Scott Patterson - Aliens in America 1.16 – Smutty Books ~ Episode Discussion

**SPA** · 05-03-2008, 09:12 PM

Aliens in America 1.16 – Smutty Books ~ Episode Discussion

I looked – no promo pictures for this episode.

Quote:

"Smutty Books" (TV- 14, D) (HDTV) – Airs Sunday, May 4th

BURN THIS BOOK When Justin’s (Dan Byrd) English class is assigned the book Madame Bovary, one of the PTA moms begins a campaign to ban smutty books from the school curriculum, leading both Justin and Franny (Amy Pietz) to actually read the books for the first time. Claire (Lindsey Shaw) tries to get out of reading Pride and Prejudice by claiming it should also be banned. Meanwhile, Justin is embarrassed when his parents discover that he has been secretly drawing naked women for years and turns to a bewildered Raja (Adhir Kalyan) for help. Scott Patterson also stars. Fred Savage directed the episode written by Rob Ulin.

I think this might be a continuation of Gary trying to explain to Franny that “all guys do this Honey….until they outgrow it” I wonder if Justin drew the pictures – or Gary!!! -- now that we know that Scott likes to draw.

Tarty History · 05-03-2008, 10:46 PM

Thanks for the synopsis SPA. This episode should be interesting.

razzlephrat · 05-04-2008, 11:46 AM

Thanks, Deborah!

5.5 hours left (or something like that!)

**SPA** · 05-04-2008, 09:18 PM

I knew it. I knew that Gary was going to have a connection with Justin and his "boob" drawing. The letter "O" will forever have a different meaning for me!!!

The episode was okay -- really light on Raja than I'd like, but the ruler thing. Are there any Catholics here from my era that can remember their teachers and their "rulers"???

I thought that Franny's friend and her banning book parties didn't come off as well as the scene in Field of Dreams with Amy Madigan and Kevin Costner. But I loved Mr. Matthews and using his auto saleman charm on the ladies to disarm them "Is this the next group of America's Top Model?" Talk about a plug for another CW show. Ugh and HA!!!

I loved the interaction with Justin and Gary -- though I still love the scene with Gary and the condom a lot better. I wasn't aware the fathers had difficult times talking about the "essentials of life" with their sons. Maybe they do. I certainly didn't get any advice on that subject from my mother (my generation for sure).

All in all it was a cute episode. A little off beat though. But still had chuckles.

And damn my dvr for not recording the episode. I'll have to wait to download it from iTunes.

lulu1960 · 05-04-2008, 09:43 PM

Wasn't my favorite, but did have it's moments. Claire trying to be sneaky but Franny figuring it out.
Those ladies were scary but they went to far so the moral of the story was good.

I will say my favorite part was the boobs in the o's story. I really see how Scott shines in these kinds of scenes. Doesn't need to be goofy, doesn't need to overact, just subtle telling of how he was when he was Justin's age with a cute story. I like how Justin said they don't even look like boobs. But the double o's were better.

Where as everyone's character has grown, they don't really give Claire a heck of alot to do.

And if that guy smack my hand with a ruler like that I'd take it and hit him upside the head.

As far as growth I'd say the episode 100,000 miles was my favorite.

**SPA** · 05-05-2008, 10:03 AM

I wouldn't put it in the top 10, but a good 11. It made me giggle at places

razzlephrat · 05-05-2008, 10:11 AM

Definitely not my favorite I have to agree that it wasn't all that funny but Scott was really... Somber almost in the episode. Franny was pretty soft spoken too anyone else notice this?

**SPA** · 05-05-2008, 10:25 AM

Yes, not off the wall insane crazy as in earlier episodes. Do you think that's a tell tale sign that the final episodes were winding down??

razzlephrat · 05-05-2008, 10:30 AM

I think so. Scott almost seemed sad

lancer1993 · 05-05-2008, 06:09 PM

I liked the ep and agree that Scott and Amy had toned it down a bit, maybe with their years in the industry they could see the writing on the wall?

It was a nice ep and I don't want to complain since we only have 2 more to go and will only ever have 18 eps for the series.

I can bet this show will not make it here in Australia any time soon, at least not in prime time, maybe middle of the night which is kinda depressing.

**SPA** · 05-05-2008, 06:47 PM

Is it me or is Justin's preoccupation with sex and/or the upper part of a women's anatomy just overplayed thoughout the whole series? I mean, it's a comedy on prime time (Sunday primetime -- there's such a thing, right?) and it's geared for 17+ in age of viewers -- not the teenyboppers -- I just think that it would have been nice to see Justin succeed half way thru the series with Amy Greenblatt, from the first episode. I think there would have been a lot of laughs about Justin and his relationship with her compared with Gary and Franny from there time.

And another thing, I didn't really find Raja's fascination with Justin's pictures that believeable.

lancer1993 · 05-05-2008, 06:58 PM

Do guy's ever out grown there fascination with boobies and sex?

No we just learn to hide it better

**SPA** · 05-05-2008, 07:38 PM

I guess you and I speak from different POVs??? Never been a man before. But to answer your question, nope -- once that hormone kicks in, it stays until the day they die.

Tarty History · 05-05-2008, 09:00 PM

I really laughed when Gary during their father and son talk at the end of the episode said to Justin "I think I may have in some way let you down", and Justin replies "Oh no, I wasn't disappointed. I've lived here a long time." Hahaha.