S05.E04: Homeschool Sweet Homeschool

[Harvey]

Quote

With Anna-Kat and Franklin home with mono, Katie seizes the opportunity to use them as the backdrop for her mommy vlog. And when Taylor’s first college paper comes back with an A, Greg questions her TA’s intentions. Meanwhile, Cooper helps Oliver renovate the basement.

Air date: 2020, November 25.

[ams1001]

Those kids look rather, uh, not sick.

Um...pretty sure you don't use epi-pens in the heart. Or before the person is actually showing signs of needing it.

When I was in college, you still lost points on a paper for bad spelling and grammar (especially if it's so bad that spell check is "no match" for you). I guess that's not a thing anymore?

The TA was pretty cute.

Cooper falling back into the couch when Katie pulled the pillow away maybe made me laugh harder than it should have.

[readster]

Yeah, Ana-Kat and Franklin are not being portrayed as kids with mono. If they had mono they be stuck in bed and feel like someone ran over them. By week two they be more set up as looking normal, but would feel rather tired half the time. I had a couple of friends who had it, one was because someone dared someone to kiss them at a party on a dare. Then one of them gave it to their boyfriend. They were stuck in their rooms for almost a week. I also had an old girlfriend and three of her co-workers caught it because someone had it and ended up double dipping a cup in punch at a staff party. She was stuck at home for almost 4 days and when we did see each other, her mom joked with me with: "Must be a bitch you can't touch or kiss her right now!" 

Did like the principal actually calling Katie on her crap (also a nod to parents who do this with kids in remote learning). Though I did like that Cooper is getting reality checks realizing he can act all "rich and stuff" but in the long run. His parents are going to string him out getting any of his inheritance/trust fund until they die because they can. Oliver still is on his: "But rich is great!" reality, which now just got hit over his head it really isn't.

[ams1001]

21 minutes ago, readster said:

Yeah, Ana-Kat and Franklin are not being portrayed as kids with mono. If they had mono they be stuck in bed and feel like someone ran over them. By week two they be more set up as looking normal, but would feel rather tired half the time. I had a couple of friends who had it, one was because someone dared someone to kiss them at a party on a dare. Then one of them gave it to their boyfriend. They were stuck in their rooms for almost a week. I also had an old girlfriend and three of her co-workers caught it because someone had it and ended up double dipping a cup in punch at a staff party. She was stuck at home for almost 4 days and when we did see each other, her mom joked with me with: "Must be a bitch you can't touch or kiss her right now!" 

I had a friend who had it and was out of school long enough for them to send her a tutor for a little bit to make sure she didn't fall behind, but she said she slept a lot otherwise.

[Harvey]

It's frustrating that Anna-Kat is so heavily featured in every episode of this season, since the new actress just sucks. I want to get used to her, but she is completely awful.  Most of the time she says a line, you can see that she is pretending.

[readster]

5 hours ago, Harvey said:

It's frustrating that Anna-Kat is so heavily featured in every episode of this season, since the new actress just sucks. I want to get used to her, but she is completely awful.  Most of the time she says a line, you can see that she is pretending.

This episode was really trying to have her BE "old Anna-Kat". From the voice, lines, ect. The show is just trying to beat us over the head: "Just like her, dammit!" 

[iMonrey]

I'd be interested to know how they are handling filming this season. Someone mentioned this a couple episodes back, but there do seem to be certain scenes that are shot with each actor separately then edited together to make it look like they're in the same room. One in particular this episode really caught my attention, the way it cut back and forth between Katie and Greg. You never saw their faces in the same shot. But then there are other scenes where they are clearly in the same room together. I don't get it.

I knew that viral blowup of Katie's was going to get posted. You could see that gag coming from a mile away. I would have enjoyed hearing her entire rant though.

[readster]

4 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

I'd be interested to know how they are handling filming this season. Someone mentioned this a couple episodes back, but there do seem to be certain scenes that are shot with each actor separately then edited together to make it look like they're in the same room. One in particular this episode really caught my attention, the way it cut back and forth between Katie and Greg. You never saw their faces in the same shot. But then there are other scenes where they are clearly in the same room together. I don't get it.

I knew that viral blowup of Katie's was going to get posted. You could see that gag coming from a mile away. I would have enjoyed hearing her entire rant though.

That's true and just like with Doloris ALWAYS on a facetime call. You can tell where Katie and Greg just aren't standing that close together. Plus, despite things same went for Lonnie and the fact he has been missing the last 3 episodes (no lost there) but he was probably at least 12 feet when he was in the premiere. 

[CrazyDog]

As frustrating as Katie can be, I love how good she is for Cooper. He's really become one of my favorite characters, along with Greg.

The basement redo cracked me up, along with the construction guys just hanging in the kitchen. And Greg saying he'd use the sauna.

I like Franklin but the storyline about mono isn't working. Did enjoy the rant getting posted though, as obvious as it was. 

Are they introducing the TA as a new love interest for Taylor? Not super appropriate but he is cute. I like Tripp but they've been portraying him as so dim that I wonder how he functions on his own. It would be interesting to see Taylor with someone who is academic.

[Harvey]

2 hours ago, CrazyDog said:

 It would be interesting to see Taylor with someone who is academic.

That would be just like Katie falling for Greg during her own college days. Same scenario. Like when Oliver was dating Gina Tascadero (?) from Norwalk and Katie made the joke how Oliver fell for her own mother. If they go down that route, then I love how the show creates these parallel lines between the lives of the parents and their children. That sort of thing happens in real life too.

[Kiddvideo]

Minority, I guess, but I like new Anna-Kat so much better. I almost quit watching bc of the old one. Now if they’d replace Taylor or revamp her whiny-ass character... The TA was cute.

I’m really tired of listening to them complain about money. Stop having the second breakfast for starters. And a mommy vlog? No. This is not 2008. Half of the online Mommies already “keep it real” while the other half are the perfect Mommies who make you feel badly about yourself. It’s been done to death.

The best parts were Greg going total douchebag to get signatures and Cooper turning over his credit cards. Both realized how they were limiting their futures.

[readster]

4 hours ago, Kiddvideo said:

 

I’m really tired of listening to them complain about money. Stop having the second breakfast for starters. And a mommy vlog? No. This is not 2008. Half of the online Mommies already “keep it real” while the other half are the perfect Mommies who make you feel badly about yourself. It’s been done to death.

 

Especially when Doris isn't even in the same town anymore. Honestly, Katie is waisting money, but what else is new? Plus, here Cooper basically turns the basement into a man cave. But if everyone things the house needs to be renovated, then have Cooper pay for it and be done with it. I get very tired of TV shows that have characters hit us over the head that they are strapped for cash. Then do these constant stupid things like go through it on outings. Plus, I like the show finally explained that Greg used his position to get Taylor into college, since the "actual" season finale was to reveal that Taylor got into college and then dropped it because her parents wouldn't be able to afford it. Here it was: "Well, yeah, let's just say we just made it easy to keep the characters on the show and damn you COVID-19! but it doesn't exisit in this world, even if we act like it does, because you know, mono." 

[Yeah No]

It's getting annoying that so many people say the house needs to be renovated.  Are they just doing that to prime us for Oliver making the whole place over?  Or just to keep pressing the point that they're not rich in a town full of rich people?  Because I think the place looks nice for a middle class house.  In fact it has some features a lot of middle class people would think are out of their reach.  I feel like this is just another case of where the show is a little out of touch with what it means to be middle class.  And I don't know how I'd feel if they started to upgrade the place.

[floridamom]

Wait.....a basement renovation? I thought the Ottos were RENTING that house in Connecticut. Did they obtain the permission of their landlord to renovate the basement? (I haven't watched the whole episode yet...as I continually fall asleep.)

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, floridamom said:

Wait.....a basement renovation? I thought the Ottos were RENTING that house in Connecticut. Did they obtain the permission of their landlord to renovate the basement? (I haven't watched the whole episode yet...as I continually fall asleep.)

Good point, I was thinking that too, but perhaps most of the changes were easily un-doable - I really didn't notice if they were.  I've been watching some apartment renovations that are specifically un-doable for renters.  But it brings up how this show is grasping so hard to make the cast stay in a bubble because of the pandemic that it's taking liberties with continuity.  I'm beginning to wish they had actually written the pandemic into the script because all of this stuff is not looking plausible or just not somehow as entertaining as they attempt to retrofit some of the changes into the show.

[readster]

12 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Good point, I was thinking that too, but perhaps most of the changes were easily un-doable - I really didn't notice if they were.  I've been watching some apartment renovations that are specifically un-doable for renters.  But it brings up how this show is grasping so hard to make the cast stay in a bubble because of the pandemic that it's taking liberties with continuity.  I'm beginning to wish they had actually written the pandemic into the script because all of this stuff is not looking plausible or just not somehow as entertaining as they attempt to retrofit some of the changes into the show.

Honestly, outside a few points and people from season 1, must of that stuff has been forgotten. Plus, honestly the owner of the house really had the place really nice. I do agree with others, I wish people would shut up about the house looks like "crap" because they don't have service people, heated floors/driveways and think there should be people at their becken call. I mean it's like how the point was Cooper got the point that he can get what he wants, but then one day he is going to end up like Second Breakfast dumbass and be pushing 50 and still have his parents treat him as: "If you really, really want your money, then do things a 5 year old has to do." I mean how MANY times has it been beaten over the head to Oliver about being "rich" isn't going to be my life the most awesomeness things like ever. I mean when he was talking to the waiter he should have been like Cooper going: "Wait, you do this crap and your parents still aren't give you your money? Why? Do they think they are going to live forever?"

[theatremouse]

There looked to be a full kitchen down there. Small, but nice. Not easily undoable.

[readster]

18 minutes ago, theatremouse said:

There looked to be a full kitchen down there. Small, but nice. Not easily undoable.

Plus, Greg talked about the sauna, at this point, just have it where the house has a full finished basement. If anything shows they put work int the house to have greater resale. Hell, you could even add new jokes when people come over going: "Why do your bedrooms and basement looks awesome and the rest of the house looks so... regular?"

Edited November 27, 2020 by readster
greater not gretter.

[ams1001]

 

5 hours ago, floridamom said:

Wait.....a basement renovation? I thought the Ottos were RENTING that house in Connecticut. Did they obtain the permission of their landlord to renovate the basement? (I haven't watched the whole episode yet...as I continually fall asleep.)

lol...I was going to say the same thing. I'm assuming they didn't get permission because Katie and Greg didn't know about it until it was just about finished (so...they soundproofed it but somehow they didn't hear them putting in the soundproofing?) And I don't see a landlord giving a minor who is presumably not on the lease permission to do anything.

[iMonrey]

Quote

Especially when Doris isn't even in the same town anymore.

Wait, have they said Doris moved away? In the season premier she was just away on vacation (with her pool boy). I haven't heard them explain recently why she isn't present, I just assumed she was still on vacation.

[theatremouse]

That's my understanding. She's on a voluntary trip.

[readster]

16 minutes ago, theatremouse said:

That's my understanding. She's on a voluntary trip.

Which last episode put in she doesn't know when she will be back. Which translates to: "When COVID is over, the actress will be more than happy to interact with people again."

[floridamom]

I don't think this program represents the American housewife very well. Katie (the character) is fat and out of shape, terribly, is lazy, doesn't really like her kids, except a little bit with Ana Kat; and constantly yells. She also disrespects her very nice husband. I am tired of the yelling and hating. 

 

[readster]

3 hours ago, floridamom said:

I don't think this program represents the American housewife very well. Katie (the character) is fat and out of shape, terribly, is lazy, doesn't really like her kids, except a little bit with Ana Kat; and constantly yells. She also disrespects her very nice husband. I am tired of the yelling and hating. 

 

Plus, she is always looking for an excuse to piss someone off. Her deleting both Franklin and Anna's assignments because she saw it as a waste of time for herself. Not, the kids who also knew they had to do it and also were fine doing it. Then again, we are suppose to think that Greg, for all his expertise, working his ass off to support the family and everything. Everyone thinks he is a joke, give him jobs just because they find him annoying. That all his kids think he is wasting his time with his green earth to the point all three of them and Katie tell Greg it's a scam and to just let the planet burn. It's gotten as old as Katie always trying to convince Oliver he is gay. No wonder Oliver keeps thinking his family is fake and he is from some rich family that abandon him. I wouldn't want to be associated with them either. 

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

Oliver isn't gay, he's just bisexual,lol. 

[Kip Hackman]

On 11/26/2020 at 4:11 AM, Harvey said:

It's frustrating that Anna-Kat is so heavily featured in every episode of this season

I think she's clearly featured less than Julia Butters was. And she's tied to the hip with Franklin in nearly all of her scenes. It's like they've replaced Anna-Kat with Anna-Kat/Franklin.

[Yeah No]

14 hours ago, readster said:

Plus, she is always looking for an excuse to piss someone off. Her deleting both Franklin and Anna's assignments because she saw it as a waste of time for herself. Not, the kids who also knew they had to do it and also were fine doing it. Then again, we are suppose to think that Greg, for all his expertise, working his ass off to support the family and everything. Everyone thinks he is a joke, give him jobs just because they find him annoying. That all his kids think he is wasting his time with his green earth to the point all three of them and Katie tell Greg it's a scam and to just let the planet burn. It's gotten as old as Katie always trying to convince Oliver he is gay. No wonder Oliver keeps thinking his family is fake and he is from some rich family that abandon him. I wouldn't want to be associated with them either. 

Man, you just nutshelled everything that bugs me about this show.  And yet, because there is so little on TV these days that I like I guess I've lowered my standards a bit.  It's really bugging me that they make Greg look like such a buffoon.  They are getting close to jumping the shark if they continue to make him this ridiculous.  And I've already complained about how tired the Oliver/Gay thing is.

22 minutes ago, Kip Hackman said:

I think she's clearly featured less than Julia Butters was. And she's tied to the hip with Franklin in nearly all of her scenes. It's like they've replaced Anna-Kat with Anna-Kat/Franklin.

I don't know I'm feeling like she's actually featured MORE, but as you say, always with Franklin.  It's like they're trying to hide her behind him so maybe we don't notice how little she's really like the original Anna Kat.

[readster]

12 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Man, you just nutshelled everything that bugs me about this show.  And yet, because there is so little on TV these days that I like I guess I've lowered my standards a bit.  It's really bugging me that they make Greg look like such a buffoon.  They are getting close to jumping the shark if they continue to make him this ridiculous.  And I've already complained about how tired the Oliver/Gay thing is.

 

 

Right, even the first couple of episodes paint Greg as stupid, not someone who worked so hard to not only get tenure, but also so he could have more opportunities to write and be recognized. Yet, as proved with Lonnie, his superiors just think he is a joke. Hell, even some of the things the town wants to do with the areas Greg wants "preserve" make even less sense. "Well, it's there and who cares, we need money in the town." I want to go: "Why? Half of your town is always basking how rich they are and everyone else sucks." Plus, even Katie perfectly pointed it out: "Greg, you can save everything even if someone famous peed there at one point." With Greg, at one point has he gone too far in his green quest? Or when Oliver or Katie basically bully and belittle him Greg never goes: "Well, fuck you! I'm so sorry maybe I want to try and keep the planet going and stop thinking it's the 1950s where it doesn't matter if we blow up nukes just to see what happens." 

[chediavolo]

On 11/27/2020 at 7:06 AM, floridamom said:

Wait.....a basement renovation? I thought the Ottos were RENTING that house in Connecticut. Did they obtain the permission of their landlord to renovate the basement? (I haven't watched the whole episode yet...as I continually fall asleep.)

Yes!! The landlord is in for a big surprise and so are they !!

[readster]

On 1/6/2021 at 4:15 PM, chediavolo said:

Yes!! The landlord is in for a big surprise and so are they !!

At this point, I think that is no longer acknowledged. 

[SnarkySheep]

On 11/26/2020 at 4:11 AM, Harvey said:

It's frustrating that Anna-Kat is so heavily featured in every episode of this season, since the new actress just sucks. I want to get used to her, but she is completely awful.  Most of the time she says a line, you can see that she is pretending.

I don't think she's awful, but she just plain isn't Anna Kat, as we have known her thus far. She doesn't look a thing like her, but more importantly doesn't act like her at all. This kid gives off popular girl vibes and that was never Anna Kat.

[Yeah No]

3 hours ago, SnarkySheep said:

I don't think she's awful, but she just plain isn't Anna Kat, as we have known her thus far. She doesn't look a thing like her, but more importantly doesn't act like her at all. This kid gives off popular girl vibes and that was never Anna Kat.

You just put into words something that I've been feeling about her all season so far but I couldn't put my finger on it.  That's exactly what bothers me about her.

[Neiman]

I’m loving this new Anna Kat. Wouldn’t mind if they gave Franklin and his cult mom references a break.  Also wouldn’t mind giving Taylor a break too. 
 

This Mommy vlog is a dumb idea. Was hoping that would be a one and done storyline. 
 

All the MacBook Pros being featured on the show don’t seem to mesh with their poor people storyline.

Sometimes watching Katie is like watching a modern, wealthier  Roseanne.