Little Stan's Cute To Me

Cougar Town, S03E13

Jules decided to hold Thanksgiving out of season since they didn't get to celebrate it last year together.  Ellie wanted Jules to use Little Stan as her ring bearer and had to face the truth that her son is somewhat of a nightmare.  Jules asked to hear Grayson's vows and he asked of her the same.  However, Jules struggled to express her feelings for him and got Travis to do it for her, and he got Laurie and Bobby to help him.  Andy had trouble preparing for the pizza toss event, his first major publicity event for his mayoral campaign.

It's funny that the gang celebrating Thanksgiving in the spring referred to the fact that this show had a huge break before it was picked up again.  They also made a lot of comments that referred to that fact that they were getting moved from ABC (to TBS next season).  I like that they joke about this in a not so subtle way.  But I can understand why ABC might have been reluctant to bring back CT, and it doesn't shock me that a different network picked it up.  The opening credits also made a comment about the uncertain future of this show with a line: "Are we still on TV?"  For now they are.  But I don't see why TBS would cancel them prematurely.  Hopefully the move will help this show rather than hinder it.

What I liked better than the commentary on CT's unstable broadcasting status was the story about Little Stan and Ellie.  I forget how old he is, but that kid is incredibly mischievous for such a little boy.  Grayson got really upset that Stan tagged his garage, especially when he asked Ellie why she would buy paint for her son at all (even if it was washable).  Throughout the episode, you continued to see Stan's tags on random things in town.  Apparently, he can get around on a bus already.  Damn.  What is that kid going to be capable of once he starts getting his education?  I really thought that Ellie just thought he was funny and that was why she dismissed him, but it was nice to see that she's not that nonchalant about her son's misdeeds and just wanted him to be adorable like a normal child.

I happen to think that Stan is already adorable.  I loved when Jules made a little obstacle course out of cushions and such to see if Stan could make it through without getting distracted by things like hammers and markers.  Ellie was cheering him on like a show dog at the finish line, while Jules was trying to stop him by throwing uncooked rice at his head.  They are so nuts!  But that was really cute.   I think that was cuter than him bringing in the turkey at the end.  Sure that was sweet, but he did that because Jules paid him in spray paint.

 I also liked that Stan destroyed Big Carl.  Not that I had anything against her having an over-sized glass (and I knew he'd be replaced in no time), but having a little boy destroy something Jules loved (probably more than Grayson) was a good way to see her explode with anger.  Otherwise, I think she would have stayed in denial about Ellie's parenting until the bitter end.  

It's a good thing that Grayson is a bit of a moron because it should have been obvious that the vows Jules read for him were about inanimate object and not him (especially since Travis and crew didn't bother to edit her Big Carl speech that much).  I think it would have been helpful for him to know that his future wife values wine drinking more than she does her husband.  But then again, Grayson has to know that already with the way that she is constantly making "pounding grape" a priority.

The most interesting thing about Andy's story was the way that Grayson felt it necessary to cheer him on (unlike anyone else was really).  He seems to be smart enough to know that if he doesn't get an ally to help him against his wife and her best friend, he is going to be subjected to a lot worse things than a Fakesgiving.  Still, I don't know what Grayson thinks he and Andy can achieve together that no one else hasn't tried.  If Jules has Ellie backing her up, no one is going to oppose them.  Point in case, no one was brave enough to say no to Ellie when she decided they were all going to join Jules for Thanksgiving after all.  Maybe their union is pointless, but at least Grayson prevented Andy from giving up.  I'd like to see him become mayor soon (and be more useful than Bobby's personal ass kisser).

This episode was definitely better than the other one.  I think their jokes about the show being on the air were really good, even if I'm not entirely overjoyed that CT will leave ABC and go to TBS (This show is just really something to watch on Tuesday).  I'm glad that they had another Little Stan story because I think that he's my favorite character (which says a lot about the other ones).  Who else but a "devil baby" like him could destroy Big Carl and live to see the day?  I'm looking forward to how he really does behave as the ring bearer.  It would be great if he could cause one of the many problems I foresee occurring that day.