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New FOX crime procedural for Fall 2015.  Will be airing on Wednesdays @ 8pm, as the lead-in for Empire.
(And, no relation to Pretty Little Liars, which is set in Rosewood, Pennsylvania.)

 

Official Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhhYJXV508A

 

Inside Look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51pwgRDyKUM
 

Official Description (FOX press release):

Meet the Beethoven of private pathologists…From executive producer Todd Harthan (“Psych,” “Dominion”), ROSEWOOD is the story of DR. BEAUMONT ROSEWOOD, JR. (Morris Chestnut, “Nurse Jackie,” “The Best Man” franchise), the most brilliant private pathologist in Miami. Using his wildly sophisticated autopsy lab, he performs for-hire autopsies to uncover clues that the Miami PD can’t see. His new partner-in-crime is Detective VILLA (Jaina Lee Ortiz, “The After”), a Miami PD detective with attitude and demons to spare. While she’s impressed by Rosewood’s incredible abilities, his constant optimism is more annoying than it is infectious. But somehow, week-to-week, this unlikely tag team will solve many crimes together. Joining Rosewood in his practice are his sister and “toxicology queen,” PIPPY (Gabrielle Dennis, “The Game”); and DNA specialist TARA MILLY IZIKOFF aka TMI (Anna Konkle, “Man Seeking Woman,” “Betas”), who is Pippy’s fiancée. Plagued with his own set of medical ailments, Rosewood sees that every moment of life should be embraced and lived to the fullest. And those moments of victims’ lives that will never be are what drive him the most.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Temple Hill
WRITER: Todd Harthan
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Todd Harthan, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Richard Shepard
DIRECTOR: Richard Shepard
CAST: Morris Chestnut as Beaumont Rosewood, Jr., Jaina Lee Ortiz as Det. Villa, Gabrielle Dennis as Pippy, Anna Konkle as TMI, Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Bella

 

 

  • Love 1
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That was awful.

Allow me to elaborate.

-Can a doctor lose his or her license for threatening a person with Botox?

-He's in pretty good shape for a guy constantly on the verge of death.

-Why does he have a billboard?

Edited by revbfc
  • Love 6
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-Can I doctor lose his or her license for threatening a person with Botox?

 

Only if you're Mr. 'perfect' Rosewood.  See how 'unconventional' he is.

 

-Why does he have a billboard?

 

Same as above.

 

-He's in pretty good shape for a guy constantly on the verge of death.

 

Oh the plot convenient condition, I see FOX is still trying to rip off House.

 

I've seen lots of paint by numbers procedurals (even this season so far), but this hands down the laziest.

Edited by Free
  • Love 6
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now all I can think is, 'we don't have Backstrom, but we have this?'

 

Please don't remind me!  No Backstrom, an actual police procedural with a very entertaining ensemble and a charismatic lead actor, but a USA-lite, breezy Quincy "update" and a move to Miami? And, of course, a business-minded man.

 

I did enjoy how matter-of-factly Rosie's sister and S.O. were treated. I also appreciated that both were very good at what they do. I liked the sister-in-law-to-be "distracting" Mama Rosewood and how Rosie's sis tattled to mom. I want to know more about those characters. Not so sure about our leads after the force-feeding of backstory we got.

 

When I heard the victim's name, Nora Gracen, I immediately thought, " Damn! Profit did it!" *g* Because I'm old and I enjoyed that other FOX show. Strangely, I also immediately head-cannoned that it was a niece or daughter, obviously not the OG Nora. Aaaand that's where I'll leave that. :D

 

I don't think this is going to make me leave Arrow, but if Arrow makes me leave Arrow, I might wander back. It was a breezy enough way to pass an hour before Empire.

  • Love 1
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The show is still on the air in my time zone and I'm trying to be supportive. However, I can't get past the name of this show and it being set in Florida. Rosewood was an actual city in FL which in the early 1920s was the site of one of the most horrific episodes of "racial cleansing" in American history. An entire predominantly African American community was destroyed by racial hatred-based mob violence. Then for decades the state of FL officially conspired to pretend like the massacre never happened. Even if I give the producers of this show the benefit of the doubt and regard the show and the Black main character's name as some kind of homage, it's still unsettling to me.

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The show is still on the air in my time zone and I'm trying to be supportive. However, I can't get past the name of this show and it being set in Florida. Rosewood was an actual city in FL which in the early 1920s was the site of one of the most horrific episodes of "racial cleansing" in American history. An entire predominantly African American community was destroyed by racial hatred-based mob violence. Then for decades the state of FL officially conspired to pretend like the massacre never happened. Even if I give the producers of this show the benefit of the doubt and regard the show and the Black main character's name as some kind of homage, it's still unsettling to me.

 

Now this sounds like a more interesting show if someone wanted to tackle this story properly.

  • Love 2
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Now this sounds like a more interesting show if someone wanted to tackle this story properly.

 

A movie was made about that massacre; and yeah, that's what I first associate "Rosewood" with.

Edited by Trini
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My wife wanted to watch this so she DVR'd it. Wow, that was awful. I didn't like House and I don't like House as a freelance pathologist. (What is that anyway?) The main character is exactly the type that I find incredibly annoying. If my wife wants to continue to watch this I think I'll find something else to do.

  • Love 3
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I... didn't hate it. I had no expectations at all for this show. Maybe it was the rush of endorphins from extended Morris Chesnut exposure,  but I actually thought it was ok.  Like its lead, it was breezy, didn't take itself too seriously and at times was kinda charming. I really liked Villa and I loved the Mom (both the character and the actress). I thought it was adorable how the mom doted on the sister's fiance. 

 

The mystery, as weak as it was, was actually no where near the worst MOW I've seen so far this week, and its only Wednesday. I would watch it again. 

 

But now all I can think is, 'we don't have Backstrom, but we have this?'

Can't agree. Hated Backstrom (the show and the character). I sat through it for about five episodes because I loved the cast. Couldn't stand the vile, hateful things on that show. Rosewood has its flaws, but in my book, its a substantial upgrade. 

Edited by mandigirl
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I refuse to believe that Anthony Michael Hall has gotten old.

I thought that was him.

 

I thought I'd like it when it started, but it isn't holding my attention. I'll give it another try, though.

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I love the casting but the writing is horrible. I mean, two people of color as the leads? A powerful, competent, kickass woman being one of them? And the supporting characters are a couple of lesbians in a sexy and committed relationship? And Lorraine Touissant is the mother/mother-in-law and loves the female partner of her daughter and treats the relationship well? It will kill me not to watch it!

 

On the other hand, the dialogue was mostly execrable. It alternated between being stilted and cutesy, often being both at once. The "banter" between the two leads was embarrassingly bad. And I didn't really LIKE either of them. He should have submitted a report to her, with clear and concisely outlined evidence, instead of following her around dropping hints and actin like he thought he was Prince Smarmy. She's busy, he needs to get to the point and not just dangle "I know something you don't know!!" like he thinks that's seductive or something. And she needed to be interested, not dismissive, and them both having "a painful secret" was... I don't know how to say this and not seem like a callous bitch, but honestly, it felt like stupid bullshit.

 

They could, theoretically, make something of the premise. But they need writers who aren't tweens taking their very first class in composition.

 

Please fix the writing! The show has the potential to be a great mix of character and action and family and cheestastic eyecandy. But not if every time the leads are the focus I want to roll my eyes or leave the room.

 

I did not know about the real Rosewood story. That is both interesting and disturbing. I can't imagine they would not have known, but at the same time I can't imagine why if they knew they thought it was a good idea to appropriate the name.

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I'm going to begin in the shallow end of the pool ... Morris Chestnut - where did he come from?  I checked his imdb page and haven't watched anything else he's ever been on.  That's a fine man!  I do think it's funny though that Lorraine is only 9 years older than he is and is playing his mother. 

 

Now onto more serious matters ... I had no idea about the story about Rosewood either.  That sounds horrifying.

 

I also liked how "normal" the ladies' relationship was treated.  Nothing special, just two people getting married.  The rest of the show was hit and miss for me.  I will tune in again next week as I can usually give pilot episodes some leeway unless they really offend/bore/scare me.

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I love the casting but the writing is horrible.

 

That about sums it up.

 

On the other hand, the dialogue was mostly execrable. It alternated between being stilted and cutesy, often being both at once. The "banter" between the two leads was embarrassingly bad. And I didn't really LIKE either of them. He should have submitted a report to her, with clear and concisely outlined evidence, instead of following her around dropping hints and actin like he thought he was Prince Smarmy. She's busy, he needs to get to the point and not just dangle "I know something you don't know!!" like he thinks that's seductive or something. And she needed to be interested, not dismissive, and them both having "a painful secret" was... I don't know how to say this and not seem like a callous bitch, but honestly, it felt like stupid bullshit.

 

Probably one of the most cringeworthy banter from the school of tryhardness.  He really does need to get to the point, especially if they're going to try and do this every episode.

  • Love 1
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Popped back in to heap a little more derision:

 

That part where the autopsy on the girl is about to begin and it's all "Thunderbirds are go!" with some lights coming up and other lights going down, and dry ice and lasers, and "Comm-check:  OK!  All systems online, Captain Nemo!"  I nearly shit myself laughing.  Not in a good way, neither.

  • Love 5
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That was really awful. I've given most pilots a shot this season but couldn't get past the first ten minutes of this. But I am so over this brand of show. The better then everyone else and knows it and oh so quirky about it blah blah blah.

Edited by Chaos Theory
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I refuse to believe that Anthony Michael Hall has gotten old.

Duckie sure looked better than Farmer Ted this week on NCIS.. Anyway Anthony Michael Hall isn't listed on IMDB or any of the promos. Is he being replaced by Herc, Domenick Lombardozzi, for the main body of the series? I don't see it coming back after FOX breaks for baseball

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The show is still on the air in my time zone and I'm trying to be supportive. However, I can't get past the name of this show and it being set in Florida. Rosewood was an actual city in FL which in the early 1920s was the site of one of the most horrific episodes of "racial cleansing" in American history. An entire predominantly African American community was destroyed by racial hatred-based mob violence. Then for decades the state of FL officially conspired to pretend like the massacre never happened. Even if I give the producers of this show the benefit of the doubt and regard the show and the Black main character's name as some kind of homage, it's still unsettling to me.

 

I've seen the film Rosewood, and wondered about that. It is on the creepy side.

 

Loved the characters, hated the case.

 

Maybe I just miss my favorite (cancelled) series so much, but I think they swiped or inverted a few themes and situations from Forever. Forever is the way to do this sort of series. I recall: 

 

There's a tough female cop with a Hispanic name, mourning the recent loss of her husband, who died in an exceedingly mundane way.

 

The main character is a pathologist/medical examiner who is obsessed with death for personal reasons. He ends up "consulting" regularly on police cases.

 

Rosewood's life situation is a reversal of Henry's. Henry cannot die and Rosewood could drop dead any second.

 

The great Lorraine Toussaint. (Love how her character interacts with her daughter-in-law.)

 

Problem is, there's just too much of this "genius consults with the police" stuff out there. I'll give it another week or two to see if the writing improves, and try to think that the writers loved Forever enough to rip off some of its themes. 

  • Love 2
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I love the casting but the writing is horrible. I mean, two people of color as the leads? A powerful, competent, kickass woman being one of them? And the supporting characters are a couple of lesbians in a sexy and committed relationship? And Lorraine Touissant is the mother/mother-in-law and loves the female partner of her daughter and treats the relationship well? It will kill me not to watch it!

 

I thought the casting was excellent for the supporting characters. I loved the sister and soon to be sister-in-law. I just adore Lorraine Touissant. However, I just didn't care for Rosewood and the Cop. I hated that she was a thuggish type cop instead of a professional. Seeing her throw things and rough up people did not impress me. If those scenes had been revised, I think I might have liked her more. Rosewood just didn't impress me. I thought the show would be good because of Morris Chestnut, but he was actually my least favorite character. I think the intent was gritty and slightly dark underneath the suave player exterior, but I think the character came across as pretty shallow. The suave, socially adept Rosewood seemed more like an Eddie Haskell than a truly charismatic character.

  • Love 1
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I'm such a quitter. Barely made it past the opening scene with Rosewood's smugly loud proclamations to the cops about why the jumper was a suicide and, "You can let the escort go." Was I supposed to be charmed and/or impressed by that? Showboating ass, if you ask me.

 

You are the weakest link. Goodbye!

  • Love 3
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I'm such a quitter. Barely made it past the opening scene with Rosewood's smugly loud proclamations to the cops about why the jumper was a suicide and, "You can let the escort go." Was I supposed to be charmed and/or impressed by that? Showboating ass, if you ask me.

You are the weakest link. Goodbye!

 

There was more of that in the rest of the episode and most likely the rest of the series.

 

I wasn't going to watch this anyway, but I'm sorry to hear it was so bad. I assumed it would be run-of-the-mill, not terrible.

 

In a way, it is run of the mill, the laziest I've seen thus far of the many shows that have tried to do this.  It's just that everything is done so badly that it comes off as a laughable caricature of these types of shows.

  • Love 1
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I thought the casting was excellent for the supporting characters. I loved the sister and soon to be sister-in-law. I just adore Lorraine Touissant. However, I just didn't care for Rosewood and the Cop. I hated that she was a thuggish type cop instead of a professional. Seeing her throw things and rough up people did not impress me. If those scenes had been revised, I think I might have liked her more.

I think the problems with Rosewood and the cop are the writing, not the casting, though. The actors could probably do something else, if the characters were written differently. Neither character has ethics to be proud of, and if I thought the show was going to make that an issue, I might think it had potential. But it looks from the tone of things like they think it's cute, not problematic.

 

I really want this to be an example of dud pilot pf show that rapidly improves with subsequent episodes, but I don't know if there's a real reason to hope for that.

Edited by possibilities
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I really want this to be an example of dud pilot pf show that rapidly improves with subsequent episodes, but I don't know if there's a real reason to hope for that.

 

Yeah, I will stick around a few more episodes to see if maybe it was just 'pilot blues' or something. I agree with those that find the cast to be good - I really liked Rosie's interactions with his sister and mother (yes, I know that it's ridiculous to think that LT and MC are mother and son, but I've been mistaken for my youngest sister's mother more than once, and I'm only 11 years older than her), and Morris Chestnut deserves a shot. I just hope it gets better. Quickly.

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This felt like "Bones and Castle met at a bar in South Beach, and... had a baby show ten months later."  (And, maybe Forever joined in the fun as well?)
 
Possibilities' post above summed up a number of issues I had with the Pilot, including some others, since I was only half-paying attention.
 
Random Observations:

  • I didn't care for having another youngest detective in the NYPD. (What's next a "Doogie Howser, P.D."?)
  • Or, the issue of a detective transferring from one major metropolitan police department to another. Better options would have been to have her been (1) in the Miami-Dade police, but joined the FBI, and then moved back to Miami-Dade for some reason; (2) semi-retired, e.g. as a stay-at-home wife/mother since her husband had money or had a high-paying job; or (3) just made her a private investigator.
  • The open-style pathology lab looked more like a temporary set, then an every-episode set.
  • Not to mention that the lab area looked to be completely open, and to another floor. (I hope they have good ventilation.)
  • And, then performing an autopsy in street clothes, without scrubs or a mask? A defense lawyer would have a field day with that one.
  • I wasn't paying too close attention at the end, but the boat "search" sequence didn't seem all that legal.

 

I assume that they partially re-wrote the murder-of-the-week to incorporate Mama Rosewood's character, but I would have preferred that the plot to bring Rosewood together with Detective Villa could have been a lot stronger. E.g., more personal to one of the characters, like the detective's dead partner, and/or the detective being very dedicated and not being satisfied with the "rush job" autopsy done by the county medical examiner's office.
 
I didn't mind the billboard thing, because I'm sure that expert witness fees can easily be in the hundreds of dollars per hour and there tends to be a few "superstar" experts, especially in television land. Though, the number of permanent billboards would probably be excessively expensive in real-life.

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Horatio Caine would be so pissed that his lab was being questioned.

As for them not knowing about the real Rosewood, extremely unlikely for a variety of reasons including that John Singelton who gave Morris his first movie directed Rosewood.

Edited by biakbiak
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Why, whatever are you speaking of, @biakbiak?

 

IRiK3lD.jpg

 

;)

I will admit the only reason I tuned in is because I love police & forensic procedurals, and the Miami setting means you get more colorful, sunny scenery and a cast that wears more than a drab gray suit. So many NYC/Chicago/DC shows are dark. moody and shot in gray/blue filters. So yes, I watched CSI: Miami, and yes, my standards are pretty low. However, the writing needs to get a LOT better before I commit to this one. Most of all I hated the "smart guy never takes no for an answer but the smart woman is rebuffed and told to get lost when using the same tactics on him." Not cool show. And because I HAVE watched so many other procedurals, I needed a much better explanation of the role of a private pathologist beyond that the Miami PD staff was busy. And why no one at his lab washes their hands, wears scrubs or pulls their hair back when hovering over a body. Not to mention the poor dead woman being examined in such an open-air fashion.

 

And speaking of busy -  that story timeline? Oy. Mama Chestnut said she paid to transfer Nora's body to her son's lab, and that the girl died YESTERDAY. Really? The super-busy Miami medical examiner had already autopsied her and gotten a full tox screen back in less than 24 hours? Really? And the family was OK with their loved one's body being shipped across town for a second opinion?

 

I will watch another episode or two because I know the creators feel they have to cram a lot in the pilot to get picked up. I wish we hadn't found out about both of the big secrets in the first episode - doesn't leave much to figure out later, you know? But if each episode starts with shirtless Morris jogging, I can live with that. I'm easy like that.

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In a way, it is run of the mill, the laziest I've seen thus far of the many shows that have tried to do this.  It's just that everything is done so badly that it comes off as a laughable caricature of these types of shows.

Yes, I was a little disappointed. Morris Chestnut was as fine as ever, but the writing wasn't good. I'm hoping that's because it was the pilot--I'll give it a few more episodes to settle down. Some TV pilots are amazing (Sleepy Hollow, Castle, Veronica Mars), and others don't knock it out the park but get better as the show goes along (I can't think of any good examples).

 

And was I supposed to like Rosie? Because I didn't. At all. I think he was meant to be a charming, know-it-all smart-ass, but he came across only as an ass.  Like other posters, I got  Castle and Forever vibes from the pilot (I've never seen Bones), but on Castle, Richard is a smart-ass but is also funny and clever and charming. On Forever, Henry Morgan was a know-it-all, but he was also caring and compassionate. So far I'm annoyed by Rosie more than anything else.

 

--And he is full of shit. Jaundiced eyes (yellow eyes) can be caused by dozens of medical conditions. Most of the conditions involve the liver, the gallbladder, and yes, sometimes the pancreas, but there is no way to know that by looking at a guy's dead body without CT scans, blood work, etc. Give me a break. So much of the medicine was wrong, wrong, wrong. I wanted to punch Rosie in his smug, grinning face. And who performs an autopsy then walks around town wearing the same clothes? Dead bodies stink (and are potentially toxic). Internal organs stink (and potentially carry disease). Where is the medical consultant for this show????????

 

I'm going to begin in the shallow end of the pool ... Morris Chestnut - where did he come from?  I checked his imdb page and haven't watched anything else he's ever been on.  That's a fine man!  I do think it's funny though that Lorraine is only 9 years older than he is and is playing his mother.

You are missing out, my friend.  If you want to look at something pretty, that is. Morris Chestnut has been acting for a while. Boyz N The Hood, Best Man, Best Man Holiday, and Breakin All the Rules, to name a few-- I really liked him in those. Unfortunately, movies with black cast members are often labeled "Black movies," making people think the movies are only for black people. I detest that term because these movies are romantic comedies, comedies, and dramas, but because black people are in them, many in the media and Hollywood market them as only being for a black audience. Trust me, they are not.

 

--I agree with you about LT being too young to play his mother. I was doing the math in my head. Morris Chestnut is 46. LT doesn't look 66. I couldn't even fanwank that she was a teenaged mom and is 61 or 62

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You are missing out, my friend.  If you want to look at something pretty, that is. Morris Chestnut has been acting for a while. Boyz N The Hood, Best Man, Best Man Holiday, and Breakin All the Rules, to name a few-- I really liked him in those. Unfortunately, movies with black cast members are often labeled "Black movies," making people think the movies are only for black people. I detest that term because these movies are romantic comedies, comedies, and dramas, but because black people are in them, many in the media and Hollywood market them as only being for a black audience. Trust me, they are not.

 

 

Until recently I'd never heard the term "Black movies" - being educated daily.  I will have to check out some of these - thanks for the suggestions.  I am known for checking out actor's other works after seeing them in something I like.

 

As someone who has worked in a medical environment (a blood/sample lab), I can attest to changing clothes ASAP when leaving work.  If I had the misfortune of having to go somewhere after work I always brought a change of clothes with me.  In fact, at one point I had a "work wardrobe" that only was worn for work.  There's something gross about wearing the same clothes from this kind of work environment to socialize in.

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And was I supposed to like Rosie? Because I didn't. At all. I think he was meant to be a charming, know-it-all smart-ass, but he came across only as an ass.  Like other posters, I got  Castle and Forever vibes from the pilot (I've never seen Bones), but on Castle, Richard is a smart-ass but is also funny and clever and charming. On Forever, Henry Morgan was a know-it-all, but he was also caring and compassionate. So far I'm annoyed by Rosie more than anything else.

 

Definitely, Rosewood feels way more try hard and it shows, whereas both Castle and Forever showed more redeeming qualities, even Bones.  Look how unorthodox he is, look how charming he is, etc.  The show is trying way too hard trying to sell us this character that we've seen a billion times done better in other shows.

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I want to like it.  Really I do.  I mean, Morris Chestnut, running bare chested on the beach.  Lorraine Toussaint who is simply everything.  What's not to like? Did I have to see the first episode to understand why he is able to walk up to a severed foot and determine that this is a man who spent his early childhood in poverty and cold climates which explains the burns on his leg from sitting too close to a fireplace but has since made good because his pedicure clearly indicates that things got better?   Uh.  What?

 

And because I didn't catch the Pilot, I kept thinking I'd misheard when Lorraine would call Morris son.  Initially I thought I'd stumbled upon some ultra progressive Fran Drescher type shit where the exes watch movies together and get a kick out of meeting each other new boos.  Then it made me mad.   I don't even care how old she is in real life, there is no universe that exists along the time-space continuum in which Lorraine Toussaint is Morris Chestnut's mother.   I hate that.  He played a character in his last film who was supposed to be 35 years old.   Look, I love me some he can have my entire paycheck piece of man just like the next chick but stop it with this Hollywood.  He looks amazing and delicious and that's about two of the rare things I appreciate about a grown ass man, but he does not look 35.   And even if he did, they'd need to do a better job with make up, because Lorraine doesn't look old enough to have a 35 year old son.

 

Morris? Lorraine?  I can't knock the hustle cause everybody's gotta eat, but ya'll are better than this here.

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