S08.E20: All Things Being Equal

[voiceover]

Gloria, Claire, Haley, Alex, Lily, Luke and Manny show support for gender equality and the women's movement in their own ways; Jay and Phil butt heads over their parking attendant; Cam feels jealous when Pam prefers Mitchell's help with the baby.

[voiceover]

Because I am a whore for such things, I laughed all the way through the opener.  That intercut interview was cheap but hilarious.

[NUguy514]

SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP forever, Cameron.  Jesus Christ.  With a side of SHUTUP, Jay, who was a bigger asshole than usual this episode.

[Nalan]

Of course Joey would steal Gloria's car.  Should've seen that coming.  But she even had me fooled.  Still, I liked that all of the main female characters were in the same storyline together.

Luke actually gets a girl interested in him, and then ditches every possibility with her when she declares her intention to stick with her celibacy.  Go figure.

Jay definitely needed to shut up more than once.  So Joan talked a lot.  I think she proved to be very relatable to the motorists and was absolutely the right person for the job.  Phil made the right hire.

Cam definitely needed to chill out, but really, Pam should've just said she didn't want to interrupt his work since I assume she knew that he was making costumes for that musical.

Mitchell's reactions to Pam's "uncle" nicknames for him made me titter.  "Uncle Secret Touch" and "Uncle Sneaky Feeler?"  Ha!

But where was Joe?  He was the only main character absent this week.  With everyone else doing something, what was he doing?  Being babysat somewhere?

Decent episode.

[partofme]

I really liked this episode.  One of the best of the season.  Phil's plot was great.  And I loved  the women power theme in this episode.

[luna1122]

I thought it was a lot of fun, and almost the whole cast being on was good to see as well. Neicy Nash's character would have driven me a little crazy (I work with a woman a lot like her, and she just.never.shuts.up), and Jay had a point about her slowing down the line and losing a customer or two, but her also ultimately being good at her job was fun. I also laughed at Haley's sexual confusion over the hot tough chick fixing their car (pre-theft). I don't remember many specific lines now, but my honey and I laughed a lot. I thought it was a really good episode.

[PaulaO]

I hate Pam and love Cam.  And Niecy Nash.  She is the perfect character to interact with Phil .  I was hoping Hailey was going to declare herself a lesbian.

[Traveller519]

Haley gravitating towards Joey played so incredibly well with Alex's look at her. I loved that it didn't require a snarky comment from Alex, but both Haley and the audience knew exactly where it was going "What? She's so confident."

Niecy Nash is looking fantastic! I loved her characterization here. The Sass and Brass we've seen from her in the past was certainly dialed down a bit, and she was instantly magnetic. I hope we continue to see her pop up more. I'm disappointed we lost out on Kevin Hart the neighbour stories with his career blowing up. Always great to get some more excellent characters for our crew, and especially Phil to play with.

[DrSpaceman73]

I really don't like Pam and hate the idea she is going to be around more. 

Didn't really care for the Female car subplot.  I have a hard time believe Gloria or, even more so, Claire, being raised by Jay in basically a sort of surrogate boy role, couldn't change a tire.  And that whole scene seemed way too much like a signal of a sitcom that is out of ideas. 

I did like Jay talking about his afternoon nap and not having time for his morning snack, that being why he was mad. 

[ChipBach]

I guess I'm in the minority.  I hated this episode.  Not because it felt forced due to today's political climate, but because all the characters basically reverted to cartoon-ish and predictable stereotypes.  

The "girls" were completely helpless with a fairly simple flat tire.  Not only that, their trans-formative moment was the great pride in turning a nut.  Of course the only women that could help had to be some hard edged criminal tomboy.  I thought Gloria's shirt would have come off as fairly offensive at a women's rights rally - and Alex's shirt looks like it was printed in 1978. 

They had an opportunity to put a heart in Luke, instead they threw away any possible enlightenment he may have had by pursuing a female that he truly seemed to connect with only to leave when he couldn't get in her pants.  Manny, who we are to believe is also socially active and "enlightened" is obviously using the "cause" to hit on chicks...  So they both come of as a low life misogynists. 

 I am tired of the boys.  They continue to enable so many gay stereotypes already it could gag a maggot.  The sister seems like a cheap ripoff of "Dougie" from "Life in Pieces".

Phil and Jay were OK, a little predictable.  Again, the premise that fallen keys would have stupefied Jay just made his character dumb.  How hard would it have been for Jay to hold up a set of keys to find their owner?  There were twenty sets of keys.  Jay ran a huge business.  He couldn't figure it out?  An why would Nicey come back?  Why would you want her back?  She had traffic backed up while she chatted up drivers.  Reminded me of the grocery clerk on her cell phone.  All I could think was how rude she was toward those people trying to park.

Other than that, the episode was awesome!  ;-)

Edited May 4, 2017 by ChipBach

[mojito]

Quote

 I don't remember many specific lines now, but my honey and I laughed a lot. I thought it was a really good episode.

"What? She was awesome. It's confusing."

"Park it next to the Honda, and flesh out your antagonist."

"An old squash injury." "You played squash?" "No, I grew the heaviest one in the county."

They need to send Manny and Luke off to college. And teach the actress who plays Lily how to emote. I've always thought she was awful.

[seacliffsal]

I did not like this episode.  Five women stand around not knowing how to change a tire, but don't want to call AAA because it's all about empowerment?  Ridiculous, and not in a funny sitcom way.  Pam needs to go back to the farm.  I wonder if they're leading up to Cam and Mitch adopting her baby, but I just don't care.  And Jay should never have gone into a business with Phil as Jay does not see Phil as anything close to an equal.  Oh, Manny and Luke?  Just no.  Send all of the kids away to college.  Maybe they could join up with Zoey (blackish) and join her spinoff...

[Utpe]

46 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

I did not like this episode.  Five women stand around not knowing how to change a tire, but don't want to call AAA because it's all about empowerment?  Ridiculous, and not in a funny sitcom way.

Exactly.  The whole misogyny/feminism/social justice warrior aspect of the episode killed the funniness factor for me.  Then again, this whole episode was a major dud.

I did crack a smile at the coin Phil had presented as a means to settle a disagreement.  Only he would concoct such a ridiculous notion.  Also, Jay and his bear claw.  Ha.

[Sparger Springs]

What the hell was going on at that parking lot?  Did it not have lined spaces? Why were they taking the keys? It looked like your basic pay and park and take your keys with you there was no valet. 

[tennisgurl]

I thought there were a decent amount of laughs, but it was mostly rather meh. I could see where every plot was going, and I know its a sitcom, but its doesn't have to be quite that predictable.

The most predictable was the Manny and Luke plot. I knew as soon as Luke started saying how he now understood the plight of women, that the girl he was into was going to say that she was saving herself for marriage or equality or something and he would immediately peace out, and that's exactly what happened. Manny is probably even worse than Luke, because he pretends like he gives a crap about women's rights, but really he just wants to look cultured to passive aggressively hit on hot girls.

Also predictable was the ending of the ladies getting a flat tire. I knew as soon as that chick showed up that she would steal the car, and its stupid that they didn't just call someone to fix the car. Its not anti feminist to hire a professional to do a job that you cant do because it doesn't come up in your life very much. I did laugh at Hailey hitting on Jo, and being confused about it, and everyone being shocked by her knowing about Madam Curie.

I like my favorite plot was the Jay and Phil plot, it was funny and Niecy Nash was quite a bit more likable then other times I've seen her around.

[xander874]

I know I have to let things go sometime, but if that car lot is going to be open 7 days a week, they need more than one person working. I know it was for plot, but they could've hired Tbor for the weekend or something. It annoyed me. But the lot looked nice!

[DrSpaceman73]

26 minutes ago, xander874 said:

I know I have to let things go sometime, but if that car lot is going to be open 7 days a week, they need more than one person working. I know it was for plot, but they could've hired Tbor for the weekend or something. It annoyed me. But the lot looked nice!

I kept thinking the same thing. 

And as nice as that lady working there may have been, I would get annoyed too if the line was backed up like that for a parking spot. 

There was a middle ground that I would think both of them could have found, which is also part of the "suspension of disbelief" part.  These two are both successful business owners that I would think have experience managing people, this is a fairly simple problem.  A "Hey we love the connections you have with the customers but you still need to speed things up a bit so we don't lose customers" would suffice. 

[tennisgurl]

8 minutes ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

A "Hey we love the connections you have with the customers but you still need to speed things up a bit so we don't lose customers" would suffice. 

Yeah, that's the problem I often have with this show (and a lot of sitcoms), the wacky antics and silly conflicts could so easily be solved with a simple, two second conversation and finding some middle ground. That's all they needed to say, and I'm sure it wouldn't have been a big deal. It would have been funny if at the end of the episode, they just said that to her, and she was like "why didn't you say that earlier? I can go faster if you want." or something.

[needschocolate]

The whole time Joey was on I kept wondering who she was - it just seemed like some plot written specifically for a special guest star (like she was a famous nascar driver), perhaps because I found that storyline to be ridiculous/heavy-handed

[HoboClayton]

18 hours ago, ChipBach said:

 

The "girls" were completely helpless with a fairly simple flat tire.  Not only that, their trans-formative moment was the great pride in turning a nut.  Of course the only women that could help had to be some hard edged criminal tomboy.  I thought Gloria's shirt would have come off as fairly offensive at a women's rights rally - and Alex's shirt looks like it was printed in 1978. 

 

Named Joey.. Ugh. Reminded me of the 80's when the lesbians on television shows were named Pat. 

[Madding crowd]

1 hour ago, needschocolate said:

The whole time Joey was on I kept wondering who she was - it just seemed like some plot written specifically for a special guest star (like she was a famous nascar driver), perhaps because I found that storyline to be ridiculous/heavy-handed

I thought the same thing-I was sure she was kind of race car driver or someone else famous. I agree it seemed heavy handed. I like Niecy but wondered why they didn't just tell her to move faster. The story with Cam and Mitch was very sitcomy

Edited May 5, 2017 by Madding crowd
Spelling

[HoboClayton]

Joey was played by actress Lindsey Kraft. I know her from Getting On.

[DarkRaichu]

So a self service parking lot where you leave your car keys with the parking attendance, is that an LA thing ?  What is the reason for leaving keys at the booth when the lot does not offer valet service ???

[Phishbulb]

The foreign guy being named "Tibor" seemed like an obvious Simpsons reference, whoever wrote this episode must be a fan.

[DrSpaceman73]

1 hour ago, Phishbulb said:

The foreign guy being named "Tibor" seemed like an obvious Simpsons reference, whoever wrote this episode must be a fan.

You're right, now that I think of it. 

[Artsda]

12 hours ago, DarkRaichu said:

So a self service parking lot where you leave your car keys with the parking attendance, is that an LA thing ?  What is the reason for leaving keys at the booth when the lot does not offer valet service ???

There are lots that you self park, but leave your keys because it gets so full they may need to move cars to get others out. I don't think  it's just an LA thing, but probably a major metropolitan city thing.

However, you'd still get a paper tag attached to the key like a valet with your number on it. It wouldn't just be on a board like that and you'd get the receipt.

Edited May 6, 2017 by Artsda

[MaryMitch]

23 hours ago, HoboClayton said:

Joey was played by actress Lindsey Kraft. I know her from Getting On.

I didn't watch Getting On, but I really liked that actress.  I looked up the show, and one of my favorites, Laurie Metcalf, is on it.  I may try it out.

[Cherry Cola]

On 5/4/2017 at 5:02 PM, ChipBach said:

I guess I'm in the minority.  I hated this episode.  Not because it felt forced due to today's political climate, but because all the characters basically reverted to cartoon-ish and predictable stereotypes.  

The "girls" were completely helpless with a fairly simple flat tire.  Not only that, their trans-formative moment was the great pride in turning a nut.  Of course the only women that could help had to be some hard edged criminal tomboy.  I thought Gloria's shirt would have come off as fairly offensive at a women's rights rally - and Alex's shirt looks like it was printed in 1978. 

They had an opportunity to put a heart in Luke, instead they threw away any possible enlightenment he may have had by pursuing a female that he truly seemed to connect with only to leave when he couldn't get in her pants.  Manny, who we are to believe is also socially active and "enlightened" is obviously using the "cause" to hit on chicks...  So they both come of as a low life misogynists. 

 I am tired of the boys.  They continue to enable so many gay stereotypes already it could gag a maggot.  The sister seems like a cheap ripoff of "Dougie" from "Life in Pieces".

Phil and Jay were OK, a little predictable.  Again, the premise that fallen keys would have stupefied Jay just made his character dumb.  How hard would it have been for Jay to hold up a set of keys to find their owner?  There were twenty sets of keys.  Jay ran a huge business.  He couldn't figure it out?  An why would Nicey come back?  Why would you want her back?  She had traffic backed up while she chatted up drivers.  Reminded me of the grocery clerk on her cell phone.  All I could think was how rude she was toward those people trying to park.

Other than that, the episode was awesome!  ;-)

You have a good point about Pam being like Dougie from life in pieces. Except, Dougie and Life in pieces are both actually funny.  

[HoboClayton]

3 hours ago, MaryMitch said:

I didn't watch Getting On, but I really liked that actress.  I looked up the show, and one of my favorites, Laurie Metcalf, is on it.  I may try it out.

Highly recommend! 

[DarkRaichu]

8 hours ago, Artsda said:

There are lots that you self park, but leave your keys because it gets so full they may need to move cars to get others out. I don't think  it's just an LA thing, but probably a major metropolitan city thing.

However, you'd still get a paper tag attached to the key like a valet with your number on it. It wouldn't just be on a board like that and you'd get the receipt.

Interesting. So if overflow (more cars than total parking spots) is common, wouldn't you need at least 2 attendants? 1 to move cars and the other to be at the booth. Wouldn't there be lines of people/ cars at the booth when she is busy moving cars that block an outgoing car?

[Brandi Maxxxx]

Could Joan (Niecy Nash) please get involved every time there's a conflict that would be resolved if the characters just talked to each other like mature adults?

 

On 05/05/2017 at 7:02 AM, ChipBach said:

Manny, who we are to believe is also socially active and "enlightened" is obviously using the "cause" to hit on chicks...  So they both come of as a low life misogynists.

 

On 06/05/2017 at 0:02 AM, tennisgurl said:

Manny is probably even worse than Luke, because he pretends like he gives a crap about women's rights, but really he just wants to look cultured to passive aggressively hit on hot girls.

It is possible that Manny really does care about women's rights but also uses it as an excuse to try to impress girls. There isn't a one motive limit.

[SanDiegoInExile]

On 5/4/2017 at 0:04 PM, DrSpaceman73 said:

I really don't like Pam and hate the idea she is going to be around more. 

I wouldn't worry too much.  Seems to me that they are just laying the groundwork for Lilly to have an instant Baby Brother.

Edited May 7, 2017 by SanDiegoInExile

[Nordly Beaumont]

I don't mind Pameron as long as they don't feel the need to shoehorn her into every episode. I really liked "You know upstairs? In the kitchen? Do you have one of those... you know that thing... that goes... Wait, what were you askin me?" Also when she and Cam both called "Not it!" and pointed to Mitch at the same time (followed by a high five). I don't see Pam showing any indication she doesn't want to raise her son.

[CleoCaesar]

On 5/5/2017 at 10:02 AM, tennisgurl said:

Manny is probably even worse than Luke, because he pretends like he gives a crap about women's rights, but really he just wants to look cultured to passive aggressively hit on hot girls.

Manny's entire character arc on this series could be called "Birth of a Nice Guy™/white knight." He's just repulsive.

[HoboClayton]

Oh! One more thing about Getting On.. Sorry.. Niecy Nash is a main character also. She plays a much much different role than her usual. 

[Evangeline]

On 5/5/2017 at 7:52 PM, DarkRaichu said:

So a self service parking lot where you leave your car keys with the parking attendance, is that an LA thing ?  What is the reason for leaving keys at the booth when the lot does not offer valet service ???

Not uncommon. Some lots have tandem spots so they can fit more cars in.  If you park behind a car (and they often direct you where to park -- like we saw her doing here), then you leave your keys with the attendant so that they can move your car if the person whose car you're blocking needs to leave before you.

Totally disagree with the concept that knowing how to change a tire is some sort of feminist statement. I'm a self-sufficient woman by having AAA. No need for me to do everything myself. (I also disagree with those who found it unrealistic that Gloria and Claire didn't know how to change a tire -- I'd be shocked if they did.)  I otherwise enjoyed the episode.

Edited May 8, 2017 by Evangeline

[Evangeline]

On 5/6/2017 at 4:41 PM, DarkRaichu said:

Interesting. So if overflow (more cars than total parking spots) is common, wouldn't you need at least 2 attendants? 1 to move cars and the other to be at the booth. Wouldn't there be lines of people/ cars at the booth when she is busy moving cars that block an outgoing car?

You just wait for the attendant to get back. It's annoying and I try to avoid these lots. Though in the examples that immediately come to mind, there isn't a booth like they showed here, at least not a staffed booth.  There is usually an attendant who is wandering around the lot (who you have to try to find).  

[Brandi Maxxxx]

17 minutes ago, Evangeline said:

Totally disagree with the concept that knowing how to change a tire is some sort of feminist statement. I'm a self-sufficient woman by having AAA. No need for me to do everything myself.

You're right but I can completely believe that these characters would be stubborn enough to do something the hard way just to make a point that they can do it.

[Ciarrai]

I miss Stella. I'm hoping they'll at least show her one more time this season; I have a Frenchie myself so Stella is always a highlight.

[aemom]

Many of the hospitals in my area have lots where they tandem park the cars. They always ask how long you're going to be. Your answer determines how deep they park the car in a row.  Sometimes you park it where they tell you or they tell you to leave it and they'll park it themselves if it's really busy.

You always leave the key so they can move cars around when needed.