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« Nip/Tuck
October 24, 2006: Conor McNamara
I always know I'm going to like an episode of any TV show when they include flashbacks to the childhood of one of the characters, especially when we get to learn something new about that character. That was the case tonight when we discovered that Sean himself had a facial deformity as a youth and had plastic surgery to correct it. No wonder he's been freaking out about Conor's situation and about his eventual corrective surgery. As Julia told Sean: "That kid is why you're a plastic surgeon." Glad they ended up going forward with the surgery, and so far, Conor seems to be OK. Didn't the promos for tonight, with Sean saying to Julia "I have something to tell you," make you think he was going to come clean about his affair with the tragically departed Monica? But now Julia has something to hide from Sean — her little kiss with Marlowe. Interesting line that Marlowe muttered as he walked out: "That's why I have to leave." You could tell he was into Julia, but I didn't think she reciprocated those feelings. Yes, I know she respects him ("You are my rock") and was very much into the book he got her, but does she like him romantically? We shall see. For a change, Julia had one of the best lines in the episode, explaining to Marlowe the difference between a surgeon and God: "God doesn't think he's a surgeon."
Last week, I pointed out how disappointed I was that Christian was so evil to Kimber after using her for sex. Tonight, his soft and tender side was back, and I never thought the person who would get that sweetness out of him would be plastic-surgery addict Mrs. Grubman (the fabulous Ruth Williamson). Some of you pointed out how you wish they'd stop with the dream and fantasy sequences, but as long they don’t involve Escobar, I'm all for them. I can just imagine writer Jennifer Salt's thought process: "Let's have Christian play singer-wannabe Mrs. Grubman's demo CD during her post-death prefuneral plastic surgery and have him imagine her performing it all decked out and looking marvelous atop a grand piano while Burt Bacharach accompanies her! Oh — and let's get the real Burt Bacharach!" Brilliant. Burt: "Ladies and gentleman, Mrs. Grubman." I had to watch that part twice. Were any of you thinking of Burt's hilarious Geico commercial during that scene, like I was?
Mo'Nique cracked me up as Evetta, Mrs. Grubman's caretaker. Some of her zingers:
— Referring to transporting Mrs. G as "Drivin' Miss Crazy"
— After Mrs. G compared her to Star Jones: "Let's see Star Jones wipe your ass and change your Depends for 12 dollars an hour!"
— Giving her view on liposuction: "I don't need no Hoover vacuum stealin' my ass. Where I come from, I don't get lipo to attract a man. I eat another cherry pie and put more junk in my trunk. You know what I'm sayin'?"
Although it was rather pathetic that no one showed up for Mrs. Grubman's funeral due to her two-year self-seclusion, it was a good excuse to see Mo'Nique do a scene alone opposite Julian McMahon. After seeing him with Rosie, we know he plays well opposite funny plus-size women. I guess it made sense that Mrs. Grubman left all her money to Christian to form the "Hedda Grubman Plastic Surgery Fund for people who need a little work and don't want to pay for it." Of course, Evetta changed her mind and now wants some free lipo, so I hope she comes back. You know what I'm sayin'?
Christian proved he really does have a heart during that scene when he was saying goodbye to Mrs. Grubman: "Life was more interesting with you in it, and I'm gonna miss you. And I love you, too. Goodbye, Mrs. Grubman." Aww... sweet. But I bet he'll be back to his not-so-sweet ways next week.
Nice casting for Sean's parents and for Sean in the flashbacks. That was Allison Smith (formerly of The West Wing) as Sean's mother and Anthony Starke (formerly of Prison Break) as his father. Throughout the years, I've seen Allison do several things as an adult actress, but I will always remember her as Jane Curtin's daughter Jennie on Kate & Allie. In the photo they finally showed towards the end, Kendall Ryan Sanders had the same closed-mouth smile as little-boy Sean and that present-day Sean — Dylan Walsh — now has. It's almost as if Sean smiles that way today thinking he still has the scar.
Stephen Lee (most recently on Grey's Anatomy) was Mr. Thompson, the protective dad who wanted to sue Sean for punching him out. Sean's got to watch that temper of his, but when Conor was called a "crab boy" by that chubby little punk kid (Travis Flory from Everybody Hates Chris), we now know Sean was just getting a déjà vu from his own youth. I hope they revisit Sean's parents in more flashbacks since it really helps to figure out why he's as intense as he is, especially the distant father/son relationship. Oh, and you know what starring role Stephen Lee will always have on his résumé? How about Tom Arnold in Rosanne & Tom: Behind the Scenes? You gotta respect a guy for taking on that role.
Props, yet again, go out to whoever chooses the music for this show. As soon as I heard the first few notes as Conor's surgery began, I said out loud: "Jesus to a Child" by George Michael. Perfect.
For those of you who refuse to watch the scenes from next week and consider them spoilers (I don't, but I respect you if you do), read no further.
SPOILER SPACE
Seriously... look away... OK....
Now that they’re gone, "You Oughta Know" that I'm pretty psyched for next Tuesday since it is the first of three episodes featuring Alanis Morissette as Poppy, a new love interest for Liz. To impress Poppy, Liz gets lipo. But can Poppy be trusted? Jackie Bisset is back as James, and Sanaa Lathan returns after a week off as Michelle and it looks like they want Christian to be their next victim. Creepy! Next Tuesday is Halloween. Can't wait.
Not enough of a spoiler? How about two weeks from now?
How about three weeks from now? Check out Ask Ausiello...4 questions from the bottom and see page 8's Ausiello Report in the new TV Guide magazine for a photo from the episode Michael reports about.
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TVGuide Links:
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Oct 25, 2006 5:37 AM
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ahhhh..I luv me sum spoilers! Interesting next coupla eps huh
No Michelle this week...blaahh..guess its ok cuz she'll b bak. No Matt..YEEESSS!!!! And how come Sean & Julia's daughter never gets any lines? I guess its cool to just be a part of the show.
I knew Marlowe and Julia would get together...but geezzz..does any1 stay faithful in Nip/Tuck land?!?!
Interesting that Sean had surgery as a kid...its great to get pieces of their past. Has there ever been any flashbacks to Christian's childhood? Now THAT is what I wanna see. We need more explanation as to why Christian is the way he is.
Speaking of Christian, I love seein his softer side. My fav part was him at Grubman's funeral. Its nice to see he has a little teeny tiny bit of a heart LOL!
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Oct 25, 2006 9:21 AM
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See, I love Christian because his incredible potential to love is equal to his potential to hate. He hates Kimber now because he loved her so much in the beginning!! So happy Michelle & James are coming back. The daughter doesn't get an lines b/c she's not the best child actress ever. Can't wait to see Bobolit!! I swore he was the carver last season!!!
Oh, and Julia & Marlowe? For the love of... Julia irks me no end and most times I don't want to hear her talk. Why are they even married again??? No one can keep it in their pants around there!!!
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Oct 25, 2006 10:06 AM
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I was disappointed in last night's episode-so for the first time we find out Sean was deformed as a child. After all these years, there wasn't even a hint of this. I was ready to say "Jump the Shark." Mo'Nique saved the episode for me. She had the best lines. Mrs. Grubman wanting plastic surgery after she was dead fit so well with the character. But, I refuse to believe not a single person would go to her funeral.
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Oct 25, 2006 10:17 AM
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Dave - I took the link for the spoiler and noticed something. You may not care about this, but the website's dates are wrong for the upcoming (and past) episodes. Here's part of the page:
Episodes - Nip/Tuck (57 total Episodes)
November 8, 2006: Merrill Bobolit
November 1, 2006: Liz Cruz
October 25, 2006: Conor McNamara
Yesterday was October 24. Just in case you want to pass it along to the techies...
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Oct 25, 2006 10:35 AM
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Mrs. Grubman's "Hedda Grubman Plastic Surgery Fund for people who need a little work and don't want to pay for it." reminded me of Derek Zoolander's "School for Kids who can't read good and stuff."
I really liked this episode and can't wait for next week. It really looks good!
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Oct 25, 2006 10:44 AM
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Chloe, I like what u wrote & I think ur dead on:
I love Christian because his incredible potential to love is equal to his potential to hate.
I totally agree!
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Oct 25, 2006 11:11 AM
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nice, slow and easy episode- i really enjoyed it and cannot wait for the next two weeks! thanks for the spoilers!!
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Oct 25, 2006 11:36 AM
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Last nights show was one of the most emotional and heart wrenching shows that nip/tuck has had. No transexuals, no dog biting nipples, no kidney theives, just some good human emotion, i think that makes a nice balance, nah with that said next weeks looks like a doozy.
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Oct 25, 2006 11:36 AM
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Yes, Hawkman217, you are correct - I noticed that as well. For some strange reason, all the episode dates reflect the date after each episode airs, rather than the actual initial airdate. Our database people are working on this glitch.
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Oct 25, 2006 11:51 AM
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I've missed two weeks of this show and last night I watched. Was so bored fell asleep. Next week's episode, on the other hand, appears to be much like the old Nip/Tuck we all have grown to love. Evil everywhere. Let's hope they keep it that way.
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Oct 25, 2006 12:49 PM
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LOVED this episode, and Julian is fabulous. I love to see his softer side. I also like that it took a while to see some of Sean's past being that he is such a tormented soul we were given alittle and hopefully later this season we can learn more about his past. Maybe other view about his relationship with Mini MJ, I mean Matt. Monique was great! When she went off on Christian for sugguesting she needed lipo, excellent. Then they had to have her ask for some at the end blow it for me. Oh well it is a show about plastic surgery. Also relieved nothing bad happened to Connor, but did they only do one hand? Can't wait for next week.....
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Oct 25, 2006 1:22 PM
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Great review Dave. I really enjoyed this episode. I can't say that about every episode. I usually tape it, then watch it, then tape over it the next day, but I'm gonna hang on to this one so I can watch it again.
I loved seeing the softer side of both Christian and Sean. Mrs. Grubman singing with the real Burt Bacharach was a little much but I kind of expected it. I didn't think of the Geico commercial at the time, but your right!
Props, yet again, go out to whoever chooses the music for this show. As soon as I heard the first few notes as Conor's surgery began, I said out loud: "Jesus to a Child" by George Michael. Perfect.
Agreed. Perfect song to end a great episode.
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Oct 25, 2006 2:15 PM
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Not a bad episode, unlike most in recent weeks...
From the spoilers for next week and two weeks from now, I can almost guarantee what will happen:
- Dr. Merrill Bobbit will need reconstructive surgery on his anal region, due to jail time
- The "something unexpected about Matt" is that he will be gay.
- Julia will tell Sean about her relationship with the manny, and Sean will look teary and throw his arms around and will end up staying.
- Christian will wake up at the last second before the kidney comes out, and will kill either Michelle and the old lady, if not both.
This show is so predictable at this point...
If one of these things actually happens, that's the final predictable straw, and I'm done with Nip/Tuck.
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Oct 25, 2006 2:20 PM
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From LRT1: Has there ever been any flashbacks to Christian's childhood?
yes there has been a christian childhood flashback. he was a mutilating cats. I think he killed them becuase he was insterested in dissecting them, which is what eventually lead him to being a plastic surgeon. the details of that epi are fuzzy because it was awhile back.
As for the Julia haters - i too am a little sick of her character and where it is going, but I have a spoiler, which I am sure many of you are aware of, but she will be leaving the show this season - so expect something juicy to happening soon!!
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Oct 25, 2006 4:15 PM
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