Wednesday, February 28, 2018

If You Don't Know, You Know.

Ok so we had a full house tonight. And by "house," I obviously mean: "Peanut Gallery." Peanuts included: myself, Johnny, Carolyn, Kellyanne Conway, Boozer, Madison, and Matt.

LOL jk Kellyanne wasn't there.

ARIE: I could fall in love in Peru.
JOHNNY: Same, tbh. Actually just put me on that pretty balcony and I'm pretty sure I could find love. With those pink blooms.
GRACE: Matt, how much do you know about The Bachelor?
MATT: Well I know Josh Murray really well.
GRACE: I don't care that you know Josh Murray really well (although he DID hawk Advocare for a while and I have been a patron of theirs for over a decade) What you need to know is that it's down to three women.

KENDALL:

Kendall runs up to Arie and throws her arms AND legs around him, because apparently there is no other way to greet anyone, ever. They get in a dune buggy and Mad Max their way through the Peruvian desert. 

JOHNNY: I dare you take your mask off and take in a bunch of sand!
ARIE: I could be married to Kendall, she’s fun.
JOHNNY: She can’t even stand up right now. If he wants a microwave version of her then he should pick Lauren B. 

I honestly really couldn't even tell you what Arie and Kendall talked about. She said she was quirky because she likes dead animals and plays the ukulele, and I had to smack the side of my head several times to retrieve my eyeballs that had rolled into the back of my skull. SPEAKING OF SELF-DESCRIPTIONS - ya'll remember when one of our friends asserted that he was a "very stable genius?" This was, in my opinion, the most thoughtful response, and you all should read it. It's quick:

Bottom line: IF YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE THE THING, YOU'RE NOT THE THING, KENDALL.

She accepted the fantasy suite. Her skin looks fine without makeup. Don't forget to moisturize after being in the sun all day, Kendall. 

LAUREN B:

BOOZER: Why do they all jump up in his arms?
CAROLYN: Cause they’re skinny enough to do that.
JOHNNY: And they have daddy issues.
ARIE: I'm so excited to see Lauren running towards me.
JOHNNY: (As Arie) Even with a plane behind me, Lauren is all I could see.

Arie definitely learned the word “geoglyph” today.

I honestly couldn’t even tell you what this conversation between Arie and Lauren on this cafe patio was about. I think she was trying to be deep. But I am also so bored by her that I can’t even focus on her words. Anything that starts with “I like, do this thing in my head…” is never going to end well. I think shes trying to tell him that she doesn’t trust him because he’s dating other girls… but like, didn’t she know what she was signing up for?

Actual footage of Lauren fighting herself in her head


WHOA HE JUST SAID “I LOVE YOU” TO HER OMG OMG THEY’VE NE'ER SAID IT THIS EARLY. WHAT IS HAPPENING. He is Ben Higgins on steroids. DIDN'T HE LEARN FROM BEN?!?! 
MAAAAYDAAAAY


WAIT WHY ARE THEY PLAYING “HOW DO I LIVE” RIGHT NOW DURING THE FANTASY SUITE WHAT IS HAPPENING I DON’T UNDERSTAND I AM IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION Guys, It had to cost so much money to license this song, I AM SO OVERWHELMED. What could they POSSIBLY be trying to accomplish by playing this song right now? 
Update: I spoke to our music department. They said it would've cost at least $30,000 to license the cover, would've been north of $50,000 to license the original. I see no other way to proceed than to list my questions:

1) AT WHAT POINT was this decision made? Because (usually) the episode is built by a story producer and an editor. Then reviewed by a co-executive producer. Then executive producers. When in that chain of command did they make this call? Did one of the story producers suggest it and then send it up the chain? Or was an EP like, "Get a song in there?" 
2) WHY did they need a lyrical song? We NEVER hear songs with lyrics (pretty much at any point in the show, unless it's Juan Pablo playing Josh Ratchet from his iPhone on his final date with Clare) and we CERTAINLY never hear them during the fantasy suite date. 
3) Why go for the cover, and not the original? If they have 30k to burn, why not shell out the extra 20k and get Leann Rimes in there? 
4) Were Arie and Lauren consulted about this? Did they say "hey, what's y'all's song?" and put it in there? If so, does that mean that they did it because he CHOOSES Lauren, or was it a consolation prize because he told her he loves her but DOESN'T choose her?

**UPDATE: the song was covered by Laura Fleiss... Oh, does the name "Fleiss" sound familiar to you? If so, THAT WOULD BE BECAUSE LAURA FLEISS IS MARRIED TO THE SHOW CREATOR MIKE FLEISS. Still trying to get to the bottom of an actual cost report. Stay tuned. 

This is seriously the biggest conundrum of this entire franchise that has ever happened. I am going to be chewing in this for WEEKS to come. I'll definitely let you guys know if I ever get any updates. I can't believe I just typed out four individual questions I had about this, as though I were Robert Mueller gearing up to interview DJT, but it happened and I'm not gonna fight it.

BECCA:

Becca runs up and ONCE AGAIN, embraces Arie with both her arms and her legs. It's a pretty overcast day, yet they're going out on a boat. How quaint. Hope they're wearing sunscreen.

Arie points out a seal

JOHNNY: Oh look there’s me.

GRACE: Johnny, I think we need to go to a Charlie Puth concert.
JOHNNY: There are very few things I would rather do LESS than that.
GRACE: Which is why we need to do it.
JOHNNY: I would rather fill my shoes with fish and not take them off for a week than do that.
GRACE: Exactly. We need to go.
JOHNNY: Honestly… if we went I would make t-shirts. That had the “Poo” emoji followed by “TH.” You know what, I’ll go. I just talked myself into it.,


HE HAS NOW SAID I LOVE YOU TO BOTH OF THEM. EVEN EARLIER THAN BEN HIGGINS DID AHHHHHHHHH

She accepts the fantasy suite, and it's a tent in the desert. Great, more sand.

They venture out of the tent for a picnic breakfast the next morning and honestly the fact that they are exposed in the sun right now is so disturbing to me. It's first thing in the morning and you KNOW that they're probably not wearing sunscreen.

GRACE: I mean, even when I am MARRIED, I would never let my mother see footage of me in a bathrobe the morning after. NEVER!
JOHNNY: Obviously. I could have told you that after knowing you for three days.

Then we get to the ex boyfriend... The entire living room was convinced that he was an ex of Lauren B, because that accent seemed to indicate Virginia Beach... But as soon as we heard Becca's sound bite of "Nothing could get me down at this point..." WE KNEW.

So then this guy shows up. They try to obscure his face at first, as we hear him say "I don't want cameras, I just want my girl..." And then goes onto allege that he didn't know the show ended in a proposal.

Honestly if I met ANY man from the age range of 20 to 40 who DID NOT know that this show ends in a proposal, I would run for the hills.

Also just a production note: by playing the audio of him saying "I don't want any cameras" before we saw his face, we were made to believe "Oh maybe there's a chance we won't even see him because he does it all behind closed doors because he's really just there for love..." SPOILER ALERT: You can't even go on camera until you've signed a release. He knew he was going to be filmed. He wanted to be filmed. And by "filmed" I mean "get Instagram followers."


BOOZER: He is so cute!
JOHNNY: Keep it in your pants, Boozer.

I love that Arie called him a… nerd. The unclassiest of nerds.


When Arie says “He goes from… being broken up to… I’m gonna propose… WHAT” The "what" was by far and away the MOST emotion he has ever shown.

The Living Room pretty quickly decided that Ross must be pretty annoying in real life. He came here with aluminum foil on his flowers (did his mom put them together?) and didn't even PROPOSE to her (After he told Arie "it's my proposal to give") didn't pull out a ring... Was just like, "I've been thinking about you..." Now I WILL say that there is NO CHANCE that the producers hadn't been calling him for weeks saying things like, "Becca keeps talking about you..." cause there's no way he would've shown up, otherwise. But he doesn't even have a ring! Becca tells him that he expects everything to be like the Notebook and he can't just show up like this. And honestly NO ONE can expect everything to be like the Notebook unless you're Ryan Gosling. She sends him home and goes to talk to Arie.

We all SCREAMED when Arie and Becca said the Krystal “Heeeey” at the same time. Can’t rewind because it’s live but Johnny legit almost fell out of his chair. He was kind of lowkey into Ross's spiel for about sixteen seconds before I snapped him out of it:




If everyone took a drink everytime the word “know” was said in this scene between Becca and Arie… “I know.. you know…. I don’t know… but you know… I don’t know…” I mean, that was really something else, you know?

It’s kind of cool that Arie is worried that “Becca might still have some feelings for Ross” when she a) didn’t let him in her room and b) WHEN HE HAS SAID I LOVE YOU TO ANOTHER WOMAN NOT TWENTY FOUR HOURS BEFORE.


Arie: I’m so excited to end this in a proposal. I feel good going into next week,” ALL THREE GIRLS THINK HE’S TALKING ABOUT THEM.

Arie pulls Kendall aside, sends her home, and we all collectively yawned. She'll be great on Bachelor in Paradise.

So deeply excited for next week. Hopefully that criminal conviction of Arie's will have gone through the court system and we'll find out what on Earth Caroline was talking about when she told him "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID (last summer)."

I will leave you all with the greatest line ever said on TV from my favorite too-short-lived Go On:


If you're a bird, I'm a bird...

A Buffet of Glitter and Mic Drops...

Seriously WHERE do we even begin? I guess I’ll get back to the basic – “’write what you know,’ so they say…” let’s hit some pop culture updates:

- In a conclusion that EVERYONE saw coming – Black Panther totally eclipsed Fifty Shades by like, a billion. And no one is mad.
- Oh! Do yourself a favor and follow TextFromMother on Instagram. It was inspired by a crazy text from the mother of a certain roommate of mine, and an entire account was born. Also send us screenshots of the crazy stuff your mom says. Merp.
- Kacey Musgraves released two new songs and I haven’t stopped listening.
- Fransisco Cantu’s “The Line Becomes A River” is my latest read and it is PHENOMENAL. It’s about life along the U.S. Mexico border and it’s like Hillbilly Elegy meets a Donald Miller book and I love it. 11/10 would recommend.
- Not really related to pop culture but if anyone in Pennsylvania can get me a date with Conor Lamb I’d be SO down.

Ok. Women Tell All. BOY did it deliver, you guys! I feel like we got everything we were expecting from people like Bekah and HurricaneKrystal and then there were darkhorses like Caroline (WHAT did Arie do?!!? Does she know about him robbing a 7 Eleven in his past?! WHAT)

Our Peanut Gallery numbers were low due to previous engagements – it was just Kelly, Boozer, and myself.

The first thing we notice is that Hare has cut his HAIR! This is a strong start. Also sorry for not being able to pay attention fully to this episode because I’m still combing the audience shots for my face, hoping one of the poor assistant editors weeded over the audience shots of the Bachelor in Paradise taping because I gave them SO MUCH GOOD FOOTAGE to use of my face.

Uh, where is Maquel?

Someone clearly handed Hare an index card with generic questions to ask the women, and all we learn is Jenna was excited that Arie was The Bachelor because she likes older men… This whole thing really should’ve been a montage of “We wished that the Bachelor was Peter…”

Ohhh and we quickly get into glam shaming. Brittany telling Marikh, “you’re trying to make it a thing and it’s not a thing” is my favorite thing. I understand that Marikh was irked that Chelsea told Arie that she was constantly checking her reflection. She tried to justify said primping by saying “My hair looked like s***!” And you know what the REAL problem with the whole thing is, Marikh? If you’re too busy combing your hair and separating your eyelashes, it means that you think your appearance is the best thing you have to offer. Maybe the ONLY thing you have to offer. Which just isn’t a good look, ok? 


Kelly quickly pointed out that all of Bibiana’s dress was blurred, because it was so… unsuitably placed. Yes, “unsuitably placed” is a euphemism, because we all know what the dress was REALLY (not) doing.

Bekah chose to go for the jugular when she pointed out that even though her age was lower, she scored higher than most of the women on communication and conflict resolution. And you know what? She isn’t wrong. Also worth pointing out: everyone probably wanted to pick on her for being the young one because everyone is actually envious that she possesses way more skin elasticity and collagen in her cells than they do. (Oh, no one else is jealous of that? It’s just me being a crazy old witch lady that's chasing after youth? Whatever)

Ok so our quick assessment is that Krystal got a nose job... right? I mean that thang looks way more narrow than it used to be... doesn't it? As much as I like to be a witch lady seeking youth, I am no plastic surgery expert...

Whoaaaaa we were taken aback by that footage of her in the bathroom. You KNOW that the producer walked out of there, grabbed the sound guy and said "TELL ME THAT YOU WERE PICKING UP HER AUDIO." Audio guy probably got a raise that day...

New Favorite Caroline hit Krystal with some more realness: “I believe the things you say but I don’t believe them when you say them." Honestly I feel that way about a lot of people. Probably specifically our commander in chief, but that's just me.

The unwillingness of the girls to take it when Krystal said “Maybe I was focused on my relationship with Arie” was amazing. They had ZERO time for her.

OHHHH interesting that Hare asked Sienne how men usually deal with the fact that she is a total package. A rather insightful question, given his usual breakfast tray of cliche questions. They tried to act like they were hinting that she could be the Bachelorette so we might all think ABC is woke, but she isn't going to be the next Bachelorette.

Interesting that Bekah is really ranting about Tia, and ranting about people being ageist, in general. I think she wanted a platform to stand on to give her more airtime, which is cool, but if she really wanted to come after them, she could have pointed out: "Insecure girls will often look for something to pick on, to make themselves feel better. Mine just happened to be my age."Also the way that she addresses Arie’s insecurity about age and Tia faulting her for not being at the same place is TERRIBLY articulate and I am HERE for it. Just wish she had put on a shirt.

Kelly proceeded to ask the important question: why haven’t we heard more about Annaliese’s bumper car trauma tonight? We didn't hear a single word from her!

Chris says that Tia was one of the most painful goodbyes… DEFINITELY the most painful goodbye was Peter and Rachel, a thousand hands down, no questions. 

Guys... did Tia really have feelings for Arie? Like, why is she crying right now? Is Weiner THAT small of a town, that she just hasn't met humans? 

She'll be great on BIP.


I can’t believe that they made Arie the Bachelor, I know we’re at the Women Tell All and it’s kind of late in the season but like… I’m still just SO shocked. I needed to say that.

Krystal wants to start with Arie’s goodbye being… cold. 

I mean, I honestly didn't even take any notes during this section because I was so transfixed by the TV screen. Arie has ZERO flips left to give, so he let Krystal HAVE IT, and he is so far down in the trenches, away from my affinity, that this definitely didn't make me like him an OUNCE more, but it sure was super fun to watch, MERCY. And I mean, yay for Krystal's brother... I guess? But when you've spent your television career sabotaging other people, we really don't care about the charity of your brother...

I love how much Hare thinks that we love the bloopers… Seriously no one cares about them. And they were 0% funny because this season is 100% basic. The ONLY thing they were good for is setting up John Cena's very welcomed "Merp" at the end. 

Final witch lady comment of the day: LESLIE MANN HAS FOUND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AND I LEGIT CANNOT HANDLE IT. She looks exactly like she did in George of the Jungle and I am SLAIN every time I see her face. (Also honorable mention to Megan Mullally, because she is aging EXCEPTIONALLY well.)

Meanwhile I'm literally over here like:


Ok. Fantasy Suite date commentary up soon. We had a full house for that one. (The delay is because I REFUSE to publish half-finished jokes. I won't do it.)

Till then - if you're a bird, I'm a bird...

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Tia, Tamara Will Be Waiting For You Outside...

Well a good morning to everyone who hasn't been indicted by Robert Mueller yet!! (Although honestly he could indict Arie for being just the WORST.)

Quick Poll: Bekah M's tears last week... real or fake? I know we saw that one crocodile tear fall down her face, but other than that, we saw NO 👏ACTUAL👏TEARS👏. I have been feuding with my boss about it for over a week now because he is saying I don't have a heart and I'm telling him he's being hoodwinked by Bekah... what do you guys think? Seriously - holler at me. 

A few pop culture things we need to discuss:
- I had to take a personal day last Wednesday to mourn the loss of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's marriage. And by "mourn the loss of" I mean "go to the spa and get a hydration-rejuvenation facial because I need to be READY to sweep Theroux off his feet. (Are hydration-rejuvenation facials a thing? I think they are) 
- I'm reading this amazing book right now called Text Me When You Get Home and it's about the amazing bond of female friendships and you all should read it, ASAP. (And to my .07 male readers, maybe you should read it to further your understanding of how AMAZING women are)
https://www.amazon.com/Text-When-You-Get-Home/dp/1101986123

- Fergie's national anthem... YOU GUYS WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?! I am still left speechless by it, to be quite honest. I really don't even know where to begin. Except that she should fire the person who bolted awake in the dead of night and thought "I KNOW! Fergie should do a fresh take on the national anthem!" (Spoiler alert: YOU SHOULD NEVER DO A FRESH TAKE ON THE NATIONAL ANTHEM) 
- Johnny and I partook in our annual Valentine's Day tradition of dinner and a terrible movie this weekend. Which means I HAVEN'T seen Black Panther yet, but I HAVE seen Fifty Shades Freed. Two things I have to say: 1) Johnny, sorry for aggressively punching you in the arm over and over again while Jamie Dornan sang "Maybe I'm Amazed" because I was so uncomfortable that all I could do was sock you in the arm, 2) Honestly everyone who wants to go into screenwriting should see this movie because it is a fascinating study of... how to have ZERO plot. I'm not even joking there was NOT a single plot line in this movie and it was kind of insane and awe-inducing. I have lots of thoughts on the actors in the movie and I'm happy to share them with anyone, but WE MUST GET TO THE HOMETOWN DATES WITH FUTURE MUELLER-INDICTEE, Bachelor Bland Man. 

Living Room Peanut Gallery tonight: Carolyn, Kelly, Erica (Boozer) and Lennyn

KENDALL:
Well I CAN confirm that Kendall DID grow up in Los Angeles because my friend Eric went to high school with her. He maybe dated her, I'm not really sure. I'll try and get more details. Last week I sat in Eric's office for a solid twenty minutes as I flipped through US Weekly and gave commentary about every single page (Sorry, Eric + everyone in that office. But they made it seem on the cover like Carrie Underwood's husband abuses her and I just can't stand for false advertising) 

What I can NOT confirm is Kendall being into taxidermy right now. They legit found a warehouse with a bunch of dead animals. Kendall has probably touched ONE dead animal in her whole lifetime (Eric says she wasn't into dead animals in high school)

CAROLYN: I wonder if I’d be allergic to those… dead animals. 

Is NO ONE going to try and fix Kendall up with Kirk's dad from Ali Fedotowsky's season? Because this is absolutely NOT the first room full of dead animals that we've experienced on this show.

Honestly this wigged-out-by-dead-animals Arie is the MOST real we’ve seen him. He is SO uncomfortable around these dead animals and it’s the most charming he’s been because it is the most emotion he’s shown, maybe ever.

To the Production Assistant that made the diorama of Paris for the dead rats to get married in…. I see you and I salute you.

ARIE: if Kendall and I get married, she can have her taxidermy room and I can work on cars.

BOOZER: And you kids will go to school and tell EVERYONE how weird you guys are.

Yeah ok we need to talk about Kendall's breathing. Why is she always out of breath? The acting teacher that lives deep down inside of me and rears her head at mostly inopportune moments would interrupt Kendall's scene right now and make her do some mega breathing exercises. She is not in her body nor is she on her breath. If you don't know what those terms mean then take an Intro to Acting class and get back to me.

Kind of hard to believe that NO ONE saw fit to make a Kendall and Kylie joke, but that is, in fact, the name of her twin sister. Glad they at least did their hair differently, so Arie could tell them apart. You know he's so brainless that he'd start hitting on the other one if they looked similar enough.

Furry white throw aside, this patio furniture that they're sitting on 100% came from Ralph’s.

Glad the producer’s talked the sister into giving Arie an energy reading. Also love that sister wore the platform shoes that I had in sixth grade. Kylie just gets better and better.

LENNYN: I feel like Kendall is going to pass out at any moment.

KENDALL: It’s hard for me to talk about emotions

CAROLYN: Is it?

BOOZER: Cause you were pretty articulate with Krystal…


TIA

Tia is “challenging herself” to “do things outside her comfort zone” and Arie is LOVING it. What he’s really loving is that he gets to drive a race car. I'm honestly more impressed by the fact that I remembered that "race car" is a palindrome. Cars kicking up dust is very unmoving to me.

Tia tells Arie who he will be meeting at her house… And I need to say right now that every good play that’s ever been written has a cousin named Rhonda….

LENNYN: Her mom is really giving me Barbara Streisand in Meet the Fockers. 

Honestly it’s great that they’re raising pigs in a blanket to toast to Tia and "Airy" as her dad called him.
Raise 'em up.


Tia’s dad’s mustache is EPIC. Arie is certainly more engaged with Tia’s dad than he was with Kendall’s. Don't really know what that means, but it's a fact.

Apparently this has already made the rounds on social media, but Lennyn aptly pointed out that Tia’s mom’s spirit canine is: 


I am unmoved by Tia's brother. He was trying to be intimidating like the producers wanted him to be, but he said nothing of substance. 

BECCA:

The whole Living Room Peanut Gallery decided that we need to go to an apple orchard ASAP. Carolyn said she'd never had a desire to go and pick apples... but then we saw the apple slingshot and caramel apples and were SOLD.

Arie is 100% more himself with Becca than he is with Kendall or Tia. Again, he is Bachelor Bland Man, and so I don't even think this is particularly telling, but it's definitely a fact. 

Arie goes into meet Becca's family, sits down with Uncle Gary, who proceeds to have his body turned COMPLETELY away from Arie, on the couch right now. Doesn't seem too engaging for a pastor?

Arie proceeds to tell Uncle Gary that he "isn't as far along in his faith' as Becca, but he would go to church with her. Aaaaaand this is where I call the game and tell you that it will NEVER work out between these two. Bye!

Where’s Becca’s sister?

Becca’s mom coming in STRONG with the thoughtful question: in successful relationships that you know, what makes it work?

Another fact: Arie DOES use the word “wife” with Becca more than anyone else.

Becca tells Arie that he is "stealing pieces of her heart” I can get into that, but I feel like Becca is so hopeful that this is all a set up. He's gonna pick Lauren B, right? Ugh. He's the worst.

Lauren B

The Living Room Peanut gallery has SO many strong thoughts about Lauren. I kept saying how I think Arie is going to pick her because... she's so pretty, Finally Carolyn goes "I really don't think she's that pretty. You think she's the prettiest one there? No way." And upon reflection, I realized: "No I don't think she's the prettiest one there, but I think Arie does. Lauren is the kind of pretty that guys are just INTO, even though she's a total dullard..." 

KELLY: Maybe he likes her because she’s SO bland that it makes him feel interesting. He thinks “I’M SO DYNAMIC COMPARED TO THIS BRICK WALL” 

The two of them puttered around Virginia Beach and I am mega bored. 

Lennyn pointed out that this lighthouse has the word “slay” written on one of the windows. If we could spend ZERO more time watching them make out, I'd be pleased. 

Anyone else find it kind of startling that Arie has apparently NEVER met ANYONE in the military? Then at dinner he suddenly stepped away from the table because he is having a full on MELTDOWN. WHY DOES HE LIKE LAUREN B SO MUCH I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SUCH A BAD INDICATION OF THE STATE OF MEN IN AMERICA.

Ooohhhhh then he REALLY won Dad over with his ONE story about seeing Air Force planes. Thank you for your service, Lauren's Dad, but HOW could he be so easily won over?

Laruen’s mom asked him some questions and… then shook Arie's hand. Then held Lauren's hand as she... cried about how similar she is to Arie. No, that isn't hyperbole, that is TRULY why she was crying.

LAUREN: Mom he’s so much like me. I can look at him in a room of 15 girls and know what he’s thinking.

GRACE: ANYONE can tell you what a guy in a room of fifteen girls is thinking. He’s thinking “I’m a guy in a room full of fifteen girls.” 

Rose Ceremony: 
OMG THERE IS A BENCH OUTSIDE THE MANSION FOR THE GOODBYE. If that doesn't shake the girls up when they walk in then I don't know what will.

ARIE: this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

GRACE: Is it?

ARIE: It really is.

GRACE: Did he hear me through Alexa? I'm not even mad.

ARIE: This is really hard. I need a minute.

GRACE: Is he gonna have another panic attack?

LENNYN: I honestly hope so. It would make things way more interesting. 

He pulls Kendall aside... the other girls huddle and I love their whisper strategizing… And how Laruen B has contributed NOTHING.

KELLY: Cause she knows she has it in the bag!

Kendall gets the final rose.

HARE: Tia, I’m sorry, take a moment, say your goodbyes.,

BOOZER: Tamara will be waiting outside for you.

Tia… we feel for you, we are WITH YOU, we are ALL Tia. And on that note of solidarity, I want to leave you with this depressing Washington Post piece, about the bird version of Tia:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2018/02/02/nigel-the-worlds-loneliest-bird-dies-next-to-the-concrete-decoy-he-loved/

IF YOU'RE A BIRD I'M A BIRD...

Wait… Guys… Arie and the rats right now. This is so charming! I don’t even know how to cope with this! And then the Krystal rat! I am slain. God bless America. This is the Arie that we want and that we will NEVER have.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

A Rose by Any Other Name...


Ok let's get the most important thing out of the way: Arie's 24601 tattoo. Refinery 29 did a great breakdown of this story. In the midst of viciously partisan government shutdowns, potential obstructions of justice on all sides, and the constant threat of global uproar due to climate change, it's important to remember the critical things: 

Also 63 more days 'til Comey's book comes out. Also everybody beware and don't be fooled by Russian bots before the 2018 midterms. (I really feel like the best thing we can do is all call our Aunt Marma up in Michigan and warn her against the trolls... I don't even have an Aunt Marma in Michigan but if I did, you know she'd have the wool pulled over her eyes by the bots...) 

Let's start with a shout-out to the producer who somehow convinced Lauren B to look at the tower in Pisa and ask: “Why do you think it’s leaning?”


Honestly it's like Lauren B is somehow the contestant that America has earned. No one knows why she's here. Or how she got this far. Or why she has NEVER understood structural and foundation issues with architecture, but alas. Here we are. We deserve her. 

I love that Hare meets the girls in the public square. Could they please stage the scene where Romeo kills Tybalt, right here? I feel like this is the street square where that scene took place. Hare could quote Romeo to them: "Courage man, the hurt cannot be much..." 🌹🌹🌹🌹

So then we see the beginning of Jacqueline's downward spiral and we come to understand that she doesn’t know if she’s in love with Arie or in love with being in love… Aaaaaand we now OFFICIALLY know that Jacqueline is too smart for Arie and for this show.

JACQUELINE: I’m not sure I can visualize his conversation with my parents.
JOHNNY: I think she’s ashamed of him. Is that what’s happening?



One on One: Becca K 
Ok look I'm  just gonna be really vulnerable with you guys: I didn’t wanna rush into things. I wanted to take it slow... but I DEVOURED a whole serving of pot stickers, just now. In about five minutes. Our current Living Room Peanut Gallery consists of Carolyn, Madison, Kelly, a whole bunch of Chinese food and... Everyone's favorite participant: JOHNNY LANGAN! The only way I really know how to provide the rest of the commentary on this episode is with direct quotes. Get ready. 

Arie and Becca wander around whatever town in Italy this is, even though they've been in Pisa but are trying to peddle it to us as Tuscany, WHATEVER. He has pushed her up against a wall to palm her skull and make out with her NO LESS than 24,601 times. 

JOHNNY: Did you see that tattoo, Grace? She loves the Lord.
GRACE: That tattoo doesn’t mean she loves the Lord.
CAROLYN: What is it? A cross?
GRACE: Maybe it’s a T. We don’t know that it’s a cross.
JOHNNY: A “T” for what? Treasure? You think she walks around saying “This is a T for treasure?” Come on.

Arie pushes Becca against a(nother) wall. Apparently this is his ONLY move because we spent Emily's season watching him do it. Becca gets a rose to secure a hometown date. 

JOHNNY: I feel like I could feed him a bowl of dog food, tell him it’s really good, and he’d eat it and agree with me. He seems so earnest and eager to please.


Jacqueline proceeds to spiral out of control and decides to leave the show. Just a quick note about graceful exits - y'all remember Megan Bell from Farmer Chris's season? They were in Arizona or some random southwest state and she was just like, "Hi, I think I'm gonna go, bye!" We understood that she was leaving, no one was uncomfortable, and no one missed her. Mah gurl Jacqueline could've taken a note from Ms. Bell. Cause this was a whole lot of... something. First of all, she walked in there WITH HER HANDS IN HER SWEATER, which is the same way I walk into the living room when I need to ask Big Daddy for money. (LOL totally kidding I never ask BD for money)

She gets into the room and immediately starts downing wine. And I do mean CHUGGING. And it becomes very clear that Arie wants to be the one that breaks up with girls. 

GRACE: Oh he does not want to be broken up with. 
JOHNNY: Well who does? 
GRACE: No I mean that he can't stand for someone else to have the power. He wants the break up on HIS terms... 
CAROLYN: Yeah, someone is getting real defensive... 


ARIE: So are you not interested in me or are you scared of me?
CAROLYN: (as Arie) I just wanna make sure that it’s not about me, k thx bb. 
JOHNNY: (also as Arie) Yes, why DON’T you nuzzle my chest right now?


Kendall proceeds to have a stage IV breakdown about Jacqueline’s departure. Bursts into tears. Which is also a callback to Catherine crying when Sean Lowe sent My Best Friend Lesley home before hometowns. But it looks like Lez is gonna do JUUUUUST fine with DeanieBabies on Bachelor Winter Games, so whatevs. 

JACQUELINE: I feel like I kind of suck at being happy.
CAROLYN: Aw man, this is where I kind of get sad on this show. 

One on One: Lauren B

Apparently Lauren has never actually been on a bike before. Or seen a wall. Or consumed food. Johnny is growing increasingly concerned that we haven't seen any ACTUAL conversations with Arie, on this episode, just him talking about what is currently happening with the women. Literally saying "So these bikes are fun" AS THEY ARE RIDING BIKES. The LRPG approves of Arie's bike tricks, just for the record. 

ARIE: Have you ever played soccer?
LAUREN: Yeah when I was a kid.
KELLY: Which was literally five years ago.

This champagne glass of Lauren’s at dinner is legit the size of her head.

Lauren told Arie that she was falling in love with him. And he walked away. The whole living room surmises that he just had to take a leak. He came back to the table and gave her a rose but we fully expected him to say "Yeah I really just had to take a piss..." 

One on One: Sienne
I feel like a shirt that is ripped all the way down the middle is... NOT the best thing to wear to go truffle hunting… But I've never hunted truffles nor have I been on a single date in Italy, so whaddu I know? 

What I DO know is that we all love the dogs way more than we like Arie or Sienne. They find like, three truffles then head back to the house to cook a meal that ended up looking AMAZING. 

ARIE: I used to work at a pizza place.
KELLY: YOU WORKED AT PIZZA HUT, ARIE. I HATE YOU.
Fun fact: Kelly legit met this kid last weekend. 


SIENNE: (nervous laugh) This family keeps talking about love.
CAROLYN: You came on a reality show about love, do you think they wouldn’t talk about it.
JOHNNY: Send her home! She’s got life behind her eyes!


ARIE: I love the way love makes me feel and I love the culture.
JOHNNY: That sounds like my USC application that I wrote in 15 minutes later.
ARIE: I’m trying to be Logic.
GRACE: Like the singer? Isn't that a singer? 
KELLY: I’m trying to be logic, and emotion and also Common….


KELLY: I just think Sienne could do better.
GRACE: Oh she deserves way better, for sure.
KELLY: No I mean at PRETENDING that she wants to be here.
GRACE: Oh. Also very valid point. 

Sienne didn't get a rose. Then we saw a commercial WITH Common, and had forgotten all about Sienne... SIENNARA! 

3 ON 1: Bekah, Tia, & Kendall

Tia is so bored on this season that she has resorted to plotting to throw Bekah under the bus. Which kind of works, kind of doesn't. Who even knows anymore. Then she's STILL so bored that she decides to TELL BEKAH that she has attempted a bus throw. Bekah tries to cry about it. No really, that's what happens.

GRACE: Bekah was trying harder to cry than Minka Kelly did in season one of Friday Night Lights.
KELLY: Oh that was so good. God bless season one. And at least it was raining and so it looked like she was crying...
GRACE: Are you sure it was raining? I don't think it was raining... 
Update: we checked. There was no rain. But Tim Riggins 4eva.
Another update: Tim Riggins hair was wet. From sweating. But it was kind of always wet. From sweating. 

At this point Kelly and I spent at least four minutes of our lives that we will never get back watching a wonderfully crappy "Tim + Lyla = their story" video on youtube. Highly recommend this.

The only thing I have to say about Kendall on this date is that she's really into... the Bachelor. But she's not into Arie. She's like a really good canned script, saying all the right things to end up in the final two. Is it gonna come down between her and Lauren B? Kendall is still my favorite on this show, but her level of interest doesn't at all actually match up to who Arie is as a person. It's kind of baffling. But this show is such a snoozefest that I'm also kind of into it. 

CAROLYN: Bekah’s outfit is like… slutty Amish, or something.
JOHNNY: I prefer the term “prairie hipster”
BEKAH: My family knows me so well. I talk to them about everything all the time.
CAROLYN: Oh like how you ran away from home and were a MISSING PERSON?
BEKAH: I have grey hair!
ARIE: You old woman!
KELLY: Aww, they have so much in common.

Arie gives Kendall a rose. The Living Room is nearly asleep with boredom right now. Or maybe it's just a post-pot sticker coma. 

GRACE: This interaction with Bekah after dinner right now… It’s like it’s the movie scene where her character is dying…
JOHNNY: She’s Eponine! A little fall of rain! 24601! 

We proceeded to sing Les Miz for the rest of the night. Didn't even hear another word. Bekah didn't get a rose. She pretended to cry about it but cried ZERO actual tears. She really just could've offered a crying voice, not done the heaving and the sobbing sounds, cause that just made the whole thing way too fake... 

Can't wait for some fried armadillos, next week. Let the taxidermy jokes abound! 

If you're a (stuffed) bird, I'm a (stuffed) bird... 

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

WHERE A ROSE IS A ROSE

First things first:

On Friday, three people texted me about the Nunes Memo.

By the end of the day, NINE had texted me about the Missing Person story with Bekah M and I just love it all so much that I am honestly without words and I'm not even mad about where priorities were, that day.

Oh except I have these words to say: HER POOR MOTHER!
Also... hi, Nose Job, meet Bekah. 


That story is too, too good.

Also too, too good is that I was talking to my friend Frieda about the whole thing at work and then from the corner, some random kid that I’d genuinely never seen before (but apparently watches the show and reads the news) goes “Well I guess she didn’t get a hometown.”

Well said, rando guy., 


Ok so the Super Bowl: you guys know how much I love Pink. She killed it. AND you guys also know how much the production and logistics of the Super Bowl STRESS. ME. OUT. And I’m so glad that there weren’t any missteps or loose screws or wardrobe malfunctions. I don’t know what these haters were expecting from JT’s performance, but I thought he did a great job.

Also... just a life update... this is where my computer stands right now. It doesn't really close.
Send halp. Or a new laptop.

OK MOVING ON TO WE WERE STAYING IN PARIS TO GET AWAY FROM YOUR PARENTS:
(If we go down then we go down together)

OMG Harrison is giving us SO MUCH REALNESS on this Parisian park bench right now! I don’t know why he needs to talk to Arie and I don’t know how it’s possible that Arie has more grey hair, but give us MORE HARE.

Chris appears to the girls on… a boat. To tell them that there will be 2 one on ones, a 2 on 1 and a group date. Anyone who is surprised by this may show themselves out. Tia reads the first date card and it goes to Lauren B. Who the internet has discovered looks conspicuously like Lauren B. from Ben’s season, but be still my heart because Ben is tied with Sean Lowe for my fave Bachelor ever and I’m single, Ben, please call me.

One on One: Lauren B. 

I am so deeply bored by Lauren B on this date and just in general that it is almost unreal. Why is she even here? In the Living Room Peanut Gallery, we discussed the merits of Lauren B being “pretty,” and how that is honestly worse than being plain, because at least plain girls are, in fact, so plain that that they have other things to offer, besides their looks. 
Apparently it is, to Arie.

Meanwhile Krystal is daring to talk about a girl “not speaking in her voice’ right now and… THE AUDACITY!! I can't even really dignify this remark with further comment.

Arie and Lauren proceed to go on a date that is ALMOST as awkward as Shawn B’s final date with Kaitlyn, where the editors were trying to make us think that she chose Nick (sorry, quick detour to acknowledge the fact that somehow Nick was the runner up TWO DIFFERENT TIMES and THEN was on BIP and THEN he was the Bachelor, and if you don’t think this is the greatest franchise of all time, period, then you haven’t lived) and Arie tells us:“I get the sense that Lauren might not be that into me.” Just a quick body language update: he scratched his neck as he said that, which a self-soothing gesture. It’s meant to calm the nervous system. He is uncomfortable about this girl and I cannot for the life of me figure out why.

LAUREN: There were so many people around us today. It kind of freaked me out.

KELLY: Oh the people? You mean the people living their life? Was that hard for you?

ARIE: It’s hard for you to open up.

LAUREN: You’re very observant.

GRACE: IS HE, THOUGH?

IT TAKES HER SIX MONTHS TO TRUST SOMEONE, YOU GUYS. Is that... six months to trust EVERYONE? Including her dentist and car mechanic? Or just potential fiances? This was such a vague one to throw out there.

Ok. Wait… Waaaaait this story from Arie right now. WHAT IS HAPPENING why is he telling her THIS? Why is he telling HER this? WHY IS HE TELLING HER THIS?!

Honestly… my takeaway from these two is that: I don’t want to see them together. I mean, TOGETHER, together. I see them as having a mentor/mentee relationship. Like, cool, sit down and illuminate each other’s lives, but I’m not interested in whether you’re going to kiss or not. And by the way – there is absolutely ZERO chance that Arie came up with deciding to tell her that story on his own. A producer pulled him aside and said “She’s afraid to open up. Tell her a vulnerable story and she’ll be less scared.” He happened to choose the MOST VULNERABLE ONE OF ALL.



Group Date:
Becca K, Bekah M, Sienne, Tia, Chelsea, Jenna

The fact that Jenna is still even here:


The only thing that matters to me about the Moulin Rouge scene is that they went there in Anastasia and watched the girls do the Can-Can.

When you think you can't, you'll find you Can-Can..

If you want to tell me that there is a male animated lead more dashing and charming than Dimitri, I will legit FIGHT YOU.
I'll never know why his shirt sleeves were like that but I won't question it... 

I would like to point out that I took a Buzzfeed quiz about which contestant I am this season and I got… Sienne. Which honestly makes a painful amount of sense. The academic one in the Friend Zone. Just like on the Bachelor in Paradise quiz I got… Wells. The funny one in the Friend Zone. Whatever.

Friend Zone. Easy Target. 


These girls trying to Can-Can right now is 11/10 relatable. Tia saying “I got this part… and then NOPE…” Is me, every day at Zumba. I would make a reference here about how love is like Zumba or choreography but unlike the contestants on this show, I’m not constantly fed one liners by the producers, so I cannot oblige you…

Quick side note: maybe we just thought Arie seemed like a good kisser on Emily’s season because he was compared to other guys… (circa that one dude Doug that Emily had to dump at the castle...)  Cause I’m getting SO tired of watching him maul these girls’ faces off.

ARIE: Bekah, M… I’d love you to have this rose.

KELLY: A rose… For Bekah’s nose (job)

TIA: She’s getting all this extra time with him

GRACE: You’re mad about this stage time with him?

KELLY: She’s perfect for this freak weird thing, be glad you don’t have to do it!

Are we... Are we just going to ignore the fact that Arie had to go onstage and lip sync and... You guys WHAT WAS THAT?! He was seriously worse than Lizzie McGuire, the first time Paolo tries to teach her how to lip sync.
This is what dreams are made of.

I should now take a break in this date to inform you that according to Laruen B’s bio (that we felt the need to look up on ABC.com, when faced with the question “If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?” She said…

Wait. Wait a minute. Whiiiiile I’ve got you here – what would you answer be? Seriously – think about it. Our LRPG answers included Hermione, Katniss, and Elizabeth Bennet

Lauren’s answer is…

“Elsa… because I’ve always wanted to be a Disney Princess.”

THIS👏IS👏NOT👏A👏JOKE,👏PEOPLE👏


Back to your regularly scheduled programming:

TWO ON ONE: Krystal and Kendall

Meanwhile, back on the (literal) boat, Krystal gets the date card. Honestly I have more questions about what the heck she’s wearing, than I do about the date.

MADISON: Is it a stretched out tank top?

KELLY: I think she’s wearing two unitards.

MADISON: Oh that could be it. Amazing that she picked this out and said “this looks good on me.”

Ok so are the girls staying on a boat? Is that the gist? Is it a boat hotel? A hotel boat? Too bad Annaliese isn’t there – you KNOW that girl would have some boat trauma to dig up for us…

Look, I’m gonna be honest with you: the Living Room Peanut gallery doesn’t hate Krystal’s outfit on this date, I have to admit. It’s pretty cute. They wander around a mansion that Arie probably told them is “vintage,” just like the Bradbury building and CAN WE GET ON WITH IT PLEASE.

Whoaaaa did you guys see that Shawn B and Kaitlyn commercial for Reddi Whip? WOOF.

KENDALL IS SPITTING SOME TRUTH AT US RIGHT NOW: “Saying the thing that’s most hurtful doesn’t necessarily mean that you win.” MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR AT HER REALNESS. I can think of one Twitter user that could use this little nugget of wisdom, anyone else?

Krystal had a weird conversation with Arie where she whined, crunched her neck and told him Kendall wasn’t ready for marriage. YAWN CITY, USA. Arie told Kendall what Krystal said, because this is a TV show and this is a two on one date and there needs to be some drama and…

And what we proceeded to see Kendall do is something that is GENUINELY unprecedented in the history of this show. She called Krystal out with such surgical precision that I am honestly surprised there was any piece of Krystal left. She told her that she had no real reason to say that she wasn’t ready for marriage OH BUT SHE DIDN’T STOP THERE. Truly, TRULY this was unprecedented: we saw Kendall proceed to BUILD 👏KRYSTAL👏UP👏 and tell her that she was a beautiful human and it was worth it to embrace her imperfections. Honestly I wonder what Krystal thought as she watched this tonight. Because we didn’t see the raw footage, but the way that the editors made Krystal come off, WHEN MY GIRL KENDALL WAS CALMLY OFFERING SOME TRUTH AND INSIGHT TO HER, is just insane. Literally: insane. Krystal looks insane! She sat down at dinner with Kendall later and said “I don’t need your advice” and then told Arie “this whole journey has been “Indescribable but magical and worth it.” On a scale of one to ten… I can’t.

KENDAL IS THE QUEEN OF MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I AM LIVING FOR HER RIGHT NOW. Next year the State of the Union address should just be what she sat down and said to Krystal. Kamala Harris and Kendall 2020, you guys. THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD ALL BE LIVING OUR LIVES.

To quote Kelly Clarkson quoting Michelle Obama: WHEN👏THEY👏GO👏LOW👏WE👏GO👏HIGH👏

Aaaaand Bekah just compared Krystal to Trump. The wheels came off so long ago I don’t even know where we are anymore. Arie gives the rose to Kendall and I am already popping my popcorn for Krystal on the Women Tell All.

Did you guys see what kind of rose that Kendal was holding as they went up the Eiffel Tower? It was like it lost all the petals. And then she and Arie proceeded to suck face because… honestly they were trying to avoid having a seizure from all those flashing lights. Or they were wishing they were this:

(S/O to a lovesick Dimitri in the background)

Quick statistics update: Carolyn has wished that Arie would be hit by a bus… no less than 19 times tonight.

One on One Date: Jacqueline

So the two of them hop into a car that proceeds to break down and Jay-Kwellan hits us with: “It is hot when guys who know things about things do things about things..." Which is almost as nonsensical as a certain someone giving remarks about the Nunes Memo from the Oval Office last week...

Honestly why wasn't this an Anastasia-In-Paris themed date? Why didn't he put her in THIS dress?
Or even this one?


Honestly BRB I need to retire from my job and just dress up as Anastasia for the rest of my life. I think the kids call it "CosPlay," but I just call it LOOKING CLASSY.

But seriously... is Jay-Kwellen drunk right now? Why is she so awkward and why has she rubbed off half the day's worth of makeup? She tells Arie“I’m worried I’m an experiment and not someone I’m excited about," which... I have to say... isn't the most UNrelatable thing we've ever heard from a contestant on this show...

Carolyn aptly pointed out: Arie basically brought her on this date to say “You’re getting your PhD… and that doesn’t work for me.”
Ohhhhh but then in a weird twist, she got a rose. Ok. Interesting.

Rest of the roses went to: Tia, Sienne, Becca K.

The LRPG was expecting the rose to go to Chelsea, not Sienne.... but GIRL BYE.

I guess we also thought that Arie would dismiss her early, as the leads are wont to do with single parents on this show, but not for Chelsea!

I will leave you with these two things:

1) never forget that during "Paris Holds the Key to Your Heart," the line goes "Come dance through the night, and forget all your woes - a city of lights!" and that RANDOM DUDE goes "WHERE A ROSE IS... A ROSE!" I'll try to find a screen grab for next week.
2) Seems fit for us to end with this image:


(Sorry I'm not sorry for all the Anastasia references this week. Forgot I had so much passion for that movie within me.)

Oh - this is where my computer is, right now. the "ON" button straight up FELL OFF this morning. My birthday is in a little over a month, HINT HINT




If you're a bird, I'm a bird...