A Family Thing
Updated 2008-10-02 09:07:18
I haven't missed this show. It isn't like Pushing Daisies or Dirty Sexy Money , which I've been anticipating. This one I could take or leave. When last we left these people... oh just read the weecaps . There was a lot of lusting after co-workers, exes, enemies, cops that brought us to this new season.
Dr. Naomi Bennett is doing a commercial about how "your family" is the most important thing to them. A little bit of Dee-Lite plays, and before you can say "Groove Is in the Heart" Naomi's on the phone at a pastry shop talking to Addison about pigging out and her eating disorder, and Addison's staring at expensive bags, which she's using to fill a sexual void. Cut to Violet's commercial about emotional health, and more pastries. Addison, no call from the cop, hence shopping. Then Addison's commercial is talking about putting her hands inside a woman's body... to fix it. Sort of inappropriate, given that she just said she was going to have sex with a purse. Cut to Violet who wants to go to Nim's Island (or something that sounds like that) with Cooper. Cooper's in bed, and a freshly showered bitchy Charlotte walks into his room. Pete's commercial is all about Eastern medicine. Then he and Sam are commiserating the fact that he and Naomi have no luck with the vexing ladies in their office.
The finished commercial runs in the office lobby. They all discuss the "Gap ad for medicine." Which is what it totally looks like. Except it's set against this ugly gray backdrop. Violet's just worried that the pricey-looking ad will effect her bonus. Dell got his line cut. He's pissed. Sam's annoyed that Naomi is avoiding him.
Off Addison goes to talk to Naomi. The video, which is going to run on the Internet or whatever, looks amazing, or so Addison gushes. Dell, who got a cute haircut, wants to talk to Naomi, but Naomi avoids the issues. In the lobby, Cooper tells Violet he can't go on vacation with her. Moments later Charlotte walks in, greets Cooper briskly and they adjourn to his office for some kind of very personal examination that involves their lips and a desk. Cooper seems to be getting attached, and Charlotte can't have that. He shuts up. Their examination resumes.
Addison and Pete discuss the lack of paper cups in the kitchen; this and bonuses is all anyone seems to talk about. They're going green at the old Oceanside Wellness Center. Then Pete asks Addison out on a date. She seems confused, and says there was someone else, but not now. He leaves without getting a real answer. That's a boy, leave 'em guessing. He should know by now that Addison needs someone more direct.
Naomi pushes a patient off on Addison because she's busy. In return, Addison wants to know if she should go out with Pete. Naomi gives some sort of uncaring look. Then Addison runs into Christopher (or whatever the officer's name is... he will always be Christopher to me). Anyone can apparently wander into this practice whenever. Christopher is SWAT now. He was training and that's why he blew her off. She shoos him off -- she has her pride, after all. Right. That's believable.
Addison's seeing Dr. Bennet's patient. She's nervous and needs to have the baby now . Oh god. It's Amy Acker. Really? She's on this? And she's crying because her son with lymphoma's going to die unless she delivers her baby at 27 weeks. I'm kind of crying that Amy Acker has been relegated to this sort of guest of the week role. I know there's the Marti Noxon/ Angel connection, but still. She could have said no. I'm hoping she was just being a really good friend.
And opening credits.
That was a hell of a lot to happen before the opening credits, though admittedly they didn't come until eight minutes into the episode. Still, I guess if you hadn't watched much -- or any -- of Season 1, that was your little catch-up.
Now Naomi and Sam are discussing their relationship. Sam needs to talk. Really, the most perplexing thing about this show is why anyone would say no to Taye Diggs, ever. I don't get it. Anyway, they are interrupted by Dell, who then in turn is interrupted by Addison. Addison gives Naomi an earful about dumping the crazy pregnant lady with the sick kid on her without any warning. Now they are trying to have a serious discussion about stem cells and using one baby to save another. They're actually fighting. After watching them frivolously discuss cakes and designer handbags, I find this hard to buy. Not that smart women don't like purses or snacks, but just like the fast cutting of this show is kind of throwing me all over the place.
Speaking of which, now Violet, whose only purpose in this entire episode is to bug Cooper about going to Zanzibar, is trying to sway Cooper with the promise of being able to touch monkeys. Violet doesn't stand a chance, because I'm pretty sure his monkey just got touched by Charlotte. And after a brief and random scene of Dell and Pete talking about subpar hospital gowns, we're in Cooper's office, where he's actually seeing a patient. The teen is talking about wanting to have sex with his girlfriend. Cooper's giving him solid advice. Use condoms. At least the mom is in the waiting room.
And now we're back to the debate about bringing Amy Acker's baby into the world early to save the son who will surely die without the cord blood. Seriously, this show is giving me whiplash. Naomi's all insistent about delivering the baby early. Violet and Addison think is a gray area, but Naomi was too busy chowing down on Twinkies to mention it to her colleagues.
Sam's griping about colonoscopies. Pete doesn't care; he's anti-Dell's campaign to go green. Damn tissue paper gowns! More complaints about the women who are giving them trouble. Then Cooper walks in to discuss his teen patient who is going to have sex. The kid is Dean Miller. This makes Pete and Sam stop being self-involved for a minute. There was some sort of debate years ago about if they should take him on as a patient. He's HIV positive... but he doesn't know it. His parents refuse to tell him. What? Well, now the condom speech makes more sense. But that's about the only thing.
The boys are out walking Sam's little bitty dog by the beach, debating their hard-hitting issue of the week. Apparently the parents never wanted to tell him because they thought he'd die before he got to adulthood. Nice.
Amy Acker's in the hospital looking at her little sick son. More crying. Addison says no. Amy's like, but you are the best, you can do this. Addison is forced to look at the sick kid again. She leaves, then she and Naomi are in the office talking about the ethical issue again... in the middle of the crowded office. Addison storms off. Dell tries to talk to Naomi, she brushes him off. This is like the third time he's tried to get her attention, in vain... he must have something really important to say.
Now everyone, except Dell and Naomi, is in Addison's office asking why she just ripped Naomi's head off in front of a waiting room of patients. Though they get distracted by the fact that there's no candy in the office, per Dell. Finally, Addison gets them back on track to the issue at hand. Now there's more serious discussion of who did the right thing, and how Naomi didn't talk to them about it. They think something is up with Naomi. Addison decides to go find her friend to figure out why she's keeping secrets. Violet is concerned with the larger issue of which doc would win in a fist fight. My money is on Naomi. She's scrappy, and Addison would probably give up.
Addison blocks off the kitchen until Naomi fesses up. It's a staring contest, which the rest of the gang watches with glee. Dell reminds them that there is a lobby filled with patients. Cooper is talking to the parents about telling their son that he has HIV. They think they've got plenty of time before he has sex. The parents think that he can't handle it, because people are mean to those with HIV. They don't listen to a rational boundary. Random angry dad (who is kind of an unconvincing actor) tells Cooper that he'll take his license if Dean finds out that he could die. Poor unsuspecting teen girl be damned.
Back to the staredown. Naomi reveals that she didn't impregnate Amy Acker out of the goodness of her heart. She did it because they gave the practice big-ass bucks. It's her job to deal with the details. Naomi makes Addison pinky-swear that she won't tell the others how troubled their finances are. But there isn't enough cash to keep the practice afloat and they're running out of money. They're doomed. The commercial was a desperate attempt to bring in new patients. Hmm... could the same be said about the ratings for this show? I'm not sure those billboards of Kate Walsh looking like a goth vampire are going to help.
Now the staff is out for drinks. Cooper's talking about the angry parents. Bring it on, is his attitude. Naomi tells him to stop being selfish, because they'd sue the whole practice. People need to be responsible. Now Addison and Naomi are having a thinly veiled conversation about doing the right thing and keeping secrets. I love Audra McDonald, but I'd rather she be singing right now. When is the musical episode of this show? Her and Taye both have pipes. That I'd be excited to watch.
Anyway, Pete tries his hand at asking Addison out again. He gets brushed off. Sam wants to talk to Naomi. He gets brushed off, too. The boys are going to drown their sorrows in shots. Violet's back to promising Cooper some monkey touching. Cooper ignores her. She uses her incredible ability to read people to discern that he's got a non-cyber galpal that he's been keeping hidden from her. Well, if she's not going to see any patients, she might as well use that psych degree for something. He lies and says there is no woman. Right before he goes to play naughty schoolboy with Charlotte. I'm not making up a euphemism. That's what she actually said. He wants a relationship. She pushes him off again. She doesn't like their incestuous family, especially because they aren't really serious. He puts his pants back on and makes her leave... even though she's wearing crotchless panties.
Addison is unwinding outside her apartment when Sam confronts her about Naomi. Sam thinks it has something to do with their relationship. Meanwhile, Naomi's at the hospital staring at Amy Acker's sick son, trying to figure out the right thing to do.
The next morning Addison walks into the office with Sam, which arouses Naomi's suspicion. Addison says it is nothing. I'm distracted by Addison's amazing shiny golden trenchcoat. But then their cells start ringing and the both have to run to the hospital. I'm guessing Amy Acker induced her own labor.
But we'll have to wait to find out. Because first Cooper is talking to the angry mom and dad and their HIV-positive son. He tries to get him to admit that he wants to have sex. When that doesn't work Cooper breaks doctor-patient rationality and tells the parents what Dean is planning. Dean's all pissed now because he trusted Cooper. The mom is crying. The angry parents ask Cooper to leave, so they can tell him. I just started to wonder if they'd been giving him drugs all these years, and how he never asked what they were.
Naomi, Addison and Addison's shiny raincoat have met up with Charlotte at the hospital. Dr. King informs us that Amy Acker's water has broken, the baby is in distress, but Amy's not even dilated. Addison storms in and is like, "What the hell! Stop lying to me!" I'm changing my mind about who I'd back in a fight. Amy broke her own water with a knitting needle. I knew it! Naomi and Addison give more glares at each other. Addison is pissed, but she's prepping an OR.
Commercial. Then C-section. Baby is out, but no crying. Amy wants to know if the baby is okay. Addison's like, "Duh, no, stupid bitch." But you know, in slightly nicer, doctor-friendly terms. Naomi takes off with the umbilical cord blood to save the son.
Back at Oceanside, Cooper is getting punched by angry dad. The kid is pissed because Cooper didn't tell him. Cooper is going to help him have the kind of life he wants. But of course there's a twist... Dean and his never-seen girlfriend already had sex. Just last night, in fact. Cooper looks dumbfounded. This is not an uncommon look for him.
In the OR, Charlotte walks in and sees what looks like a dead baby on the table. She's like, let me get the parents. Addison's trying an untested new experiment to save the little girls life. There are some cheesy graphics of lungs inflating and the little baby goes from purplish to pink. Charlotte wants to know where Montgomery has been hiding all her medical life. Wait, that's a compliment? From Charlotte? How unexpected. She must be trying to soften her up this season.
Violet strolls into the hospital and sees Charlotte. She's there to check on Acker and her family. Charlotte misses when God decided things instead of doctors. Even though she'd be out of work, she could go see the world and touch monkeys. A lightbulb literally goes on over Violet's head. Wait, monkeys? That's not at all familiar. Of course she says absolutely nothing.
Addison is staring at a baby in an incubator when Naomi walks up. Neither of the kids is in stable condition at the moment. Naomi tries to thank Addison. She's not having it. Yeah, I'd totally be on her side in this fight.
Pete and Cooper are hanging out, not seeing patients. Pete's telling Cooper he did the right thing. Doesn't matter, he's still miserable. Back at Oceanside, Dell finally storms Naomi's office. He's been covering for her mistakes and dealing with running the office. He wanted to help her. She thought he wanted to talk about their relationship. He's looking adorable with his haircut, but it doesn't matter. He's had it, and he's quitting. How does this miserable woman have cute Piz and Taye Diggs lusting after her and she's alone? I don't get this show.
Addison is randomly standing outside of her office crying. Why not in her office? Because that would make sense. People lean and weep publicly all the time. Plus, she's got on a great dress, and this way they can show it off. Then Addison turns on her heel and runs into Sam's office, shuts the blinds. She reveals Naomi's big mismanagement of the practice. She doesn't know what to do. Neither does Sam. Addison tells Sam to step up and face his ex.
Pete checks on Violet, who appears to be working late. She's really trying to figure out what to do with her life since she can't be all co-dependent on Cooper. Pete doesn't understand Addison. She invites Pete to Zanzibar to meet pretty girls. He's already been. Of course.
Charlotte shows up at Cooper's. She's willing to date him, but she's got rules. They can go on vacation. But it has to be close by. And he can't tell people about them. He slams the door. But when she says she's crawling back to him... sans undergarments, he's powerless to refuse.
Chistopher shows up on Addison's doorstep. He's not a stalker, just a cop. She agrees to date him, only after she gets to see the SWAT vest. And finally we get a glimpse of the Addison I used to love. Fun and silly, but still good at her job.
Naomi's at Sam's, begging him to take her back. Now she's finally smart -- still a mess who kind of grates on me, but wise enough to go begging Sam for a second chance at their marriage.
The next morning at Oceanside, Cooper can't find Dell. But his concern doesn't last more than a second because the angry family is getting off the elevator (presumably without an appointment) and Dean's brought his girlfriend along. They've got a lot of questions. He invites them all into his office.
At the hospital. Amy Acker's thanking Addison, saying she'd do the same thing. The little girl is still alive. So, presumably, is the boy. Moments later Addison is back at the office, wearing the awesome coat again, and turning Pete down. He says she's not wise. Then Addison asks Sam if he's ready. He's like, "Well... I kinda got laid last night... how can I yell at her?" Addison turns the whole doing-whatever-to-save-your-family speech around on him. He mans up and asks Naomi to go into the conference room.
The entire staff congregates. Violet tells Cooper she's going to Zanzibar alone. Cooper shrugs. Sam hands out the bonus checks. Well, it is technically bonus cash. It is $100 bucks. It's from his personal account, and this is all he has to give. He tells the staff they've got no income at the practice. Naomi is shooting daggers at Addison. Sam's taking charge of the practice. Naomi's been relieved of her duties. No warning. No nothing. I'm guessing he won't get laid again any time soon. Naomi storms off. The rest of the staff starts whining about not getting bonuses. And now we're back to the commercial about how they are a family.
Next week: Your regular weecapper will be back. She was busy with the finale of America's Got Talent tonight. Two different kinds of torture. On the show, Tom Amandes from Everwood will be on. He's got a sick son or something. This mediocre show is casting some of my TV favorites. They are trying hard to make me keep watching this show. I'm not sure how long I'll fall for it.
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