McAllister is Ron Paul with eyeliner and fake tan.
Oh, and Joe needs to die in a fucking fire.

Someone remind me why Kitty and Senator Snore can't just get married like... now? Why does the campaign have to research candidates with babies out of wedlock? It makes NO sense.

EDIT - Okay, this issue is apparently NEXT week.

Also, is there a single way they aren't going to try and make Joe look like a jerk? I mean I hate the character, but you'd think they'd try for a more balanced divorce story.

RG rocked in this episode. I just wanted to give her a hug or something.

I totally cried watching Sarah lose her kids like that, ugh I want to kill Joe. That was a really good episode.

Tommy/Lena is dragging and needs to end like NOW. I was glad to see nothing on that plot in the 2nd half.

Joe needs to die! Argh!!!! How the hell does he get custody even if it's temporary?!

Kitty and Robert fight! *shock* But awwww at the rest of it.

LOL at Justin gossiping to everyone about Kitty being pregnant. The scenes with the whole family watching the debate and finding out was great.

LOL "Sexy nurse, sexy cat, sexy prostitute?"

I hate Joe. How does he expect to support those kids? Just like with his lawyer I presume, with the money Sarah makes while working.

Why didn't Kevin and Sarah inform the judge Joe was kissing the children's teenage aunt?

Wow, Sarah's storyline was hitting hard. I loved Nora's reaction to Joe when she answered the door. I don't really understand how Joe can say that having sole custody of Cooper and Paige will be better for them, not when it's clear they have a great relationship with Sarah as well. I hope they manage to agree on a joint custody agreement.

Gossipy Justin had me cracking up, as did Saul dropping the ball. Made me wonder how Kitty is going to be able to handle the family without wine.

Blech, Tommy/Lena. Though I loved his exchange with Justin. "Abandoned husband". "Wounded vet".

I hate Joe, but I don't find it shocking that he received full temporary custody. When a stay at home mom divorces her husband are we shocked if she gets the full temporary?

Great episode! Did anyone else catch during the debates where the text on the screen said the GOP canidate debate? Minor detail, but that error drove me nuts!

Except for the incredibly stupid Tommy infidelity, that was really hard hitting. I love when B&S pulls off these really deep and emotional episodes without losing the heart of the show.

I loved all the talk about "The Pantry". So awesome!

I don't know, I could see both sides with the Joe and Sarah situation and thought the ruling could go either way, and I thought it was kind of dumb on Sarah's part to never consider it could have gone that route of somebody asking for primary custody. And part me thinks, if Joe was Josephine and Sarah was Sam, reactions may be different.

Joe, go away. Please. Now.

Office assistant girl, go away. Please. Now.

RG is fierce. She's fab at drama and comedy.

This pregnancy is really going to rock the Republican boat. Uh oh. And what will the ex-wife have to say?

Rachel Griffiths broke my heart a little there at the end, when she thumped down on the stairs. Joe is a douche, they're really enjoying destroying his character aren't they?

I was actually surprised that Kitty was pregnant, I thought for sure it was a fake out. I loved the scene at the house where she told the family, they were all so happy for her and you could see how hard she was trying to not look happy but she really was excited. Plus, Calista looked terrible and ill for most of the episode, especially the last scene with the campaign staff. Good job, make-up artists.

DAMN! I was waiting for Hurricane Nora to pick Joe up and drop him somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. The icy "They've always been" was pretty awesome, but not nearly enough.

For ten whole minutes, I thought maybe the Senator was going to put his halo away for an entire episode. No such luck.

Overall, it was a great episode though. Loved the Kitty/Nora scenes. The scene with Sarah and Kitty in the kitchen was great-wonderfully underplayed by Rachel Griffiths. Her collapsing on the stairs at the end broke my heart.



Not mine. Leaving aside my issues with how Joe conducts his relationships with other adults, he and Sarah both seem to have wonderful, loving relationships with their children. What's in the best interest of the children is to continue to spend equal time with both of them. It really is that simple. It doesn't have a damn thing to do with who works and who doesn't, who makes the kids brown bag lunches before school and who made the money to put something in those brown bags. How are the children better served by being denied time with people who love them?

The thing is they could have had a much more compelling custody story if they'd been more subtle. I mean Joe WAS the primary caregiver in the family and at one point he WAS posed as having done a decent job. Now he's just a mustache twirling villain, the way they are portraying him.

Also on the list of hatable things... obviously this Tommy story bites.

Kudos to Sarah and Nora... there is no way I wouldn't have punched Joe in his smug, stringy-haired wannabe rocker face. I want to do it now and I have no stake in the kids (and they're fictional).

And I loved Nora's line to Kitty about telling her how to raise her kids. Hee! At least she admits it right off the bat.

Yeah. It's apparently in his contract that he can't end ANY episode with a cloud over his character. Or at least it SEEMS like it.

Is it just me or is Joe looking especially old and haggard? Looks like he's aged 10 years since season 1. I can understand his reasoning for wanting to keep the kids, he has been the primary care taker, but he went about it the wrong way. Surprising Sarah with that, was not cool and a low blow, and I can't figure out why he would want to stick it to her like that.
The pregnancy thing, well that was kind of to be expected, we'll see where that goes.
Hoping there is a bit more levity to next week's episode.
Tommy/Lena, does that man not learn anything from his father?

Tommy really went for it with Lena, I was kinda shocked by that. For someone who says his wife is the love of his life, that is really disgusting.

I started crying when Nora showed up at the house. Seeing Sarah lose those kids was heart breaking. So Joe kissed Sarah's sister, left her, started seeing the ex, slept with Sarah and gave her hope, and will now most likely live off Sarah? If Sarah is paying for the attorney, I assume he's going to ask for a nice support package. Nice. I sort of understood if he was the stay at home dad, that he could be with them, but now that he's on his own he should NOT be expecting to continue to stay at home. Could they make him any more of a low life?

Joe couldn't have been a bigger creep, but I think the judge made the right decision - for now. I totally knew that he had beaten Sarah to the punch on lining up the character witnesses. What a sad, painful storyline, especially because it's so well done.

Joe. Dead to me. You are a douche, Joe and I'd bet you're doing it for the money -- Sarah said it herself - she makes like 5 times Joe. Having gone through a divorce, I was in tears when Sarah had to say goodbye to her kids. Wipe that smug ass look off your face, Joe -- Sarah and the rest of the Walkers will be back with a vengence. RG rocked that scene and how much do I LOVE that Nora was there for her. Thank God, in my own experience, I never had to go through what Sarah did. My ex and I get along well and never had issues like that.

Justin, you're going down that slippery slope pretty quick.

Sam Seaborn, you were being a big ass at first, but I'll chalk that up to debate prep. Loved how they did the Kitty pregnant reveal. Any other wingnuts catch the little shout out -- when Nora was reading the baby name book, she said Ainsley!!!!! (I'll take it where I can get it).

Tommy, Tommy, Tommy. Maybe he's better off without Julia but not with TrampyLena -- was she making a play for Justin in the previews???

I loved that Nora showed up to be with Sarah. That was heartbreaking and I loved Nora's icy stares at Joe.

Anybody else giving Joe the finger? Asshole.

When Holly is the sane sound of reason, then Tommy and Jenna Bush are really in trouble.

Yeah, I agree with statement that the Senator and Kitty should just get married. Apparently, the don't get that its about the country, not them.

Nora and Sarah were awesome. I liked Nora was waiting for Joe to say something. Why isn't Sarah's attorney tearing Joe a new one? She has got the money and the clout to bury his sorry ass and I want to see that post haste. I hate him because he has that I am better than you pity in his eyes when he looks at Sarah. He is better because he isn't about money and power...at least this is the vibe he gives off. His ass did not have a problem living in the lifestyle she provided so I don't understand why its all bad now.

God, that final scene really punched me in the gut. Damn you, Rachel, for making me cry.

This was a very strong episode. It focused on two strong stories (Sarah/custody, Kitty/pregnancy), we got some group family time, some nice moments for Nora, Kevin, and Justin, and (thankfully) mimimal Tommy/Lena.

LOVED the pantry theme. "Did she go all the way in?" "All the way." "Wow."

Easy. It helps make him a nice convenient villain for this plot.

I mean, if this had been written smarter, he would have had a POINT and the Sarah stuff would have been TWICE as poignant.

I don't think it's shocking, I think it's bullshit (in real life as well).

By the way, where the hell are Robert's kids? Are we ever going to hear from them again?

NM repeating myself.

Just playing devil's advocate here (b/c I hate Joe too and I'm a sahm):
How is Joe (the stay at home parent) wanting full custody any different from a stay at home mom wanting full custody? He has been the primary caregiver and he has been at home with them. Yes, he will still be living off Sarah's paycheck, but if you flipped the sexes that wouldn't be so shocking, I think.

The thing about Justin: who pops their secret pills in the middle of the hallway when there is a room full of relatives just off from them?

Wow, Joe is an unredeemable asshole. His asking for full custody wasn't a shock, but his blindsiding of Sarah and the clear plotting behind her back he did (all the while consenting to have sex with on a washing machine) was malicious and awful. And he seems to think he's owed this, for all the "suffering" he endured during his marriage to Sarah. He even tried to get sympathy from Nora! And what is the deal with Gabe's mom? Was he a stay-at-home dad when he was married, to her, too? Also, get a haircut! HATE!

The Lena/Tommy thing is doing nothing for me. They didn't let their longing for each other build at all so it just seems out-of-the-blue. When she was drunk at that club or whatever, why didn't she call Rebecca?

Wow, Kitty's pregs! MaCallister's anger seemed a bit out-of-place because she had just found out that day. It's not like she was hiding it from him for weeks.

Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths were both fantastic this week. Sarah sinking to the floor after Joe left with the kids was heartbreaking.

Next week...Danny Glover! Oh, and possibly another Walker for Lena to bang?

The only thing is, if they just all of a sudden get married.....a couple months down the line people are going to realize that the only reason that got married so quickly is the fact that there's a bun in the oven, especially with REALLY close timing like that. It could backlash and people could spin it as the President taking advantage and not taking marriage as a serious commitment, but rather a way out of a jam.

It's not shocking, which is why this episode is a problem. They made SURE he'd use douchey tactics (sneak attack with long range planning), so the viewers wouldn't see this reasonably. But if the show HAD shown his position as reasonable, I think this episode would have been MUCH better. Much more heartbreaking for Sarah in a way.

I guess the writers were saving it up and redeemed themselves this week. Excellent dialogue by just about everyone -- which had been missing the past few weeks.

I am sure that when Sarah gets a hardier divorce attorney, the kissing her sister issue will come out, and I am looking forward to it.

As far as Tommy and Lena, please make it stop.

Re TexasGirl: I can't wait to see how the wife reacts as well, and also Roberts oft forgotten children. That should be interesting.
I hate Lena already, can't wait for her character to go away. And the sexual tension between Justin and Rebecca is creeping me out.

I scolded Tommy out loud at the tv when he picked up Lena at the bar and kissed her. I did enjoy Holly calling her out at work, "I'm better at this than you are". Heh.

Joe, you really are a schmuck, and I never hated you as much as most until recently. I can see a judge giving temp custody, since he was stay-at-home caregiver. But now, Sarah had better bring out the big guns over finances, and, uh, macking on your sister-in-law while married. As much as I love Patty Griffin's Heavenly Day, I didn't think it fit the scene with Paige and Sarah on the couch. It's really a happy song and that didn't seem a happy moment.

When Robert got angry with Kitty and was kind of a dick, I was thinking, TWoP will be happy he's not acting perfect. Of course, he rectified that quickly. I can't see them carrying forward the baby storyline, but we'll see.

The whole bit with the pantry being the harbringer of shocking! news cracked me up.
Man I thought Nora was going to freeze Joe with "the look". Sad thing is he is/was the primary care giver of the kids.
As for Tommy, the apple don't fall far from the tree.
As for Lena, sleeping with your employers is probably why you've never had a "real job" (or at least kept one) Holly is going to have a coniption. This will end badly. Trust.

Does Joe even have a job? Or is he gonna stay at home and get palimony from Sarah?

When does he get his comeuppance for kissing his wife's sister? Or is the divorce supposed to be that? Cause it certainly looks like it's kicking Sarah's ass way more.

I don't mind one or the other getting primary custody, but it's foul the way Joe made her out to be a bad mom cause of some minor detail. Like he's such a great parent, necking with he kid's aunt while they're in the next room or where ever. Also foul that he'd clearly been planning to sabotage her like this, since he'd gotten his the references a month ago. He was clearly just waiting for her to accumulate enough grievances before he went forward and that's just grimy.

And color me surprise that they went through with the Tommy/Lena thing. That was fast wasn't it? Then again Tommy's such a tertiary character that everything involving him seems to happen almost instantly and then before so they can shuffle him back into the woodwork. Not that I mind, because he always seems to end up with these simpering blonds. What's that about?

Too many strong, intimidating females around while growing up?

Also I don't think the issue is that Kitty and Robert can't get married immediately. I think it's that whatever they do now, if/once the public finds out, it'll reflect badly on the campaign either way.

If they bring forward the wedding and get married before it's made public, once people discover that Kitty's pregnant, whether it's in a month or four, his opponents will use that against him. The senator who had a shotgun wedding cause he knocked up his girlfriend and rushed to the altar for political reasons. Or if they wait too long to get married and it's found out, then he'll be the senator with the pregnant girlfriend. Either way a rushed wedding amounts to fodder for his opponents.

This is why Joe has to be made a villian. He has to be sleeping with the ex, this is why he has to be screwing over Sarah, this is why he had to be a low life and have sex with her and cheat on said ex.
The writers HAVE to paint Joe has completely unsypathetic because they want us to not want him to have the kids.

Hee, I noticed that too. I may have yelled at the TV when I heard it, too...maybe.

I also yelled at Tommy when he kissed Lena in the car. Seriously, not a good idea buddy. You're gonna regret that I think.

As much as an asshole as Joe is, I didn't think he was a mustache-twirling villain. He WAS the primary caretaker of Paige and Cooper, and I've never doubted his love and devotion for his kids.

Sarah falling down onto the ground ripped my heart out, though. RG was phenomenal, as was Sally Field. At her compassionate best.

Yes. Justin and Lena would make for a more interesting pairing, imo. If they had to make Tommy go the affair route, the writers should have thought about Tommy and Holly...

As for Senator Halo acting so perfectly all the time, I'm beginning to worry. You know what they say, only the good die...

Regarding the Robert/Kitty pregnancy, am I the only one surprised they didn't even mention abortion?

Okay I give up, who is the Ainsley in question that received a shout out?

Ainsley Hayes, the blond Republican knockout lawyer who worked in the Democratic Bartlet White House on TWW and who Sam (aka Senator McCallister) routinely ogled. And who slapped him good on Capitol Beat. Ah, good times....

Well Tommy has always wanted to be just like his father...
I want to like his character but there's rarely anything happening for him, and when there is it's something ridiculous like this whole Lena thing ugh.

In a way it's understandable that Joe was awarded custody of the kids, since he has been their primary care giver. I think this is how things would initially work out in the real world.

While Joe is been written as a jerk, I don't think it's odd that he would ask for full custody. From his point of view, Sarah is usually very occupied with work, and he has been the one who has spent the most time with the kids. I wish they would have written this in a more balanced way.

I don't have a problem with Joe seeking custody at all. I hate the way he did it. He seems smug about the whole thing. He has sex with Sarah then tells her that he is past their relationship and she should be too as if she is some booty call that he met at a club. He was married to her and she is the mother of his kids. He acts as if its all Sarah's fault that their marriage didn't work when clearly it was both of their faults. If he did not like staying at home then he should have said something.

Sarah deserved better than Joe's ambush and he did not consider the affect that it would have on his kids. If he was so interested in full custody, why did Sarah have the kids in the first place? Wasn't he tiring of the house husband routine when he was flirting with various stay at home moms and Rebecca? My impression of Joe's character is that he is a stay at home parent by default because he is at home anyway. I have never gotten the impression that Joe wanted to be a stay at home parent even though Sarah said that they discussed who would work and who would stay home. He agreed to it, but its not really what he wanted to do.

You know the toughest divorce attorney in the city that Sarah's going to get? I so hope he/she brings up the fact that Joe made a pass at her sister.

I loved the Sarah/Kitty scene in the kitchen. Rachel and Calista absolutely sell that they've known each other forever and would jump in front of a bus for the other.

Sally and Rachel were phenomenal at the end. The casting on this show is just brilliant--I have bought every connection and relationship since episode 1.

I hate Joe, I really do. It's not that he wants full custody of the kids so much as that he totally went behind her back and blindsided her about it. Joe could have at least been a man and told Sarah what he wanted, but he didn't. And even though I do think Joe loves Paige and Cooper, the way he went about it (already calling character witnesses, not telling Sarah, etc...) made it seem as if Joe only did it to spite Sarah. He's a total coward.

Also, RG did some fantastic work tonight. I cried with Sarah when she collapsed on the stairs.