S08.E11: Guess Who's Coming to Friendsgiving

[Pop Tart]

Quote

The holiday season is off to a rocky start when the gang gets together for a Friendsgiving feast; Austen hosts and leaves certain people off the guest list; a newly single Kathryn searches for things to be grateful for; Paige comes to town.

Airdate: 9/1/22

[SuprSuprElevated]

I want it put into Austen's contract, that he cannot utter the word "like" for an entire episode.

I suspect that his colon would explode

******************

Craig:  "I know what I'm doing, I've just never done it before."

They should all program Ask A Nurse onto their phones before taking a bite.  Ooh!  Fun thought:  if Ashley Jacobs would answer the Ask A Nurse inquiry!  lol

*******************

TTW you were 35 years old, and you had to borrow a relative's place to have a party for more than 4 people. 

*******************

I've decided that I'm uncomfortable with and dislike the phrase "love you to death".  Probably because I've just had a bit too much death in my life this summer.  Just don't like it.

Edited September 2, 2022 by SuprSuprElevated

[Emmeline]

I am really enjoying this episode.  I might have PTSD from RHOBH last night and just watching the group make their dishes for the Friendsgiving is just soothing to me tonight. 

Although now I’m craving deep fried Turkey.

Edited September 2, 2022 by Emmeline

[snarts]

I find the amount of latex/pleather worn in Charleston alarming.

I'm with Paige, I can't stand the fakeness. Say hi & keep it moving.

[Babyfoot]

I continue to give zero shits about Austin. 

[SuprSuprElevated]

I think I like Paige.  She seems bright, and not altogether pointless.  We'll see how they evolve her role going forward.

Thinking Craig either needs a long break from social media (that's what marketing interns are for), or stiffen his spine against cancel culture.  He's paranoid.

Kathryn continus to be nothing if not awkward.  Seems they're delivering her script copy 5 minutes before the camera rolls.

Edited September 2, 2022 by SuprSuprElevated

[1011101010001]

I wonder if those were the same nasty meatballs that Kathryn made when she dumped Chleb the first time.

[albarino]

2 hours ago, SuprSuprElevated said:

I think I like Paige.  She seems bright, and not altogether pointless. 

Please keep an open mind.  No need to decide one way or the other right now.  Perhaps you missed her on Summer House?

[Lassus]

2 hours ago, SuprSuprElevated said:

I think I like Paige.  She seems bright, and not altogether pointless.

And yet, she's aligning herself with Kathryn.

There really doesn't seem to be anyone to root for any more.

[IntrovertRed]

Paige is full of herself, but I like her, especially when she's not laying in bed all the time. Seriously though, I do think she and Craig make a good couple. I also don't know how long she's gonna put up with Craig's childish  outbursts. Paige is not one to beat around the bush and can more than handle herself during confrontations and arguments. And Naomi had no idea how to handle her lol. 

Taylor - your "bantor" is Shep being an asshole. Don't cover for him. And if he's on raya and talking to girls, fuck him.

My family loves the meatballs recipe that Kathryn prepared, I personally thinks it's gross but it's quick and easy in the crockpot.

Damn, Austen's aunt's house is amazing!  How much does a house like that go for there?  Millions?

I suspect I'd be wearing summer clothes in that weather. Thanksgiving by me is usually freezing.

And the way the "I don't like that" comment  came out was messed up. Paige was in one spot and then suddenly by the fridge. Come on producers, really.

Maybe I'm a party pooper, but I don't wanna eat Thanksgiving outside in the sun,.hot or cold.

Why does Leva look so different. 

Also?  Now I can't for Thanksgiving and turkey.

[65mickey]

I look at Paige and I hear her voice and I remember the early Bethenny Frankle from RHNY. Personally I think she is channeling Bethenny with that staccoto voice and I don't give a F about these people attitude. And she is hanging with Kathryn so I don't know how bright she is. But I am sure she is not as clever and witty as she thinks she is. 

[TeeMo]

Neither Paige nor Naomie seemed like they could really muster up any enthusiasm for that conversation the producers must have told them to have outside. 
 

Was Craig upset that the girls looked like Pilgrims? I was barely paying attention, heard him yell something about cultural appropriation and looked up to see they had napkins on their heads and I was so confused. 
 

If you’re going to be interminably boring on a show like this you have to be able to contribute something else - good looks, extreme wealth, a cute pet, real estate porn. Austen has none of these things, why is he on this program? His aunt’s house? Really?

[SuprSuprElevated]

9 hours ago, Lassus said:

And yet, she's aligning herself with Kathryn.

I don't make that assumption basd on a scene set up by producers.  I thought that convo was awkwardly arranged.

[TheCouchPotato]

Wow, given the number of replies on this thread, this show may not last much longer. 

They need to switch out all of the men.  None of them add value to the show.

Shep is an a-hole and will die alone. 
Austin has a muppet mouth and I start to crash every time his muppet face comes on the screen. 
Craig is whiny and annoying and I can't tell his voice apart from Paige. 
Whitney is, well, a 50 year old man that lives with his Mom. I know times are tough but that is just sad. 

Bravo needs to change out this cast, and bring back SC New Orleans.  For some reason, that was cancelled and it was one helluva entertaining show. 

[heatherchandler]

13 hours ago, SuprSuprElevated said:

I've decided that I'm uncomfortable with and dislike the phrase "love you to death".  Probably because I've just had a bit too much death in my life this summer.  Just don't like it.

I don't like it either, and his sister seemed to wince at that expression.  It is a weird thing to say since his other sister died.  

3 hours ago, 65mickey said:

I look at Paige and I hear her voice and I remember the early Bethenny Frankle from RHNY. Personally I think she is channeling Bethenny with that staccoto voice and I don't give a F about these people attitude. And she is hanging with Kathryn so I don't know how bright she is. But I am sure she is not as clever and witty as she thinks she is. 

Yes and she really finds herself clever and witty.  She is not, but the brain trust at Bravo put her on not one but TWO tv shows, so I am sure she is thinking that we can't get enough of her.  But I have had enough,

3 hours ago, TeeMo said:

Was Craig upset that the girls looked like Pilgrims? I was barely paying attention, heard him yell something about cultural appropriation and looked up to see they had napkins on their heads and I was so confused. 

I am usually on Craig's side, but that was ridiculous.  I kind of see where he was going with that, people get weird when it comes to that time period.  I think it is ok to think the pilgrims had some big problems, but we can still celebrate thanksgiving and dress like them for fun.  

This show has turned into something... I just watched them all cooking food for half an hour, then we watched them load their plates.  All of them, we watched them ALL put food on their plates.  Then we watched them eating food.  This is not entertainment.

[Thumper]

Paige annoyed me this episode.  I don’t mind her on Summer House, but she came across “too cool” here.  And wayyyyy too invested in Naomie.   Gossiping with Katheryn was a new low.

[JenE4]

12 hours ago, MrBuhBye said:

I wonder if those were the same nasty meatballs that Kathryn made when she dumped Chleb the first time.

They absolutely were! The mystery is solved as to why in the world Kathryn’s “spaghetti and meatballs” was a purplish-brown watery sauce. Now we all have the family recipe of grape jelly, chili sauce, and ketchup; along with Taylor’s canned green beans with canned cream of mushroom soup; and pudding, milk, bananas, and Pepperidge Farms Chess cookies for dessert. Although Craig ran the risk of burning down Austen’s aunt’s home, he seemed to be one of the only people to actually use fresh ingredients in his turkey brine.

So after all that build-up and talking behind each other’s backs, Naomi and Paige just decided we’re both skinny pretty bitches with good fashion sense, so even though we literally just said we’d never be friends—now we’re friends?! Okay, we’ll see how long that lasts… Mainly because I’m sure Craig loved the thought of two women fighting over him, so he’s going to try to rile them up at any opportunity.

[mandymax]

I have to defend Katherine's meatball recipe.  Those were a staple at my house for years on New Year's Eve, and they're actually really good.  And I confess to being curious about the Mello Yello pie.

All the Thanksgiving food looked great, and I liked the outside setup.

Those are about my only "likes" from this episode.  

It used to be that I couldn't wait to watch each episode and wouldn't budge till I'd seen the whole thing.  Now it takes me several hours to get through one, with plenty of pauses to go to menial household chores.  It's a shame.  

Edited September 2, 2022 by mandymax
Edited to add that I've also made that banana pie recipe, and it's AWESOME!

[1011101010001]

2 hours ago, JenE4 said:

They absolutely were! The mystery is solved as to why in the world Kathryn’s “spaghetti and meatballs” was a purplish-brown watery sauce.

On 90 Day Fiance a woman made “stroganoff” by stirring ketchup and mustard in with some chicken.  

2 hours ago, JenE4 said:

and pudding, milk, bananas, and Pepperidge Farms Chess cookies for dessert

I thought banana pudding has Nilla Wafers.  Maybe the store was sold out or it’s some Charleston quirk.

Edited September 2, 2022 by MrBuhBye

[Thumper]

2 hours ago, mandymax said:

I have to defend Katherine's meatball recipe.  Those were a staple at my house for years on New Year's Eve, and they're actually really good.  And I confess to being curious about the Mello Yello pie.

All the Thanksgiving food looked great, and I liked the outside setup.

Those are about my only "likes" from this episode.  

It used to be that I couldn't wait to watch each episode and wouldn't budge till I'd seen the whole thing.  Now it takes me several hours to get through one, with plenty of pauses to go to menial household chores.  It's a shame.  

Yes, I’ve made that meatball dish and they are good!  The combination does sound weird though.  She actually made homemade meatballs.  I just use the frozen ones.  😂

I was impressed that they found room in the oven for all the hot dishes to be warmed up.   I’m too chicken (no pun intended) and lazy to do a deep-fried turkey, but it looked good.

[1011101010001]

There is a version of meatballs with cranberry, sauerkraut, chili sauce, and brown sugar as well.

[SoTheresThat]

Deep frying a turkey is not for the faint of heart, but they are so worth the effort.

Craig's looked like it turned out perfect and he didn't burn anything down, so I have to give him kudos.

Naomie said they were only at Auldbrass for one night.  It seemed like it was a week.

[ProudMary]

Next time I make Banana Pudding, I am definitely using Chessmen cookies instead of Nilla Wafers! That's a great substitution.  I'm kinda kicking myself for not thinking of this before. I'm not a big fan of Nilla Wafers, but Chessmen are delicious. 😋 Recipe:

Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding

[Carolina Girl]

7 hours ago, TheCouchPotato said:

Bravo needs to change out this cast, and bring back SC New Orleans.

Actually, with one or two exceptions, I actually liked the Savannah group as well.  

But yes, this has run its course.  

1 hour ago, SoTheresThat said:

Deep frying a turkey is not for the faint of heart, but they are so worth the effort.

Craig's looked like it turned out perfect and he didn't burn anything down, so I have to give him kudos.

Naomie said they were only at Auldbrass for one night.  It seemed like it was a week.

I tried to explain to someone that you need to put the turkey in an EMPTY pot and then pour oil around it to fill, REMOVE the turkey and put it back in when the oil gets hot.  Since it was one of those know it all guys you come across from time to time, who believe women are useless in the art of cooking once it passes from the kitchen to the outdoors, I had some moments of schadenfreude when I learned he DIDN'T follow my advice, stuck a turkey in a near-full pot, and damn near burned down his backyard.  

[1011101010001]

1 hour ago, Carolina Girl said:

Actually, with one or two exceptions, I actually liked the Savannah group as well.  

But yes, this has run its course.  

I tried to explain to someone that you need to put the turkey in an EMPTY pot and then pour oil around it to fill, REMOVE the turkey and put it back in when the oil gets hot.  Since it was one of those know it all guys you come across from time to time, who believe women are useless in the art of cooking once it passes from the kitchen to the outdoors, I had some moments of schadenfreude when I learned he DIDN'T follow my advice, stuck a turkey in a near-full pot, and damn near burned down his backyard.  

I guess he never got in a full bathtub.

[howiveaddict]

Why wasn't Venita invited?  That seems out and out rude.

[Starlight925]

My Paige-o-meter went down this episode.

The way she dissed the way the Charleston women dress, so she "had" to wear all black, was just rude.  Why not just stay in New York then?  Then the way she said, "I don't like that" in reference to Naomi's dish.  Are you just trying to be hateful?

Her true self is coming out.  Me no likey.

Is there not one gainfully employed young man in the entire city of Charleston?  One guy who goes to a job every day, works, comes home, and enjoys the weekends with his friends?  Craig makes his pillows, which we all know, he wouldn't have were it not for this show.  Shep and his mailbox money, Austen still hawking his show-beer, and Whitney, who's filling in as man-servant.  When Shep yelled at Taylor, saying that she should find an accountant, I was like, yes she should.  Someone with a normal job, who doesn't sleep till noon and toss a wine bottle off a ledge to Craig at someone's house.  That could have been really ugly.

All I kept thinking as they were eating outside was all the work that was.  Taking everything out, down the stairs, to the table, and taking it all back up.  I'm sure production....helped.

Edited September 3, 2022 by Starlight925

[chlban]

22 hours ago, albarino said:

Please keep an open mind.  No need to decide one way or the other right now.  Perhaps you missed her on Summer House?

Did she say to Kathryn "as long as you don't tru to get coffee with him?" I hope she was kidding. 

[Vandy10]

That “aunt’s” house looked bare AF. Either it’s his aunt’s vacation home that doesn’t get lived in 24/7, or it’s an AirBNB that production rented.

[SuprSuprElevated]

12 hours ago, howiveaddict said:

Why wasn't Venita invited?  That seems out and out rude.

Yeah, considering that (like it or not) production controls what these scenes/events look like, one has to wonder what agenda is being pushed here.

[pasdetrois]

Paige is not a Charlestonian. Why is she on this once-great show? We have one carpetbagger (Craig), and that is enough.

I'm not really watching this season much, but I could tell from the get-go that Paige and Craig are not a real couple. Just because they look comfortable on-screen, and Craig repeatedly states how much he likes her, doesn't mean it's real.

Putting anything but Nilla Wafers in banana pudding is blasphemy!

[Starlight925]

I, too, thought it was weird that Venita wasn't invited.  And rude to be excluded, knowing that she was going to find out about it.  She gets singled out & not invited a lot, it seems.

She's mostly Madison's friend, but Madison wasn't invited, so there would be no drama.  So why couldn't Venita be included?  She knows everyone else.  Leva is still hanging around, trying to show us all her lipo, stretch session results, and plastic surgery.  

Why couldn't Venita be there?  She seems a lot more authentic than Leva.  I loved Venita's honesty with Madison's workouts.  Not acting like a workout-it-all, but an honest, OMG, this is massively hard, I can't keep up.  With a smile.

I don't get it.  Venita would have been a nice inclusion.

Edited September 3, 2022 by Starlight925

[Starlight925]

Not a huge Craig fan, but I did understand why he didn't want the napkin-bonnet photos taken.  While it seemed like a silly, in-the-moment fun gesture, there could be offenses taken.  Not to get into a discussion here of any type of nature, but perhaps a Native American could say, wait, we were here long before the Pilgrims showed up.  Craig was trying to be respectful.  Again, not a Craig fan, but I get where he was coming from.

Edited September 3, 2022 by Starlight925

[1011101010001]

14 hours ago, Starlight925 said:

All I kept thinking as they were eating outside was all the work that was.  Taking everything out, down the stairs, to the table, and taking it all back up.

What was the point setting the plates on the table just to collect them in stacks and carry them inside?

20 minutes ago, Starlight925 said:

I, too, thought it was weird that Venita wasn't invited.  And rude to be excluded, knowing that she was going to find out about it.  She gets singled out & not invited a lot, it seems.

She's mostly Madison's friend, but Madison wasn't invited, so there would be no drama.  So why couldn't Venita be included?  She knows everyone else.  Leva is still hanging around, trying to show us all her lipo, stretch session results, and plastic surgery.  

Why couldn't Venita be there?  She seems a lot more authentic than Leva.  I loved Venita's honesty with Madison's workouts.  Not acting like a workout-it-all, but an honest, OMG, this is massively hard, I can't keep up.  With a smile.

I don't get it.  Venita would have been a nice inclusion.

Probably because it was Friendsgiving and she’s not Austen’s friend?   And she’s close to his ex whom he doesn’t want Olivia being friends with either?

[TruffleHog]

On 9/2/2022 at 6:37 AM, TeeMo said:

Was Craig upset that the girls looked like Pilgrims? I was barely paying attention, heard him yell something about cultural appropriation and looked up to see they had napkins on their heads and I was so confused. 

I think that moment underscored for Naomie why she broke up with him in the first place.  She always questioned his intelligence, and as mean as it sounds, I think I am too.

Someone needs to explain cultural appropriation to Craig.  Had they dressed as Native American Indians, he would have a point.  But pilgrims?  Come on, Craig.  

16 hours ago, chlban said:

Did she say to Kathryn "as long as you don't tru to get coffee with him?" I hope she was kidding. 

Paige should check out  the earlier season (2? 3? 4?) when Craig and Kathryn hooked up on the beach.

[Lassus]

On 9/2/2022 at 3:14 PM, Thumper said:

Yes, I’ve made that meatball dish and they are good!

On 9/2/2022 at 3:25 PM, MrBuhBye said:

There is a version of meatballs with cranberry, sauerkraut, chili sauce, and brown sugar as well.

Isn't there already a thread about the insanity of the MCU multiverse? 😬 🙃 😉

[1011101010001]

6 hours ago, TruffleHog said:

Someone needs to explain cultural appropriation to Craig.  Had they dressed as Native American Indians, he would have a point.  But pilgrims?  Come on, Craig.  

I hate to give him the benefit of the doubt but not that long ago in the lower grades they would have half the class dress as pilgrims and half as Native Americans.  Maybe he was trying to stop it before the other half got in costume.

[RedInk]

9 hours ago, Starlight925 said:

Not a huge Craig fan, but I did understand why he didn't want the napkin-bonnet photos taken.  While it seemed like a silly, in-the-moment fun gesture, there could be offenses taken.  Not to get into a discussion here of any type of nature, but perhaps a Native American could say, wait, we were here long before the Pilgrims showed up.  Craig was trying to be respectful.  Again, not a Craig fan, but I get where he was coming from.

But Thanksgiving is a commemoration of the Native Americans and pilgrims working together and having a feast. That's the whole thing. It's not a celebration of European settlers alone. If he were offended about colonization in general, he shouldn't fry up a huge turkey and participate. This was just typical Craig - shaming everyone else by acting superior and smug, and sounding drunk while doing it. Classic asshole Craig. (I don't like Craig 🙃)

Edited September 4, 2022 by RedInk

[Lassus]

16 minutes ago, RedInk said:

shaming everyone else by acting superior

He said like two things over five seconds and never brought it up again.  

[aghst]

I can't believe they had the cast actually cook stuff.

We sure they didn't go to the supermarket deli and then threw that stuff in regular cookware?

They all probably had Thanksgiving dinner with their own families.

This dinner was for show.  And they probably had someone off camera taking care of that turkey.

It would have been funnier if the deep fried turkey wasn't pulled off correctly and they started throwing food at each other.

[heatherchandler]

On 9/2/2022 at 8:47 PM, howiveaddict said:

Why wasn't Venita invited?  That seems out and out rude.

I don’t like Venita but I did feel bad for her again.  It’s a cast party, but they keep intentionally leaving her out.

3 hours ago, MrBuhBye said:

I hate to give him the benefit of the doubt but not that long ago in the lower grades they would have half the class dress as pilgrims and half as Native Americans.  Maybe he was trying to stop it before the other half got in costume.

There are schools that still do this.

The food looked and sounded good, but this show is not about cooking and baking and filling up plates and eating.  Or, it shouldn’t be! Why are we watching this?  I think I have to stop watching this fest of boredom.

[pasdetrois]

19 hours ago, TruffleHog said:

Someone needs to explain cultural appropriation to Craig.  Had they dressed as Native American Indians, he would have a point.  But pilgrims?  Come on, Craig.  

It's not cultural appropriation if the people being targeted are White colonizers. What a dumbass.

[Thumper]

12 hours ago, aghst said:

I can't believe they had the cast actually cook stuff.

We sure they didn't go to the supermarket deli and then threw that stuff in regular cookware?

They all probably had Thanksgiving dinner with their own families.

This dinner was for show.  And they probably had someone off camera taking care of that turkey.

It would have been funnier if the deep fried turkey wasn't pulled off correctly and they started throwing food at each other.

I didn’t catch if the dinner was actually held on Thanksgiving.  My son and his friends have had Friendsgiving celebrations the weekend before Thanksgiving.  So this group could have done both — a Friends and a Family Thanksgiving.

[Toodleoo]

On 9/2/2022 at 11:53 AM, JenE4 said:

canned green beans with canned cream of mushroom soup

This is good shit and I won’t hear otherwise.

Pretty much every recipe they had shows up at nearly ever southern potluck I’ve been to.  Dang. Now I’m hungry. 

[Vivigirl10]

On 9/3/2022 at 9:05 AM, Vandy10 said:

That “aunt’s” house looked bare AF. Either it’s his aunt’s vacation home that doesn’t get lived in 24/7, or it’s an AirBNB that production rented.

Thank you!  Most definitely an AirBNB/Vrbo.  I'm not saying that Austen's Aunt doesn't have a house where they have Thanksgiving but that wasn't it.

Craig should rest assured that napkins on the head is perfectly acceptable since social justice educator to the masses, Leva, was allowing it to go on!

On 9/1/2022 at 9:04 PM, snarts said:

I find the amount of latex/pleather worn in Charleston alarming.

So true!  Speaking of Leva, she apparently dipped her legs in a bowl of melted caramel before going to the party.

I haven't been a Paige hater.  On Summer House, I tolerate her living in her bed and I've always found her pretty level headed, a good friend, and not one to take much BS.  But she's working some schtick here that's dreadfully annoying.  Where is this new, up in your face, "I'm a New Yorker" persona coming from?  She only wears black (as another poster mentioned), in New York this is how we handle things....blah, blah, blah.  Even her NY accent is all amped up.  She doesn't talk like that or pull any of this stupidity when she's around other New Yorkers in Summer House.

And once again, why did Naomi sign up for this?  Naomi could intellectually mop the floor with Paige but here's Paige looking like she's schooling Naomi and Naomi can't even think of a coherent two word response.  Riiiiiight.         

[kristen111]

On 9/2/2022 at 7:37 AM, TeeMo said:

you’re going to be interminably boring on a show like this you have to be able to contribute something else - good looks, extreme wealth, a cute pet, real estate porn. Austen has none of these things, why is he on this program? His aunt’s house? Really?

I never got the fascination with Austin.  They always show him in the bed in the late morning, then onto the pub for a beer.  He looks like a lazy guy who thinks the girls are crazy for him.  He’s not all that.

[kristen111]

Whitney and Naomi?  I don’t believe it.  Just a storyline to save the show.  Reaching.  
 

Sheps pregnant Cousin is boring.  It’s like she’s the only one to ever be pregnant.  They will have lots of help, as they can afford it.

[Rlb8031]

So here is the biggest problem with this show. None of the people who have real things going on (Leva's restaurant, Naomi's clothing business, Craig's pillow business) want to actually show anything related to their businesses, because they are aware that the on screen shenanigans aren't good looks for their business associates. So we get to see the made up, less secure businesses only (Venitia's influencing, Austen's Trop Hop) and otherwise its just a bunch of random people showing up and getting drunk and acting badly. Plus we the viewers don't really get let in on the fact that a lot of the bad behavior (Craig/Kathryn/Shep's tantrums) are all directly related to their drug/alcohol abuse. What does Whitley do, what about Taylor or Olivia? I know Olivia has a walk-in closet that she uses as a confessional with her parents, but does she have a job? Hobbies? Volunteer? Anything???

[aghst]

I think Leva would probably want to show her restaurants more.

Same with Craig, it's free publicity and exposure.

Bravo just doesn't want to give it away because they monetize product placements so they can't give placement on the show for free.

In earlier seasons, JD loved having them film at his restaurants.  That probably helped get some fans of the show to visit his places.

Then he tried to push that Gentry Bourbon, hoping that TV exposure and social media would lead to some big acquisition, which is how money in booze seems to be made, a celebrity comes up with a brand and eventually sells to some spirits conglomerate.

[queta]

11 hours ago, aghst said:

In earlier seasons, JD loved having them film at his restaurants.  That probably helped get some fans of the show to visit his places.

Then he tried to push that Gentry Bourbon, hoping that TV exposure and social media would lead to some big acquisition, which is how money in booze seems to be made, a celebrity comes up with a brand and eventually sells to some spirits conglomerate.

JD? OMG. I was an idiot. I liked him until I found out that he turned out to be a cheater and a sleaze. Too bad. He had a fun, easy-going demeanor, and the fact he wouldn't let Craig run his Gentry division made me happy. Craig was so insufferable about that; he had no experience or qualifications but thought he deserved to be in a corner office. Ugh.