S08.E22: The Graduates

[luna1122]

34 minutes ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

If we aren't supposed to think that then why did her parents and Claire imply it this last episode? 

Because of what I just said.  It wasn't my personal impression that Claire or cam or Mitch thought she was stupid, at all, but that they weren't aware she was skipping a grade smart, or Alex level smart, or genius level smart, or whatever. You can be smart but not excel at school. It's weird to me that they wouldn't have noticed her apparently excellent test scores, but this is a sitcom; analyzing it too much is counterproductive, imo. 

Edited May 20, 2017 by luna1122

[Artsda]

They showed Cam and Mitch not noticing or caring if she even ate when the football player was living with them. So them no noticing her being smart seemed expected to me. She probably had to be smart to basically raise herself.

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Teens sneaking drinks -  yeah, I'm OK with that being shown on a family show.  you're right, it happens.  But adults encouraging teens to drink is different.

 

I found this realistic for the show to incorporate because it happens and exists. Especially in LA where they live, the parents don't think the kids won't drink at prom and now that they're off to college. A lot of pre-prom get together photo gatherings with the parents have toasts and drinking at the events. 

Jay wasn't giving him a bottle and say get drunk, it was a small amount of scotch to toast his graduation.

[Feline Queen]

I had to explain the Grey Gardens line to my hubby. Now I'm going to have to make him watch the movie.  Apart from the animal print seat covers and car horn which can be changed, not sure why Phil and Claire wouldn't have wanted a classic Rolls. 

I did like Gloria telling Claire she was about to commit a felony at the children's play place and Claire's line about pink eye.

Some strip clubs do allow legal adults who are still under 21, they just can't drink alcohol.

Still don't like the character of Lily. Cam and Mitch may not be the best parents, but she seems too snarky and unappreciative. Maybe she would've preferred to have been left at the orphanage in Vietnam.  Considering how abrasive she is to just about everyone, I can understand why they were surprised she's popular. 

Hard to believe that Ariel Winter enjoys playing such a miserable character.  I'm sure the writers can figure out a way to infuse some happiness into Alex's life without being too out of character.  

Mitchell's indecisiveness between swiss coffee and whisper white was funny because there's a negligible difference between the two colors. Our doors and trim and the baseboards are painted whisper white.  

Benjamin Bratt looked kind of skinny.

[DrSpaceman73]

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Still don't like the character of Lily. Cam and Mitch may not be the best parents, but she seems too snarky and unappreciative. Maybe she would've preferred to have been left at the orphanage in Vietnam.  Considering how abrasive she is to just about everyone, I can understand why they were surprised she's popular. 

I always thought her personality was an accurate reflection of her two parents and she is just mimicking what she sees them do.  Lets not forget Mitch's coffee mug saying "I love me". 

[DrSpaceman73]

4 hours ago, luna1122 said:

Because of what I just said.  It wasn't my personal impression that Claire or cam or Mitch thought she was stupid, at all, but that they weren't aware she was skipping a grade smart, or Alex level smart, or genius level smart, or whatever. You can be smart but not excel at school. It's weird to me that they wouldn't have noticed her apparently excellent test scores, but this is a sitcom; analyzing it too much is counterproductive, imo. 

But they basically almost said they thought she was dumb.....or stupid.......all three of them, Claire, Cam and Mitch.  They just didn't say the word.  Not once but twice, they stated "I thought she was always......"  and trailed off, and they all knew what the others means.  I don't know what else was supposed to be implied to the viewers by those statements otherwise, in that context, other than all three of the they literally did not think she was that bright.  Not just "not bright enough to skip a grade", but just not that bright in general.  If they just thought she was average but didn't know she was supersmart, they would have stated it differently, something along the lines of "I knew she did OK in school but I never thought she was THAT smart". 

I think the writers would think it was funny they way they did it and went for a cheap laugh that just erased or ignored the several years of history the viewers have of Lilly. 

Not being popular I can see them missing.  She's in grade school, how do you judge that anyway?  Parents wouldn't know

[rhys]

On 5/18/2017 at 1:41 AM, NutMeg said:

This one hit me hard, which I never saw coming. My son is graduating this month and boy, if there was a way to be cried out, I'd do anything. The last thing I want is to make a spectacle of myself and embarrass him, mostly, but I'm that woman who had to sneak out of the auditorium at his freaking *kindergarten* graduation when a younger class started singing Auld Lang Syne, so looks like I may soon beat Phil and Claire in the emotional department...   

Take a ton of vitamin C. Reduce your liquid intake. I heard about this years ago from a radio psychologist (Dr Joy) & it has worked for me. I take 3 or 4 tabs (1000 IUs) about an hour before the event then another one as I walk in. Funerals are somewhat better now.

[NutMeg]

Thanks, will give it a try!!!! :)

2 hours ago, rhys said:

Take a ton of vitamin C. Reduce your liquid intake. I heard about this years ago from a radio psychologist (Dr Joy) & it has worked for me. I take 3 or 4 tabs (1000 IUs) about an hour before the event then another one as I walk in. Funerals are somewhat better now.

[SanDiegoInExile]

15 hours ago, Feline Goddess said:

Some strip clubs do allow legal adults who are still under 21, they just can't drink alcohol.

A quick google search shows this is the case in CA.

Of course, serving alcohol to a minor would get them closed down, perhaps permanently.

Edited May 21, 2017 by SanDiegoInExile

[readster]

1 hour ago, SanDiegoInExile said:

A quick google search shows this is the case in CA.

Of course, serving alcohol to a minor would get them closed down, perhaps permanently.

Yes, exactly! I mean I get Manny getting into a strip club, my wife even said: "Well, he is 18 and in California." However, the drinking to the point he doesn't know how his cap and gown got lost and hangover. That place would have been closed down ASAP unless Javier had a fake idea for Manny.

[Tosia]

And Manny does look about 40 years old. 

I've had high school students who told me about the clubs they go to to play beer pong, and strip clubs.

One guy said he dressed like a construction worker--which I saw-- and had a fake I.D.  Since it was a downtown club,  there was always construction nearby.  He showed off his tattoos, too, which you have to be 18 or have parental permission. I apologize in advance, but he had a smokin bod. No ill intent implied, just appreciation. 

The other guys who bragged loudly about getting into "tittie bars" were tall or big like football players and had fake I.D.s too. Real gems, there. :(. 

I ve known parents who had alcohol at grad parties too, back abt 15 years ago. One idiot mom I worked with talked abt cleaning up the cans the next morning after her daughter's party. She also let her fake blonde daughter getvery wayyyy too tan at the salon. Mom was not an Einstein; don't know abt dad, and they lived in a wealthy area. 

Now that it's grad time, I usually can hear the loud music from grad parties around my neighborhood. My neighbor and I walked over to one with our dogs last year to listen to the live band.  We hung around until the cops came, and most kids sauntered off, casually, but moving steadily toward cars or other yards to hide. Good band. 

Manny would probably go for expensive drinks,  anyway. Don't see him really partaking  at a kegger. He's too focused on getting a girlfriend.

[docmatt]

Good episode, maybe a little obvious. Everything has already been covered, except I cannot believe they got away with a stripper named Val Dicktorian!

[AnnaRose]

23 hours ago, rhys said:

Take a ton of vitamin C. Reduce your liquid intake. I heard about this years ago from a radio psychologist (Dr Joy) & it has worked for me. I take 3 or 4 tabs (1000 IUs) about an hour before the event then another one as I walk in. Funerals are somewhat better now.

I would not recommend doing that!  Especially before attending a public event:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/421776-side-effects-of-a-vitamin-c-overdose/

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Gastrointestinal Problems

Common side effects of vitamin C overdose involve the digestive tract. If you consume more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C, you may develop severe gastrointestinal irritation and diarrhea...

More info.

[PaulaO]

WTF is wrong with Alex?  Sticking a pen so far up her nose that she hemorrhages?  She should be in a mental institution.  I loved the Rolls and would proudly drive it.  And for heaven's sake, it's high school graduation.  They all needed to stop sobbing like someone died.

[SnarkySheep]

So Manny took his cap and gown into a strip club...because he was afraid someone would steal it from the car? Huh? That was weird.

And did I miss something, or did they never quite wrap up whether Manny's going East to school or not? If he is, then will he be off the show?

[jhlipton]

On 5/18/2017 at 4:56 PM, Beezella said:

There was a little bit that would have been easy to miss: Joe to Claire at the commencement ceremony, holding up his pristine elbow, "Look at my boo boo!" (or similar) Claire is all sympathetic. Then Joe gives the most cutting glare to his mom. Best acting from him yet.

I saw that too.  Nicely done.

On 5/19/2017 at 8:26 PM, DrSpaceman73 said:

The other line I liked was when they made the comment about how the orthopedic surgeons didn't need a high school education

in Colombia.  But not heart or brain doctors.

[readster]

On 5/25/2017 at 6:33 PM, SnarkySheep said:

So Manny took his cap and gown into a strip club...because he was afraid someone would steal it from the car? Huh? That was weird.

And did I miss something, or did they never quite wrap up whether Manny's going East to school or not? If he is, then will he be off the show?

Yeah, that made no sense on that. I mean, Manny's dad looked like he has a pretty nice car with security. So, why he thought his gown and cap would be stolen made little senese. I know it was a plot contrivance, but that didn't make much sense. AS for Manny going East, nope! Never said. 

[freespeech]

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Feline Goddess said:

Hard to believe that Ariel Winter enjoys playing such a miserable character.  I'm sure the writers can figure out a way to infuse some happiness into Alex's life without being too out of character.  

 

I know!! Alex was an enjoyable character when younger. I think it's the writing and the direction with her role. It's not her acting - she's being told what to act. I think the characterization is reasonable - she's having a tough time at a tough college - but it's too real-world. They should bring her back into the comedy of the show. Meanwhile, Haley and Lily just roll with it all and they have some of the best scenes.

[TheLastKidPicked]

Not sure if the credit should go to amazing writing, or the great acting skills of Ed O'neill:

Jay started out occasionally jealous and frustrated by Javier.  In this episde he very subtley moved on to this quiet feeling of confidence as if to understand,  "Yes, Javier is flashy and fun.  But I'm the one here every day.  And I'm okay with that."

Edited September 21, 2017 by TheLastKidPicked