Penultimate Eps, Finales, and Randoms

Here is my thoughts on my tv viewing since Saturday. I’ve still got a few things left from last week to catch up on, but I wanted to share my thoughts so far.

Grey’s Anatomy - There was a lot of backstabbing and making tough choices in this ep. - April telling on Christina, Lucy taking Alex’s job in Africa, and Alex revealing what Meredith did.
Christina really is a problem...I want to like her, I want her to be doing the awesome heart surgery that she can do, but she keeps pushing away all her teachers and getting banned from surgeries. I’m getting sick of that. But I guess at least she won’t be Chief Resident! I’m guessing now that either April or Alex will be the choice. 

Lucy HAD to go! So glad that Alex is not going to Africa, but it did suck that Lucy stole the job out from under him, especially when he was willing to turn it down cause he was interested in being with her. Poor Alex –no luck when it comes to relationships. But the way he just blurted out Meredith’s secret to was mean. Alex and Meredith always sort of had each other’s backs –both being messed up people, and pretty much brother and sister; but now he’s gone too far –he was drunk and hurting and told Hunt that Meredith switched the trial packets.

Meredith and Derek with the baby are so cute. I liked that even though it was all about the medicine, what she said to the social worker still proved that she was invested in Zola.
Sloan carrying around the baby all ep was both adorable and annoying...don’t these people do any doctoring anymore?! But Callie was back in the zone...till Sofia showed up. –But very cute baby, I’m just going to keep saying it!
It was so funny having that patient and his family mad at April. –April is so annoying - but not in a terrible way anymore.    And sorry, SO not caring about Teddy’s storyline. I don’t love that she spends more of the time outside the hospital these days, and I don’t love Scott Foley’s character. I don’t love the other guy either. I just really don’t care about Teddy’s love life. –But she can’t move to Germany...but then again, would I really notice if she was gone?! 

Big finale week next week...no idea about what is happening, but after all the death and carnage (in both shows) last year, I’m hoping for no big deaths, and anticipating lots of professional carnage. 

Private Practice - Poor Betsey. Shonda has really put that little girl through the works. But gotta give props to Hailey Sole for her acting chops, it can’t be easy to play Betsey’s storyline. Her saying that people die in that hospital was heartbreaking, and brought back all the stress from losing Dell last season. So cute when Cooper and Naomi walked in, but so sad when she was mad at Violet for not visiting. –Which is totally fair though. Poor Violet is mad that they all abandoned her, and that she couldn’t keep Betsey…but Naomi getting mad at them is just wrong! She wasn’t there!
That kid was scary…poor Betsey, and then to have the foster parents just abandon her…she can’t catch a break! While I didn’t really want any of them to take Betsey, I was glad that Naomi did- that part was really sweet, and the best option. I don’t think Violet and Pete are ready, and Charlotte and Cooper are not right for Betsey either…although I think there might be a kid in their not too far off future – maybe more kid talk next season.

The whole abortion storyline was pretty heavy too. It was rather graphic, in an educational way. I accept that Naomi has to represent her opinion but her talking to that girl was wrong – not to mention holding Olivia the whole time, I mean that’s just MEAN! Addison had her own issues, but put the patient and medicine first- power to her. It was kinda sad her talking about her baby with Sloan back in the day…and how ‘she’ would have been in school now. –BTW Addison has bad math…her kid would only be turning 5…not 6.

Sheldon playing with Olivia was too cute. But give him his own storyline already!!! –Also liked the line about if people get married, and no one witnesses it, did it actually happen. – a funny little dig.

Amelia is falling off the wagon…not sure about all that, Amelia’s drug problem seems to have become a big alcohol problem…I understand that it’s a gateway, but Amelia’s been drinking plenty in the earlier half of the season with no real issue. –Charlotte hugging her was just WEIRD…Charlotte not being at all a ‘huggy’ person, but I guess it’s a sign of how much Charlotte has softened and how close the two have become this season. But I didn’t like Amelia doubting herself and all shaky after Betsey’s surgery. And Speaking of drinking, has Little Miss Martini given up drinking now? I know she’s been going to meetings with Amelia after her ordeal, where she was at risk of relapsing...but its hard to imagine Charlotte never drinking her martinis ever again.

Not sure how they’re going to end the season…I have no idea where Naomi is going to go if she’s got Betsey, and isn’t going to DC with Fife. It can’t be as sad as last year, but knowing Shonda, its probably not going to be a happy hour of tv.

Glee - So I had to wait till I saw Ness to watch Glee (and everything else) this week. It sucked, I’ve never had to wait this long before! But it wasn’t too bad. It doesn’t have that ‘dying to watch it’ quality it used to. Because it is no longer awesome. But I did love the ep this week. I was a bit iffy about Prom, but I enjoyed the ep on a whole. I didn’t really love any of the songs though. – I did kinda like Dancing Queen; it’s about time they did some ABBA. –Brittany and Tina seem to have been reduced to back-up singers. I miss the days of less solos and duets, with more group songs with lines here and there. –When the wealth was shared around more.

Making Kurt Prom Queen was very interesting, and it worked. I really love having Kurt back where he belongs. Quinn’s dress was easily my fave – SO pretty! Rachel looked nice too. I loved Brittany’s tiny hat – see she’s ‘the hat girl’.
I didn’t love Jonathon Groff’s reappearance, I just don’t love him. But he didn’t take over so that was okay I suppose.

Raising Hope - Ness was nice enough to let me download it while I was at her place, so I didn’t have to wait till Tuesday to watch it. I enjoyed Jaime Pressly being in the ep. She and the husband were both in My Name is Earl which is by the same guy that does Raising Hope.

I LOVED Sabrina’s ad for the store…but the singing with baby Hope was weird. Shannon Woodward has a nice voice!

SNL - Tina Fey was awesome as usual! I also loved that Maya Rudolph and Darrell Hammond made an appearance, in fact Maya turned up in a few sketches!

I was a little disappointed that Tina didn’t make an appearance in Weekend Update, but that’s okay. –Gotta say this ep was very Vanessa Bayer heavy, which is a good thing.

Community - I think I liked last week’s half better with awesome Annie and the western/Tarantino motif (plus it had Josh Holloway of LOST), but the Star Wars theme was fun. The Annie/Abed thing weirded me out, she’s such a Greendale whore :P Best part – barely any CHANG! He didn’t say a word! Pierce saving the day was kinda awesome too!
Hilarious having Busy Philips and Dan Byrd from Cougar Town (on ABC) pop up. –Never thought I’d see a crossover with them on an NBC show!

In Plain Sight - BRADLEY!!!! (Whitford) I love that IPS is collecting West Wing people. Also I’m SO glad that he shaved the moustache he had in The Good Guys. He looked young again! But in his suits he really looked like Joshua Lyman :(   It was a pity that Joshua Malina was not in this ep either, would have been an extra special WW reunion.

Well that's all I've watched this week, Nurse Jackie and Parks and Recreation were good too, but didn't really need much discussion -  Although them all getting wasted on Snake Juice was pretty funny! -As was Chris reading out the signs about that woman!

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Carlie

Goodbye Brothers & Sisters

Here is my thoughts on the season 5 finale...Gotta admit I wasn’t looking forward to this ep that much. I was over weddings and don’t care about Sarah and Luc as a couple, but I kinda loved it!

Firstly, Paige and Cooper were actually there…together! I don’t think they’ve both been in the same ep all season! Secondly, Tommy!!!! I was so excited he came – I miss him!

While the whole wedding might win Weddingpalooza – I mean the ceremony was pretty, reception was awesome, everyone was happy….  But Sarah’s dress was not a winner…and that thing in her hair was weird. –I’m fussy.

The guys dancing was awesome! LOVED IT!!!!

Brody coming along to the wedding was cool – but he looked so out of place in his lame clothes...didn’t he have anything nicer in his van? And how did his daughter get invited anyways?!

So the show still hasn’t been renewed for next season, and if it isn’t, I can actually live with that as a series finale. They all were there – Sarah, Kitty, Tommy, Kevin, Justin, Paige, Cooper, Saul, Scotty – heck even Daniel and Evan were there! It had a nice wrapped up feel at the end – no silly cliffhangers or big stories to pick up next season. But at the same time, there are things they can go on with next season, such as Justin and Tyler, and Kitty and her baby.

(written Friday 13th May)

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The day after I watched the finale, it was announced that Brothers & Sisters had been cancelled by ABC, and that it WAS the last episode of the series.

So there are a few loose ends that were not resolved – like Kitty and her baby...which was only introduced in the finale, so that was kinda annoying actually...but we’ll just pretend she has it.
I feel bad that Justin never really got his life together, but then again he has a proper job now, and there was potential with Tyler, so he’s a long way from season 1 Justin. We’ll just assume that Saul and Malcolm get married.  Introducing Brody’s daughter into the mix wasn’t fun, she was annoying and I am kinda glad we don’t have to see how these new siblings fit into the show – which was potentially what they were going to do in season 6. I also think it was right to end the series without having to lose main cast members. Having Calista missing for many eps this season was annoying, and I wouldn’t have liked to have had even less of her (or anyone else) in the next season.

So overall, I’m content with the series finale. I mean it’s a heck of a lot better than what Crossing Jordan, Las Vegas, Pushing Daisies etc left us with. Nothing left too unfinished, I mean how do you end a series about family anyways?! I’m a little sad that it won’t be coming back next year, but out of all my shows, I’m glad this is the one that isn’t coming back. I’m not heartbroken, it had a great run – 5 seasons is great, and the writers/creators did the right thing and gave it a proper ending as much as they could.
So thank you to all those involved in Brothers & Sisters for 5 great years of drama, comedy and wine.

I reserve the right to add more comments later on...but for now –Cheers to the best family in Pasadena!

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Carlie

Violet and the OWG ‘Patient Confidentiality’ issue

Okay so I guess this is gonna be an issue for the end of the season…and possibly into next season. But I have a few issues with this whole confidentiality thing. Firstly, I understand how they can see the stuff in Violet’s book as possibly being breach of confidentiality. I understand the logic there. I’m not saying it’s right, but I can see where they might be coming from. However this whole issue with the doctors discussing details of a co-opted patient within the practice bothers me. I mean…if multiple doctors are treating the same patient, then don’t they need to be aware of certain details or problems? Don’t doctors consult each other? I mean a lot of them send patients to Violet (or Sheldon) for help,  doesn’t that mean they are privy to certain aspects of their therapy?

Okay yes, perhaps Violet does blab to the others more than she should. But its not like they are publicizing their patient’s information all over the place! I mean Addison discusses her patients all the time…Its co-op medicine.

Maybe I can’t understand it or comprehend where these people are coming from, because I’m not in the medical field…but it seems a little like a witch hunt to me. They seem to want to make an example out of Violet and want to drag the whole OWG into it for good measure. But it still seems very wrong and illogical to me.

I guess we’ll see how things play out for Violet and the gang over the next few eps.


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-Carlie

Last Week/This Week

So this is this week's discussion of last week's episodes of the following shows. I don't mind with most of them, that I don't watch them the same week they air, but I can't wait till the day I am not restricted in when I can watch things!

Brothers & Sisters: Firstly I hate that I’m a week behind, I had sorta become accustomed to being semi up to date with the bigger shows this season. But due to limited internet data, I saved room for Glee and Raising Hope instead.

Secondly, Tyler!!! I always liked her. Its kinda cool that they brought her back, even after all this time. -wonder if she'll stick around. It's cool that her and Justin are in such different places now as before, might be good for them!

The whole Brody thing is still annoying the heck out of me. I don’t even really know why it bothers me so much, but it does. I did LOVE the flashbacks to a young Nora! That girl did a great job of playing a young Sally Field!

And sorry Sarah…so sick of weddings, not caring at all….what are the odds that Paige and Cooper will even show up for the wedding?! Oh and yay for Kitty finally coming back!

Also Daniel is not in the running for cutest tv baby. He’s not that cute!

Moving onto In Plain Sight -Man I’ve missed this show! Its sorta an out of sight, out of mind kinda show. But now its back and I remember how awesome it is!
Top Moments-Marshall sitting in Mary’s newer car with his head sideways because he was too tall for it was hilarious! I love Marshall!
-Loved Mary’s I do not ‘heart’ new guys sign! See…awesome!
-Yay for plenty of Joshua Malina…and I like kinda-grown up Brandi!

-OMG. Mary is totally gonna shoot that new girl! Heck, I’d shoot her too! And Rachel Boston is back. I thought I’d lost her finally from my shows. She used to be everywhere for a year or so. Now she’s back again. Oh well, I’ll live. But she’s SO annoying!

Nurse Jackie is not as good as it used to be, but still entertaining.  But I got the weirdest déjà vu about that Kelly guy, and the conversation about his name. Did they do that in season 1 or something? Cause that’s how it felt…or it feels like a dream I might have had. Its freaking me out!
-Loved the conversation with the old couple about Jersey Boys the musical!!!

Still enjoying United States of Tara in it’s 3^rd season. I do miss the credits though, I used to hate it, but it became likeable, and now I miss it. Figures! –I’m loving what they are doing this season with Tara and her contract between the alters!

Well I won't be watching much of anything this week...might be able to get Brothers & Sisters by the end of the week, but not Glee or Raising Hope :(  -I'm also really far behind with The Good Wife.
I've got some SNL to watch this week at least...oh yeah and last week's Modern Family.

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Carlie

Weddingpalooza in Shondaland!

3 Weddings in 2 hours! Crazy!!!

Grey’s Anatomy - 2 Weddings, no waiting! I LOVE that Meredith and Derek finally made it legal. That’s all I wanted! They were not big ceremony people and that’s cool with me…I don’t know how much of a big ceremony girl I am myself!

A couple of random notes: Baby Sofia is really really really cute! Watch your back Lucas – this baby girl is after your cutest tv baby title! Baby Zola is also SOO cute! Who knew that Derek was cute with babies! Who KNEW?!
Also I think my blondes are finally getting back to actual blonde! Arizona’s hair was looking blonder than previous eps! YAY!

I can’t believe how much the parents suck in these eps. I mean Callie’s dad has had his bad moments in the past, but he’s turned good now! –Which I’m glad about , cause it’s really hard to hate Hector Elizondo! He’s adorable! I’d want him to be my dad/grandfather/uncle! But Callie’s Mum is no fun. Arizona’s dad having issues with Mark is understandable, and entertaining. Arizona’s parents are cool though! Her mum is adorable!

I liked Arizona’s dress. Callie’s was WEIRD! –I did not like the sleeves. But Charlotte definitely wins best dress overall.

And I loved the pink with the fairy lights at the reception! I’m a sucker for fairy lights! But I did not like the big pink and white streamers and flowers of the ceremony. It was too much!

-I’m a little mad at Meredith and Derek not making an appearance at Callie’s wedding….that was kinda rude...they could go to city hall anytime! –Liked Meredith’s dress though, she should have worn it to her wedding!


Private Practice - FINALLY! This is what I’ve been waiting for all season! But Charlotte and Cooper totally got their thunder stolen by the Grey’s couples…but it still fantastic!

Charlotte’s terrible asking of Amelia to be her Maid of Honor because they are Junkie BFF’s was hilarious! Kinda old school Charlotte, I liked it! I LOVE Amelia and Charlotte scenes!
Amelia’s pouty face about the parental situation was toooooooo cute! Amelia totally rocks! Yay to her for standing up for Charlotte to Cooper's parents...even if it did backfire. -also...I hope that there are decent Caterina bloopers this season...she seems like she'd have good bloopers!

Stupid Dr Fife…go away!!!!!!! I hated him last season…why did he come back?!
Yay Sam and Addison are broken up. Maybe now they can move on with their lives. They don’t want the same things and that never works. Plus…I used to love Sam as a character. But Addison kinda ruined him.
-I do love that Sam has a pre dinner breakfast! That’s the Sam I know and love!

Aww. The scene with all the parents was crazy! I loved the expressions on Violet, Cooper and Charlotte’s faces…awkward!!!! Poor Charlotte, Cooper’s parents like Violet better. They had no reason to not give her a chance. I’m a little disappointed in Cooper’s parents I must say. He always says how nice they were, and it was sad to find out that they were not happy with Charlotte! They were really rude!

Charlotte’s mother was pretty much what I expected, which suppose is a good thing. I can’t believe her Momma wanted her to wear the family dress again! That’s crazy…it was a funny old dress, but you can’t wear a wedding dress more than once! That’s just SO wrong! I LOVED Charlotte’s wedding dress.

The parents conspiring against Charlotte and Cooper as a group was just SO sad! Especially cause they got a second of hope that they were getting along. Stupid parents, they ruin everything!

I LOVE that they ended up running off to Vegas, loved all the people looking at them on the plane. They were very cute! But at least their parents showed up to the wedding…gotta give them points for that.
But I’m glad Cooper and Charlotte got to be happy at their own wedding. No one should have to deal with the pressure of people not wanting you to be together on your wedding day! Especially if its your own parents!

Biggest issue of the ep: Where were Charlotte’s brothers?! They go on about them enough, and had them in season 2 when she went home to Alabama….they could have at least made an appearance and sat next to the mother at the wedding! That just seemed really strange and poorly handled by the writers. Could have at least mentioned them. Oh well. They all suck anyways!

In other stories, poor Violet! I’m really interested to see where this confidentiality storyline takes the practice. But it was so sad when she wouldn’t come to Cooper’s dinner. –And why would Charlotte invite Fife?! Ewww.

When did Pete become the sorta father figure of the practice? He’s always there when someone’s in trouble, or heading for it. He notices things. I like it. I like Pete. Amelia drinking the champagne seems like its heading for trouble! The last two eps of this season are gonna be full on!

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Carlie

Kristin's Back on Glee.....yay.....sorta.

This week’s ep was definitely better in my opinion. I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was that Kristin Chenoweth was back in it. –But I doubt it, seeing as she was hardly in it and only sang one good (albeit awesome) song. I liked the Sam storyline I guess. It actually had substance. Who knew Sam could have a good story.

I also liked Brittany’s web talk show ‘Fondue for 2’. Lord Tubbington got a lot of screen time! Yay for more Brittany...but I miss her quirky one liners. There is something to be said for keeping characters small.

Emma was kinda back in the nothing group this week. She was there at least I guess.

Sue Sylvester has become the most useless, annoying character. She never does anything interesting and has seriously lost her edge! I did like her quick costume changes though. –A reference to Ann Coulter makes laugh.

Also…I hate to say it, but give Mercedes a damm storyline already!!!! She never does anything…occasionally belts out a good tune or run at the end of song, and occasionally has a good comeback. Totally a wasted character. –ok they gave her something to do the other week when she went uber diva, but that was really stupid and annoying.

Overall I liked the music. Fleatwood Mac had good catchy songs. I liked that they did a group song at the end. In some ways it kinda felt like old times, but with a slightly crappier plot. Loved Santana singing ‘Songbird’.  –Loved the line about Brad the piano player being “just furniture” and then saying “no offence” and him just shrugging. Gotta love Brad!

Also I loved the faces on the kids while April and Mr Schue were singing their duet. It was adorable.

I think my fave part of the ep was that there was lots of Quinn singing. I’ve missed her. I loved her expressions during Rachel’s rendition of ‘Go Your Own Way’.

Overall I did enjoy the ep. I really enjoyed the music, and there were some decent storylines…some not many, but enough. I don’t know. Maybe my standards are dropping with Glee. Maybe I just expect so little that when there is anything that makes me smile I take it. But for Kristin’s only season 2 appearance, I was very disappointed in her part. She needed at least 1 more good song, and a way better storyline…that did not involve Teri Schuester. Maybe NEXT Time. 

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Carlie

Weekend TV

This week in Television

Brothers and Sisters – SERIOUSLY?! I HATE that Sarah is not William’s child…it kinda ruins the whole William storyline in some ways…
I did enjoy Justin keeping everyone’s secrets. It made for some very entertaining scenes.

Also love the Michelle taking the baby storyline! I mean…its awful, but its good for the story. Maybe now Scotty and Kevin will buy a house…cause where they gonna keep a baby? –Will their apartment magically turn into a 3 bedroom?!

And Saul’s singing was adorable! –Also I have Ron Rifkin/Saul saying “hunnybunch” stuck in my head…I’m sure he’s said it to Kitty before (he said it to Sarah in this ep), and possibly in real world in the Alias commentary to Jennifer Garner! Maybe it’s a Ron thing!

Really enjoyed Parks and Recreation. Even Tom was less annoying!  I kinda want Leslie and Ben to get together. –Andy and April messing with Ben was great! I love that they went to Bed Bath and Beyond..wonder if it was the one on Vine st in LA? It looked like the one we went to last year.

30 Rock was pretty good. Hated the Kenneth/Tracy storyline…but I loved Liz’s little song – it was SO catchy. I want a 30 Rock soundtrack! Loved the references to Invictus with Liz wondering who the white guy was…being played by Matt Damon –who until recently was her boyfriend Carol in the show. –I love little things like that!

Community sucked. I did like the reference to Abed delivering the baby though.  That show is SO hit or miss, and rarely in-between.

YAY after a month being repeats, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice finally had new eps!!!!
  I liked Grey’s better than PPP this week.  I liked the gang helping Callie recover. I like the time movement. I loved the scene with Callie pushing Christina and Meredith down the hall on the bed.

-Sorry not caring about Adelle. I know I should..but I so don’t. Maybe its that the Chief has a thing for women who get Alzheimer’s.
-Not sure what they are doing with Teddy…she spent the whole ep outside of the hospital…going on lots of dates, and checking on poor doomed Scott Foley’s character. He’s so gonna die in or by the finale!
-Baby Sofia is pretty cute. She may give Lucas a run for his money as cutest baby on tv.
-it was pretty weird seeing Doris Roberts on Grey’s…she’s gotten so old! I did like the storyline with her character and Alex. Points for Alex for being an actual good doc…he sucks at personal lives, but he is a pretty good doc. –There may be hope for him yet.
-Holy crap who does Meredith think she is?! Breaking into the trial packet room and changing things out was NOT cool. She’s gonna wind up in serious trouble!!!!!
-it was so cute when they all rolled Callie up to see the baby…all covert op style. Avery distracting Bailey was funny. Not as cute as Arizona kissing Stark when he said Sofia could go home though.

Overall theme of this weeks PPP – Being honest about the past.
I didn’t LOVE the whole Charlotte ex-husband storyline a week before the wedding…but at least it was before and not after. I thought she’d completely moved on from her past…but anyways…
The first scene with Charlotte and Cooper was bugging the hell out of me for one reason, could not for the life of me understand her response after he asks her why she kept the picture, -Ness and I had to rewind to try and figure out what she said (I swear sometimes KaDee needs subtitles for her accent), and still had no idea, later I listened a few times myself, and after searching for a transcript that doesn’t exist….I listened once more and finally heard it! “Man cheated on me, I hate him for it, end of story.” I feel like a weight has been lifted! Haha…okay I’m crazy. – oh also I loved the hilarious “Sweet Mullet” line.
But I’m so glad they are finally TALKING about their wedding…having not talked about it at all until now! Not even a mention of who is gonna be Charlotte’s bridesmaid/s (I know who, but we haven’t seen her ask anybody yet). I can’t wait to have the parents turn up! I’m very interested to see what kind of dynamic Charlotte and her ‘Momma’ have.

-I’m kinda sad that I don’t care about Sam and Addison at ALL…I think they’re better off apart! She wants way too much from him, and he has said multiple times he doesn’t want it. And its never good to have a kid with someone if they don’t want it! Sam was a much more interested character before him and Addison…maybe he can get interesting again.

-Amelia apparently does NOT have her own place yet…she is still bunking with Addison after all this time…Its not like she couldn’t afford her own place!
-I also hate that Amelia and Sheldon have simply become the relationship counselors for the practice. Sheldon used to be funny….now all he does is act as Cooper’s therapist, and same goes with Amelia and Addison. Give the people the funny back! And let Sheldon have his girlfriend back…even if her accent freaks me out!

The whole Violet thing is interesting. Poor Pete, but its hard to say whether or not Katie has the rights to a case. I figure that Katie would have to be honest about her past in order to move on as well…so I don’t see how people connecting her to the book is that bad…maybe Katie should move away, start fresh. I dunno. I mean how many people are going to read Violet’s book anyways?!

Looking forward to Weddingpalooza next week...well mostly Charlotte and Cooper...not caring so much about Arizona and Callie. But it should be 2 very interesting hours of tv.

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-Carlie