November 19, 2006: Beautiful Girls
After last week's ending, I was really hoping that we'd find out more info on the backgrounds of Orson and Art tonight, but they are really taking baby steps when it comes to those two mysterious characters. So now we at least know (thanks to Orson's mama, Gloria) that Orson was having an affair with Monique while being married to Alma - the same Monique that had an affair with Harvey Bigsby, Carolyn's hubby. As Gloria so eloquently put it, Monique "got around." But Gloria still knows more and is holding those nuggets over Orson's head: "What are you going to do to me that hasn't already been done?" That look of death that Orson gave Gloria made me believe he'd kill her in the next scene. But instead, Bree packed Orson's things and asked him to leave, apparently believing Gloria. I'm still loving
Dixie Carter as Gloria, and I hope she spills more of the beans about Orson soon. How perfect for Andrew to be in cahoots with Gloria, attempting to sneak her wine behind Bree's back, but how ironic that Bree the alcoholic is the one trying to hide the booze from Gloria. Bree's got to regret not allowing Gloria to live alone in that house in a bad neighborhood that Edie showed them.
The mystery behind new neighbor Art continues to boggle the mind of Lynette, but we're right there with her. Your comments last week proved that not
all of us believe he's a pedophile. It would be quite typical of this show to confuse us with those photos of shirtless little boys, but come on. Yes, he's supposedly a swim coach, but all of the photos were of
shirtless little boys. You be the judge. Until proven otherwise, I myself will still be creeped out by Art. He told Lynette he donated and sent all of the toys and the pinball machine to the children's hospital with nary an acknowledgement of the photos that were also removed from the basement. We did get to see Art's sister Rebecca (
Jennifer Dundas) tonight. Hopefully next week we'll find out more about why she's in a wheelchair.
That scene with Lynette and Tom at the police station was one of my favorites, especially when Lynette had to explain to the officer why she was inside Art's house uninvited. Best part was Tom apologizing to the officer after Lynette left the room and then Lynette shouting: "You better not be apologizing for me!"
Felicity Huffman and
Doug Savant play so well opposite each other. And I love that they give Doug comedic stuff to do, like having Tom show up at Mike's house to watch football with Mike's "best friend" Carlos. I'm surprised more of the neighbors haven't taken advantage of Mike's memory loss like Carlos has.
Having Mrs. McCluskey be involved in everyone's business continues to make me laugh. Last week, she returned Mike's toolbox and encouraged him to hide it, especially the bloody wrench, and now she's the one keeping an eye on Art. (For more on her, go
here to read Matt Webb Mitovich's great interview with
Kathryn Joosten.) That toolbox is really getting Mike into trouble. Detective Ridley (
Ernie Hudson) showed up and shined a flashlight on Mike as he was about to bury the hatchet, I mean, the whole toolbox. They seem to like to bury things in that neighborhood.
How refreshing it was tonight for Gabrielle to focus on something besides being mean to Carlos and trying to rejuvenate her modeling career. I enjoyed all of Gaby's scenes with the young girls - the highlight was when she convinced that shy, skinny little blonde girl to focus on being confident and giving the proper attitude. Best
Eva Longoria line was when Gaby was strutting her stuff on the faux catwalk and said to the gals: "Yes, I'm unbelievable. Close your mouths," and they all closed their mouths.
Alec Mapa was hilarious as Vern, Gaby's personal shopper. You knew the mothers weren't going to be happy when their daughters were desperately trying to lose weight, since Gaby told them that fat girls don't get magazine covers. Speaking of the mothers, that was
Winifred Freedman as Mrs. Tomlinson (the one that said it would be the Christian thing to do to forgive Gaby). Winifred's first claim to fame was playing Millie in
The Last American Virgin.
Another awesome guest star was
Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt from
Seinfeld) as Rupert, Ian's butler. (I guess Ian is a popular British name.) It gave
Teri Hatcher something else to do besides pine away for Mike, be a protective mother to Julie and, in general, be a klutz. I liked that Rupert was so protective of Jane, even though she's in a coma, and he kept reminding Susan that Ian was still married to Jane. His best line came after he gave Susan the choice of an omelet, strawberry tart or brioche for breakfast, and she said, "That sounds great - you pick," and he said "You
are aware there is a
Mrs. Hainsworth." Then Susan said, "Yes," and Rupert said, "Tart it is." Second best was after Susan gifted him with a T-shirt with a British flag on it: "It'll come in handy should my nationality ever slip my mind." Having those two actors together was a reunion of sorts. Since most of you know Teri guested on
Seinfeld as Sidra ("They're real and their spectacular"), did you also know that both Teri and Ian appeared in the show's finale? Yep.
One gripe I have - what's with Bree's daughter, Danielle? She (
Joy Lauren) was given one line tonight - three little words. ("We all did.") Sometimes they don't give her any lines or they don't have her appear at all. The writers have got to think of
something for Danielle to do. At least Andrew (
Shawn Pyfrom) gets to be a sarcastically funny little snot each week.
So what were
your favorite and least favorite parts of the episode? Take the good, take the bad - don't be shy.
