46 replies to this topic

[TWoP Mars]

From Sho.com:

Bill arrives at Hank's asking for a favor - will Hank speak at Mia's creative writing class? Hank relents, but not without taking something in exchange. Hank wins over the sexy students at Mia's all-girl school and also learns some surprising things about her teacher. Plus, Becca's pre-teen crush on her guitar teacher ends in her first heartbreak.

[Angelfirenze]

I love that Hank agrees with me about webspeak. And I'm pissed because Becca is twelve and better read than I am. I feel so mediocre. I have work to do. Fifty-nine books I need to either finish or begin. Oh, Charlie is an absolute tool and his wife strikes me as nasty. 'Stinky pinky'? That you immediately dunk into his martini? EW.

Suddenly, I'm not so upset that he's adverse to her. I just wish he'd communicate with her and tell her so. And...Hank's girlfriend lost several points with me, tonight. I still can't figure out if they're breaking up or not and she refuses to see herself as something other than a plaything for married men. And using Hank's radio rant as a poor excuse to break up with him, like he was talking specifically about her. And she is being stupid.

Oh, right, and Mia still scares the hell out of me. And her teacher could be why she's the way she is. He was disgusting. Bill doesn't help, the tool.

Edited by Angelfirenze, Sep 10, 2007 @ 10:08 PM.

[Mia Nina]

My least favorite episode so far. Becca, as always, rocks. Her 12 year old crush is so familiar. I'm pretty sure everyone went through that one. Oh, and that last scene with her Hank was again the best of the episode. I hope they end every episode with them.

"How's my girl doing?" Saw that one coming 3 miles away and in some way think Hank was vague on purpose knowing she would bite. But it was still cute.

I never liked the boss but now I'm disgusted by him and his whole storyline. Ugh.

Mia's teacher? Dude should be locked up.

[bayareabrad]

Yeah, that teacher was beyond pedo creepy. This show finally seems to be finding its footing. Hank is becoming more decent with every show although he still has a ways to go. Thank goodness he has Becca to keep him grounded. btw, I loved Becca's hairdoo at the beginning. She really likes to experiment with different looks, doesn't she? I guess that's normal for a girl her age but I don't think I'm quite buying that she has all that literature memorized. Smart is one thing but she seems like a savant.

One thing that bugged me: the protrayal of Handler's wife seems like just another example of the show's writers contempt for women. She's so desparate that she would want to be Handler's "vessel" to do with as he pleases? C'mon, now. At least it looks like he gets caught in the act in next week's ep. I think Handler is going to have more than his wife's finger up his ass....like her foot, maybe?

Yay for Bob Dylan on the soundtrack!!

[Telecine]

Liked the episode!

Thought for a minute that Bill was really coming to Hank's to confront him about Mia. (Of course, seeing the previews for the episode beforehand kinda killed that mis-direct pretty quickly!) And enjoyed Hank asking Bill to call off the wedding, and when he doesn't go for it, takes his jacket.

Mia is still a bit creepy, but I think her character is more in the 'young girl crush' mode with Hank now. You can see how she watches him during the class presentation, and tries to get in his car after class. Seems like she's playing the 'adult' seductress, but her youth-driven naivete is coming thru. She's totally diggin' him.

But what was up with the Guitar teacher? Was he attractive to any women out there? I have no idea why Mia or Karen would be attracted to that guy. 'fuck sting' and all...

[GG63]

Mia Nina - agree wholeheartly with you on the crush! As soon as I saw Mia watching the guitar instructor I knew something bad was going to happen to Becca's heart. Mia creeps me out - I know there are girls like her out there, but I don't want to acknowledge it (big time denial). I was also hoping she might have some decency and not hook up with someone she knows her soon to be step sister has a big crush on.

[Snowden]

This episode had everything that's right with the show. Take Hank: It's impossible to write well unless you write sincerely, and it takes nearly self-destructive courage to write sincerely in a world of so many horrors. I, and George Orwell agree with Hank about the dangerous path of the English language, and with the English language goes English thought, and with English thought goes our humanity, and that's life in a sad world. Becca, sweet as always. Also, there is Bill, as much of a tool as Bill is, he has a great attitude about Hank. A smaller man wouldn't have anything to do with Hank. I'll feel bad for Bill if Karen ever cheats on Bill.

As to the red head, I have a thing for red heads, so any episode that has a red head going down on an anxious writer is going to be good for me.

Edited by Snowden, Sep 11, 2007 @ 3:19 PM.

[Two Dollar Toll]

I loved the episode. Here I was thinking that Meredith was the together one and it turns out that she is more fucked up than Hank. It was great seeing Hank be the closest thing to an adult in that relationship. I wanted him to ask her not to go, but maybe he was ready to let go. Or maybe he knew she would turn him down. Or maybe he was just too proud.

Also I loved the development of the relationship between Hank and Bill. In fact I LOL'd several times during "LOL" and during this scene in particular.

Becca who likes the Guitar Guy who likes Karen but ultimately goes off with Mia -- great stuff. I can believe that a smart girl like Becca would have trouble fitting in with her own age group and struggle with trying to figure out the world. Mia is such a user. I don't hate her yet but it is getting there.

Charlie and his wife seem to be dealing with issues that could be found on HBO's 'Tell Me You Love Me". However, the treatment on this show is entertaining.

Mia's teacher -- was he the grumpy writer from "The Comeback"?

Room for improvement: more nude sex scenes, please. The amount of nudity has sadly tapered off over the last few episodes.

[Postkantian]

The writer as rock star? LMFAO! A priest offering a BJ in a church? BOHICA. The fiancee asking the unpredictable ex to speak on his behalf at the daughter's school? FOAD.

Aside from the writer's persistent need to massage his own ego - and the infantile need to resort to shock value to get our attention - a quarter decent episode.

Edited by Postkantian, Sep 11, 2007 @ 9:58 AM.

[kingcityguru]

Watching this episode was the best of times and the worst of times.

First the worst What is with this anti-Catholic shit that, in this episode, added nothing to the story. Sure I am Catholic and maybe sensitive to the issue, but what did that dream sequence add? Nothing. Could you imagine, if it was plausible to the story, DD walking into a Mosque and asking the Iman for oral sex or discussing the Iman having sex with boys. No and that is because of how many people would be killed and beheaded if anything like that was ever shown.

Next on the list is the whole Mia and the school lecture thing. No way does her father ask DD to do that for him (and without a phone call?) and no way does the conversation that alludes to his having sex with his daughter ever goes down like that. Very weak and, again, distasteful/

As for the best: I loved the LOL rant on the radio as I agreed with it totally and really liked the performance and of DD's agent's wife regarding the stink finger story line. The good-bye banging of the soon to be ex also seemed very well played.

Finally, please rework the opening credits and music-- it is too weak. Overall, the worst episode so far after the strongest.

Edited by kingcityguru, Sep 11, 2007 @ 10:05 AM.

[burnedin]

Mia's teacher -- was he the grumpy writer from "The Comeback"?

Most definitely! What was that character's name? Paulie?

LOVED this episode!

[Omar G]

Oh yeah! Paulie G, right? Wow, lots of "Comeback" cast on this show. They need to bring in Lisa Kudrow to guest star.

[Two Dollar Toll]

Slo-moing the credits reveals that Lance Barber WAS in this episode, who played Paulie G on "The Comeback". Great to see Comeback alum Damian Young as Bill on this show also. I hope Bill sticks around and I am worried that he only gets "Guest Starring" billing instead of a more permanent spot at the beginning of the show.

Edited by Two Dollar Toll, Sep 11, 2007 @ 11:18 AM.

[Omar G]

For one brief moment, I thought it might be Eugene Mirman. But the eyes gave it away.

[burnedin]

They need to bring in Lisa Kudrow to guest star.

OMG & LOL! The idea of Hank Moody and Valerie Cherish interacting in any kind of way is just delicious!

[beebs]

This episode wasn't bad.

I'm really not liking Mr. Agent man at the moment. What an fool! Lets see if they can make him look better in future eps. Making his wife seem cool is just making him look worse.

Bill going to Hank to speak at Mia's school? Err, not so sure about that.

Mia. Yep, still not liking her at all.

Becca is a robot. Well spotted G.

Meridith, you're leaving Hank for the lawyer? You know Hank's right. You'll be back for more. It was good seeing him in some kind of relationship. I dread the prospect of more random naked ladies popping up every 3 minutes an episode.

[arabica]

Becca is a robot.

Although I usually disagree with Omar, the recapper, on most every episode he reviews, his Beccabot references always make me laugh.

Pretty good episode but I liked the last one a little better. Only because I liked his new girlfriend and I hate to see her go. Also, I see now why DD refused to sing when he was on The View. Here I thought it was Scully who was one of the worst singers ever. "Jeramiah was a Bullfrog" anyone?

I was wrong. She has nothing on DD. lol!

[Mia Nina]

First the worst What is with this anti-Catholic shit that, in this episode, added nothing to the story. Sure I am Catholic and maybe sensitive to the issue, but what did that dream sequence add? Nothing.

I couldn't agree more. Actually, as soon as I saw he was in a Church, I changed the channel and waited for the scene to be over. I had already seen the one with the nun so yeah.... I find it highly uncool and yup, I am uber sensitive about the issue.

It was good seeing him in some kind of relationship. I dread the prospect of more random naked ladies popping up every 3 minutes an episode.

So true!

Also, I don't think Hank was using Meredith at all. I think he liked her.

[beebs]

Oh he did like Meredith... From what we saw of him in the first two not so good episodes he didn't really care about who or where he was getting his next sex session from.

The church stuff doesn't bother me. It's not as funny as they think it is though. It's a bit meh, whatever.

G does seem to be struggling a bit with the show... but hey it could be worse. It could be Smallville ;) You ready for that one yet?

[Nemicorn]

The speaking at school bit held a special vibe for me. I knew a guy, when I lived in Los Angeles, a poet, who got a lot of gigs speaking at or giving readings in schools. He talked a lot about the almost predatory cast of the girls at the rich Catholic girls schools, including a couple of "Sharon Stone" moments with plaid skirts and girls who seemed oblivious to the fact or comfortable with the notion that they were putting out a "for rent or lease" sign to a guy old enough to be their father.

He said that after the first ten seconds flashing back to specific fantasies, he was kind of creeped out by it and wanted nothing more than to "crawl out the window" to get away from it.

Interesting episode. Hated to see his FB fall for her old boyfriend's jealousy move. Hope Hank doesn't take her back when she gets reality in the face. Hank may be an ass, but playing janitor to the human soul is not a pleasant job for anyone.

[CrashEdit]

Not the best of the season, but I'm willing to cut it some slack.

Bill asking Hank to talk at Mia's school? You guys are right, it would be totally out of character for Bill to ask Hank for anything, particularly anything that involves young schoolgirls...UNLESS a)Bill was in a jam and for whatever reason felt his relationship with his daughter was on shaky enough ground so as to require desperate measures to avoid disappointing her AND/OR b) Mia herself specifically identified Hank as an adequate substitute for Bill, thereby giving Bill an "easy out".

Writer as Rock Star? Do not doubt this mantra -- in an all-girl's school, anything with a penis is a rock star (oh, shit, did I just quote the pervy teacher dude?). Beyond that, though, is the fact that this writer fucking looks like David Duchovny, has a cool leather jacket and [Corey Hart] wears his sunglasses [/Corey Hart] inside. He could've been the janitor and would've garnered the same response.

Interestingly, this show has become a bit of a bad boyfriend for me. I find myself defending it more often than not, and it disappoints me on a fairly regular basis and yet...there's something there, something good at its core that keeps me coming back for more.

Damn you, Californication! Call me?

[Winston Smith]

A priest offering a BJ in a church? BOHICA. The fiancee asking the unpredictable ex to speak on his behalf at the daughter's school? FOAD

I realize that there was probably a strong dose of irony in the post given Hank's radio rant, but I'm still curious, what are FOAD and BOHICA?

I don't really feel that the show is improving, but its still keeping me reasonably entertained.

Interesting episode. Hated to see his FB fall for her old boyfriend's jealousy move. Hope Hank doesn't take her back when she gets reality in the face. Hank may be an ass, but playing janitor to the human soul is not a pleasant job for anyone.

To me this relationship is quickly becoming the most interesting part of the show. Hank's messed up, but she seems even more fucked up but doesn't realize it becasue she's outwardly 'respectable.' At least Hank seems to understand the basis of his self destructive tendancies.

[anonymiss]

The Internet-speak rant is so played-out and reductive. It may be true and profound for those whose Internet experience only reaches so far as IM programs and their ilk.

I enjoy Mia--the actress and the character. She's believable, fun, hot, and did cast a glance of concern towards Becca after inadvertently stomping on her prepubescent heart. I'm glad that, for the time being at least, she's moved on to a guy around her own age.

To answer the question of whether I could see the hotness in guitar teacher? Yeah, he has that typical floppy-haired, lean, nonchalant, wannabe-musician thing that is supposed to be hot.

[Satanic Counsel]

First the worst What is with this anti-Catholic shit that, in this episode, added nothing to the story. Sure I am Catholic and maybe sensitive to the issue, but what did that dream sequence add? Nothing. Could you imagine, if it was plausible to the story, DD walking into a Mosque and asking the Iman for oral sex or discussing the Iman having sex with boys. No and that is because of how many people would be killed and beheaded if anything like that was ever shown.

But there's no worldwide scandal of sexual abuse in Islam (the San Diego Church announced a $198M settlement just last week and a convent had to be put up for sale to help play for it), so your analogy doesn't quite not work. It would have to be bomb jokes and, yes, Muslims would be offended, but I sincerely doubt killing and beheadings would result mainly because I'm sure some movie has already done it..

And while I understand sensitivity towards one's religion, given what happened in the first scene of the first episode, it's on you to still be here. It's like being offended by graphic sex or language or painfully contrived writing to fulfill fantasies (Pussyman speaks to teenage Catholic school girls!?! Are you fucking kidding me!?!) and still watching.

Becca, as always, rocks. Her 12 year old crush is so familiar.

This why I'm still watching. They should retool the show and make it about this cute little goth girl trying to grow up with Pussyman (who apparently can start panties dropping at puberty) for a dad. It would be a much better show, focusing on its strengths (the father-daughter relationship) and moving away from its weaknesses (The Adventures of Pussyman and his sidekick, Penishead).

To answer the question of whether I could see the hotness in guitar teacher? Yeah, he has that typical floppy-haired, lean, nonchalant, wannabe-musician thing that is supposed to be hot.

I saw it too and I would have preferred a potentially more devestating-for-Becca plot about he and mom at least sharing a kiss as she tries to recapture some of her youth where she got that giant tattoo on her back.

Edited by Satanic Counsel, Sep 12, 2007 @ 1:28 PM.

[Angelfirenze]

This why I'm still watching. They should retool the show and make it about this cute little goth girl trying to grow up with Pussyman (who apparently can start panties dropping at puberty) for a dad. It would be a much better show, focusing on its strengths (the father-daughter relationship) and moving away from its weaknesses (The Adventures of Pussyman and his sidekick, Penishead).

*laughs loudly* I totally agree. And that sounds like a comic. Bluntman and Chronic, anyone?

Speaking of which, I tried to buy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back at Meijer today and they CARDED ME. I am twenty-one but, apparently, don't look it. THE ONE TIME I FORGET MY ID and I get carded for a MOVIE. *cries* I'm getting it the next time we go back, damn it. On the bright side, I got Out Cold, which should amuse me quite adequately. Now if only I could tear myself away from the various TWoP boards, LJ, and various pieces of fanfiction...

You people are of no help at all. I am sick and need to rest, but I'm so entertained! *shakes fist*

[indianhoop]

Being brutally honest, as a high school teacher myself, I've known a few guys like Mia's "pervy teacher"....they are very rare but do exist sadly. I have to say I've also had a few young "Sharon Stones" in my class as well...it happens, just have to be professional about it and obviously ignore it ever happened.

Ok...lol (sorry Hank), back to the show at hand....it still feels like it's getting its sea legs. There are moments when it looks promising and then there are wince inducing segments shortly thereafter. I like Duchovny (I've actually met him...he and Tea Leoni spend time during the summer here) so I'll keep watching but looking forward to other Showtime fare: Brotherhood,Dexter more.

[dr malcolm]

The Internet-speak rant is so played-out and reductive. It may be true and profound for those whose Internet experience only reaches so far as IM programs and their ilk.

I have to disagree. Look at the proliferation of message boards. TWoP is one of.. an infinite number on any conceivable subject.

And speaking of message boards, that brings me to my favorite line in Hank's little rant, that "Computers have turned into four figure wank machines." Awesome. And so true.

I give you the definition of wank as offered by that extremely credible site, urbandictionary.com: An on-line discussion without purpose or substance that often involves pretension and bullshit.

Edited by dr malcolm, Sep 12, 2007 @ 11:27 PM.

[isiscloud]

AND/OR b) Mia herself specifically identified Hank as an adequate substitute for Bill, thereby giving Bill an "easy out".

This is what I think. Hank loves that people like his stories and he can't get enough of their praise, but can't bring himself to sell one.

Loved his line about wanting to have Oprah's Book Club stamp of approval...a huge slap in the face to the publishing world. I make it a point not to read one of those books if I can help it. Henry Rollins even looked shocked at Hank's rants. However, for someone who puts down LOL and continues to say stuff like, B to the E to double C-A, does not have my sympathy.

Nobody speaks 100% correctly. If we did our language would never evolve. However, there is a time & place for LOL & BRB. A 30+ nearly 40 woman should not say them aloud!

I'm glad Meredith is gone. First she's pissed because he's read her correctly but not entirely when she brought it on herself and then taking him to a party where her married lover will be and then leaving Hank as soon as married man even slightly looks at her again. Talk about using someone. And not BRB when you say you will. Bitch. On the other hand, I'm a little tired of Hank pining for Karen, when she won't go back to him no matter what he does even if she isn't entirely happy with Bill (at least I don't think so).

Despite being an asshole, he has a great relationship with Becca. She's a cutie, but way to knowledgeable for her age.

Oh, and the whole Charlie storyline can just go away NOW.

[CrashEdit]

A post above reminded me -- yow, when did Henry Rollins become such an old, old man?!

[Two Dollar Toll]

I'm OK with Bill asking Hank to stand in for him at the Creative Writing class. Karen does seem clear that she considers Hank a friend of the family, even the parts of the family that he isn't blood related to. I am asuming that Karen put Bill up to it in order to reinforce Hank's image of himself as a writer, just like she must have put Bill up to offering him the blog.

As for the Catholic church scene this episode, to me the potential offensiveness is mitigated by the fact that this is Hank's dream and not something that actually happened to one of the characters. As a poster pointed out in another thread, nuns are sexually unavailable. In this episode's dream we see Karen as the nun and Bill as the priest. Since no one knows what goes on behind closed doors and that movie with Dick Van Dyke as a priest that falls in love with a nun, perhaps Hank believes that the nun is sexually available to the priest but not to Hank. Also he perceives Bill and Karen as seeing themselves as holier-than-thou since they basically have their shit together while Hank knows he is floundering. All this adds up to the sexual-metaphor-as-anger towards Bill. That's my take, anyway.