38 replies to this topic

[TWoP Gadget]

MSN:

The students choose Coach Ray as the recipient of their fall fundraising efforts; Tanya has some promising leads that could jump-start Ray's career.

[Scrb]

"Call me, if you want a matching outfit for that stick up your ass."

Hee hee.

[PittsburghDiva]

I don't understand why he doesn't set up the tent inside of the house. Part of the roof and walls are still there and it would offer some better protection from the weather. I am sure the smoke smell is gone by now.

[Scat]

I loved that moment with the neighbour's wife, it was hilarious.

[DakotaJustice]

The best episode yet. I was getting ready to give up on this show...until last nite.

Loved the way Ray handled the situation with his new (and apparently now a regular!) client.

The teaser for next week's ep has me looking forward to next Sunday evening!

[avid_reader]

I actually enjoyed this show for the first time tonight.

I though Ray was really sweet the second time he went to meet his client. I love that actress and wish she would get more roles where she was happy. And I loved how he was reassuring her about this being HER first time and how he was a professional. Such a hoot.

When Ray showed up for his second appointment and was sort of leaning in the door he was actually really hot. I guess it was probably the self confidence. Once Ray made up his mind that he was going to stick with this and was determined and professional he was so much more attractive.

I loved the fake commercial thing he and his pimp were doing - very funny - but that is the side of Ray that I don't actually like - the sulky half-hearted one.

[braggtastic]

Did someone steal $100 out of the student council jar?

[theonlyvic]

Completely agree that this was the best episode thus far. I've kept watching and hoping a promising premise would get better in execution, and it finally has. What I particularly loved in this episode is the way the writers set up the obvious parallel of Ray learning from his daughter's heartbreak that chubby women have feelings too and then, so much more realistically, refused to go there. He only seemed to accept her as a sexual being once she mentioned that another man was regularly having sex with her, and then, once he learned of her husband's shortcomings, the whole thing was one upsmanship. That was real, if messier. Liked that a lot.

[isiscloud]

"Call me, if you want a matching outfit for that stick up your ass."

I would love to be able to use this on people I work with. Sigh. So not appropriate.

Great to see Ninah from The Riche$. She was wonderful when she was describing her husband and Ray's reaction.

Definitely like the interaction with his kids who seem to be catching his "underachiever" vibe.

I'd be afraid to live in the house since boards might collapse during the night.

Finally he's made the commitment to doing this.

[revbfc]

Does anyone else get the feeling that Damon has a crush on his twin sister? Am I just imagining things, or was that really hinted at during last night's episode?

[Fisher King]

That did cross my mind as well, revbfc, but I laid that to the closeness of being twins.

[peeayebee]

I hope Molly is a regular client. Always great to see Margo Martindale.

I thought Tanya was very good in her meeting with Molly. Maybe she really is a good pimp! And HEY, refrigerator magnets!

I'm not a horror movie fan. I've seen very few. Does anybody know what movie was at the drive-in?

I love the scene betw Ray and Floyd, how they keep jogging in place as they talk. Then when Floyd makes that crack at the end -- "By the way, how's the vintage car business coming? -- he turns and RUNS, not jogs, away, as if he expects Ray to take a swing at him.

It did kind of seem like Damon has a crush on Darby. I suppose it could just be that they've been so close all these years, and now he feels like he's getting left behind as she pursues boyfriends. Or he may feel confused because he thought he could be her protector, and she didn't want his help. In other words, it might not be a sexual feeling he has for his sister.

[Absurdist]

I don’t really think it’s a crush on Darby as much as it is some level of identification that Damon has with her. I’d really like to know more about what the two of them were like growing up so that there’s a greater understanding of that dynamic.

The thing about Ray developing, as someone said upthread, “professionally,” is that he’s learning that the sex isn’t about him. it’s about the client, especially inasmuch as people like Molly are human beings. Escorts are a lot like bartenders and therapists. Escorts spend as much time just being there, listening, as much as they do with fucking many times. Being present is sometimes more important than just being a good lay on demand.

I feel better about empathizing with Ray now, but I'm still not hooked on some of the other characters yet. TPTB is going to have to work a lot harder for me to be sold on Jessica. Tanya isn't completely unlikeable, but she still bugs me somehow.

[isiscloud]

Escorts spend as much time just being there, listening, as much as they do with fucking many times. Being present is sometimes more important than just being a good lay on demand

This is why Deuce Bigelow, Male Gigolo wasn't too bad.

Thomas Jane is just hot enough, just old enough to make the Ray character work.

[redrobin27]

The male student's speech about the structural beam for Ray's roof was so precious, and funny as hell.

Shouldn't I find Lenore annoying? Why is the trifling, abrasive one the only woman I like so far? Why is she not the pimp? She has most of the business sense, apparently. Perhaps I need therapy.

I've kept watching and hoping a promising premise would get better in execution, and it finally has. What I particularly loved in this episode is the way the writers set up the obvious parallel of Ray learning from his daughter's heartbreak that chubby women have feelings too and then, so much more realistically, refused to go there. He only seemed to accept her as a sexual being once she mentioned that another man was regularly having sex with her, and then, once he learned of her husband's shortcomings, the whole thing was one upsmanship. That was real, if messier. Liked that a lot.

Well said. And the oneupsmanship falls in line with Ray's arrogant tendencies.

From the few episodes we've seen thus far, Ray hasn't been shown to be a pinnacle of sensitivity regarding women. Thus, his initial reaction to Molly, as a novice and a good-looking guy who's likely coasted through life on said looks and athleticism with a side of arrogant entitlement, made sense to me. Why Tanya acted all shocked and surprised by this, given how he's treated her (as a failed romantic partner) is a mystery to me. I mean, she wasn't wrong in her message about the types of clients, but her delivery was all patronizing and shit. Shut up, Tanya.

Still disliking Tanya, but I enjoy the show in general, so I'll just have to suck it up unless she becomes more unbearable.

Darby's boy troubles are sadly realistic, but what struck me about her confrontation with Hammer was the open animosity she had for Tracy (I think?) rather than the dude who dropped her for Tracy. Sigh. Heartbreakingly real, and completely misdirected.

Was the suit the same one from when he had sex with Lenore? Awesome.

[uclagirl]

Why Tanya acted all shocked and surprised by this, given how he's treated her (as a failed romantic partner) is a mystery to me. I mean, she wasn't wrong in her message about the types of clients, but her delivery was all patronizing and shit.

I thought it was strange that she went for "that's sexist" rather than "you're a male prostitute, idiot."

Was the suit the same one from when he had sex with Lenore? Awesome.

Ray doesn't strike me as a guy who owns a lot of suits. Plus he may have lost some of his clothes in the fire.

[nicepebbles]

Does anyone else get the feeling that Damon has a crush on his twin sister? Am I just imagining things, or was that really hinted at during last night's episode?

Glad I wasn't the only one who got that vibe. But then I thought this show probably wouldn't go there so it's probably just watching your sibling get crapped on.

Did someone steal $100 out of the student council jar?

I hope so or that is one big miss by TPTB.

And, I'm sorry, but no way would that skinny cute little dark haired girl go out with that slob, that looked like a scene out of a Judd Apatow flick. I think Darby could do better, too.

Agreed. That part made me sad because she thinks, at least that's the way it seems, she can't do better. I know guys that age aren't going after girls that look like her but still. *sigh* Teenagers.

Was the suit the same one from when he had sex with Lenore? Awesome.

I think so. Why though did he have the price tag on it this week and not last?

I love this episode. It made me lol again. I wasn't expecting Ray to come around because he realized Molly has needs to and it isn't about sex. I thought he would do it just because of the money.

I don't believe in adultery but I was so hoping that Molly got some. I just felt so bad for her.

What is Jessica's purpose? I really want to know.

Ray hanging up on Tanya cracked me up. I can see little things like this just building up and Tanya letting him have it.

Ray should just bulldoze the house and rebuild after he's taking out everything that he can salvage.

Ray needs to buy new ties. His ties are killing me.

[Rinaldo]

Did someone steal $100 out of the student council jar?

I hope so or that is one big miss by TPTB.

Granted, they should have filled this in so we don't have to get sidetracked guessing, but I find it very easy to imagine that he's scraping bottom enough to need to take some money out to live on.

I really like the way the encounter with Molly played out, as has been well said here already -- in addition to the things already stated, his realizing and acceptance of the reality that life as a male prostitute is not going to be a nonstop parade of hot babes for him to bang. He's going to have to meet each one on her own terms, and the human contact can be as important to them as the sex if not more so.

[AllAboutMBTV]

Finally, this show, which has been pretty sour up to now, gets going. Or gigoloing. All credit to the fabulous Margo Martindale. She seriously needs to be a recurring regular -- on everything. (I feel the same way about Jane Lynch.) Ray's first scene with Molly had me cringing in the corner of the sofa -- because I thought he was faking being sick to get out of having sex with someone he didn't find attractive. Been on both sides of that conversation. But the second scene with her was just made of aww... I don't know how he knew how to handle her just right, but he did. (So did Tanya in the cafe scene.) More of the clients, please.

And more of Lenore. And, really, a lot less of Ray's kids. Nothing against the actors playing them, but, for me, the show comes to a screeching halt when they show up (you, too, Floyd). I hope Ray makes enough money to send them to boarding school.

Also, kudos to whoever's casting the minor roles. Hammer, Tracy ("This sucks!" -- hee!), the high school students, the hardware store owners all look incredibly real and not Hollywood at all.

What is Jessica's purpose? I really want to know.

It's a mystery, isn't it? Her scene at Ray's burned-out house was just Not Good, writers. A nutcracker? Really? We get. it. We don't need the obvious symbolism or Ray's voiceover tag at the end of the scene, because Anne Heche is already doing all the work for you.

Margo? Call me!

[redrobin27]

I thought it was strange that she went for "that's sexist" rather than "you're a male prostitute, idiot."

Exactly. Then again, she's depending on this dude to get her out of her temp job (which.....I'm lost as to why she just won't look for another temp job if she's that miserable), so perhaps calling him pea-brained isn't the best way to motivate him. Seems a tad counter-productive.

[DakotaJustice]

Just watched this ep AGAIN...for the third time :)

As previously stated I was soooo ready to write this series off. However - now it's on my LIST of MUST SEE TV.

Also the first time that Ray has become (in my eyes) really attractive...the way he spoke to Molly...the way he handled the situation the second time around. Just really, really attractive IMO.

In retrospect it is obvious to me (now) that the first couple of eps were critical to character development. Although it appears that Ray has found his true skill (or is working up to it) we needed those two less than scintillating eps to set the scene and establish the characters.

As far as the twins - my baby sisters are twins and they totally have that type of communication going on, including sticking up for each other. Always been that way and always will be that way.

I just hope that the writers don't decide to get Ray and his wife back together. They've obviously become different people IMO. Although her current husband appears to be a kind of a prick (pun intended).

can't wait for next week's ep!!!

[pakelihe]

I normally give all HBO shows three eps before pulling the plug, but am really glad I went for four this time. This was good. Not just good, but really, really good. And the first three were really, really ordinary, as far as I was concered. I hadn't laughed once during the first three, but laughed out loud three times during this one, and cracked a smile a couple more.

I hope we're going to see what happened to the missing $100.00. I hope it comes up in a future episode. If I were Ray, I'd shop around for a much better price on the structural beams. A quick online search found 6x6 beams available for less than $13 per running foot, so $500 seems really high.

I enjoyed the twin drama, and thought the brother / sister relationship seemed pretty realistic.

[BooksCatsEtc]

Why Tanya acted all shocked and surprised by this, given how he's treated her (as a failed romantic partner) is a mystery to me. I mean, she wasn't wrong in her message about the types of clients, but her delivery was all patronizing and shit.

I like Tanya, I find her funny in a goofy way, but she is a woman in frequent need of reality checks. But then, so is Ray, if less frequently.

I think it was a serious oversight for Tanya to send a novice like Ray to Molly without letting him know to expect (and psych up for) a plumb, older, and rather plain woman. And the only advice she needed to give Ray on a client who's not "his type", is a reminder that, while he's on the job, his type is anyone willing to pay him.

[Constant]

I want a magnet. Seriously, the merchandising possibilities for this show are endless.

[nicepebbles]

Granted, they should have filled this in so we don't have to get sidetracked guessing, but I find it very easy to imagine that he's scraping bottom enough to need to take some money out to live on.

But wouldn't he know what was left unless he forgot how much was in there to begin with? I dunno I think that if he did take some money out, he shouldn't have been so surprised that he was short.

I want a magnet. Seriously, the merchandising possibilities for this show are endless.

Speaking of which, what is on the magnet in the top right corner? A bow or a 'X'?

I think it was a serious oversight for Tanya to send a novice like Ray to Molly without letting him know to expect (and psych up for) a plumb, older, and rather plain woman. And the only advice she needed to give Ray on a client who's not "his type", is a reminder that, while he's on the job, his type is anyone willing to pay him.

Agreed. Why he needed anyone to tell him that considering he's sleeping out in the cold is beyond me.

Re: The Suit. Last week he tucked the price tag into the sleeve, apparently so he could return it if the whole gigolo thing didn't work out. This week he pulled it off so he's obviously now fully on board.

Thanks. I must've missed it last week.

[Chainlightning]

I've loved this show from the beginning, and I think I may have finally nailed why it rings a bell with me aside from what I feel is a deconstruction of the American Dream.

The characters seem and look real.

Trying to phrase this delicately...no one comes off as, for lack of a better term, "Hollywood Pretty." I love Jane Adams, and in this show, how she always looks and acts just a bit frazzled, even while as work or making a sales pitch. Same with Thomas Jane, who really is giving off the "I coasted through life on my looks and athletic legacy, and now I have to roll up my sleeves and deal" vibe that I think parallels what's going on in America right now, how the 401(k)s and easy mortgages are all going away and people are really having to dig down and make ends meet.

It's the twins that really nail it for me. They're...they're kids in America today. They're not Gossip Girl dolled-up pretty, but look like they just walked out of a high school.

And Ray's interaction with them...I really feel it's a case of "I don't understand you, but I love you" that EVERY parent of a teenager has felt at some point. Ray's not a "hip" father, but he's a DAD and I feel that makes all the difference.

Yes, to me, a show about male prostitution feels more real to me then most other TV programs...I love it.

[Fisher King]

I completely agree with your view, Chainlightning. There's nothing "Hollywood" about it.

[cyberducks]

Trying to phrase this delicately...no one comes off as, for lack of a better term, "Hollywood Pretty." I love Jane Adams, and in this show, how she always looks and acts just a bit frazzled, even while as work or making a sales pitch. Same with Thomas Jane, who really is giving off the "I coasted through life on my looks and athletic legacy, and now I have to roll up my sleeves and deal" vibe that I think parallels what's going on in America right now, how the 401(k)s and easy mortgages are all going away and people are really having to dig down and make ends meet.

Word. Most people I know look more like a Jane Adams on a daily basis, not like a put together Jennifer Anniston with her perfect hair. The only people I know who can afford to spend an hour in front of the mirror daily to primp and preen are vapid teenage girls without responsibilities and a harried work schedule - and even they will have to join reality eventually.

Edited by cyberducks, Jul 29, 2009 @ 8:15 PM.