mattie0808

True, but there's almost nothing to be done about that. Stan is screwed, period, if/when everyone finds out about the Jennings, however it comes out. Just as Gaad was when everything came out about Martha, and I don't think anyone thought for a second he was aware or involved with anything she did. Phillip may not be happy about that -- I do believe he honestly considers Stan a friend -- but I'd think that's got to be fairly low on P/E's list of priorities (not getting killed, their kids not getting harmed, not being arrested, who knows what else). And telling Pastor Tim they're planning to leave with the kids does nothing to help with the top/existential concerns, only leaves them more vulnerable? Something tells me this isn't a big deal to the writers and we may never hear about it again, but...it's just so very, very weird.

To me, it just doesn't make much sense (and I know you largely agree with that). Once they're gone, of course people will notice, of course Pastor Tim will know (or at least, be in the right universe of reasons as to) why, and yes, maybe the whole truth about them being spies all this time is uncovered. But...if they're already safely back in the USSR, what difference does that make? We've seen that other illegals are found out once they're dead (the guy from the pilot whose son was returned to the Soviet Union, Jared's parents), but...doesn't matter by then. Didn't matter what everyone knew about Martha once she got on that plane. Wouldn't have mattered about Gregory had he chosen to leave. One of the absolute biggest dangers to P/E and their children is that they are found out by any U.S. authorities before they have one foot out the door. Why tip off the one guy who knows the truth and has been, with no small effort on the Jennings' part, made comfortable with how things are? Why dangle the possibility of completley changing the dynamic, and changing it in a way that he could easily interpret as being toward Paige's further detriment? P/E have never shown that they respect Pastor Tim or his opinion, and have never sought his opinion on how to deal with Paige, even when he had much more influence over her than he does now and when he was a much bigger question mark/threat to tell the truth. And that was before they knew he was comparing them to child molestors! Also, the idea that they need someone to tell them that it might, you know, be kind of difficult for their kids to be randomly uprooted to the Soviet Union (with one of the kids learning at the same time that his whole life has been a lie) is beyond belief. I don't think I've been as critical of this season as some here (though, yes, its plot is moving at a snaaaaaaaaaail's pace), but them telling Pastor Tim about the move, unless it's revealed to be for some other purpose, is a bridge too far for me. It's completely nonsensical.

In addition to what was said above about reaching Scientologists rather than convincing the general public, I also think Leah's book took a LOT of wind out of their sails on trying to trash her with everything she ever discussed or admitted to in an auditing session. Particularly with regard to her husband. She literally put the worst parts of her life on the first page, and basically dared the reader and the Church to completly disregard the rest she has to say about herself, her family, and her time in the Church because of her mistakes, imperfections, and past bad choices. Probably helps further that her whole family left with her...she's a brave/tough chick. Her, "Yeah...AND WHAT" attitude is probably the hardest thing for the Church to try to figure out how to deal with.

Maybe. But I think it's a crazy risk to take. What if he feels this is wrong for Paige, and it makes him MORE likely to do or say something he shouldn't? What if he talks to Paige at literally any point after this conversation, and -- even assuming she's been given a heads up of some kind by her parents -- she can't convince of anything other than she's terrified/horrified at having to leave? Wouldn't the move be to get the four Jennings back to Russia without ANYONE in the U.S. know that they're leaving? Especially someone who knows they're spies? Hell, even Gabriel didn't tell P/E until damn near the last possible minute, lol. Yeah, but the Morozovs are somewhat different in terms of the life and death jeopardy they are in...and, P/E don't trust or respect Pastor Tim at all anyway, especially when it comes to him overstepping (from their POV) his bounds in terms of what he thinks about Paige/what should happen to her/how she's treated. They know this is going to SUCK for the kids. I don't see what PT can offer them that would be of any actual help... I'm trying to figure out a way for the promo to be a fake out, especially from Elizabeth's question, which seems very straightforward. Now, PT's answer has less than zero to do with that question, so maybe there's some wiggle room there after all, but there's no mistaking what Elizabeth is asking him...

WHOA. I mean, damn! Didn't see that coming!!! On a separate note, why on earth are P/E having that particular discussion with that particular person at the beginning of the promo?

Not to speak for Gobi (or anyone), but I'm pretty sure all that was meant was that you're not the only attorney on this thread/forum. Not accusing you of lying, just saying that Gobi is also an attorney, since you said, "and I can confidently say that I am the only attorney speaking on the issue of the admissibility of the tape :)"

Huell!!!!! Well, that was certainly a gratifying hour of TV. FUCK YOU, CHUCK!!!

I can never really empathize or sympathize with Chuck on this point, because, at the very least, JIMMY has absolutely loved him. Absolutely loved him at his worst. I think Chuck honestly feels he's simply owed being catered to and taken care of, no matter how onerous a task it may be, so Jimmy's care-taking of him once he went off the deep end with his electricity sensitivity thing doesn't register as anything other than a lesser (all people are lesser to him in his eyes, but especially Jimmy) doing what he owes his better. Or, Chuck was so distracted by always trying to keep Jimmy down or take Jimmy down, he didn't notice that his brother is almost certainly the only person in the world who honestly cares about and for him in any way (Howard's interests are mainly professional and about protecting HHM, IMO). Jimmy clearly loves Chuck no matter how little he gets back from Chuck, no matter how much Chuck is focused on hating and disdaining and destroying him. Chuck would rather be bitter about and triumphant over his brother than in any way acknowledge any good characteristics in Jimmy, but that's his own fault/flaw. Personally, I don't buy this "Mom loved Jimmy best" thing either. I mean, she might well have been delirious in the seconds before she passed. She might have seen/felt that Chuck was there and was simply asking where Jimmy was (so if Chuck had gotten the sandwiches, she would have said "Chuck" instead). There doesn't even need to be a "Mom liked Jimmy better" or "Mom was always worried for Jimmy more" element to the flashback to her death, though those are also fairly straightforward explanations that certainly don't imply that the mother didn't love Chuck or didn't love him as much. If Chuck is the type who gets crazed about not feeling loved because his wife dares finds his brother funny...well, I tend to think that's not because of him experiencing a lack of love over the course of his life. He chooses to be upset about not being likable to the point he'll ruin his brother over it. That is not a good person. I hope this episode truly is the breaking point for Jimmy as far as him trying to be brothers with Chuck, get Chuck's approval, etc., etc. It seemed like it, I hope it sticks.

I wish Jimmy had just beat the absolute living HELL out of Chuck, if he's going to get in trouble for it anyway. I'm not sure I've ever had such a revulsion to a fictional character as I do to Chuck. At the same time, even calling the cops on this, with the witnesses and whatever...Jimmy's gotten himself out of much worse trouble than this, lol. Let's see where this goes. Kim is awesome. Full stop. Poor Ernesto. Francesca! Who knew she was with Saul for so long! Before Saul, even. GUS! Man, Jimmy's a quick thinker (with the watch). And Victor (that's his name, right?)! I was laughing at the end with the gas cap and cell phone. They're on to you, Mike!!!

That was a fun one! If I've ever seen them go to the back (not just JJ's "office"), I've forgotten. Or even if they've just shown anything that happens not during the case itself when people are drug tested, or go to try to find documents, or what have you. The plaintiff in this case was quite the (obviously drug-using) dummy, lol.

Interesting, on both counts... Hmmm... (Thanks!)

Thanks! But what was the difference between a dash and a semi-colon that had Kim thinking so hard? What was the text?

I need to pay more attention, lol. Someone help... -- What was the great punctuation crisis Kim was having between a dash and semi-colon? -- Does Ernesto now know Chuck's got Jimmy on tape? Absolutely still HATE CHUCK.

I can't possibly agree more with the folks who hate the end of A League of Their Own and Andy's jerk of a boyfriend/terrible friends in The Devil Wears Prada. I really enjoy both movies (hell, just flat-out love ALOTO), but those two things are insufferable. I've always thought Dottie dropped the ball on purpose, which is just so lame an ending. And Andy's friends? Come on. It's like she went into the job hating it, or disdaining it -- and heaven forbid she should find anything to like or enjoy about it; that she should react a little bit maturely to a job that, yes, "a million girls would kill for"; that she finds that she's good at it, and is pleased with that about herself; comes up with some grudging respect for her boss from hell who is the CEO of a major company in a zillion-dollar industry; and on and on. That they apparently hated their own jobs doesn't mean Andy is lacking personal integrity for coming around on hers. Aside from the childish keep-away with her phone -- which did happen after she gave them some cool gifts -- the thing I hate the most is Nate telling her oh-so-magnanimously that he wouldn't care if she was stripping (or something like that) as long as she did it with "integrity." Yeah, that's great. She's a straight-out-of-school assistant to a CEO in publishing and she wants to be a writer. Better to be a stripper, I guess? Especially if it means you won't be rewarded for your good work by getting a trip to Paris? Whatever.

That's...weird. But I've never really understood that commercial. Him wailing, "How's a guy supposed to move on?!" Um. If it smells freshly washed or like Gain detergent, should be pretty easy to do so, no? I've never considered the idea that I or anyone I know would smell like laundry detergent -- if anything, that would get rid of most personal smells (like perfume/cologne, lotion, deodorant, etc.)?

I'm with the others who zipped right through Leah's book in just over a day. Very easy read. And fascinating. As soon as I read the first page, I knew it'd be a winner. She (and her family) just continue to impress me by how they absolutely refuse to let the church intimidate, shame, or divide them. Yes, this was a series of huge mistakes by the church -- think about all that time she submitted herself to in Florida being brainwashed and mentally beatdown, all the money she paid for the privilege, and how very long she stayed with the church after the TomKat wedding and her writing up DM. If at any point, maybe from a year before the wedding on, they had made ANY attempt to placate her or smooth things over with her, I think she'd still be in today (even with major reservations). Instead, they created what seems to be the perfect weapon at the perfect time against them. I've also recently read Beyond Belief. I just can't wrap my mind around how parents allow this kind of thing to happen to their children -- where the parents all but abandon them, where the children are doing hard/physical labor six days a week, are not receiving a real education, and are responsible for things they are dangerously unprepared to handle (just the story of Jenna being a seven-year-old medic freaked me the living hell out), and on, and on...there were many, many points while reading that I had to back up and re-figure out exactly how old she was. And she was always, always WAY younger than I thought, and that would make me feel worse for her, and the other kids raised in the Sea Org. Kids/Teens/Young Adults her age often are whiny, petulant, naive, foolish, and much, much worse without being raised in such an insane, neglectful, and abusive way. I'm honestly amazed that she did make it out, without leaving her husband behind, and seems to be relatively normal and happy. It's kind of a miracle. (On a shallow note, her book really reads like a Scientology All Stars hit parade for those who have watched Leah's series and/or have been following Scientology for some time. Hey, her family rooms with the Rinders! There's Claire Headley being nice to her! LOL.)

HELL. YES. I really admire her for doing this and seriously sticking with it. I read her book two weeks ago -- in like, two sittings -- and continue to be struck by the fact that she's able to do this not only as a celebrity, but as someone who has refused to let the church use her past and any transgressions against her. Her family seems to be largely the same way (given what she writes about her husband and parents on the very first page). That can be an incredibly hard thing to do and mean it, especially when you haven't lived anything near a "perfect" or whatever life. I get the feeling it's something that's just in their nature and personalities, but it can't be easy putting yourself out there to this extent against a church you believed in for 30-35 years. Anyway, I'm ready. Bring on Season 2! Go, Leah, Go!

I assume they did the follow up in 2005 since Joel Steinberg was released in 2004. He was sentenced to 8 1/3 to 25 in 1988 (Lisa was killed toward the end of 1987), so he did a long stint, though it wasn't the full max. I do think it's better that L& O fudged their character's release date rather than wait another 10 years for the follow-up, as that was an excellent episode. And the take on the wife in the follow-up pretty much does seem to match up with a widely held POV toward Hedda Naussbaum, at least from what I recall of there being two entrenched camps -- one that she was nearly as much a victim as Lisa and one that she got off easy when she may have gone as far as to participate in Joel's crimes and abuse.

OMG, I'm in the exact same boat. I'm buying a new car this month, and I was looking at a list of different car makes to see what I might be initially interested in, and I had an actual revulsion to Chevy when I got it, lol. And then I told myself I'm being silly to reject an entire car brand out of hand because I find their current commercials INSANELY annoying, and I did go to the website to see what they had in my price range. And then I saw the commercial where the one guy literally drops to his knees and hugs one of the trucks. Chevy's off the list, lolololololol.

This! Also, am I wrong, or weren't the first words out of his mouth -- after clearly seeing the wrong card, looking in the empty envelope, looking off-stage, etc. -- "And the Academy Award for Best Picture goes to..." *before* showing the card to Dunaway, who finished with LLL? And his goofy grinning while everyone was on stage trying to sort through the mistake didn't make any sense to me. Dunaway getting TFO (seriously, where did she go, lol) or Steve Harvey looking embarrassed/like he felt bad for the woman who was about to get her crown snatched make more sense to me as reactions than Beatty's kind of vacant smiling.

I'm all about "YEAH, BITCH! MAGNETS! OH!" Lol It's Aaron's first choice too. ;) (And he got "private domicile" in there!) Hahahaha.

No, the kid in the wheelchair who is the main spokesperson for one version of the commercial for Shriner's is white. He's talking about "every day miracles" (playing the piano, tying your shoes, and they show him playing basketball). But I think all the kids are awesome. There's another one with a young Asian girl who has one hand, and she's a good spokesperson too. The boy in the wheelchair just charms me. Interesting -- I was trying to find the commercial I had in mind, and it seems that kid is famous a bit, I guess he's been doing the ads for a while, though I just noticed them this year. He loves sports and wants to become a sportscaster; he interviewed some NFL Draft prospects when they visited the hospital and he has his own website where he talks sports.

Oh, yes, the Breaking Bad marathon commercials are becoming a tradition unlike any other. I have to admit I didn't know Bjork's version of "It's Oh So Quiet" was a remake of an older, and more awesome, song. Learned that here today. But MAN DID THEY PLAY THAT CANDY CRUSH AD EVERY BREAK. And yes, I'm sorry, but I'm sick to beyond the point of death of the ASPCA and Humane Society, and there's one for a children's hospital that makes me want to slit my wrists. I don't mean to sound heartless, but DAMN guys. There's one charitable ad I loved -- for Shriner's Hospital. The kids are, to me, charming as hell, and there's one young kid in a wheelchair who is probably the best salesman/spokesperson I've seen for anything in awhile, and he's like, 12. They probably shine extra because it's a commercial for a sick/disabled kids charity that doesn't make me want to put my head in an oven, but I genuinely enjoy those and plan to give next month.

I watched the pilot last night. I'm sure I've seen it before (if only because I'm a fan of Roy Thinnes from his One Life to Live days and get a kick out of seeing him in Adam's spot), but boy, I remembered nothing checking it out yesterday. It was a fun watch. It's crazy how young everyone looks! And even in Prescription for Death -- John Spencer! I always get a kick from the really early episodes, and wish they were shown more often, particularly on TNT.

Interesting. I can sorta understand Cuba saying he's protecting his performance and doesn't want it viewed a certain way from his answer, but really, I think he just still doesn't much care whether OJ did or not, and is afraid to plainly say so. I thought Sarah's was a straight "no" -- she's saying she thought he did it at the time when she wasn't informed about the case, and now that she is informed, she still thinks he did it, it's just that playing Marcia gave her a different POV of herself for having an earlier, uninformed, stance? Travolta does seem afraid of giving a straight answer, and oh boy, Sterling's is tiptoeing down conspiracy lane (OJ was "present"?). Courtney, I'd guess, is in Cuba's position of initially not caring because of all the ancillary issues, and not wanting to come out and say that's still how he feels. Choi and Greenwood have no qualms about saying what they think. I'm surprised by Schwimmer, who was trying to go the Travolta route, maybe ("this is how I think the person I played felt"), but felt the need to make clear he definitely has an opinion he won't share...for some reason. Great pics with that article.