A Walsh Family Christmas

Mark here... we're on to the next episode of 90210...this one is the christmas episode, titled "A Walsh Family Christmas".  And ugggh!! Apparently the writers decided they needed something christmas themed and yet "whimsical"...there aren't enough quotes to put around the term whimsical.

Anyway, the Walshes aren't going back to Minnesota this year and are feeling down. Their tree is dead and when Cindy tries to invite the gang for christmas, everyone has plans. Of course she invites her kids friends because she has none of her own. Well, through a series of wacky events, everyone does ending up showing up at the Walshes' for Christmas eve. Also, there's a side plot of Brenda inviting a weird guy dressed as Santa Claus to dinner.  Really, it's not worth going into.

Steve also tries to find his biological mother...BORING! Really the "wackiness" of christmas is more interesting.

Hey Laurel here.  Not much to add except for my usual Andrea rant.  I'm Jewish, I'm Jewish!  Yeah we get it.

Also Steve's bio mom is dead.  He finds his grandfather though, and they make plans to stay in touch, visit each other, etc.   Funny, I don't think Steve ever mentions him again.  Ever.  Maybe him, Brandon's "little brother" and the gang's black friend are all hanging out together somewhere.

Style award this episode goes to...Cindy!  For her Christmas eve ensemble, crazy neck scarf worn under even crazier apron.  You go Cindy!

The cocktail moment is every time the homeless Santa says "MERRY CHRISTMAS"  Until he gives his little speech at the end I thought that was all he could say.

Chuckie's Back

Mark here... this episode of Beverly Hills 90210 is called, "Chuckie's Back".  It's basically a Steve-centric episode.  While not annoying, it's sort of a forgettable episode.  We do get to meet Steve's mom, Samantha, who used to star on a sitcom called, "The Hartley House".  The Chuckie from the episode's title is her co-star, a former child actor who was jealous of Steve for being Samantha's son.  We learn that Steve was adopted and that Chuckie was told by the show's people before Steve knew, in an attempt to coddle him.  Anyway, Steve spends the episode at first vying for his mom's attention and then telling everyone how he needs to find his birth mom.  Somehow this quest needs to involve a bus to Albuquerque? I know.  Because planes don't fly there.  So by the end of the episode Steve is boarding said bus.  But prior to that there's the school holiday dance, which is of note because Donna and David Silver finally get together.  Donna had been avoiding it because her friends made fun of him, but when David shows up everyone on the dance floor Donna rewards him with a long deep throat kiss...  WooHoo!!! Umm...too bad Donna's a committed virgin...

Anyway, the only other point was how the show danced around Steve's adoption.  Like his mom comes across as feeling shame for it?!  Sure she didn't tell him until he was older, but really...  It's such dated writing and thinking...

Laurel here...Not much to add expect that man that Chuckie is a real asshole.  Also, guys, get over the Beverly Blaze already.  Brandon and whoever this annoying new guy at the paper is get into a fight over whether or not to write a story about Chuckie, Brandon thinks it's going to be too much of a puff piece for the hard hitting Beverly Blaze.  Get over yourself!  It's a school paper!

Amalia here...Way too much Steve Sanders in this episode. I really need some more Dylan if I'm going to commit to these screenings. When do we get to see the Dylan-Brenda-Kelly love triangle? I actually miss Emily Valentine at this point. My favorite part of this episode was watching David Silver's dance moves, though it's still really hard to look at Donna Martin's face. Poor girl. I also enjoyed Andrea's "cupcake" style formal wear at the school dance. Did you know she was 30 years old while playing a sophomore in high school? I keep getting her mixed up with Brandon's mom.

Mark here...The style award this episode is a tie for Steve and Steve!  First his Golden Girls shirts.  We got a picture of one, but each one was a treasure.  We couldn't tell if there were shoulder pads, but I'm guessing yes, given that I think my mom owned the same shirts in the early 90s.  Steve #2 had is sweat shirt and sweat pants ensemble.  This one was a half sweat top and rolled up sweat pants. Truly something to behold.

Our quote of note is Chuckie responding to Samantha Sanders, who is finally sticking up for her son, "Hey Lady! I kept this show on the air!"

Cocktail moment is any reference to "The Hartley House"...

My Desperate Valentine

Mark here...we are on to our next episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 season 2.  This episode is called "My Desperate Valentine".  We are doing take out this week because it's too hot to cook in LA and the AC is out!  We are joined this week by a guest blogger! Our friend Amalia is joining is to offer her insights on Emily Valentine!

On to the episode....  Basically, Emily we hardly knew ye...  Emily Valentine goes from zero to crazy. Seriously, last episode she slipped Brandon some U4EA (which he enjoyed until he sobered up!) and he said he needed some space. Sure, she messed up and came off as a bit of a bad girl wise ass but whatever.  Now this episode starts out with Brandon avoiding her and her trying to talk to him.  Suddenly, the friends are all pointing her out as crazy...before she really does anything crazy!  But then sure enough she is stalking Brandon and calling and hanging up multiple times (because no SANE teenager ever did that!).  She concocts a scheme to end up staying over at the Walshes and tries to slip into bed with Brandon, which goes badly.  A series of stalkery events leads to Emily tearing apart the school float the gang has built.  Brenda and Dylan arrive home to find Emily sitting on top of the float with a lighter...oh she's doused the whole thing with gas! Brenda, showing her trademark sensitivity, talks Emily down from the cliff.  It goes something like, "I DO NOT HATE YOU EMILY!!" Seriously, Brenda pretty much scares Emily into giving up.  So, exit Emily Valentine to the psych ward as she admits to needing "help".

Laurel here...not much to add except it sure is fun to see emily go nuts.  She's pretty good at it.  She even slashes her own tires to manipulate her way into spending the night over at the Walsh's.  She also sends a bunch of crazy threatening letters to the school paper.   I don't really understand what that gets her, except to make it clear to us that she is super crazy.

Amalia here...Let me just first say a big thanks to Laurel for the dumplings and a high-five to Mark for letting me borrow his "I Slept with Dylan First" t-shirt (which I may have to steal). After watching this episode, I am now officially obsessed with Emily Valentine (aka: Actress Christine Elise). Did you know that she was engaged to Jason Priestley in real-life??  Today's episode was the first time I had seen 90210 in over a decade so I'm still adjusting to the shockingly bad/awesome 90's outfits. I was a bit disappointed that Emily did not end up burning down the homecoming float after the build-up of crazy-girl tension, but perhaps she's not done being crazy yet this season (let's hope!). I'm hoping I get asked back to another screening...I'm really good at watching TV while talking smack and pigging out. Till next time...

Our quote of the episode is when Brenda is scolding Brandon about how crazy Emily is and they don't really know much about her, she's going on and on about it.  Then when they walk outside they find a cake and a note from her.  When Brandon tries to lick some of the frosting Brenda is all like "I REPEAT...you do not know anything about this girl."

Style award this episode goes to...Brenda!  For her silky shirt and terrible men's tie ensemble.  Way to go Brenda!

And our cocktail moment would of course be anytime Emily goes Fatal Attraction on Brandon, drink twice if there is an actual reference to Fatal Attraction!