Season 1, Episode 2 - Two Income Family

We open with Laura and Judy doing homework at the kitchen table. Judy is obnoxiously asking Laura the answers to every one of her times tables. But its the Judy we remember!

Carl comes into the room and starts paying bills and everyone scatters from the room. As an adult, I get it. That shit's annoying. In that time we learn that Rachel's kid is named Little Richie and now I totally remember him as a little kid. Can't wait for those days...

Just then Eddie comes in and complains that he needs new high top sneakers. You see, he has Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's  sneakers and he's retired so its SO freaking embarrassing to not have the new Jordan's! He asks for money to pay for them and tells Carl they're $70!! Even now that's a lot of money for sneakers, let alone 20 years ago! No, is the answer. Doesn't Eddie have a job? We see him bagging groceries in the opening credits. Get your own damn sneakers.

As if we needed more help figuring out the story line of the episode, Harriet comes in and says the car died on her while she was at the grocery store. She tried to use tune up in a can (?) but it didn't work. I swear, that's what she said...tune up in a can. Was that a real thing? Carl starts to complain about money and he suggests Harriet ask for a raise at her job as an elevator operator. Sounds like this couldn't go wrong.

The next day, while Eddie continues to beg for new shoes, Harriet comes in and tells the family that she got fired from her job. Apparently they're putting in a self-service elevator because she asked for a raise. Uhhh, yeah, I don't think it works like that. When you need a job as a elevator operator, you typically have an elevator that functions manually. To put in a self-service elevator would mean reinstalling a new type of elevator...which means it would probably be weeks before Harriet lost her job. So much for logic. Also, what a shit boss, he fires her because she asked for a raise? Whatever.

Rachel declares that she'll get part time work, stuffing envelopes (let that sink in) while Harriet is unemployed. Hey, Aunt Rachel, how about having a freaking job to contribute to you and your kid living there and Harriet wouldn't have had to give into Carl's pressure about asking for a raise! Jerk sister.

Eddie continues to beg for new sneakers because his self awareness is at an all time low. The car breaks down again as Harriet leaves for another round of interviews. I don't understand what she's doing, it doesn't seem like she has interviews lined up. Is she just walking around downtown and going into buildings that need elevator operators? As Carl and Eddie run to push the car back home, Harriet mentions the car is on fire. Nice.

I have no idea how long its supposed to have been since Harriet got fired - days, weeks, months - but she comes into the kitchen with no luck to find out Mother Winslow made dinner. At least the freeloading adults are contributing, Eddie is just walking around asking for expensive shoes. Mother Winslow says grace at dinner and takes it upon herself to insult Harriet by praying for her as shes's turned down by job after job. And in case we didn't know she was old, Mother Winslow lectures to the table about how times were tough during the depression. So she made everyone a depression dinner...mashed turnips and bacon (drippings). Harriet excused the table cause everyone's being a jerk. Carl follows her.

They sit on the back porch and the music comes on! In the middle of the episode? I thought that usually wrapped things up. Also, how come the music moments all take place on the back porch? He says she'll find something perfect for her and we learn that she graduated from the Police Academy and that she saw a security job posted at her old building while she was getting fired. Carl encourages her to set up and interview with her old boss, Mr. Seeger (why not?) and apply.

Harriet goes into her old boss at the Chicago Chronicle building for an interview. After he tells her that he should've gotten rid of her years ago, she tells him she's his next interview for the security position and gives him her resume. He looks it over and tells her that since her job at the police department was clerical and she has no management experience, she wouldn't be qualified for the job. Harriet gets all upset and tells him that since she's raised 3 kids, she could tell him a thing or two about management experience. And he can call her husband and kids for a reference. The obligatory "she just told him off" clapping sequence is played as she storms out of the office. And Mr. Seeger just sits there like this...

Back at home, Harriet tells Carl that she didn't get the job at the Chronicle but it felt good to tell her old boss off so she treated herself to a movie. Eddie comes downstairs to tell them that he saved $70 from overtime with his job. Instead of buying the shoes, though, he wants to give it to them to pay some bills AND THEY TAKE IT! Omg. I can't believe that. They're just like "thanks son!"

Rachel comes in and says shes cooking up a feast of steak and potatoes because Harriet got the job. She's too busy talking that they all have to follow into the kitchen (where the girls are peeling turnips for tonight's meal) to tell her she's wrong. Rachel asks why Mr. Seeger would've changed his mind after he called and said such great things about Harriet and we find out he called and told Rachel that Harriet got the job. Even though I highly doubt someone would just leave that message with a random person. So Harriet calls Mr. Seeger and find out she got that job!

Everyone celebrates and the music comes on AGAIN when Harriet thanks Carl for believing in her.
The episode ends with everyone helping with dinner. Now that she got that job, they better give Eddie his $70 back.

So, another happy ending and another episode without Steve Urkel. I wonder when he'll get introduced!

Til next time.
xoxox.

Season 1, Episode 1 - The Mama Who Came to Dinner

The show starts out with the classic intro that we all remember: "As Days Go By". I don't remember it being this long, though, but maybe that's because TV shows don't really have long intros with theme songs anymore. Perhaps that's whats wrong with this generation. I think its important to note that there is a different Judy in the pilot episode. This little girl is a cutie but its definitely not the one we remember. Also worth noting that Jaleel White aka Steve Urkel, does not appear on the opening credits.

Anyways, we get right into the family expecting Mother Winslow to come live with them. Carl follows Harriet around the house with a list of excuses as to why she shouldn't be moving in with them. He even lists off all of his brothers that I bet we'll never meet and says he's going to try and pawn her off on them. I don't get it, was this Harriett's idea? If she's going to be so terrible, why did he even offer to have her stay there?

In the kitchen we meet Laura and Judy as they're fighting over a random baby. Who's baby is that? I don't remember there being a younger kid, I thought Judy was the youngest? Maybe we'll never see him after this episode? My question got answered real quick about Judy, though, she's a terrible actor. It's like she can't even read the cue cards. 

We meet the oldest son, Eddie, as he bounds down the stairs to tell his mom all of the chores he is going to do for her. Like any good parent, they immediately assume there is a catch so they get him to spill it. Eddie wants to go over to his friend's house and watch a Rambo marathon until 2 a.m. but he knows his curfew is at 10 p.m. They tell him they'll think about it so that he'll continue to do more chores. We also learn that Carl is a police officer...as if his sweatshirt that says "Police Academy" wasn't enough to tip us off.

Just then a knock at the door tells us Mother Winslow is here. She says hi to everyone, tells Harriet she looks beautiful and Carl he looks fat. The beginning of the dead horse fat jokes we'll hear over the next nine seasons. Our introduction to Aunt Rachel is her coming in the house carrying all of Mother Winslow's suitcase. Boy there are a lot of people coming and going in one scene, I get they're just introducing us to everyone but dang! My head is spinning. Just then the girls come down to greet Mother Winslow and Aunt Rachel asks who is watching her baby. Oooohhhhh okay, so the baby is Aunt Rachel's. Okay okay, I kind of remember an obnoxious little boy in the later seasons so I guess that's who this baby is supposed to be. The girls tell Rachel they carelessly left him upstairs by himself so she runs to get him.

Harriet gets some tea for Mother Winslow and she tells them she doesn't drink tea anymore and they shouldn't either. In fact, she's putting Carl on a diet..just what he feared. Eddie comes downstairs to say hi to Mother Winslow and the parents tell him he can't go to his friend's house. He pouts and goes upstairs. 

In the next scene, Eddie complains to Mother Winslow that he's not allowed to go to this Rambo marathon and she tells him she'll help fight for his right to party. I'm not kidding, she says that. Also, he's 15, of course he can't stay out that late cause that means a parent would have to come get him at 2 a.m. since he can't drive yet. I know my parents wouldn't come at 2 a.m. to get me...why not just make it a sleepover? This seems like a non-issue.

Mother Winslow then takes it upon herself to complain about dinner time cause she's hungry but hates the meatloaf Harriet made..without even tasting it first. What a B. Harriet ushers her out of the kitchen and tells her to relax and dinner will be ready soon.

Upstairs Laura interrupts Aunt Rachel writing to talk. Rachel asks her to listen to a part of her story and Laura dumps on it. I guess Rachel is a writer? Does that mean she and her kid are living there rent free? Laura asks Rachel if her dad is going to kick out Mother Winslow which seems kind of presumptuous considering she hasn't even been in any of the scenes where they are complaining about her. Mother Winslowa hasn't even been there for 24 hours yet, they're really pushing the pushy mama/mother in law/grandma story. We also learn that Aunt Rachel moved in after her husband died. Oookkaaayy, so now I'm the B cause I said the comment about living there rent free. Rachel and the girls run downstairs for dinner..literally running, like its Christmas dinner or something.

At dinner, Carl complains that Mother Winslow sits in his chair and Harriet tells him to shut the eff up cause she's about strangle Mother Winslow herself. Mother Winslow tells Carl that its almost the 90s (ahem) and that he should lighten up about this 10 p.m. curfew. Carl says no again and Eddie runs upstairs like a big baby and Harriet runs after him for some reason.

Carl has a sit down talk with Mother Winslow and the music comes on! The music! I forgot about these shows ending with a tender moment, a lesson, and the music! Awww, nostalgia. They talk about how pushy she is and they both say they'll make adjustments and try a lot harder. She convinces him that Eddie is a good kid and 10 p.m. is just too early for him to be safe at home.

Carl goes upstairs to talk to Eddie and we see him, uhhhh, spying on his neighbor with binoculars. I'm assuming its suppose to be a female species. How creepy! Carl says that since Eddie has made a lot of adjustments for the family, like taking the attic room so Mother Winslow can have his room, he needs to learn to trust him more. Carl says he can go to the party, so I guess he's picking him up at 2 a.m. He then takes the binoculars in case "he gets assigned to a stake out". CREEPY!

The episode ends with the adults happily playing the piano and singing "He's Got to Whole World in His Hands". For some reason this song is adults only and the girls sit on the steps in the background.

You guys! I'm so excited to have gotten through my first episode. It was pretty funny, a lot of it didn't make a whole lotta sense but we only have 20 mins for the story to build up and magically get resolved.

If you made it through reading this whole episode recap, I love you! Did you watch the show on Hulu to follow along? Anything I missed?

Til next time.
xoxo

As Days Go By...

I know, I know! I haven't post on this blog in a long time. Honestly, I've had a lot going on in my life that took up sometime to get over and I really just haven't had much to write about. BUT! I'm ready to really get back into this because I feel so much better when I'm writing, even if its just something silly and I'm the only person that reads it. 

With that said, I always feel a little more accountable to put something together when I have a project in place, like the Star Wars reviews I did last summer. I had been mulling over a new project for the past couple of weeks, and then fate happened in the hands of Hulu...who brought back all of the BEST television had to offer when I was a kid. Including...Family Matters! That's right, Family Matters!

Can you guess what I'm going to say here? I've been a big fan of other review blogs who commit to watching and reviewing each episode throughout its seasons. It's always so entertaining to me to watch these shows that I loved as a child and point out something that either seems ridiculous now or is still lovable. So that's just what I'm going to do. I will watch all 9 seasons and commit to writing a review once a week for each episode. Yes, that seems like a lot but I know I can do it! I binge watch shows all the time, so one episode a week isn't going to be too bad. I know it seems like I have a lot of time on my hands but whatever! Leave me to my vices, please, I leave you to yours. 

Let's start out with a little background for those of you who didn't grow up in the TGIF generation. The show ran from 1989 - 1998 (!!) and was produced by Miller-Boyett Productions who churned out other notable television shows such as Full House, Step by Step, and Perfect Strangers. Speaking of Perfect Strangers, this is somehow a spin off of that show. The Family Matters mom, Harriett, appeared on a couple of episodes of Perfect Strangers and I guess the producers thought "let's make a show off of her"! So they did. Family Matters is about the Winslow Family, a middle class multi generational black family living in Chicago. Turns out it became the second longest-running US sitcom with a predominantly black cast behind The Jeffersons. 

I do know what's waiting for me, though. A show that started out about a family eventually turns into the Steve Urkel show. Again, for those who DON'T know, Steve Urkel is the Winslow's nerdy next door neighbor. I'm ready for that, and we'll see how long it takes for that transformation to happen. 

I'll be posting my reviews on Friday mornings for all those who space out at work and want something a little mindless to read. So follow along with me, or don't, whatevs. It'll be trip down memory lane. Stay tuned!

xoxo

Book Review "What Alice Forgot"

Title: What Alice Forgot

Author: Liane Moriarty

Rating: 3 of 5

Synopsis: Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over—she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over...

Thoughts: I liked this book. It fit the need for what I was looking for which was a good easy read. Its not going to be my favorite and I'll probably never pick it up again but I would certainly recommend it to someone looking for a beach read. The story starts out right away and keeps going throughout Alice's story trying to get her memory back. It was sort of funny to pause along with her as she evaluates her life from almost an outside perspective. She's so funny in realizing she's become one of those do everything women who has a "Friday spin class" and throws PTA get togethers for other mommies at school. I even found myself wondering how my 23 year old self would look at me now. What I didn't like was the back and forth between other women in the story. I would be reading along with the story and it would just flash into her sister's story or her grandmother's story. They were set up as letters to someone else. It just messed up the flow and I almost found myself skipping these parts to get to the main story. I also thought the ending was wrapped up in a pretty little bow (as my friend Christine likes to describe things. haha). It would make a good Hallmark Channel Movie (if it stars Candace Cameron Bure, I'll watch it) and pretty much how you expect it to end...is how it ends. But summer is for light reading so pick it up! I got this for $4 on thriftbooks.com or you can borrow my copy. 

I know I've totally been neglectful of this blog lately! But I'm trying to get back in the swing of things and I do miss it. I have plenty of books to discuss so they'll be on their way!

xoxo