Yup, that’s what the show is, like it or not. Guest actors are going to continually move in and out of the show, and every relationship will inevitably come to a heart tugging end. Love it or leave it, I guess.
Can’t wait for a Betty makeover, though.
I agree it that it’s supposed to be a soap opera, albeit a quirky sitcommy one, but recently it hasn’t even been that. Then when they did the Connor thing it was ‘never saw it coming’, but not in a good unpredictable way so much as ‘the actor must have a movie gig so they’re writing him out quick’ non-believable way. If the last few episodes of this season aren’t killer diller then they may as well wrap because they’ll have lost most of the viewers.
Re: Justin- I hated that he gave up Fashion Week because those are some of the best episodes. He’s been completely wasted this season other than the brief sideplot with his straight acting friendboy. His leading Willi around in Season 1 was one of the highlights (“She’s dressed in a navy blue [designer name here] loose dress”- “Mistake?”- “Totally, she looks like a mailbox with a perm”— hard to believe Willi wouldn’t have found some further use for him when she got her sight back.) I think Justin should get a callback to BILLY ELLIOT, not as the lead but as Billy’s cross-dressing gay friend, or- as I’ve said many times before- do something that requires him to interact with Marc again. (I think every gaydolescent would benefit mightily from a platonic gay uncle figure.)
Ralph Macchio is coming back to the show, so perhaps that will help. Unfortunately with the Suarez sisters track record he’ll probably turn out to be a meth dealer or dog fight afficianado, albeit a cute and freakishly non-aging one. (He does look a lot older than he did in Karate Kid but he doesn’t look old enough to have been married 22 years with a daughter about to start college, which he not only has but wasn’t a particularly young groom.)
Of course what always irks me with shows like this is that if the fans can see the problems with the show, why can’t the writers and the cast? If you see the show is sliding then- this is big business- fix it. Hire new writers either instead of or in addition to the current ones, lock yourself in a room for a week and brainstorm- quantity first then you can carve quality. Find out secret talents the actors have (singing, dancing, yodeling, selective regurgitation, etc.) and employ them, and don’t waste talents like Judith Light [who was brilliant in the ‘Claire & Yoga’ episodes— speaking of, bring back Yoga] or Bernadette Peters [having St. Bernadette neither sing nor go nuts [two things she’s great at on stage and on camera] is kind of like having Orlando Broom get naked for a voiceover]).
So would you have taken the $10,000 from Matt? Or, assume that you hadn’t learned it was from Matt but didn’t know who it was from, would you have taken it? While I’ve never been in a position where giving somebody a $10K gift wouldn’t leave me somewhere between ‘feelin’ it or dead broke’, I have been in a position where $200 or so wouldn’t affect me much, and it was always frustrating when friends wouldn’t accept it, so I actually feel it from Matt’s point as well.
I thought Wilhelmina’s testimony to the Bail Out committee was actually really well stated (the thousands employed by the fashion industry part especially). I liked the stab at the Congressional grandstanding as well (taking them to task over a $400 dinner bought with their own money when tens of millions are needed for the bailout and $400 wouldn’t make the beginnings of a ding in a dent on the problem- totally something a Congressional camera whore would do). I have a feeling the fact that Matt is from a billionaire family will come into play ala MODE and Betty will end up working for her boyfriend.
HIJACK: Why exactly did Moe Rocca leave THE DAILY SHOW I wonder? He’s talented but since leaving he turns up in things like this episodic appearance (not even a major one) and as the host of a pet show and as yet another sardonic monotone on those I LOVE THE… shows (5 minutes of which were funny but then just annoying) etc… Meanwhile most of TDS correspondents aren’t up to his level, so I wish they’d patch up whatever differences there were and he’d go back.
Sampiro - What did you think of Justin’s song-and-dance panhandling? He did so well! (And $250?? I’m in the wrong business!) I didn’t even notice Mo Rocca. I usually only see him in cooking shows, it seems.
The problem that I have with the Mode bailout request is that the reason they’re asking for a handout is because they were stupid and didn’t have proper accounting checks and balances in place. Why should my tax dollars support a magazine that’s not smart enough to guard against embezzlement? It’s a stupidity tax, only it’s not my stupidity.
StG
Justin totally has a Broadway voice. And totally makes Elton John look like John Wayne (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
I’m still doubting the loyalty of Daniel’s flame. I think she (and her illness) might be part of the con. Or, flip side could be true, she might know where Connor went and Daniel’s loyalty to her (if her illness isn’t real) could make her tell.
[hijack] I notice that there are several gay men amongst the fans of this show. Why is this show so popular with gay men? (My apologies if this is a tacky or offensive question.) [/hijack]
I’d imagine it’s because of two gay characters and the whole fashion industry theme. But I’ll let a gay man answer it.
Just my opinion:
The main character is an outsider in a big world.
One of the supporting characters is openly gay, several of the guest starring characters are gay, and Betty’s nephew Justin- while they’ve never said the word- is not only obviously gay but has the family all gay guys wish they had (totally accepting of him- though in the real world I could totally see Hilda flipping out when she learns- amazing what people can blind themselves too).
Constant parade of Broadway stars (two biggests probably Bernadette Peters and Patti Lupone) and ex stage diva Vanessa Williams is one of the stars.
Lots of eye candy.
ORIGINALLY funny quirky plots, but the show’s gone a bit downhill this season.
The Marc/Cliff storyline was really popular among gays (Marc, if you don’t watch it, is a super prissy snob and Cliff is a pudgy slob, but they clicked).
No, I don’t watch it, which is why I had no clue.
Thanks for your answer.
Everything he said. It’s a funny show on its own, but it’s also hip to gay sensibilities. You don’t get that too often. Marc & Justin are gay clowns, but it doesn’t feel like they’re making too much fun of them, if that makes sense. They’re funny, but not the butt of the joke.
I need to emphasize this. My own mother loved me to pieces, but told me I was going to hell if I didn’t stop my gay activities. God loves you, but only if you do the right thing and bear that cross, i.e. don’t actually do anything gay.
That Ignacio accepts his grandson as who he is means more to me as a viewer than you can imagine.
So is the guy who plays Daniel gay in real life? He kisses women like Niles Crane does and I have a bet with my wife that he’s gay.
Not that it proves otherwise, but he’s married with children. (Eric Mabius is his name.)
Speaking of Daniel, there was a continuity problem the other night that was driving me nuts. Daniel is talking with his mother and Willi- whenever he’s seen from the front his arms are folded, from the back (for perhaps a gratuitous shot of his [fully clothed] butt) his arms are at his side. Just one of those little things that they should have caught as it makes it seem the character is popping his arms back and forth instantaneously whenever the angle changes.
I guess he’s just uncomfortable with screen kisses. Or else he hates his co-star.
Rumor is that he’s so devoted to his wife that he won’t kiss another actress but instead has the producers fly in Kirk Cameron for him to kiss. The rest is CGI.
One of the major reasons for this is that Silvio Horta, the showrunner, is gay himself. The show definitely hits the right notes on gay sensibilities.
Oh, and can I just say…CHEYENNE JACKSON!!! Man, I’d pay to see those “playdate” tapes…
Same here, but I still want Cliffy to come back.
Is there a better regal nasty bitch in the business than Christine Baranski?
Or a more boyishly cute 47 year old than Ralph Macchio?
Nice ep. “Not thrilling… but nice.”
I really enjoyed the advice Daniel’s mom gave Betty about the dinner and what to do about her rejection from Matt’s mom.
Not to mention, Willi standing up (looking stunning, by the way) on top of her possessions and telling Marc “Mama’s DOWNSIZING!”