Buddy Garrity and Coach are having a drink at Applebee's, and excuse me, how did this happen? Don't tell me these two hang out on a regular basis. Coach must have gotten abducted or something. Anyway, Buddy tells him that he has strayed outside his marriage (with Tyra's mom, as we all know), has made some promises he can't keep, and that now he doesn't know what to do. Coach is all like "Uh-uh, I'd rather take a bath with a toaster than have to deal with this", so he tells him to break it off with the woman and go home to his wife. Coach exits, leaving Buddy with the bill, and rightly so. How many paunchy, middle-aged troubled men must Coach have to deal with week in and week out?!
Matt is with Landry at the grocery store, perusing the condom selection. They're looking at a brand called Inconceivable, which is so amazing and fantastic I just vomited in utter joy. Landry is helping him select, ruling out "mega" right away. Matt just wants to get this over with, since "none of this will matter if I die of embarrassment first." Hehe. As they continue to argue, the camera pans to show Tami nearby trying on a pair of sunglasses. This results in a little giggle from me, which slowly grows into a huge guffaw as the situation continues. She sees the two boys as they leave, makes sure that they were in fact looking at what she thought they were, and storms out of the store.
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Cut to the Taylor Household, AKA the Den of Imminent Nuclear Explosions. Tami tells Julie about witnessing Matt's purchase, and when Julie denies that she knows anything about it, Tami demands a talk with her daughter. She asks point blank if they're having sex, and Julie says no but they're thinking about it. Tami launches into the pregnancy and STD speech and says that buying condoms doesn't make it okay to start making love. Julie giggles at this and Tami does this thing that completely blows me away, she says "Don't do that, don't you smirk at me" but she starts to cry when she says it and it's just so well acted I immediately try to hand Connie Britton an Emmy through my television screen. Yes, I have a stack in my closet at the ready for just this type of occassion. Tami forbids her to have sex. Julie says she doesn't see the big deal, it's just one body part going into another body part, and Tami says that the fact she sees it that way makes it clear that she's not ready. She continues with a really lovely and well-written speech. She wants Julie to be able to talk to her, and at the end, they hug. You know what, just tape this scene and show it in health class, it's probably a lot better than whatever it is the kids are learning these days.
Julie catches up with Matt after practice and tells him about what happened. Matt is terrified that Coach is going to come after him with a golf club or baseball bat or bazooka, so he calls off the sex. Well, apparently none of Tami's beautiful words have sunk into her daughter, because Julie still wants to go ahead with it. Matt informs her that he was able to secure Bradley's lake house for the big evening. Julie freaks out, asking if the whole team knows, and Matt promises that they don't. Which almost certainly means that they do, plus the rally girls, plus the school faculty, plus it's also been on the radio and CNN Headline News.
Over on the field, the boys give Matt a few more pointers, none of which are helpful in the least. Tim's father is on the field as well, giving a few pointers of his own to Coach, telling him to give more time to Tim. Coach repeatedly asks him to step over to the sidelines, when Walt finally just makes a very snide remark about Coach being king of the football universe. Then he utters my very favorite thing to say when I'm drunk, which is "D'jou think yer better'n me?" Coach appropriately dismisses him yet again, and Tim looks on, embarrassed. Hey Tim! D'jou think yer better'n me?! HEY!
Later, Mac barges into Coach's office to tell him that the new $300 camera that they had bought is missing. I guess Mac has been demoted to Assistant Coach of Plot Points.
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Comments (14)
A. there was not enough smash this week :(
B. these kids are not 15/17/whatever, it is distracting how much older the actors are than the actual characters... but i guess that's par for the course
C. i LOVE julie + matt.
D. i love this show :)
1 of 14 | Posted by meliasaurus
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Posted on February 25, 2007 6:53 PM
Screampillar: I saw this episode and loved it too -- but over and over while watching, I thought "Screampillar is going to love this one". I really appreciate your love of this show -- Your initial recaps turned me on to it, and I quite enjoy it, but your total enjoyment makes me like it even better, in some weird way.
2 of 14 | Posted by rjfrankel
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Posted on February 25, 2007 10:56 PM
Yes! The entire time I was watching I, too, was looking forward to this recap. You never disappoint!! I was actually relieved it wasn't a Smashisode this week. Was a nice change!
Again - love love LOVE your recaps. Great job.
3 of 14 | Posted by dainsey
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Posted on February 26, 2007 7:27 AM
One of the best episodes of the season, and Screampillar your recaps get better each week.
This is the best written show on TV, period. No other show captures the everyday drama and comedy of life, and high school, better. Both the kids and the adults are fully developed, and the writers have even shown that a lout like Buddy Garrity has some good qualities (remember how loving and supportive he was of Lyla when she was ostracized at school?)
When Matt and Julie fall asleep may mirror a "Full House" episode (I wouldn't know), but it also owes something to the song "Wake Up Little Susie" from the Everly Brothers.
Let's pray this show lasts long enough to rake in the Emmy noms it so justly deserves and hopefully let it build an audience.
4 of 14 | Posted by JasonR
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Posted on February 26, 2007 7:41 AM
P.S. without any spoilers, our beloved Coach Taylor was great in his continuing cameo in the hereafter on Grey's Anatomy last Thursday.
5 of 14 | Posted by JasonR
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Posted on February 26, 2007 7:43 AM
in the scene at Applebys where Buddy is confessing to Coach, doesn't coach tell Buddy he should go back to his wife and kids (plural)?
just trying to remember back, but does Lyla have a sibling or two that I don't recall??
Also, if I'd just bought some teeny tiny scanties for my upcoming sexcapades, I would have A. made a very large mental note to wear them or even bring them, and B. I would have hidden them deep underneath my bed or deep within my dresser, and not right in the front of my shared bathroom cabinet (probably right next to the stolen lipstick gift from Tyra)!
ps i agree about tyra. she's really grown on me since she had that depressing interlude with the "big city" businessman, and now she totally rocks!
6 of 14 | Posted by lovedoctor
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Posted on February 26, 2007 8:10 AM
Well crafted, Screampillar.
This is a great show - almost all characters are enjoyable to follow, although I confess to being more interested in some story lines than others. Some of this stuff has a back-to school-special feel to it (for example, in scenes from next week, that cheesy voice referring to "the phone call no parent wants to get!"), but it's all so well written and acted that I like it anyway. Bring us a few more football scenes, though!
7 of 14 | Posted by Don Antonio
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Posted on February 26, 2007 8:33 AM
we called it 'indian leg-wrestling' back in cub scouts.
i love this show. it is incredibly well-written, directed, and acted, within the limitations of a prime-time family show on a major network. i can't get over how good connie britton is as tami, or how believable the interactions are between all three of the taylors. even though this week's show had a bit of that 'a very special episode' vibe about it--as did the 2-part racism story arc--the way FNL handles these familiar subjects just seems fresh and effortless and not the least bit heavy-handed. after connie's speech to julie, i turned to mrs. jack and said 'that ought to be required viewing in every 8th and 9th grade classroom in America.' it was smart and true, beautifully written and delivered. even more beautiful and true to life was the fact that, like a real teenager, julie still went ahead with her plans, and only turned back because she really didn't feel right about it, not because her mom told her to.
it's not perfect--yes, some of the actors are a little obviously older than their supposed age (jason, tim, tyra, and lila are the most out of place), and yes, the show is deliberately topical (appropriate, given the audience it's trying to reach), and there are some gaps in logic (i found it pretty hard to see how smash could go in one week from nearly being kicked off the team for using steroids and doing desperate stuff like showing up at the coach's door in the middle of the night begging to be let back on the team to leading a walk-out of all of the black players right in the middle of the playoffs; i also thought it was a little fishy how last week julie was supposed to be grounded indefinitely for getting caught in a strip club with tyra and yet manages to easily pull the 'i'm studying at a friend's house' bait-and-switch to go get laid). but these are the limitations of mainstream series television--this ain't HBO.
I am really surprised at how much I love this show. It's pretty much my favorite thing on TV these days. I really hope it's renewed, and I expect that connie, kyle chandler, and several of the kids will get a solid career boost out of FNL.
8 of 14 | Posted by jack
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Posted on February 26, 2007 10:18 AM
If there is any justice in this world, Connie Britton should win an Emmy for this episode.
The scene where she was talking to Julie about sex was perfect on so many levels.
9 of 14 | Posted by nate
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Posted on February 26, 2007 10:27 AM
Another great episode! I watch alot of shows, but this is the one I look forward to most each week, it never disappoints!
I love the whole Matt and Julie storyline. I love the Taylors!
OMG, I knew that Tyra's mom would NOT take that creep Buddy's rejection lightly! That was pretty cringe-worthy when she confronted him at the end! Man, he's in trouble now, LOL, it's great.
Looking forward to this week's episode and recap!
10 of 14 | Posted by Jojobear
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Posted on February 26, 2007 12:07 PM
$3000 camera! Not $300, Three THoooouuuusaaaaaaaand.
Fabulous recap. Thank you.
11 of 14 | Posted by sweetleaf
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Posted on February 27, 2007 7:45 AM
I have a sad feeling that sweet little Julie is going to break Matt's heart! Clearly she's not ready for sex, but she was so eager to get down to it without the emotion. And then not saying "i love you" back. ohhh, she better not hurt my little Matt!
Also, I've liked Tim's character from the beginning, (even with the dirty-hair look) and I really think there's a lot there. I'm looking forward to seeing his character develop.
LONG LIVE FNL!!!
12 of 14 | Posted by y2kcsc
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Posted on March 1, 2007 5:01 PM
P.S. Matt..I fear heat ache in your future, not the Taylor family BBQs that i wished for you!
13 of 14 | Posted by y2kcsc
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Posted on March 1, 2007 5:04 PM
Where is the latest recap???? Please tell me you are going to write and we can make fun of Tyra's mom cutting her ass on the coffee table and drunken Lyla Garrity!!!
14 of 14 | Posted by TitsMagee
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Posted on March 5, 2007 1:25 PM