3/2 - "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers, Part Two"

[Steve M.]

While trying to cope with her Oscar loss, Alex doesn't feel like leaving the house and upsets Patrick by refusing to accompany him to his own awards ceremony when he is nominated for Teacher of the Year. Meanwhile, Alex begins to wonder if her mother, Suzanne (Cybill Shepherd), is jealous of her fame.

[Steve M.]

Well of course Alex didn't win the Oscar - Charlize Theron did! Don'cha read the papers? (They'll probably overdub Charlize Theron's name in the scene where Alex realizes she doesn't win.) Hopefully, everything will be resolved by the end of the episode. And remember - Peter Jennings could interrupt at any moment to announce the results from the Super Tuesday primaries (eight of them in the Eastern Time Zone alone), so please try not to get upset!

[hurricaneez1]

I doubt it will be that bad with the news....the democratic nomination is pretty much a done deal. At worst I think you will see like a 30 second break in like we did for the New Hampshire primary.

Again....I'm real apprehensive about this episode. Last weeks was great because the focused on just 2 major storylines, Alex's mom and who the 3rd ticket would go to. Seems like Tuesday will try to focus on about 4 storylines that could take up an episode all thier own.

[SapphireSkies]

Originally posted by hurricaneez1

Again....I'm real apprehensive about this episode. Last weeks was great because the focused on just 2 major storylines, Alex's mom and who the 3rd ticket would go to. Seems like Tuesday will try to focus on about 4 storylines that could take up an episode all thier own.

Only three basic storylines that I'm aware of at the moment. But I'm not worried. A lot can happen in a short amount of time. Hell, a lot can happen in just a few minutes. I think most episodes can probably be reduced to at least two topics, along with perhaps a third minor one on the side. I'm confident they can handle Alex's depression, Suzanne's jealousy, and Patrick's upset over Alex not coming with him to the Teacher of the Year ceremony in the time allotted.

I have a feeling about that last one. Patrick will indeed attend by himself, but Alex will show up at the last minute. Not sure if Patrick is going to actually win the award, though I suspect he will. Alex could enter the room right as he's giving his acceptance speech. Am I saying it's going to be predictable? Maybe. But predictability doesn't really bother me. Not when it comes to I'm with Her, at least. We'll find out if I'm right in less than 24 hours. Right or wrong, I'm going to totally enjoy it. That is definitely predictable.

[hurricaneez1]

Sapphire,
I think your right about her showing up at the last minute, however, I think he will lose. That way he knows how she feels and they makeup.

[Steve M.]

I agree - whether Patrick wins or loses, Alex will show up at Patrick's award ceremony at the last minute, and Patrick is going to reconcile with her.

[hurricaneez1]

They have to reconcile so they can break up in the season finale.

[Faster]

You called it.

[hurricaneez1]

Ok....I have to be honest...at 8:55pm eastern time I was getting ready to come on here and just rip this episode. I just didnt think the parts that were supposed to be funny were funny and the parts that were supposed to be serious just were not believable. Then a funny thing happened.....

They did that AWESOME ending!!! I totally loved it and it saved the entire episode IMHO.

Overall I give it a 7 out of 10 with 5 of those points for the last 3 or 4 minutes. By the way Alex and Cherie get 1 point each just for being on screen so no episode can ever score less than a 2.

P.S. I do think I was right about them trying to do too much with this episode....thought the confrontation with Mom was given too little time.

[Steve M.]

This was a cool episode, and Stevie was just as funny as ever! I loved how they wrapped things up with Alex's twin reapproachements with her mother and Patrick. A couple of good guest appearances (did anyone catch ex-SNL cast member Mary Gross as the vice principal? ) livened it up, all leading to that incredibly classy (except for Stevie, of course! ) ending.

Was that a Van Morrison record they played at the end?

[SapphireSkies]

Originally posted by SapphireSkies

I have a feeling about that last one. Patrick will indeed attend by himself, but Alex will show up at the last minute. Not sure if Patrick is going to actually win the award, though I suspect he will. Alex could enter the room right as he's giving his acceptance speech.

The way they actually did it was so much better. Patrick does win, but Alex, indeed arriving at the last minute, accepts for him and really comes to understand Patrick's ideology. Then Patrick comes in as she is giving the speech in his absence. That has a poetic beauty itself. They hit that nail squarely on the head. Beautifully done. A superb way to conclude Oscar time with the Baldzikowskis. And of course, Stevie finally got to streak.

For me, the only really weak point of the episode was during the post Oscar party. With all respect to Burt Young, his appearance was nothing special for me personally, and he seemed too upset with his own Oscar snub to console Alex over hers, as indicated he would in the ABC synopsis-- No, wait, I take that back. He's been in her position. He can understand her feelings about it. Sympathy is certainly helpful in itself.

Actually, let me amend this one more time. Just watched that part again, and Burt Young was fine. Okay, so maybe I'm wrong. Not the strongest moment, but still good. The rest of the show was great. Roughly what I expected, though for some reason, I thought they were going to use Charlize Theron's name in the show, and I was disappointed that it wasn't closer to the actual Academy Awards ceremony. But honestly, that would have been all but impossible. I appreciated Stevie's heart-to-heart with Alex. Sweet moment between them. Kind of makes one hope they will grow closer as time goes.

Suzanne's jealousy may have been somewhat muted, but I think it worked okay for what it was, although it probably could have been extended just a little. The major plot points were Alex's depression and Patrick's Teacher of the Year nomination. Don't think third tier stories are usually given much screen time. Maybe they could have done without it, and just had Suzanne act as more of a comfort than adding insult to Alex's upset. But then, which approach would more closely suit Suzanne's character as we have come to know her?

This wasn't the laugh fest that "Not in My Dress You Won't" and "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers, Part I" were, but as I said a while back in another thread, the humor is not the driving force that brings me back every week. The characters and the relationship between them are. And for me, that never fails.

Scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 7, though maybe an 8. Had a miss or two, sure, but the beauty and class of Alex and Patrick's relationship is always above reproach. I think of the warmth those two share on the screen, and the score keeps climbing.

[hurricaneez1]

Excellent review Sapphire....now that I've rewatched it a few times I have to say I agree 100%.

[Faster]

Finally got around to watching it. A few of my opinions.

1. Cybil Sheperd is not funny. Maybe it was the writing (it seemed TOO dumbed down for a show like IWH) but the white trash drunken floozy mom was stupid.

2. Burt Young was a very pleasant surprise. I thought he was dead, but he's not. Good for him.

3. Cheri's rendition of Stomp was the funniest thing I have seen on any IWH.

4. I usually don;t go for the schmaltzy lovey-dovey endings, but I thought Alex's acceptance speech for Patrick was very touching.

[joe87]

i'm a big cybill shepherd fan and i would like to see the two episodes. i've never saw i'm with her. has someone an idea how i can get the episodes or some pictures of this episodes? thank you so much