become a recurring character is wrong, I do not want to be right. Any episode following Mr. Squirrels had a high hill to climb. This episode's blend of absurdity and the show's recurring "growing up" theme was a good follow-up, I thought. But seriously, cut out the school room scenes unless school is required. They couldn't just have Riley and Maya reading that story at home for English class instead of continuing to turn Cory into the only teacher any of these kids have?

Remember when Banana Republic style was a complement on this show (season 1 prize of a BR mentorship, season 2 challenge to design a BR look)? Now it's apparently an insult, unlike bra-exposing tent monstrosities and scrubs-wear. This show becomes curiouser and curiouser.

I came to the forum mainly because of that picture. I'm relieved that we didn't get a full shot of the entire picture, but I'm still scarred and horrified by what we did see of the underwear and the skin and the OMG MY EYES. I'd say that picture alone makes Kail the worst of this Teen Mom bunch, but see (a) Janelle, and (b) Isaac being a seemingly great little kid.

I thought one of the main takeaways from the episode was, "Wait for the moment down the road when Tony gets his comeuppance, for lo, it will be GOOD." And it will be since he is such a knucklehead who thinks he's great at strategy but is so very not great. Also, for a season that has had 3 idols in play from Day 1, there has been nearly no talk (shown on TV) about idols. Are players become blasé about idols after seeing them for XX number of seasons?

The theme this week might as well have been officially called "We Give Up" because moving the band from the side of the stage ot the center of the stage being the theme? Weakest of the weak sauce. Do the 70s, do bluegrass, DO SOMETHING to encourage these kids to break out of their familiar zones that the "themes" constantly encourage them to stay inside. I think even that giant gummy bear had something in its contract about constantly cutting to it. We saw more of J Lo and the gummy bear than we did of all the first hour's performers. Great endnotes from Sarah, as ever, but talking about Ryan's feet as flippers really slayed me. Well played.

Before I could even figure out how bad a person it made me to be laughing at the bacon slap that's clearly a sign of large, sad, non-funny issues, the Teen Mom animation staff had a cartoon bacon slap take us to commercial. I haven't stopped laughing yet to resume figuring out how bad a person that makes me.

This seems generally true of everyone now (though particularly Alex since he did so great this week). I think part of the problem is this season's lack of real weekly themes ("Pick a song that was in a movie, no matter how tangentially!" or "Pick any song and say it reminds you of home!") isn't forcing people into interesting choices or vocal challenges. Big band, disco, even birth year songs? Challenges! I never thought I'd miss the hokey themes.