Tessa Might Be A Loser, But Dalia Isn't

Suburgatory, S02E12

Tessa, noticing that she was lacking an after school activity, signed up as the producer of the school TV show, Teen Talk.  Ryan had to fill in as the host, and his success changed the show into a discussion forum about his body.  Tessa, not finding value in his show, argued with Ryan about whether she was a loser or not.  George discovered that Dallas' property was technically in East Chatswin, causing Dallas to be driven out of the country club and Dalia to have to move to a new school.

One thing that I like about Ryan and Tessa dating is that Ryan is able to point out things that make Tessa look sort of bad.  He doesn't do it deliberately, of course, but just by comparing the two of them, you see that Tessa could stand for improvement.  This time, it was about her extracurricular activities.  Ryan's multiple engagements made it clear that Tessa isn't involved in anything beyond herself.  Instead of that realization turning into a positive for her, she basically made it a negative once Ryan became part of her show.  Ryan came in to save Tessa's butt on her first day as producer and made her show a relative hit, and yet she couldn't look past the superficial to see the bigger picture.  For someone who claims to have more depth than most residents of Chatswin, Tessa can be pretty dense.  When Mr. Wolfe has to break down why you love your own boyfriend, you're not doing too well.

Still, I loved when Tessa and Ryan made up.  Ryan knelt down in front of her and apologized for calling her loser, and Tessa admitted that she was acting like one too.  Then they had a cute kiss on-air (which I worried would be a problem, but no one was bothered by it).  Damnit, they are just too amazing together.  I never thought the two of them would end up being one of my favorite couples.

Dallas' story was funny in that she had to adapt to East Chatswin life, which seemed to be pretty ghetto in comparison.  I mean, she technically only had to start going to a different gym (and probably eat somewhere else), but that was enough for Dallas to feel the pain.  When she wouldn't even go back into her house because it was "practically a crack den," I was cracking up.  To have such a beautiful home and sleep in your car because of a zoning technicality is too much.  George being by her side throughout her "ordeal" made it seem worthwhile.  It showed that he'll be with her through thick and thin.

Unquestionably, the best thing about the zoning problem was that Dalia got sent to East Chatswin High School.  She was escorted out of her original school by security and she still remained cool and sort of dissed her classmates before she did (by having no one to say goodbye to).  Then once transfered, she continued to diss them by calling people she saw there by her old classmates' names.  The worst was the red-haired janitor that she called Tessa.  Wow, she really does not think highly of any damn body.  Things got even better when Dalia met her black doppelganger, Daisy.  Although I felt bad for Dalia being bullied, it was so interesting to see the shoe on the other foot for her.  Daisy and the "A's" kept coming down on Dalia for being so pale and vampire like--wow.  As if she was the only white girl in school--they were clearly just looking for something to make fun of her.  I mean, they had little material to work with because Dalia doesn't scream "loser" with her attitude or fashion sense.  They might as well just have teased her for breathing.  What was great about Dalia being hated was that she didn't really fight back and pointed out to Daisy that one day she might find herself in Dalia's position ("the odd biatch out").   Only Dalia could walk through a hall where everyone was throwing paper balls at her as if it was nothing.  I love her.  She may not have been "tan" enough to fit in with the popular kids there, but they couldn't break her inner diva. 

This was a great episode.  Again, it wasn't hilarious or anything, but I enjoyed the series of events.  Tessa really needs to get off her high horse sometimes and look at things from a more positive side.  Ryan seems like he may be able to bring about that change in her.  Dallas is a trip when having to step outside of her world.  I'd love to see her in that kind "trouble" again, as long as George is there with her.  Without him, I don't think she could survive in an "unfruited water" world.  Dalia might have gotten a taste of her own medicine meeting Daisy, but she surely didn't bow down to another queen bee.  You have to love her unwavering spirit.

I Think I Just Ate A Slop Popper

The Cleveland Show, S03E22

Roberta gave Junior a makeover in the hopes it would boost his confidence and create a new image for him.  It was slightly successful in that Junior attracted the attention of a girl named Daisy who thought Junior was a lesbian, and he allowed her to believe that.  He didn't reveal his true self to her until he made a grand speech at Daisy's prom about having pride about who you are.  Cleveland also battled against another Slop Popper fan to see who was the "true Popper King."

I didn't expect much from Roberta's makeover, considering that her idea to make herself stand out was to grow larger boobs (or buy them, possibly), but she managed to do worse for Junior's image than I could have imagined.  I couldn't see how anyone would think Junior was a girl, even a less than feminine one.  I doubt that anyone would be fooled just by the way he was dressed and a different hairstyle.  This strange turn of events wasn't welcomed by me because it seemed to have no meaning.  It only started to look like there was something to the story when Junior decided to go to Daisy's prom without her, deciding to make a stand against those who would ban same-sex couples to enjoy the event.  I thought that was a nice gesture, even though Junior wasn't a woman.  I was surprised that Roberta was on board too.  That gives her a little more credit in my eyes.  They didn't change everyone's minds, I think, but at least Junior seemed to have given Daisy a little more courage to be herself.  I think that's why she didn't get too angry at him for his deception (which was partially her fault for making assumptions based on appearances).

Cleveland's story was a little funnier, mainly because he was so concerned about this microwavable snack that resembled Hot Pockets, but seemed nastier.  Even the name of it suggested that eating said product would give you horrible diarrhea, a joke often used about HPs.  But that didn't seem to deter Cleveland, who was seen heating one up in his room.  It was really funny how he just randomly had a microwave and fridge right by the bed, but it was even funnier when Rallo came into the room with his hair all disheveled.  I had a good laugh at Rallo telling us that the fan from the back of the microwave was connected to his room and blowing on him.  Damn.  Waking up a child just so you can enjoy a fatty snack--how much of a sorry fatso can you be?

Despite that Cleveland's eating obsession interfered with his son's sleeping, Rallo was the one who set up a showdown for him and his Wikipedia rival.  I might have preferred that he kept obsessing over an "invisible" enemy that changed the information he wrote about the Poppers, than have this trivia contest about them where you buzz in by smashing the Poppers.  The room looked like someone had eaten a couple of the Poppers and failed to find a toilet so they used that room.  Was really disgusting to see all those brown stains everywhere.  I just wanted the match to hurry up and end.  And it did when the creator came around and condemned both Cleveland and the little boy he was fighting.  I really liked how he was horrified that someone could eat five of the Poppers in a day and still be alive.  That had me rolling.  I bet there are people like that who eat HPs just as often.  The story made me a little sick, but it brought some welcomed gross comedy against a lack of it in the main story.

Despite this was a story about Junior, thanks to Roberta's hand in his new image, things didn't develop into a situation that was very funny.  It was just slightly interesting that Junior was looked upon as a lesbian (though I found that hard to believe) and stood against those who wished to be intolerant and punish those who differ from themselves.  I think I mostly enjoyed that Rashida Jones voiced Daisy, more than I liked the story itself.  The side story was better, although it was about a nasty food that Cleveland enjoyed too much for his own good.  Perhaps if that had been expanded into the main story, the episode would have been more of a success.  For me, this episode was overall equal to what happens when you eat too many Hot Pockets in one sitting.