S01.E05: Miracles

[MSterling]

16 hours ago, leighdear said:

Do we know that Mary is actually DJ's biological daughter?  Because Geena may not have that long a history with the Conners.  

I thought she was DJ's biological daughter because she was named in honor of Nana Mary.

[tessaray]

9 hours ago, geauxaway said:

Not a fan of Becky’s pregnancy.  Happy for her, because it seems she wanted to be a mom (although as a young widow myself there ARE other ways to get there.  That aside....), but why did it have to be by the one night stand bus boy.  WHY can’t this family have anything in their favor?  Let me guess, we will find out he is not a citizen?  I am really hoping that is not where they are going with this.  

Now I'm not sure if they explicitly mentioned Emilio's status but I thought he was undocumented?  He told Jackie he had to leave a decent auto plant job because of political enemies. Either way it sounds like he has a good case for asylum.  (Like Roseanne before it, The Conners is going to always include some topical subjects.) 

It's shallow but my first thought with Emilio was wondering just how much younger than Becky he is. I couldn't find out much on the actor online but in his last tv role, he had a boyfriend who was in his late teens. 

[Bastet]

1 minute ago, tessaray said:

It's shallow but my first thought with Emilio was wondering just how much younger than Becky he is. I couldn't find out much on the actor online but in his last tv role, he had a boyfriend who was in his late teens. 

When time Major Crimes ended, early this year, Gus (Rene Rosado's character) was mid/late 20s (his age was never stated, but when you factor in his history and know he's about five years older than Rusty, you come up with a ballpark).  I suspect Rosado is around 30, but I can't find anything that lists is age.  And, of course, the actor's age only gives a clue to the character's, so we still wouldn't know.  Maybe Darlene will make a joke about it.

[tessaray]

@Bastet, that's pretty much how I was figuring it.  

[sashayshante]

On 11/21/2018 at 12:01 PM, Pete Martell said:

This new Darlene love interest is also disappointing. The actor who plays him is "straight out of central casting" and doesn't look like anyone who would actually live in Lanford.

That's Jay R. Ferguson aka "that guy from that show." He's been in a few failed sitcoms and has had a ton of guest starring runs on shows like Mad Men. I think they intentionally cast someone who went totally against type to set up the will they/won't they arc. 

 

8 hours ago, msrachelj said:

She just comes on way too strong!

She doesn't, though. Even if she did, the most popular character on this show used to be a shrill loudmouth who bossed everyone around, so I don't get why that would be an issue. In fact, this whole show revolves around strident, outspoken, neurotic women. There isn't one easy going female character in the series   I honestly believe she's being seen as "too much" because she's black.

[peacheslatour]

28 minutes ago, sashayshante said:

That's Jay R. Ferguson aka "that guy from that show." He's been in a few failed sitcoms and has had a ton of guest starring runs on shows like Mad Men. I think they intentionally cast someone who went totally against type to set up the will they/won't they arc. 

 

She doesn't, though. Even if she did, the most popular character on this show used to be a shrill loudmouth who bossed everyone around, so I don't get why that would be an issue. In fact, this whole show revolves around strident, outspoken, neurotic women. There isn't one easy going female character in the series   I honestly believe she's being seen as "too much" because she's black.

Exactly. "If he doesn't learn to bitch and moan like his sisters, he won't survive in this family." Be tough or you won't make it around these people.

[Bastet]

Yeah, I think Geena fits right in with the others, especially the other women, on this show in terms of general attitude.  Now we just need to learn more about her personality than she's really into her religion.  We got a little bit this episode with her saying as a mother, she had to go to Afghanistan to get some rest.  Even just one line per episode like that will help flesh her out.  And we apparently learned that Geena and D.J. intend on having only one child (because, re. Becky being pregnant, he said Mary thought she had it locked up as the baby of the family).

[wendyg]

I first saw Jay R. Ferguson on EVENING SHADE, where he played the oldest - teenaged - son of Marilu Henner and Burt Reynolds. He was the lead on LIVING BIBLICALLY last year, too. I liked him here a lot.

[sashayshante]

5 hours ago, wendyg said:

I first saw Jay R. Ferguson on EVENING SHADE, where he played the oldest - teenaged - son of Marilu Henner and Burt Reynolds. He was the lead on LIVING BIBLICALLY last year, too. I liked him here a lot.

Living Biblically would have stood a better chance if they got rid of the wife. Ian Gomez and David Krumholtz were perfectly cast; too. The Real O'Neals was hilarious and poignant so of course ABC gave it the axe so they could air the steaming hot turd known as Living Separately.

[methodwriter85]

1 hour ago, sashayshante said:

The Real O'Neals was hilarious and poignant so of course ABC gave it the axe so they could air the steaming hot turd known as Living Separately.

To be fair though, the show got kind of screwed because the lead gave an interview where he wasn't too discreet about things. The show was already on the bubble but the badwill this interview generated probably took it over the line.

[CletusMusashi]

On 11/21/2018 at 10:42 AM, Dee said:

Becky is a promiscuous alcoholic and Darlene is a sullen bitch but Geena is the problem? Ok.

 

I'm actually gonna say yes. I'm not standing here judging real people, or even role models. I'm judging comedy characters. Geena is simply not funny. Even DJ makes me chuckle once or twice a week. Geena does not.

The limitations of her character just being Religious Mom remind me of the limitations of the Shirley character on "Community." Too often it seemed that the writers just didn't know what else to do with her. But one big difference was that Shirley was played by Yvette Nicole Brown, who brought enough humor and charm to drastically elevate the material.

Edited November 23, 2018 by CletusMusashi

[jsbt]

That was pretty good. Everything with the always wonderful Jay R. Ferguson (Ben) and Darlene was especially great.

I loved the little moment with Becky and D.J. re: Roseanne.

Geena got some good lines this week. I hope they keep developing the character.

5 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

To be fair though, the show got kind of screwed because the lead gave an interview where he wasn't too discreet about things. The show was already on the bubble but the badwill this interview generated probably took it over the line.

Hilariously indiscreet, and yes it probably doomed the show. I loved it anyway.

[iMonrey]

Quote

That's Jay R. Ferguson aka "that guy from that show." He's been in a few failed sitcoms and has had a ton of guest starring runs on shows like Mad Men.

He had a long-running role on Mad Men actually, from what I remember. I think that's what most people would identify him with. imdb says he appeared in 46 episodes - and the show only had 13 per season so he was a regular for over three seasons.

[Dee]

JRF will always be Billy from Higher Learning to me.

[babyhouseman]

On ‎11‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 4:05 PM, wendyg said:

I first saw Jay R. Ferguson on EVENING SHADE, where he played the oldest - teenaged - son of Marilu Henner and Burt Reynolds. 

I was wondering if anyone else remembered him from ES, a show I loved. I had no idea it was him on The Conners.

[mythoughtis]

I think I could get to like Geena  if they would just flesh out her character beyond one liners about religion.  We got more Geena on screen in  the Roseanne reboot Skype call than we have so far this entire season.  I liked that Geena. I guess Michael is such a bad actor that we can’t get any actual conversation between the two, but she could go out for dinner with Darlene and open up a little.    

As for Becky- I didn’t like the fakery with the manager. But I hope she keeps the baby and moves back in the house.  Why- well, because it’s obviously something she wants. She told Darlene that last season.  A woman of 43 ought to be able to have a child if she wants without everyone treating her the same as an unwed teenage mom. If she didn’t want a family of her own, then it would be different. 

As for the drinking... last weeks episode was out of order.  It was actually before the episode where she started working for Dan.  At some point she mentioned a boyfriend, who was obviously gone for several weeks at tonight’s episode, so we have no idea  if she actually had anything to drink in the last several weeks. We have no idea how many weeks these episodes cover or the amount of show time between then.  Plus Dan mentioned meetings, so she obviously been attending some. 

Edited November 24, 2018 by mythoughtis

[janie jones]

On 11/22/2018 at 11:33 AM, sashayshante said:

 

On 11/22/2018 at 3:11 AM, msrachelj said:

She just comes on way too strong!

She doesn't, though. Even if she did, the most popular character on this show used to be a shrill loudmouth who bossed everyone around, so I don't get why that would be an issue.

Yeah but at the same time, a lot of people don't think this show is suffering without Roseanne.  I think it might be interesting to examine who doesn't miss Roseanne on the show and who doesn't like Geena.  It could be that people don't want to see one shrill loudmouth replaced by another.  (I for one only dislike her because I don't like how much she talks about religion vs. not talking about religion.)

[bunnyblue]

On 11/22/2018 at 1:05 PM, wendyg said:

I first saw Jay R. Ferguson on EVENING SHADE, where he played the oldest - teenaged - son of Marilu Henner and Burt Reynolds.

 

4 hours ago, Dee said:

JRF will always be Billy from Higher Learning to me.

I first saw him as Ponyboy Curtis on FOX's short-lived The Outsiders in the early 1990's. He was my first real age-appropriate celebrity crush and I used to buy the teeny bopper magazines specifically for pictures of Jay R. Ferguson. It was a blast-from-the-past for me when he showed up on Mad Men as Stan Rizzo, and it's just as pleasantly surprising to see him on The Conners.

Edited November 24, 2018 by bunnyblue

[Snow Apple]

If anyone sees this, the milkshake episode is on TVLand right now.

[Cherpumple]

On 11/21/2018 at 9:15 AM, Mmmfloorpie said:

This show would be way more popular if it acknowledged the original more.

I agree, and in this vein, I was REALLY hoping that Becky's baby daddy would be someone from the original show. My list of options included Chip from the bowling alley, Jimmy Meltreeger, the Tongue Bandit, Darlene's crush Barry, and of course Dean Dean the Son-in-Law Machine. I even had Ziggy as an outlier. Any one of these would have made me so much happier than a random bus boy who so far just seems like an excuse for them to do a heavy-handed immigration storyline.

[CherryAmes]

6 hours ago, Cherpumple said:

I agree, and in this vein, I was REALLY hoping that Becky's baby daddy would be someone from the original show.

For me that would be even more annoying than having DJ marry Geena.  Only on TV do teenagers who were dating (or not dating in the case of DJ and Geena) end up married and 'happily ever after".  It's not that it's super rare but it's not nearly as common as TV sitcoms would have us believe!

[peacheslatour]

2 hours ago, CherryAmes said:

For me that would be even more annoying than having DJ marry Geena.  Only on TV do teenagers who were dating (or not dating in the case of DJ and Geena) end up married and 'happily ever after".  It's not that it's super rare but it's not nearly as common as TV sitcoms would have us believe!

Also none of the guys mentioned were particularly interesting or funny. For all we know they're not even acting any more. I like the bus boy, he's cute and funny and I love his interactions with Jackie.

[Pete Martell]

This clip popped up on my Youtube feed today. I'd never seen it as I had quit watching by this point. It's interesting to compare this to current material and think about Becky's many regrets.

[jsbt]

I remember that well.

[jewel21]

Aww, Glenn Quinn *cries*

[llewis823]

On 11/20/2018 at 9:36 PM, juliet73 said:

Actually, I don't like that she's really promiscuous since the show returned.  And I really can't believe that anyone in this day and age would have unprotected sex if they weren't in a committed relationship!  I hope the couple who want to adopt her baby isn't going to happen.  Characters we've never heard of/seen before decide immediately that they want to adopt Becky's baby when she tells them she's pregnant.

I agree - Becky was never a slut : )  And I fear you're right about the couple who want to adopt her baby. Why would they even introduce them if it wasn't going to happen? Or at least Becky going back and forth over a decision to give the baby to them or keep it. 

[llewis823]

On 11/25/2018 at 10:08 AM, CherryAmes said:

nly on TV do teenagers who were dating (or not dating in the case of DJ and Geena) end up married and 'happily ever after".  It's not that it's super rare but it's not nearly as common as TV sitcoms would have us believe!

My husband and I are one of those rare ones. We have been together since we were 14 and 15. We got married when we were 20 and 21 and celebrated 32 years married this past August and we're 53 and 52 now.

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, llewis823 said:

My husband and I are one of those rare ones. We have been together since we were 14 and 15. We got married when we were 20 and 21 and celebrated 32 years married this past August and we're 53 and 52 now.

He's probably not a David Lee Roth fan, I'm guessing.

[llewis823]

29 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

2 hours ago, llewis823 said:

My husband and I are one of those rare ones. We have been together since we were 14 and 15. We got married when we were 20 and 21 and celebrated 32 years married this past August and we're 53 and 52 now.

He's probably not a David Lee Roth fan, I'm guessing.

LOL - good one! But actually, I personally like Sammy pre and post Van-Halen the best. And I like true DLR Van Halen better than Van Hagar. (Although I don't hate anything Sammy is in)

[peacheslatour]

17 minutes ago, llewis823 said:

LOL - good one! But actually, I personally like Sammy pre and post Van-Halen the best. And I like true DLR Van Halen better than Van Hagar. (Although I don't hate anything Sammy is in)

I saw Sammy pre Van Halen in Seattle at the Paramount. He was great.

[llewis823]

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

2 hours ago, llewis823 said:

LOL - good one! But actually, I personally like Sammy pre and post Van-Halen the best. And I like true DLR Van Halen better than Van Hagar. (Although I don't hate anything Sammy is in)

I saw Sammy pre Van Halen in Seattle at the Paramount. He was great.

I saw him the first time at SuperJam in St. Louis at Busch Stadium right after his Danger Zone solo album came out in 1980 (Ironically , the same year I met my husband - but not at the concert - lol!) I remember wearing a tshirt I had made that said "I want Sammy Hagar ALL NITE LONG" (in reference to his previous album). I have been a super fan (aka: Redhead) ever since.

Edited November 26, 2018 by llewis823

[Pallas]

Okey-doke.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 11/21/2018 at 12:52 PM, iMonrey said:

I wondered that too - and I'm not clear on whether or not she was still working for the casino, but I think she'd make way more money just in tips at a casino than she would working for a one-man operation like this local tabloid. I get that she would prefer a writing job but there's a financial reality to it too.

The casino job had benefits, which I assume means insurance.  Will this job come with insurance?  Doubtful, and with 2 kids, it's a nice thing to have.  It's also something Becky probably doesn't have.  Speaking of which:

On 11/21/2018 at 8:30 PM, Ottis said:

I was mystified that everyone was happy for Becky. She gave up on the surrogate job, and now has no boyfriend, not much of a job, and now she is having a baby? Why is that something to celebrate? She proved that doctors who thought she was too old, and drank a lot, were wrong... so she can have a difficult pregnancy? Uh, OK.

I also don't see who will take care of a baby.  Will Becky stay home and survive on Emilio's dish washing income?  Will Becky support the 3 of them on her tips so that Emilio can stay home?  Does Emilio have a non-working mother in this country, or will the baby be sent back to his home country to be raised?  Will the baby be born with fetal alcohol syndrome?

There's no room at the Conner's for Becky to move in, if she wanted to save rent money, unless she and the baby could live in the basement.  Darlene has DJ's old room, and Harris and Mark share the girls' old room.

[peacheslatour]

She may end up letting Sarah Chalke adopt it. She can't really expect anyone in her family to take care of it because they all have work/school. Maybe Harris will suddenly develop some maturity and watch the baby while Becky works. I think it's a mess.

[BlossomCulp]

4 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I think it's a mess.

It certainly has the potential to be a mess.  Time will tell whether the writers are making Becky's life harder or if the baby is going to be the "best thing that ever happened...".  In real life we can all see the downsides.  The many, many downsides.  On a scripted sitcom though?  Who knows!  

I would like to go on record though as saying I can't see them having Becky give the baby up for adoption.  I can see them having a few stories dealing with that as a potential outcome for sure but I really don't see them going through with it.

[peacheslatour]

1 minute ago, BlossomCulp said:

It certainly has the potential to be a mess.  Time will tell whether the writers are making Becky's life harder or if the baby is going to be the "best thing that ever happened...".  In real life we can all see the downsides.  The many, many downsides.  On a scripted sitcom though?  Who knows!  

I would like to go on record though as saying I can't see them having Becky give the baby up for adoption.  I can see them having a few stories dealing with that as a potential outcome for sure but I really don't see them going through with it.

Nor do I. I just can't imagine how she is going to cope. 

[wendyg]

I don't think a sexually active woman in her 40s, no matter how many one night stands she has, deserves the epithet of "slut". I would point out, also, that people change in response to their circumstances. Becky met the guy she married very young, and didn't do much experimentation then as a result. It's very clear she found being widowed - again very young for that life stage - very hard. Some people might respond to that by getting used to being alone; others might deal with it by looking for comfort however they could find it, and I can easily see Becky picking the latter strategy, particularly if she thinks, as she well might, that having lucked out early she is unlikely to find that sort of luck a second time.

I also know a couple who got together at 18/19, married at 20/21, and would be married today if he hadn't been so rude as to die six years ago (at 59).

[hnygrl]

I know of two couples who met in high school and married shortly thereafter. And are still very happily married today.

One met when they were both around 13  or 14. He took one look at her and told his family she was gonna be his wife. She is. They've been together for nearly 20 years. She's all he knows, he's all she knows. It does happen that way.

Another couple grew up together. Knew each other since small kid days. Met and fell in love in like the 9th or 10th grade. He bought her a ring when he was 19. Everybody (even/especially the parents) tried to talk him out of it. Wait they said, you're too young they said...he did it anyway (proposed), they got married. She finished college - while married and with a kid. He made sure of it.  He wanted her to finish. Then HE finished college, got a great job (already had a GOOD job), and they had more kids, moved to the 'burbs, and today, nearly 12 years later, are living quite happily. So don't discount the high school sweethearts thing.

 

You know what's sad?

 

I keep forgetting this show is even ON. I usually remember around Thursday or Friday that I didn't watch the Connors this week. That's sad...I'm glad is Becky that got pregnant. I would've been mad if it were Darlene. Or worse, Harris. That would've been the wrong direction to go. The ONLY Connor female that COULD get pregnant without bringing down the wrath of the viewing audience IS Becky, so that's more of a "whew....what a relief" than a surprise.

[Bastet]

11 minutes ago, hnygrl said:

The ONLY Connor female that COULD get pregnant without bringing down the wrath of the viewing audience IS Becky, so that's more of a "whew....what a relief" than a surprise.

For this audience member that would have been Geena, not Becky.  But I am less irritated than if it had been Darlene or, worst of all, Harris. 

I like that everyone's reactions were appropriate to the character -- as much as I disagree, Jackie would absolutely think this is great*.  Dan would be concerned but supportive.  Darlene would be surprised and snarky, but not hostile or lecturing.  D.J. would just sort of be there, heh. 

*This is the first time it has annoyed me that they're not acknowledging Andy's existence, because, after that experience with Fred, who better than Jackie to commiserate with/give guidance to Becky about getting knocked up by a one-night stand you don't want to ever have to deal with again yet are now tied to because he wants to play happy family?

[DangerousMinds]

1 hour ago, wendyg said:

I don't think a sexually active woman in her 40s, no matter how many one night stands she has, deserves the epithet of "slut". I would point out, also, that people change in response to their circumstances. Becky met the guy she married very young, and didn't do much experimentation then as a result. It's very clear she found being widowed - again very young for that life stage - very hard. Some people might respond to that by getting used to being alone; others might deal with it by looking for comfort however they could find it, and I can easily see Becky picking the latter strategy, particularly if she thinks, as she well might, that having lucked out early she is unlikely to find that sort of luck a second time.

I also know a couple who got together at 18/19, married at 20/21, and would be married today if he hadn't been so rude as to die six years ago (at 59).

Thank you! Sleeping with 2 people in the last month does not earn the “promiscuous “ label. Women need and enjoy sex too. So much judgment.

Edited November 27, 2018 by DangerousMinds

[BeachDays]

I’m rewatching Roseanne and last night I saw the episode where DJ didn’t want to kiss Geena.  It stood out in my memory but I paid extra attention since we know Geena now.   I think obviously the writers went back and watched that episode but there was something DJ said that stood out to me.   He was saying she was so different, her hair was different, her lips are different, and she “has sorta an accent”.   Her dad at the end also spoke in that tone.   So I think that’s why Geena is always speaking that way.   Now she doesn’t have to always talk about God, but I think the fact that she doesn’t sound like the rest of the Conners is actually done with good intentions, and not to be like “oh here is our token black character”.   And I was totally almost crying during that episode, knowing DJ falls in love with her skin, hair, lips, voice, and most importantly, the amazing woman who is Geena Williams.  

Edited November 27, 2018 by BeachDays

[ChiCricket]

On 11/20/2018 at 10:38 PM, bunnyblue said:

Darlene's boss is Stan from Mad Men. I may have let out a squee! when I saw him. And he's way hotter than David, so Go Darlene!

   I've never seen Mad Men. But the boss looked so familiar it was driving me nuts.

Then I remembered  he played Chip on Living Biblically. 

[Rockstar99435]

On 11/21/2018 at 6:03 PM, shksabelle said:

YAY!! Another SSM having a kid she has no way to support. 

Let’s all celebrate. 

Google isn't helping at all. What's SSM?

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, Rockstar99435 said:

Google isn't helping at all. What's SSM?

Single Syrupy Marmoset?

[hnygrl]

Oh hell. Now I WANNA KNOW TOO!!!

[DangerousMinds]

Same sex marriage?

[Lunula]

5 hours ago, Rockstar99435 said:

Google isn't helping at all. What's SSM?

Wondering the same thing. I've only ever used SSM for same-sex-marriage. I assume it means "single" and "mother" and something else...?

Not a fan of the pregnancy story at all. Why shows portray women who openly do not want children, or women (like me) who tried and couldn't and are okay/content with it? 

[Reality police]

On 11/21/2018 at 5:15 AM, SimonSeymour said:

You can have my and my husband’s first born child for identifying this, because we’ve been driving ourselves INSANE for the last two hours trying to remember who he is. The Conners IMBD page doesn’t list him. 

You’re exactly correct. Thank you!!

They have updated the page. I have loved Jay Ferguson since he was on Evening Shade. Love him as Darlene's boss. Hope they turn that into something.

Edited November 28, 2018 by Reality police

[ChiCricket]

On 11/21/2018 at 8:03 PM, shksabelle said:

YAY!! Another SSM having a kid she has no way to support. 

Let’s all celebrate. 

Single Straight Mother?

[BlossomCulp]

Social security mother?