Bastet

Wow, I'm clearly a minority here, but I love that Grace's heavy drinking is treated as a bad habit rather than an addiction that needs a very special episode. The only thing I ever saw that indicated a serious problem was when Grace was hiding liquor bottles in her own home (with Frankie, not when she was hiding them in her home with Robert to keep up appearances); she has otherwise consistently been presented simply as someone who drinks too much (and abusing alcohol does not automatically mean being addicted to alcohol). I find it refreshing, since TV likes to trot all its characters down the AA path -- I like seeing characters like Grace and Mom's Adam in the mix. Alcoholism being a prevalent problem does not impede me laughing at things like "The three of us need to start drinking less" and "Okay, check-in - we're not alcoholics, right?"/"No. Well, Mom may be." And Brianna being tempted to sell the company to torture Grace by being dragged to AA meetings by the new woman. I understand why many don't find humor in it, but I'm here for it. (And, yes, I could probably hold my own with Grace in a drinking contest, but she'd ultimately win.) I wonder what the fallout of Brianna selling the company will be. All this talk about it remaining independent is just talk. Grace knowing Frankie mixed up LOL and SOS again was great, as was her "you two deserve each other" after she arrived at City Hall and reminded Frankie and Joan-Margaret that, duh, they just fill out the same work visa forms they did at the firm. Sol turning the theatre fundraiser into a fundraiser for the cancer patient was funny, but obviously Robert hiding the fact he spent $20k of joint funds without telling Sol is going to be a storyline, and I just do not get it - two (retired) divorce attorneys in a community property state keep all their money in joint accounts. O-kay.

I love Grace's reaction to Frankie's two-timing, that she just tells her it's a disaster in the making - on general principle, and because Frankie can't keep anything straight - and walks away, letting that dumpster fire do its thing. I also love both of them dumping her, and I laughed at Jack asking Jacob, "Wanna grab a drink?" as they both walk out, and Jacob's "No!" Grace's "How many do you have?" to Frankie, after wondering aloud who on earth would buy the Mop-a-Doodle, was classic. As was Grace freaking out about Nick selling her bathroom statue. I like that she told Miriam the truth, knowing she won't tell Nick; I love how Grace has never been threatened by Miriam (I loved her "Why would I tell you to fire her?" when Nick said that's why he didn't tell her they'd been married). I guess they're going to wind up on Shark Tank, and Grace will have to tell the whole world (including Nick) the story in order to get it financed.

Grace and Frankie going overboard trying to get Nick to like Jack, thinking that will mean the four of them can hang out all the time is ridiculously immature yet it totally worked. I loved Frankie's "How many times do I have to break up with this guy?" about trying to get rid of Jacob. Him thinking Frankie's dying and the rest thinking he's showed up to try and woo her away from the new guy created a funny backdrop to everything. I liked him, but that relationship ran its course, so I hope they don't go back to that well. I love Brianna telling Mallory "You haven't even met him yet" about Principal Dan and Dan telling Mallory he can't be the first man who's done this to her when she gets mad at him about pretending to like things she likes in order to look good to her. I didn't predict the extent of his refusal to admit he's wrong coming out quite so psychotically, but Brianna's reactions were pretty funny. The reveal of why Robert was important to the dead guy and his family was sweet, and I know we wouldn't have had a "Robert is put on the spot to eulogize someone he can't remember" storyline if she'd done so, but I agree with another poster that in real life, the widow would have simply called him up and say, "You probably don't even remember my husband, but [told him the story, thanked him, and asked him if he'd like to come]."

Oops; I got a phone call last night, and never got around to hitting "Submit Reply" on this post: “Backfire” is a good teamwork episode, and a good example of how Sharon solves problems by making the system work rather than trying to subvert it. I enjoy the way she makes the evidence usable (and won’t let anyone act on it until she does), and how they manipulate the hired killer into giving up the info Judge Grove requires. It’s not a flashy episode, but it’s a good one at showing how her style of leadership and strategizing succeeds. It includes one of my favorite scenes: Everything that transpires after Taylor says, “Chief Johnson could have found a way around [Judge Grove refusing the plea agreement, meaning they can’t use evidence learned through Goss’s statement of facts against him].” Sharon levels her gaze at him, while most awkwardly look away. Then Andy literally has her back, and says, “She would have, but then we would be back in court defending ourselves.” Sharon brings it home, revealing she’s figured out the victim was an FBI informant, but not before telling Taylor about himself, and the only thing I love more than her telling him Brenda would never have reported to him is the smirk on Julio’s face after she says it. The episode is also a prime example of Sharon offering wise words people would do well to heed: "If you hang out with criminals, you are eventually going to become a witness, a suspect, or a victim." The opening setting of this – that they’ve been working overnight, get smacked down in court the next morning, and go right back to the station – is another wonderful example of one of my favorite recurring wardrobe-as-characterization touches: whenever they’re in the office among themselves, the men have, to various degrees, their collars unbuttoned and their ties loosened, with Provenza always the most unfettered. Except Andy – he’s done up just the same in the office as he is in an interrogation or field interview, even when they’ve been working overnight. As always, there’s good humor in this one; I laugh at Julio’s “Yeah, come on in” when Andy knocks on the suspect’s door again and asks if anyone is home. I laugh even more when Mike agrees with Sharon that they don’t have probable cause, irritating Provenza (her response of “Mike’s right, and because I know you hate hearing me go on about the rules, I’m hanging up” is great), to which Mike responds by turning on music Provenza hates and ignoring him. And my favorite is when Sharon calls to say it’s finally a legal go and Provenza answers his phone, “Joe’s Pizza”. On the flip side, it’s the episode in which Rusty as the squad mascot annoys me the most – he is there in the Murder Room during a classified FBI briefing, and later shares information from that briefing with Kris! The parallels between Rusty and Brianna are more pounded into us than I’d prefer, but she’s a sympathetic character in how she buys into the FBI’s promise to protect her if she participates and how she ultimately gets killed because she tries to protect her boyfriend, who turns around and participates in her murder. I never noticed until tonight that Goss winks at Emma in the opening scene. Not a big deal on its own, because it’s more about his attitude than her attractiveness, but as part of the pattern I complained about previously, where Emma’s looks are paid attention to in a way no one else’s are, it annoyed me. Speaking of Emma, I wonder if her confrontation with Judge Grove and Julio offering forgiveness coffee was written to try and get the audience on her side a bit. Duff & co. have admitted the audience hated her more than they intended, and looking at where this episode falls in the season, it may very well have been written when they’d already received feedback on several aired episodes. Whatever the reason, I’m glad they created Judge Grove, because his perpetual crankiness – especially with Rusty, despite being friendly with Sharon – entertains me.

No, it's a "Ratt" problem, the '80s heavy/hair metal band. There's no rap involved, just Ratt's "Round and Round".

I don't like cream cheese, so I wouldn't eat it, but I don't think it sounds gross. Weird? A little.

Since a lot of my favorite actors are in their 60s and 70s, this general thought had crossed my mind, but, wow, that's depressing:

I knew Jessica's version of the seriousness of the relationship was going to be the accurate one, but I did not anticipate the "you fucked the couch" twist. Heh. The shenanigans at Robert and Sol's to keep Jack from recognizing them were fantastic, and I about fell out of bed at Robert's "Ya, mon" when Jack asked him, in trying to place where he'd seen him before, if he was at Reggae Fest 1994. I love how excited Sol was by the toilet. Lovely moment between Grace and Frankie at the end, when Grace - who's been mentioning all day she wants to get home to see Nick - says she's not leaving until Frankie feels okay. They're doing a good job with how Grace's marriage changes their relationship, and with how it doesn't.

Same here! I've seen Michael McKean in many things, but I've watched Clue so many times he will always be Mr. Green to me. "I'm going to go home and sleep with my wife." I dig him with Frankie from the little we've seen - and heard - so far. I did not like the bunny story, but otherwise his big secret was no big deal. I LOL at Frankie telling him Grace had the same experience, and she was going to leave them to talk about it, as her way of trying to get him to repeat it. I understand Grace's thinking with this marketing strategy, but I think people are going to be pretty disappointed when they find out it's a toilet. I like that they keep making products that are difficult to market because they're things people need but don't want to talk about needing. It's funny - we've seen Erica several times before, but it wasn't until this episode that I thought, "Where do I know her from?" (It's the "Reality Check" episode of Major Crimes; she played Colleen Dickerhoof.) She didn't look familiar to me until now. Joan-Margaret's presentation, and Frankie being afraid they were going to get kicked out of their own board meeting, was funny. The "shitter"/"shitta" exchange was priceless.

I love that Robert's recurring nightmare about Frankie moving in is rooted in reality - as soon as he told her about Sol's cancer, she said, "I have to call him. I have to move in." Cassidy being left with fewer and fewer people, and increasingly awkward conversation, culminating in even the dog leaving the patio, was hilarious. But, of course, my favorite was the confessional they set up using the back of a chair. "I'm pretty sure this is blasphemy." Robert telling Frankie Grace said she wished he was dead, but she didn't mean it, nor did Frankie mean it when she wished Sol would get cancer in the groin, was a nice moment, but the whole conversation was great. It's interesting how differently Jessica and Bud describe their relationship, and I have a feeling hers - that it was a casual, brief college thing that wasn't going anywhere, so she ended it - is going to wind up being far more accurate. Which means it will be no issue for Coyote to date her. Which is a shame for me, because she's played by the actor who played Buzz's sister in the only Christmas episode of The Closer I hate, and that's the only thing I've ever seen her in, so I see "Casey" every time she's on screen. Nick and Grace talking about their sex life was well done, and I loved, "My safe word is 'stop'." I liked Mallory manipulating Brianna into giving her assistant a raise and promotion (and an acknowledgment of how much he does for her). I figured from the beginning the cover letter was hers, but I wasn't sure where she was going to go with that and I really like what she wound up doing.

Even though anyone who's ever watched TV knew the Frankie dummy was going to be launched across the room when she activated her prototype toilet, I still howled with laughter when it happened. There are plenty of products already on the market to address this problem, so they should hone in on making higher or lifting toilets in various attractive styles - something that wouldn't look out of place in Nick's bathroom, not something that would look like it was brought in from a nursing home. I love Grace using hydraulic chairs to apologize and say she's on board with this being the company's next product.

I laughed at Nick telling Grace you're supposed to wait until the car ride home to bitch about everyone. I really liked her apologizing to all of them for making assumptions, rather than only apologizing to the one Chelsea for what she said, and pointing out they did the same to her. And I loved Grace's answer to what was Nick supposed to do about his friend's mouth dropping open like an oven door when he introduced her as his wife: Tell him shut your oven door mouth, I'm lucky to have this woman. Family game night was very funny.

I was watching the NFL draft again, so another archive night (meaning another night of thanks to those who maintain the archive). I know soccer isn't as popular in the U.S. as it is in much of the world, but the free kick TS still surprised me, with "kick" spotted by the category. The bears TS surprised me only in that no one even took a guess, but that was it. Good game. I loved the Overlapping Word Combos category! But I only had a so-so game. I missed two clues in the first round, both of them pop culture clues (in the "Stupid" category), so that continues to be a thorn in my side these days. But I missed a variety in DJ:, I didn't know Kepler, two of the Authors clues, two of the "Land 'Ho'" clues (three if you count the one I'm not counting because I couldn't see the picture), and two of the movie villains. Rolls-Royce came to me in decent time as the pair I should be choosing between for FJ, but it was a lucky guess I picked the right one.

"L.A. Phil" is what the Los Angeles Philharmonic started calling itself several years ago. I'm used to it now, but it did bug me for a bit for it to be official (it had always been common to hear it referred to that way, but it wasn't branded that way until semi-recently).

For an episode in which Grace and Frankie were apart until the end, I really liked this one. I'm always in favor of Amy Aquino appearing in one of my shows, and this was no exception. I loved all the similarities between her and Grace, and Frankie getting all jazzed about that, imagining this great new friendship, but Dana was just enjoying what remained of her time on the clock; in the end, it's still just business, and she even gets Frankie's last name wrong. As soon as Miriam said, "Just my son," when Grace asked if she had any kids, I knew she was Keith's mother. All the actors played that awkward dinner perfectly - especially the "I brought bread" and "I'm still working on this roast" son, who is hilariously used to the crazy world in which he has been raised. It was a nice moment when Nick said, "fuck this couch, and the sultan who gave it to me," and a nice agreement not to underestimate each other by assuming how the other will react instead of just being honest and seeing what happens. But as soon as she said, "Actually, Nick," and started to tell him she needed help getting off the toilet, I started mentally clapping my hands, knowing she was going to send him along and call Frankie for help. I love how gleeful Frankie was at being needed. By the end, I was clapping for real and telling my cat, "That's adorable!"

Yikes, just when last season had made me see Nick in a more positive light than when they met and he wouldn't leave her the fuck alone despite her telling him to numerous times, Grace's wedding vow brings me right back to that dynamic. It's not cute. It's not romantic. It's not healthy. Jesus. Very disappointing to see on a show like this. On the flip side, Frankie's reaction was very well played. As was Grace's denial that her being married would change very little about their relationship. And I love the kids having the logical "what the actual fuck?" reaction to the announcement, and that Mallory later apologized to Nick for it. All very in character. Grace and Frankie saying goodnight because Grace was headed off to a separate home, not a separate room, was very sad, but I'm curious to see how the show deals with the changes to come.

I've been in Jen's corner since the first episode of her season, when one of the male chefs, upon finding out she worked at Eric Ripert's new restaurant, assumed she was the sous chef (or the pastry chef, maybe, but I don't think the assumption was down another level like that; I think it was sous). She was, of course the chef de cuisine (and had worked her way up to Ripert's first female saucier, and then became his sous chef, at Le Bernardin before that), but, seeing a woman, her male competitor didn't just ask what her role was, he assumed the limit of what it could be. She handled it directly and gracefully, and then put out fantastic food to come in third or fourth (I can't recall offhand) for the season, with an appealing confidence (tempered by perfectionist insecurity), so I've been down with her as a competitor ever since, regardless of her meltdown in the first All Stars (which I remember happening, but don't remember details of) and her friendship with Mike Isabella (which gives me much more pause, being a sustained thing rather than a single bad experience). I don't actually think we're a small group, but whatever size, reserve me a seat at the liking Jen table.

It was "Baby", not "Babe", and referred to them making room for her tiny self to step forward in place between the two of them. There may be some chatter about her being the "baby" of the house (based on her age and size) that she's making her own, but whatever it was rooted in, it wasn't anything about "hot babe coming through, move".

Yeah, that commercial aired approximately one bazillion times during the three-day Battlestar Galactica marathon on SyFy, and - not remembering that initial commercial - I was initially rather confused as to what this woman who looked like she was being squished to death had to do with pizza delivery. Once I paid attention to the VO, and realized they were pulling footage from past commercials, the context of that shot came back to me. I forget - even as many times as I heard it, since I had the marathon on in the background pretty much 24/7 - what the line is as she's shown, but I think it only truly works if you remember that previous ad campaign. Which I didn't find particularly memorable. I think they'd have done better with a shot that more clearly evokes yummy (not that Little Caesar's will ever evoke yummy from me, having tasted it once many years ago) or funny than this one.

If I was in this QF, I’d have just laughed, headed to the pantry for some wine, and waited for everyone else to finish. I almost never bake, and I hardly ever use flour for anything other than a roux; I have whole wheat flour and AP flour in my pantry, and that’s it. I’d have no idea what the others could and couldn’t be used for. Bryan saying he’s going to win a QF by making an “eh, there’s not much flour in it, but it’s great” dish for a flour challenge was … not too bright. I could not believe his surprised face when he got called out for it. I most wanted to eat Nini’s, but all the top dishes looked great. Hell, even the bottom dishes looked great. Oh my gods, the pronunciation battle between Lee Anne and the Whole Foods employee over “endive” reminded me of that hilarious “No, it’s absolutely pronounced ohn-deeve” commercial. Gregory and Stephanie’s dish looked great, and sounded even better when the judges started talking about how every part of it combined both tastes. Melissa and Kevin’s dish looked and sounded truly fantastic as well. Lee Anne and Malarkey’s dish came together surprisingly well for how they worked together, and must have tasted damn good to be in second place when I thought that would have been Gregory and Stephanie’s slot. I was not all that excited by the description of Eric and Bryan’s; it sounded like a delicious dish, but not one that would wow me with the combination of flavors like the others did. Same with Nini and Karen’s – I’d be thrilled to eat it, but if I was analyzing it in terms of the challenge, I’d have to take points off. I’m sad to see Karen and Nini go; I like both of them – in terms of food, personality, and how they work with others – a lot. And I hate losing two women at once. But it’s the nature of this game that great chefs are going to go home for great food. Just by look and description, I’d have picked Eric and Bryan’s as the least-good of great dishes, but obviously the all-important taste is what I’m missing. I love Karen’s face when Tom announced they’ll compete on LCK right now: I’m fucking tired, I just lost, I don’t want to do this.

Yeah, I'm still watching NFLN out of (recent) habit, but it really isn't the same without Mayock.

"A Disquiet Follows My Soul" was on when J! aired, and then I couldn't even turn away to read the archive until I watched the two mutiny episodes that follow it; once "No Exit" came on, I could finally peel my eyes away from the Battlestar Galactica marathon. And tonight I'll be flipping back and forth between the NFL draft and Top Chef, so I read the archive again during breaks of the draft: I was excited to run the Fictional TV Towns category (even though I only watched two of the shows), since I'd been doing so bad lately with pop culture clues. I'm a bit surprised no one took a guess at the "heartland" state (I picked the right one). My streak was short-lived, though; I only correctly guessed the first one in the Beatles songs category. But I only missed one other clue in the first round and two others in DJ (well, I'm fudging a bit here - since I can't see the pictures, I'm taking the Draw Me category out of play) and got FJ, so otherwise I had a good game. Quite a few TS tonight, but the only other one that mildly surprised me was guru.

I'm going to roast a pork tenderloin tonight, but I'm not sure what the vegetable will be; it's getting to be slim pickings in the crispers and by Monday I'll have to go shopping. I normally do kale or collard greens with pork, but I don't have any of either left. Maybe I'll roast Brussels sprouts. The salad will be pretty basic, again owing to limited ingredients. But when I do venture out to shop every couple of weeks, I'm thankful it's still very easy to get fresh produce here. What bread and pasta is available is a crapshoot, and when I pass by the aisles it seems toilet paper and cleaning products are still being stockpiled, but fresh meat and produce aren't remotely picked over. Right now I'm going to make breakfast (yes, at 1:30 in the afternoon) - an egg white scramble with bacon, asparagus, spinach, and jack cheese.

That's another one where I get a little irritated when the season five writers borrow an early line. When there's a mouse in the office, and she says, "The man should have to kill the mouse!" it just makes me miss the context of the original scene.

I most decidedly don't like the return of Ellen Tigh, but I laugh out loud each time at "How many dead chicks are out there?" And I don't ever want to be this devastated in my anger, but I kind of want a less-traumatizing opportunity to tell someone, "I will use every cannon, every bomb, every bullet, every weapon I have, down to my own eye teeth, to end you. I swear it! I'm coming for all of you!"