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« Nip/Tuck
November 28, 2006: Reefer
So, right away I was thinking: "It's not even December why are we getting a Christmas episode already?" Then I remembered that we only have two more episodes left for this season, the season finale airs as early as December 12, and December begins this Friday. Happy holidays! Actually, this episode was more like Halloween meets Christmas. I'd like to officially place Jacqueline Bisset's James character in the category of TV's all-time creepiest characters. As soon as Sean asked Reefer the homeless man (Charles Haid) to stay the night at McNamara/Troy after Sean stitched up his face, I knew that James would make Reefer her next victim. But I didn't expect her to kill him by removing just about all of his organs: how refreshing. Then I thought about it of course she had to kill him and strategically remove his body from the premises without the knowledge of the FBI surveillance guards. If she kept him alive with just an organ or two removed, it would've been too obvious that she was the culprit since she was the only one there besides the guards. Very clever of Santa James and Santa's helper Michelle to chop up the remains of Reefer's body into two plastic bags and take them off as bags of toys for the less fortunate. I'm sure the French-speaking Asian dude (Jack Yang) was happy with all of the organic assistance James provided towards her "Christmas quota." For you Grey's Anatomy fans, Jack also plays Walter, Joe the bartender's English-speaking boyfriend.
It was nice to see Charles Haid on screen for a change, since he's been spending lots of time directing lately. (He directed last week's "Diana Lubey" episode as well as the "Burt Landau" and "Merrill Bobolit" episodes.) Having Sean meet Reefer gave Sean something to do besides mourn the loss of Julia and drink. Can we talk about the drinking? Suddenly, Sean is an alcoholic sort of like Bree becoming an alcoholic on Desperate Housewives, out of nowhere. Yes, I know he's had bouts of drunkenness before, but it still seemed a bit sudden to me. Here's hoping this alcoholic depression is short-lived. Same goes for any further gifts sent to Sean from Escobar. That Escobar is such a ham.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lisa Ann Walter tonight as Mrs. Hickock, the woman who asked for a G-spot amplification since all she wanted for Christmas was "a killer orgasm and a new wardrobe." Great scene when Sean was giving her the very pleasurable procedure and I must give kudos yet again to music supervisor P.J. Bloom for using "Joy to the World" during that scene, especially since it contained the lyrics "Joy to the world, the Lord has come.... " But poor Mrs. Hickock she was feeling a bit too good, even enjoying when her cell phone vibrated in her pocket, so it was appropriate for Christian to give her a reverse procedure and free Botox shots. In the midst of all this pleasure, I must point out a pain I don't believe that Sean would've realistically allowed himself to perform any procedure while being drunk like that. Uh-uh.
But we must discuss the funniest part of the hour: Sean got oral sex from a dwarf! And everyone watched including little Wilber (I'll get to him later). First, it was hilarious when the drunk Sean asked the "little person" woman dressed as a Christmas elf (Debbie Lee Carrington): "Do you know Marlowe?" Oh no he di-int. Then, her answer: "Which elf is he?" Sean: "He was my wife's elf. I thought maybe you all knew each other." Shut up! How very Sean of Sean to flirt with her and then essentially experience what Julia experienced. That visual will remain in my mind for quite some time. But here's something I'd like to add to the "visual": I want you to know that Debbie Lee played a very well-known character in movie history she played (get ready for this) one of the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi! I swear. So please always remember that Sean basically got oral pleasure from an Ewok.
Now, onto a different little person: Wilber. How cute is that child? Wilber is played by triplets Jason, Joshua and Josiah Henry (but Jason had to sit out during this episode since he had a cold). This talented trio has teamed up to play Wilber since season 2 and let me explain in case you're a Nip/Tuck newbie that Wilber was the baby that Christian's ex Gina had. Christian thought the baby was his... until it was born. Out came a black baby obviously not Christian's. As previously discussed here, Gina returns next week, so I can only imagine she won't be happy that Christian and Michelle want to adopt Wilber.
While we are on the subject of Gina, remember last week when I complained that Christian's daydream should've included more of his past loves and lusts? Well, my FX source read my commentary and e-mailed me with the following info:
"We all wanted Gina Russo to return via Christian's dream and say, "Hey a--hole," but Jessalyn Gilsig gave birth just two days before those former f--ks haunting Dr. Troy scenes were shot. She was totally missed and everyone said so.... We even talked about filming her with a green screen and adding her in post, but it would just look cheesy. The good news: one month after Jessalyn had her baby (Penelope), she came back for an episode which you will see soon.
Famke was in Europe; Rhona was in New York shooting a movie. Thank gawd we got the two Rebeccas, who were thrilled to be there. Two of the gals in the background in the last shot were also previous one-night stands of Dr. Troy from seasons 1 and 2."
OK, back to me. Awesome stuff, eh? Thanks, source of all sources! Note to source: will Alanis Morissette be given more to do in future episodes? I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one's typing to ask you if Poppy will be a more prominent character during the next few weeks. She and Liz need to go beyond being the "Dynamic Dyke Duo," as Christian so eloquently put it.
I'll conclude with a congrats to Lyn Greene she triple-fisted it tonight. Not only is she a coexecutive producer on the show each week, but she wrote tonight's episode (along with writing and producing partner Richard Levine) and, for the first time ever, directed it as well. Lyn has come a long way since starring on the '70s sitcom On Our Own with Bess Armstrong and playing young Dorothy on The Golden Girls.
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Nov 29, 2006 8:38 AM
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Great review! That's everything I was thinking about this morning. I too, felt Sean's drinking that heavily seem too much with not a lot of history of drinking. I felt really sorry for Sean and Reefer. Especially when Sean packed up his suits and left them under the tree. I'm glad Christian showed up with Wilbur. I try to like Christian with Michelle, but every time I do, she does something to mess it up. I loved seeing Christian with Wilbur. I hope they find a way to keep them together.
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Nov 29, 2006 8:52 AM
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I fell asleep last nite and missed this ep thanks for the review! It seems like a pretty good ep so hopefully I can catch a re-run..I think they repeat on Sundays. Niice to have Wilbur back
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Nov 29, 2006 9:21 AM
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Oh my goodness. I could NOT stop laughing durin the Sean-as-Santa scene. "Do you know Marlowe?" I almost died. Hands down my favorite scene of the entire season so far.
A better episode than what we've seen the past few weeks. I wish James would get caught...and Wilbur better not fall into her clutches (as the previews seem to suggest) or I am never watching Nip/Tuck again.
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Nov 29, 2006 9:21 AM
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As irritated as I was by Sean's sudden-onset alcoholism, I wasn't surprised by it. This is Nip/Tuck after all, not too big on week-to-week continuity -- I'm sure he'll be over it by next week. And him performing surgery while drunk was kind of ridiculous, but again, not unexpected for this show.
Loooooved Sean and the dwarf girl. "Do you know Marlowe?" Hilarious.
Wilbur is adorable. When he first came through the door, I was like, that can't be the same kid as before! He's so big! But that little pout? It's definitely the same kid, and he's pretty much the cutest kid ever. I want to love the Christian-Wilbur-Michelle family, but I know it won't last. It's only a matter of time until Christian finds out who and what Michelle really is, and Gina messes up everything with Wilbur.
I had no idea Lyn Greene played the young Dorothy on Golden Girls - I know exactly who you're talking about! Thanks for the tidbit.
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Nov 29, 2006 9:48 AM
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It's so cute that those twins have portrayed Wilbur from the beginning! What a little angel (or little angels, I suppose). He even got Michelle to brighten up. While I am a big Sanaa fan, I have found her performance on Nip/Tuck a little dissapointing. Face it, everyone, kids included, have a bitchy edge on this show. Her character is written that way, but she does not project it. Maybe Gabrielle Union or even Nia Long could have done it better. Sanaa does have the looks for the role and chemistry with Christian.
Regarding Santa getting his cheer on, I get the feeling that the writers thought up the punchline - Sean as a drunk Santa getting oral sex from an elf - and then wrote the story around it.
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Nov 29, 2006 10:05 AM
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I wish they hadn't killed off Reefer. He would've been a great recurring character. Charles Haid has been one of my faves since his days on Hill Street Blues. Maybe he can pop up again as Reefer's long lost brother.
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Nov 29, 2006 10:22 AM
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Loved this episode, one of the best of the season! I felt so bad when Sean had the Christmas gift all ready for Reefer, not knowing was dead!
I loved the use of Christmas songs in this episode! Like usual, the words to the songs really displayed what was going on in the scenes. The "Little Drummer Boy" song during the hollowed out Reefer part was great!
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Nov 29, 2006 10:37 AM
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Sean is a hilarious drunk! When he said, "well, you're just a ho-ho-ho" to the woman elf I was cracking up and had to watch it twice! 
This was the first episode I enjoyed in a really long time. I don't know what it is, but, Nip/Tuck is just not doing it for me this year. I think it's the James storyline, I've been over it for like three weeks now.
Last season's Carver mystery may have ended disappointingly but at least it was enthralling up until the end.
Dave, your commentaries are hilarious!
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Nov 29, 2006 10:41 AM
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I really enjoyed this episode. I don't miss Julia-is that wrong to say? I don't care for Christian and Michelle but we know that won't last-especially when the organ plot ends. Why has Kimber been on this year? She's hardly been seen.
I am curious about the Escobar gift-I guess we are not through with him.
Best line was the Marlowe line. Why didn't Sean go to New York if the kids coudn't come to him?
I was disappointed in the carver reveal so I hope this season ends better.
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Nov 29, 2006 11:43 AM
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Thanks, Dave, for the great commentary. The minute I start chuckling, I scroll down to the bottom to see who wrote it and it is usually you!
I also didn't think Sean would operate when he knew he was drunk.
Great episode! Thanks, Nip/Tuck.
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Nov 29, 2006 11:58 AM
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James did not arrange to have her face mashed just to use the office at night. She just used it to her advantage. Doesn't Michelle know that this will never end? James will never stop blackmailing her. Why would she?
Once I saw that James was still there I knew Reefer was in trouble. I really liked that character, too. I was hoping that Sean would give the necklace he bought for Annie to Reefer to give to his own daughter.
And Matt was wrong when he said a 12-yr-old Annie would still be into Barbie and Little Mermaid, etc. Unfortunately they outgrow that stuff by the time they are 8.
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Nov 29, 2006 12:47 PM
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i love your commentaries !! we seem to be on the same page with the shows you cover !! i also LOVE that you seem to know the most obscure roles these actors played !! an EWOK ! LOLOL my fave lines was the whole dialogue with the elf in the house, esp. her reference to the North Pole !!!
*apparently i seem to love the exclamation point today - lol*
thank you for clearing wilbur up for me, as i just recently started watching the show last season when my boss' daughter was cast as the young disfigured Kit. *name drop* that boy was way cute. and he worked well with Julian. sad tho to eventually see him get taken away from Christian. its inevitable and would make for good drama.
and your source was way cool for giving u the scoop on where the other ladies were from last week !!
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Nov 29, 2006 1:49 PM
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I just love reading your Nip/Tuck reviews each week. I wasn't aware that there were only two more episodes left, so I was wondering why it was Christmas so soon myself.
I knew Reefer was doomed as soon as James got that call, but I didn't expect to see him lying open on the table. Love seeing Christian playing the Dad role. I hope Gina stays out of the picture, but you know she won't once she finds out he's with Christian. Sean drunk is not pretty, but it's pretty funny.
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Nov 29, 2006 2:00 PM
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oh and i forgot one more thing, while sean as a drunk is getting a lot of flack, i LOVED when he was listening to the kids about what they wanted and then shooting them down !!
LOLOLOL their faces in the snapshots were great !!!
"break your skull..."
"diabetes..."
"your mom has nice tits !!"
not verbatim, cuz i suck like that but u get it !! =)
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Nov 29, 2006 2:09 PM
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