Aethera

I went to a talk with Martin Sheen at the Smithsonian last month, which was all about the West Wing - can't believe I forgot to mention it before now. He was terrific, told a lot of stories we've all heard before, had trouble with names, it was great. Melissa Fitzgerald (Carol) was in the audience, and he had her stand up and explain her work with her veterans group. His favorite scene, apparently, is when Bartlet calls the Butterball hotline. They played a few clips, including that one. Since then, I've been struggling not to submit the Butterball hotline, and a few other WW items, to the KODTTM, because I already submitted the Jackal, and I feel like I should branch out a little, heh. So hard to think of anything besides West Wing moments to submit though. So good.

The editor is dead, I heard. (Long live the editor?)

I loved the chemistry Stockard Channing & Martin Sheen had right from the start of her time on the series. I totally bought them, always. Man, I really have to get in on the re-watch - work has just completely exploded all over me, which is cutting down on my 'sneak Netflix at work' time.

That was very funny. Your sister has great comic timing, Tara!

Predictions: Anna will be pregnant and then the cops will return and it'll add to the angst. A new dog. Obviously more Matthew Goode. Mary has to chase him instead of him chasing her. They will continue to pretend Matthew didn't die in a car accident. I don't know about the Estate Agent guy, but it would be nice for Edith to move on. More Baxter/Mosley stuff, though now Mrs. Hughes and Carson have overshadowed that. Double servant wedding? Something involving Daisy's endless indecision, with the possibilities that occur to me being: Mr. Mason dies, Mrs. Patmore dies, Mrs. Patmore retires, Daisy gets offered a cook position elsewhere. Something, I'm sure. Tom returns with an American wife. If it is the last series, I could see Robert dying.

I couldn't help but think of the show Sisters. And I would have probably put the Sugarbakers up too, for Best. By the way, I think probably the submitter was talking about when you were up visiting for a while, and doing the Face Off (or was it Master Chef Jr at that time?) reports together with them. I thought your family dynamic was adorable too!

I just found last year's on YouTube - and Shirley Temple Black was in it. So there was no reason for her to be in this year's.

I stumbled across QI late last week, which I've always wanted to watch (and didn't realize was on Hulu, thanks for that tip!) and found it quite enjoyable. I didn't recognize any of the comedians, but I laughed quite a bit, and my boyfriend, who is far less of an anglophile than I am, actually walked in from work and sat down to watch with me. I was annoyed when, at the end of a 3 episode J block, I went looking through the next 4 or 5 days, and saw only those 3 episodes airing again a few times. Bring me more variety, BBCA!

That episode was terrific, apart from the Bates nonsense (at least Mrs. Hughes hung a lampshade on it at the end there) and a bit too much Daisy. But otherwise, great. Shrimpy is the absolute best. And yes, the costumers are rocking it this season, especially this episode! I think we saw the best side of a lot of characters, and I was happy with that.

I was a pretty big fan of Moxy Fruvous in college - we know allll about Jian's exploits. Ick Ick Ick.

Debbie Allen is absolutely amazing - that was great work from her in this ep. So glad she's back. She was the one that made me tear up at the end there. So much better than April's mom. And she looks terrific. Maggie is settling in now. That's good. I kind of like that she and Meredith are working out. But didn't Mer look for a Nanny for exactly this reason? And yeah, I don't remember her paying any mind to April and Jackson at all. I know a lot of people don't like Amelia, but I do. I'm glad they just quietly referred to her situation, instead of her making a big thing out of it and a ton of melodrama. I don't love the Amelia/Owen idea but it's better than the Callie/Owen idea. More good, non-annoying Bailey as well. Obviously we knew this episode was going to be like this, and given that, the April/Jackson stuff didn't bother me too much. A bit overdone at points, but I think Sarah Drew, and to a greater extent Jesse Williams gave great performances. I kind of hope we can go back to hospital stories for a bit now, though.

That porcelain doll was terrific, and I'm glad it won. I definitely agree that the bird-spiky thing should have been top looks. I though the demon was ok but not as good as they thought it was. It didn't read well in terms of what they tried to do, so I thought it would get dinged on the paint job, not wind up in top looks. I also liked the torso-faces on the ghost guy, though I didn't like the face-face (heh) nearly as much. I figured that one would be safe though, and the monster would wind up on the bottom, because it just looked less professional than the others. Also glad to see RJ! I'm sorry Regina went home, but that makeup was bad. I don't get why Neville liked the plastic face piece so much. Also, I just noticed her Robot tattoo this week, and it's awesome. Goodbye, adorable robot tattoo :(

Same! Good god. Then I fell down a wikipedia hole and read the even more disturbing Luka Magnotta case.

Oh god. Keep it down, they might hear you!

I just got a flashback so strongly to Stabler's daughter (Kathleen?) disoriented on a playground, and picturing it being so much worse if it's a Benson and a boy. He's accused of rape but says he's innocent, she doesn't quite believe him for a while because he's been distant or smoking dope, fallout for a hundred episodes. I really enjoy Carisi, still love Fin, and of course love Barba, so I'll keep watching. I just wish they'd take a season-long break from Benson's Issues. If Gotham wasn't doing well I'd rooting for Donal Logue to come replace her altogether, but failing that, let's just get some procedural eps for a while, please!

Thank god this show will not be on long enough for us to see a storyline about Noah Benson getting in trouble with the law.

Notes as a watched: When Doom came, it was in the form of a button box, and no one cared. History Lessons with Donk, coming this fall to the Discovery Channel. Introducing Spratt & Denker in Moonlighting 1924. Let's lose important scenes to introduce a character we don't care about! Spent some time shouting at Edith: Tell Mom about the baby! Tell Mom about the baby! Way to go Cora! Glad she told Robert what was what. Hugh Bonneville proves he's a better actor than his character gives him credit for with that hilarious resigned "she has a point" eyebrow action as he gets out of bed. Thomas, you are impossible to pity. Good thing Baxter is a saint. Hilarious that it's Saline. I love Dr. Clarkson. All I seem to want to do is spin-offs this seasons, so let's get the adventures of Dr Clarkson, MD please. If not for Lord Merton, we could have crossovers with my earlier Mrs. Crawley as Miss Marple series. Man, Isis. Clearly we all care most about the dog. I'm only ok with them killing her off if Robert somehow does a riff about ISIS in his prescient way. "Have you heard about this group of terrorists on the news?" Mary vs. Edith. I kind of loved everyone's reactions after she walked out, because I am a terrible person, but yeesh Mary that was ridiculous. OK so I'm obviously sick of the Bateses like everyone else, but I think they did really good stuff in that scene in the cottage when it all came out. I kind of wish she ended it with "and it really wasn't my diaphram it's Mary's put it together you moron". I continue to enjoy Moseley's evolution. I infinitely prefer Nice Supportive Moseley to Sad Sack Moseley. Mary + new haircut + riding hat = Sally Bowles. (OK I see the Willy Wonka thing now but still, I expected her to go like Elsie.) I also see Clockwork Orange. Shut up, Mrs. Drewe. And yet, so right about everything. Edith had all the faces there. There is always something, Violet. And my completely unspoiled guess is that the fact that Isobel didn't tell everyone about the marriage means it might not happen. Now that we've got all the snark out of the way, I've read with interest the thread's extended discussions of Edith and the baby, and Mary being a bitch or not (she is, by the way, though I still enjoy her). But I have a hard time taking this show seriously as I watch it, at this point. Like others I find the writing is often terrible, so I do blame that, but I'm left with what's onscreen so JF beating aside I just try to take it as it is and enjoy it. The Edith situation is not black and white. She has some fault in this entire situation, quite a bit of it, but so do the others. Mary was horrible to her, perhaps too horrible, and Cora was ineffective, as she has been. Mary's conduct I find inexcusable regardless of her knowledge of the situation, but for the rest, I sort of get it. Edith reminds me of a sentiment from a Judy Blume book, (at least I remember it from a Judy Blume book: always sulk with the door open. The "I can't talk about it" then sad look then run away thing is her saying "keep asking me over and over until I tell you my problems! No I can't tell you, but keep asking!" which is an attitude I can't stand, and then you add in the Pamuk letter that really was one of those relationship killer moments for her and Mary, so she gets some of my contempt, but her situation is pitiable, of course, and the reactions to her are so sad, and so she gets a lot of my sympathy. I was particularly struck by a couple of upthread posters who noted that there's nothing at stake for Mary. It's so true! The only thing would be her Romantic Happiness, and it's hard to care abou that when she admits to being such an ice queen. It took ages for her to defrost for Matthew, and so far there hasn't been a challenging suiter to do the same.

The eye roll and tsk Olivia did in response to that Fin line was the most I've liked her in ages. GIF worthy, if I GIF'd things. I enjoyed this episode, even though of course we all knew where it was heading based on the actor. I thought all of the guest stars did very well though, especially Jenna. I liked seeing the team work together, we got a lot of Barba, and Rollins & Amaro didn't annoy me, so I'm happy! One of the better episodes this season, overall.

At the suggestion that Mabel is the murderer, my mind went "Maybe it's Mabel Lane!" to the Maybelline theme. I highly doubt she did it. But that seems meme-able.

I liked the top looks, but other than that, it was a real mess. Emily and Darla do seem like the ones to beat. I really liked Emily's - it looked the most professional, and I thought the shapes were great. It stood out in a good way I thought Darla's was weaker than the judges did, but overall I've really liked her work so far. I do agree that there wasn't much Burton going on here, at all. Definitely weak on whimsy on all fronts - I kept waiting for a bright costume or SOMETHING to jazz things up. I like individual challenges but this did feel early. The presentation went on forever, and I only know about half of their names. Maybe we need to wait a bit on individual challenges. Rob's design with the big floppy hat (that is Rob, right?) was V for Vendetta meets Captain Hook. I like him, so I'm fine with him being safe, but he needs to step up if he wants to avoid going home soon in the Parade of the Older Male Boot-offs they're working on so far.

I don't think Cora is responsible for him coming to her bedroom, in any way. Nothing she said could be interpreted as inviting that, as Bricker clearly seemed to think it was. It was obviously completely inappropriate and a bit nutty for him to do that. I think Cora was using him a bit - his attention to her, in both his flattery of her mind and his professed attraction, made her feel good, and so she was glad to have him around. I was glad she turned him down completely in her room, and I'm sure she never thought it would get that far. What she said and did was not justification for his behavior, but it doesn't sit well with me. I think overall, Cora is being mistreated by the entire family exactly as stated by others, and I hope she does assert herself more in her marriage and her house. I wonder that she hasn't been actively jealous of Mary for kind of supplanting her. Robert definitely used to talk to her more in previous seasons.

I don't think I can top Connect the Dots. Of course I immediately pictured that flashback episode where they found an actress who was SUCH a perfect young Bea.

Dang, Save it For the Car Ride Home was my guess too! I was so happy at the end there. Diff'rent Strokes!

I liked this episode, overall. Which surprised me, but I did. Inappropriate of Stephanie to tell Hunt and Meredith what April's problem. And April is straight-up right to be pissed at her, too. Obviously the case of the week is hitting them over head, but I thought the story developed more naturally than it could have, with both her and Jackson's emotions, recovering from shock, etc. I know people find them melodramatic, but the April/Jackson storyline here fails to annoy me, for once. I too am interested to see where this goes. Oh god shut UP Maggie. How often is she going to do the "oops I didn't know" moment? At least she wasn't in the episode too much. I'm generally a fan of Amelia, but everytime she brags about how great she is, I do want to smack her. I know hubris is necessary to be a surgeon, but shut up. I like when Bailey deals with kids. That was good Bailey this week. Nice moment she and Alex had there too. That Geena Davis cry reminded me of how horrrrible her crying was in A League of Their Own. Worst movie cry ever. That was actually better, despite her frozen face, which makes me think with non-frozen face it would have been fine. Way to learn a bit about how to cry in the last 20 years, Geena Davis. Always odd when Meredith lets her guard down for a sec, like she did with the Nanny. I thought it was ok though. Mostly I'm glad we get a break from Derek being such a giant jerk for 5 minutes. Notes on the Rankled: Yes, James Pickens Jr. could totally be the Cosby in the SVU episode, although I bet they change the race and job of the celebrity when they do it. That's an SVU thing to do. I love you. That's exactly what I thought of.

Add my votes to hating the foil challenge, which I agree was such a waste of materials, and the nonsense gondola episode. I like when they get unprepped materials like an entire fish, and have to work with that. Show their complete skill set. I do wish they drew knives more often to determine things like protein. I don't mind one challenge a season of "cook in a moving train" or whatever as long as it's just once. I feel like lately they've been hitting City Theme more than Creative Challenges, and I miss some of the odd challenges.