What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

The Shahs of Sunset

When we last left the Shahs, we were at MJ’s renewal party and Tommy just asked her to marry him. The doves are released and kissing happens. Vida starts complaining and tells MJ to get over there like she’s a dog. Asa tries to calm Vida down and she just gets louder, insisting that MJ is in love with the wrong person. In her interview, Asa says in the Persian culture, you respect your elders, but she’s having a hard time with Vida acting the fool.

Tommy gets emotional and tries to talk to Vida. She suggests they look at the ring with a magnifying glass. MJ is disgusted, embarrassed, disappointed and hurt. Reza is starting to freak, saying he can’t be in the cemetery anymore. Everyone gets in their cars, leaving the scene of what Vida thinks is a crime.

MJ can’t believe Vida tried to bulldoze one of the happiest moments of her life. The next morning, she’s loving Tommy and her ring. She says if Vida doesn’t get with the program, she’s cutting her out.

GG is getting her hair done. Asa wants to take some photos of GG taking a selfie. Her project is called Together and she wanted pictures of everyone, regardless of whether they’re coupling or not. Everyone is coming to the opening or revealing or whatever it is. GG says she’s tired of feeling like she needs to be on guard with Reza, but Asa is like, who cares?

Reza has decided on a property in Palm Springs. He hasn’t seen it yet, so he and Adam are driving over. Adam wants to replace some things, but Reza says it’s a rental and they’re not doing any work on it. Now that they own properties together, Adam talks about getting their own place and having some kids. Reza says you can’t live the Hart to Hart lifestyle with kids.

Asa’s mom comes to visit her, bearing the OK! magazine that has a piece about Asa’s caftans. They both get super excited when they see the article. Even I get excited. I like Asa. She works hard and deserves some recognition. And caftans are  so much more practical than diamond water. She talks about her family’s blind support and how they all made something life-changing happen.

MJ meets Vida for a snack. They exchange pleasantries. A-hole Vida says Tommy ruined the day for her and MJ points out that it wasn’t her day. She says that she has respect, love and patience for Vida, and it keeps her mouth shut, but Tommy deserves better. No surprise, Vida doesn’t react well. In her interview, MJ says Vida fears that she’ll abandon her for Tommy. Vida insists that Tommy isn’t the right person for her. MJ says sorry, and have fun being alone. Vida makes a pouty face.

Mike and Reza meet for a run in the park. They’re trying to get back in shape after some serious slacking off. Reza has set the time for an hour, but after 15 minutes, Mike is done, and they sit on a bench. Reza talks about how Mike was able to forgive GG. He says he thinks she has a serious mental problem. In his interview, Reza talks about how GG said she had a video of him having sex with someone at the gym. He says she systematically goes through all of them. Mike says he’s sad that GG doesn’t put her energy into something positive.

It’s the day of Asa’s art show. I know it’s an art show now because that’s what it said on the screen. GG is giving herself a snail mask (Korean skincare!) and Shervin calls, since they’re attending together. GG is afraid of losing her sh*t with Reza, but she says she’s going to steer clear of him.

Asa is at the gallery getting herself and the art pieces ready. She’s written something about each picture of her friends and family. Reza shows up first and she reads some of them to him. Reza is annoyed that GG never apologizes for anything she does. He says they’ve been friends for five years and all she does is cause problems and needs to be accountable for her actions. Asa just wants everyone to be able to talk to one another.

Shervin brings Annalise along to the art show. She seems relatively normal, so I’m not sure how she’s going to gel with this group.

Commercial break with important information – the two-part Shahs reunion starts Tuesday, 9 pm.

Asa is impressed with her parents having stayed together for 42 years, and says there have been some dicey moments. There’s a photo of Asa and Jermaine, looking toward the future. I love the one of Mike and his dog, who is a much better partner than Jessica. Mike talks about how he messed up, learned from his mistake, and has no choice but to move on. Reza compares being married to how a stew gets better when it’s been marinating for a few days. Shervin’s photo is with Annalise and he’s happy with how things are moving ahead.

Asa gives a speech about togetherness. She says when you love each other, that’s what’s at the core, and you stick it out no matter what. Asa gets a bouquet of red roses. They’re from GG, apologizing for her past bad behavior. Is she doing a 12-step program?

Mike is next. Another bouquet with an apology. And one for MJ and Shervin. I’m impressed with the apologies because they’re very specific. Whenever someone apologizes, I always like to know exactly what they’re apologizing for. Reza gets one too. GG includes her lie about the video. Asa says GG must have had a life-shifting epiphany.

Reza says he has a confession. He wrote all the letters. In her interview, GG says she’s sad, embarrassed and disgusted. He says all of them deserve an apology from GG. My mouth is hanging open. He says it comes from a place of compassion and hope, and that he knows she wishes that she could do something like that. He’s hoping the next one comes directly from her.

It’s not well-received. MJ says something like this has to come from her. GG says that some of the issues in the “apologies” are things she’s gotten over with that person and now they’re being dredged back up again. Asa says that Reza told the truth and GG should make it hers. Asa is a decent person, which is why she’s not absolutely livid that Reza chose her art show as a venue to make his point. I get where he’s coming from, and it’a a unique way to try and make someone else’s light bulb come one, but how unbelievably rude to take the spotlight away from Asa. I probably don’t have to tell you that I wouldn’t be so decent to let that pass.

Asa makes a toast. She says there are a lot of feelings going on. (She’s diplomatic too!) She talks about her parents telling her you need love, patience and forgiveness to make a relationship wotk. MJ says it’s never going to be the same. Reza asks if GG has a video of him and I don’t catch what she says, but he says he can’t have anything to do with her anymore and tells her to grow up. In her interview, she claims that someone told her there’s a video out there. She tells Reza she’s sorry he’s so distressed. Asa keeps trying to intervene, but Reza and GG keep talking over her. GG says she doesn’t know what to be – she wants to rage, but she wants to rise above.

Rage wins. Reza and Adam are leaving, and she takes off her shoes. We all know what that means. I just feel badly for Asa, once again being embarrassed in front of friends and family.

GG takes off after Reza and blindsides Adam. There’s all kinds of screaming and yelling and Shervin holds her back. Her sister tells GG to put he shoes on and get in the car. Reza decides to go home. He says he doesn’t wish GG harm and hopes she finds her way, but it doesn’t include him.

Asa says none of them is perfect, but it’s what happens afterward that’s important. Each of them talks about the group and how they’ve always stayed together. Reza talks about it being family and it’s the same as being in a real family, but he’s done with GG. GG says they love hard and hate hard, but she’s hanging on to hope for tomorrow.

Everyone leaves. The camera pans out to the title of the art show: Together 17,903 Days

No preview of the reunion.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

The grand opening of Melissa’s boutique, Envy, is this week. Husband Joe is taking care of the kids and it’s not going well, especially since he’s trying to work at the same time.

Teresa talks about the rumors regarding her and Joe #1 divorcing. She says she has old school values and wonders who started it. Her lawyer says the final restitution check has been paid, which is a big relief.

Siggy meets Jacqueline for lunch. They talk about their kids. Siggy says every day there’s a fight over the phone with her teenage daughter. She says it’s easier to get along with her ex-husband. They talk about the party and Siggy says she really enjoyed meeting Teresa. She feels badly about all the articles coming out. Jacqueline says the tabloids are a touchy subject with Teresa.

Joe #2 is on a work phone call while the kids go crazy. Geez, at their age, I went to work with my father and wouldn’t have even thought of behaving like that.

Teresa is doing an audio version of her book, Turning the Tables. They begin with the introduction and she immediately starts to cry. It’s hard for her to talk about leaving the kids and we flash back. She says at the rate she’s going, she’s never going to get through the book. After that, it’s on to a publishing meeting. Teresa talks about how she and Joe #1 have grown closer through the trials and tribulations. The title of the book is discussed and Teresa says people attribute it to her flipping a table (flash back!), but it’s really about how her life flipped around. She’s shown the cover of the book.

Joe #2 calls Melissa, saying she has to come home immediately because he has a work problem. She says she can’t and he’d promised her that he’d take care of the kids today. He says the queen can have her job back.

Dolores’s daughter, Gabby, discusses the future with her while she bathes her guinea pig. Dolores talks about the difference when she was growing up and how she’s always stressed the importance of an education. Somehow the guinea pig jumps the tub and this is the highlight of the scene.

Chris is developing some popcorn and is hoping the new recipe works. (I’m not kidding. He’s going into the popcorn business) He says trying to sell the house has been a bust, but he thinks this could be the answer to their financial problems. Jacqueline says she didn’t marry him for his money, since he didn’t have any, and he’s been her rock.

Joe #2 says he’s happy for Melissa’s business acumen, but he just ate peanuts for dinner. Don’t they have a microwave? And what did the kids eat?

Stuff with Siggy and her kids. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz……….

Chris has a popcorn meeting. He says having a son with autism has made finding snacks a challenge, and this has no gluten, GMOs or even popcorn in it. It’s made entirely of purified air. He says there’s a trade show coming up and he needs a revision of the logo/box/whatever in a few days. He wants something more cheerful than what the team has come up with.

Teresa is doing a rock climbing thing with her daughter, Gabriella, so they can have bonding time. Siggy and her daughter, Sophie, join them. While the girls do some climbing, Siggy talks to Teresa, asking her where the tabloids get such crap. In her interview, Teresa says maybe years ago she would have been offended with the same questions. Siggy says what brings her and Teresa together is a lack of control of what comes out of their mouths. Dolores joins them and they talk about going to Melissa’s opening.

Melissa is getting her make-up done. She says she wants to set a good example for her daughter in that you can be a successful businesswoman as well as a wife and mother. Better not ask Joe #2 about that. She talks about her father dying in a car accident when she was 17, and how she misses him whenever there’s a milestone in her life. In the car, Joe tells her that her father is right next to her and she doesn’t even know it

Siggy calls Jacqueline, who goes into shock about Teresa’s non-reaction to Siggy’s tabloid question.

Melissa and Joe #2 have press pictures taken before the opening. A mini red carpet. The champagne flows. It’s Teresa’s first event where there is going to be press, and Gia is accompanying her. Joe #2 talks to Chris about Joe #1. Jacqueline’s daughter, Ashley, thinks the new Teresa is just a publicity stunt and it’s just a matter of time before she goes back to her shallow, nasty self. Ashley, whose finest moment on this show was pulling Danielle Staub‘s hair out of her head.

Teresa sees Kathy. We flash back to Kathy calling her crazy, and Teresa says she’s learned to be emotionally detached. Chris asks Teresa where Joe #1 is, and she tells him it’s Joe’s grandmother’s birthday. Sure it is. Melissa thanks everyone for their support with a special thanks to Joe #2 and her partners. She tells them to shop and have fun. I actually like her merchandise. It’s sophisticated, but youthful.

Chris and Teresa chit-chat. Joe #2 tells Melissa that even though he was giving her a hard time, she’s still the best wife ever. Melissa says once he starts seeing sales, he’ll have a whole different perspective. There’s a fashion show and Joe #2 struts the runway in a snappy red number.

Teresa clips Joe #1’s toenails and I gag. Afterward, they do yoga. Well, Teresa tries to do yoga while Joe acts like it’s sexy time. She kisses him and tells him he eats too much garlic. He says she should be glad because that means he’s not kissing anyone else. Oh, I see. Garlic is reserved for the wife. She tells him if he cheats on her, it’s a deal breaker. Joe has seemed like he’s on Valium since before Teresa went to prison, and reacts with a placid look.

Chris calls. He tells Joe he was hoping to see him at Melissa’s opening and invites them for dinner on Friday. We flash back to the last dinner there, which didn’t go well. Joe #1 says that you forgive, but you don’t forget.

Next time, a children’s fashion show, Siggy wants to redecorate, dinner at Jacqueline’s house, and Teresa and Jacqueline argue.