The Guest Book - General Discussion

[Gbb]

Really starting to get into this show. I wasn't sure at the beginning if the narrative structure would allow me to care enough about the continuing characters, but I think we're getting there, especially after they all showed up for Michael Rappaport's party. The humor is Garcia-quirky which I love, and I enjoy playing "oh, that guy!" every  week. I'd like it if Tickles were a little less mean to everyone and a little more caring to her stepson, but maybe they'll work toward that. I care more about the marriage of the  rental agent and his wife than I probably should. 

For this particular episode, I'm glad they didn't take the easy way(s) out. Like another poster, I expected MR's crush to also have OCD and for them to bond over that. When that didn't work out I totally expected snickerdoodle435whatever to show up and be his soulmate, and she did. I didn't expect him to close the door in her face, but it made me laugh and was a better ending. We rarely see all of our own quirks as clearly as others do, and we probably would find them weird if we saw them in someone else. 

[nodorothyparker]

Trailer-park-boy Tommy takes his trailer-park-girl Marla to the mountains in an effort to wean her off crystal meth.

[biakbiak]

My DVR shows they are reairing Story Six and wasn't going to record it so I had to manually set it on case they do show it.

[ZoqFotPik]

I didn't watch "Raising Hope", but I do watch "Westworld", so it was nice to see Shannon Woodward show up. I liked her relationship with Tommy and that it ended happily for them. I also loved the song HoneyHoney sang during their fight. Nice to see the Doctor starting to move on from his marriage. I kind of suspected that his wife was more to blame for the breakup when she brought a date to the weekend visit.

Also, based on the cast and description,  it sounds like we will be getting the missing "Story 5" next week. 

Edited September 8, 2017 by ZoqFotPik

[MaryMitch]

I thought it was funny, of course, but I doubt anyone could be weaned off meth in a weekend.

[Phishbulb]

On September 8, 2017 at 5:04 AM, ZoqFotPik said:

I didn't watch "Raising Hope", but I do watch "Westworld", so it was nice to see Shannon Woodward show up. I liked her relationship with Tommy and that it ended happily for them. I also loved the song HoneyHoney sang during their fight. Nice to see the Doctor starting to move on from his marriage. I kind of suspected that his wife was more to blame for the breakup when she brought a date to the weekend visit.

Also, based on the cast and description,  it sounds like we will be getting the missing "Story 5" next week. 

Yes, and they seem to have retroactively gone back and re-edited this episode so that Jenna Fischer was able to appear in this episode setting up the next one. Sneaky! 

[ZoqFotPik]

I understand why this episode was held back. Nice to see Jenna Fischer. Also, renewed!

[msrachelj]

this was so freakin' funny! jenna fischer was great as was orson bean. wonderful storyline! unfortunately, having been around very old people, it is also true to life in too many cases. this was my favorite episode. i give it 5 stars. loved it. this little show is very good. glad to hear it was renewed. 

[ChicagoCita]

This made me laugh. It happened in reverse to my BFF's father. He was a stone asshole most of his life, got dementia, and totally forgot to be a jerk. His last years were the happiest their family had ever been.

I had no idea that was Orson Bean -- thanks for mentioning that.

I wonder if the renewal is for next summer? It's a fun summer show.

[Red Bridey]

I guess I understand why this show was postponed, but it really wasn't necessary.  This was funny!  The old guy was so vile...and the reactions were so on point.  I don't know why making fun of racism and misogyny needed to be postponed, just because of certain recent events.  We need to ridicule racism and misogyny all the time.

[biakbiak]

8 hours ago, Red Bridey said:

I guess I understand why this show was postponed, but it really wasn't necessary.  This was funny!  The old guy was so vile...and the reactions were so on point.  I don't know why making fun of racism and misogyny needed to be postponed, just because of certain recent events.  We need to ridicule racism and misogyny all the time.

I am so dim witted I didn't even make that connection.

[ChicagoCita]

I didn't make the connection either, but it makes perfect sense!

[Mrs OldManBalls]

The way they looked at each other, shut the door and let the exhaust do it's thing? Glad there was no dialogue because I was laughing too hard to hear it. 

[nodorothyparker]

Jacob, an Amish kid on Rumspringa, follows the signs to "God's Country" and ends up at the cabin, where he is convinced God is directing him to meet the love of his life in any way possible.

[JennyMominFL]

On 9/17/2017 at 7:36 PM, Red Bridey said:

I guess I understand why this show was postponed, but it really wasn't necessary.  This was funny!  The old guy was so vile...and the reactions were so on point.  I don't know why making fun of racism and misogyny needed to be postponed, just because of certain recent events.  We need to ridicule racism and misogyny all the time.

I Agee that maybe it was not neccessary . But I feel like maybe the show felt that their viewers who are people of color did not need to hear more racist terms and see more racism in action that week. I know It was done to make fun  Of racists but I just think, if I were a POC, hearing someone using the term Jig@**** on TV might have been a bit painful.

[peeayebee]

Margo Martingale!?! That was a surprise.

I kind of liked this one. "See you on the udder side!" was amusing and sweet.

I wonder what will happen with Vivian. 

[MaryMitch]

Marcia Marcia Marcia!  I thought that was hilarious!

I wonder about Vivian too - she's very unlikable, but I don't want her to die!

[mammaM]

"This is what happens when you can't watch TV"

Maureen McCormick had the line of the week. That whole scene with her was just perfect. The casting on this show has been great. 

[iluvobx]

I think this has been my favorite episode.  I laughed so hard in this one.

Interesting to see what happens with Vivian next week.

[nodorothyparker]

The locals of our little mountain town must deal with the consequences of their actions over the past few months.

[MaryMitch]

This series has had some hilarious moments, and I'm glad that the cop and the doctor have gotten together. But no one needed to see the old guy peeing. This show tries to hard to be "edgy".

[ZoqFotPik]

Yeah that was unnecessary. Fun episode otherwise. Glad to see it work out for everyone in the end. I loved how everyone who knew her was so apathetic to Vivian.

It was nice to see all of call backs to the other guests and great continuity on not including Trina and Blake or Tommy and Marla as they we not official guests of Froggy Bottom. I didn't warm up to this show at first, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I'll be back for season 2.

I wonder if season 2 will continue with Froggy Bottom or move somewhere new. 

[peeayebee]

I won't be back for S2. Greg Garcia can do better than this.

[SmithW6079]

On 9/29/2017 at 3:59 PM, peeayebee said:

I won't be back for S2. Greg Garcia can do better than this.

I agree. I watched most of the episodes (I skipped a couple), and it just never connected with me. I didn't like most of the guest stories, I hated the fat stripper, and the doctor,  cop, and innkeeper and his wife were nonentities. The only character I felt any sympathy for was the stripper's stepson.

[tribeca]

I thought snickerdoodle was going be the lady from the previous episode who left her marriage and stole the car.  

Although I did find it funny that Adam slammed the door on her I was a little sad for her as well. 

[ChicagoCita]

I somehow missed Ep. 9, so I was glad for the recap. I howled when the white guy said he'd finally watched it and it wasn't his thing.

I enjoyed this show more than I didn't -- and the first comment I ever made about it still stands, that a lot of the bad language distracts from the show, rather than adding to it. As MaryMitch says, it's trying too hard to be edgy. It shows, like a teenager trying to casually sprinkle newly learned profanities into a conversation. (I'm not a prude, and I do turn the air blue more than I should admit, but I try to make it appropriate to time and place!)

Under it all, it's a quirky show about losers trying not to be losers, and I enjoyed that.

Loved this episode's roll call of previous guests, loved that the guest book played a role in the final resolution of the plot arc, and especially loved that they figured out a way to get the band who've been performing so well throughout the show into the show itself.

I'll be back, and I hope the growing pains of this season can be less obvious in Season 2.

[OoogleEyes]

On 10/8/2017 at 2:14 AM, ChicagoCita said:

 

I'll be back, and I hope the growing pains of this season can be less obvious in Season 2.

Me, too. It's just the kind of silliness that I need some days after a fuc....uh...challenging work week. 

Bourbon on the rocks and Greg Garcia...

Ahhhhhhh....

[ae2]

On 8/12/2017 at 5:08 PM, ChicagoCita said:

And not to be overly analytical, but I was vaguely offended by Plan B being called a mini-abortion. Twice. As I understand it, it prevents ovulation or prevents implantation. Neither of which is an abortion.

Err... regardless of any individual notions or ideas about Plan B, it was intentionally called a mini-abortion to piss off someone who was staunchly against the idea of Plan B... Of all the possible things to get vaguely offended about with this show through episode 3, that one doesn't even crack the top 50.

[biakbiak]

Greg is tweeting about editing the 2nd season and there is a spoiler of a past guest appearing in season 2 due on the fall.

[biakbiak]

Just saw the trailer for the new season. They changed locations to a cabin on the beach so should be an entire new cast of locals.

[SmithW6079]

This show didn't impress me much its first season. I'm not even sure if I watch the entire season. Count me surprised that it's back for a second. It tried too hard to be quirky, while the genuinely quirky "People of Earth" was canceled.

On 9/19/2018 at 3:27 AM, biakbiak said:

Just saw the trailer for the new season. They changed locations to a cabin on the beach so should be an entire new cast of locals.

So no more Garret Dillahunt?

[biakbiak]

12 minutes ago, SmithW6079 said:

So no more Garret Dillahunt?

Doesn’t appear so but some repeat guests we follow Eddie and Carly to the beach.

[nodorothyparker]

Check in for season 2 begins tonight, Oct. 23.

[rhys]

Loved the Arnett/Plimpton episode. Clever.

Not understanding the van fire but I have an idea percolating.

[ae2]

"It's a porno, I wasn't expecting a plot twist!"

Great start to the season. Can't wait to see what happens with the scorpion. I mean, the bearded dragon.

Tickles was not my favorite character in season 1, so I'm a little disappointed she's one of the holdovers. Plus, how do you not keep Garret Dillahunt when you know Martha Plimpton is going to show up!

Eddie is fantastic though!

I'm not sure about the restaurant manager and his wife, yet. They're just kind of annoying so far, although a few of the site gags with her pregnancy were hilarious. The child taking a picture, and her squatting over her husband's face. And the nurse saying something like, "as long as he's not an interior designer you'll be fine!"

[Caseysgirl]

I miss the other regulars from this show. Loved Charlie Robinson & his wife and the Dr. and policeman’s live story was getting interesting. I guess Greg Garcia knows what he’s doing.

[Kiddvideo]

I found it offensive and desperate. Part of my job is to review digital avertising for adult content — porn doesn’t bother at all — but watching her bounce up and down on him was UGH. Sorry, Greg, I’m out.

[ZoqFotPik]

Not really feeling this season so far. I thought they focused too much on the side characters and not enough on the guests. Never really liked Vivian and Eddie Steeples is still just doing Crabman. I kind of wish they just restarted with all new characters. I guessed what was going on in the second episode about half way through. I'll stick with it a bit more. I want to see what they do with Rappaport's character next week.

[ChicagoCita]

I'm always shocked that The Guest Book isn't as PG as My Name Is Earl, but I'm fond enough of the quirkiness of it to keep watching. I was delighted to see the band that performs at the end of the show made the cut and remained with Season 2.

[ZoqFotPik]

I was expecting the Uncle would be revealed as the possible father of the baby.

[AAEBoiler]

38 minutes ago, ZoqFotPik said:

I was expecting the Uncle would be revealed as the possible father of the baby.

Thank you! I was totally expecting that as well!

[MorganSte]

I think this week was my favorite story so far.  I loved everything to do with the uncle

[Red Bridey]

I thought the uncle was the father too.  I have been a little disturbed by the sex in this show; it's very obvious...but I have to say I really loved this episode.  The uncle was lovely, and the nephew was nice, and I thought the party looked like a blast!

[Stallion12]

Didn't care for the most recent episode, last season was alot better.

[ZoqFotPik]

Been a run of sad stories. One guy loses his leg trying to save for a better vacation and then walks in on his wife having sex with his physical therapist. The next guy has severe mental problems believing that he is part of a reality tv show family. Finally a little kid who is left alone while his parents go to music festival. I'm wondering if Vivian misread the DNA test, and Tommy is the father. I can't remember if they ever showed what Nikki used to test the father's DNA. Surprised to see the scorpion get killed, I thought that somebody would have eventually gotten stung. Finally, always great to see Nadine Velazquez.

I'm curious as to where they are going with the beggar guy. I'm guessing he will be the guest for the season finale.

[JasmineFlower]

Just like the rest of the season, I'm didn't like this episode much, but honestly, was that ending supposed to be funny? That's just twisted, not hilarious. What in the world has happened to this show this season? And who is Carly (Vivian) related or married to that she's being used this much?

[biakbiak]

Like I know messed up stuff happened in the first season but I really can’t get into passing off another person kid as your boyfriend, baby napping and burying someone alive as funny.

[AngelKitty]

8 hours ago, biakbiak said:

burying someone alive

If you're talking about putting the crazy hair guy in the box, she shipped him to Moscow, not buried.

And yeah, this show has gone off the rails.

[ae2]

Season 1 had blackmail, a kid being locked in the trunk of a car, forced baptism, a bear in the cottage, a KKK arsonist with Alzheimer's, and Vivian getting shot in the tit (her words!) with an arrow.

The show hasn't gone off the rails, it was never on them!

I'm not sure if some of the beats are just not hitting this season, or if the shock value is gone because we expect it.

The season hasn't been terrible, it just hasn't lived up to expectations. 

[biakbiak]

6 hours ago, ae2 said:

Season 1 had blackmail, a kid being locked in the trunk of a car, forced baptism, a bear in the cottage, a KKK arsonist with Alzheimer's, and Vivian getting shot in the tit (her words!) with an arrow.

Yep but to me none of that was as dark as this season, I also haven’t laughed once and don’t like any of the characters.