Caray, Caray!

Niecie-Balzac Scale: a. no, b. yes. Good episode but I think I brought the whole beach back with me in my suitcase.


 

The Bulimia Theme (also known as Nikki's Sad Song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8upaYACRaY8
 

NovelaMaven: A true jewel amiga, a true jewel. Loved the lines about the Angel needing The Don's meds and Balzac peeing in someone's shoe. Let's all hope it is in the FF's shoe and maybe he chewed on it some before he peed on it lol.

This epi was funny it's it way. The Angel and Ms Vikki still talking at cross purposes, The Don glaring at Pau dry this time not wet, lol.

Yay! The Godfather made an appearance. I have been wondering where he was. I beleive him too about Lucia. I don't think that The Don personally gave that baby to a family. He probably told Doc Pauly Walnuts to handle it, handle it.

Poor Cris she is being so bamboozled by the Kendho. That Andre is Eurotrash for sure and all those pictures, Ayi Cris! I had to laugh when Kendho went into victim mode, but poor Cris so bought that too. I am sure she will run to Betty and tell her everything that happened. Dances was pretty pithed.

Loved your whole description of that wedding photo shoot, lol. So perfect.

Nikki was just herself this epi. And The coy one, notice the small letters, is one rude jerk. Someone needs to sit him down and tell him about Nikki's bulimia. I can't stand this guy.

Same with FF, we all know he is in it for the money, all that talk of sleeping with Ms Vikki cause she "does" things for him is such a sham. What a jerk. May he be hung by his own petard.

Poor Vikki has no idea she has befriended the amante. I wonder if Adri will spill the beans! Can't wait for tomorrow to find out.
 

NovelaMaven:

Thanks for the link to that song when Nikki is upset. I swear I've heard it before in CS 2009 as a matter of fact, everytime Regina would get upset. I like it the melody is very haunting and the piano playing is very stark. Thanks.
 

Thank you for the recap. indeed, let's hope that the old man is well medicated! (I got a good chuckle at that one.) I haven't seen the episode yet, but I am looking forward to seeing it after reading this.

Poor Arriaga, but Vikki HAS to find out that he knew about Paula. Things are just getting worse and worse for those two.

I missed the opportunity this time, but next time boy toy Roy walks down the stairs, I will gladly donate a banana peel! (another great line from your recap tonight!)
 

Thank you! Love the title and I had fits of giggles over Balzac peeing on someone's shoe (probably.) You are so right about that haunting piano riff becoming "The Bulimia Song."

This episode really angered me. Roy needs to be beaten to a pulp and I don't think Salsero's kicking Kendra in the teeth would ruin his chances at redemption.

Was it just me, or did they dress Anibal in Uncle Fester's coat for his trip home from the hospital?

 

PS: Could someone refresh my memory in regards to the Niecie scale? A=was Balzac in it. I can't remember B.
 

NovelaMaven, this was a slice of sunshine amidst winter's lingering spell.

When reading your recap, I find I smile from beginning to end, savoring every scintillating word and perfectly nuanced statement. "Ferrettied", "flimflammer", "arrogant little weasel" and "pontificates" (simply cause it's a great word), were my favorites. Wonderful.

Cris is one of the few characters who can make you smile one minute but cringe the next. Seeing her fuss and fawn over Kendra is hard to swallow. Still, Salsero's ill timed appearance, rage palpable, will give Cris plenty of fodder for the rumor mill. She has no reason not to believe Kendra's theatrics and given how the scene played out, will likely inform Bea post haste. Will Bea believe her in her abused, frighted state or will she remember that Salsero saved her as well as took a savage beating? Sigh.

Romance has been clearly missing the last few episodes. Bea and Salsero starting loving into each others eyes, Vicky and JA opening their hearts to each other and yes, even the few real moments Nikki and Francisco have shared.

Madeline, I love the idea of Balzac choosing Nelson's shoe to pee (or worse).

Toni, I will help you with the banana peel for Roy Boy. What an insolent ingrate. Ack..

I imagine Adriana will start screaming at Paula tonight before she fully enters the room but there have been some unexpected developments so this major storyline might not yet fully be revealed.

NoevelaMaven, thanks again!

Diana
 

Sara: "I don't think Salsero's kicking Kendra in the teeth would ruin his chances at redemption".

Well said. Totally agree! :)

Diana

 

NovelaMaven- You made this episode sound so much better than it was. And made it funny too!

I was thinking as I watched the first 20 minutes of replay from the previous episode, PLUS extra Kendra fashion show/photo shoot footage, that this must have been the episode when much of the cast and crew took vacation days and they just needed to stretch out what was really a 20 minute episode with 40 minutes of commercials, filler and repeats.

Salsero walked right into Kendra's trap. This is sure to throw a wrench into his relationship with Bea. Diana- I agree that we are sorely lacking romance right now.

Roy the Boy was just annoying before, but now he's actually a danger...to Nikki's health. He is ruining any progress that has been made the last few episodes in Nikki battling her body image/self esteem issues.

 

NovelaMaven - Thank you for the recap! .

Univision was buying even more time than usual, last night. IIRC, the first ten minutes were all scenes repeated from the previous night. What's up with that? (oo-oo-oo-ee-ee! ref: SNL)

Yes, NM, escaleracide via banana peel for BoyToyRoy would have been a visual treat last night. What a donkey's rear.

That Kendra is a real piece of work. We just KNOW that scene with Salsero is going to get back to Beatriz.

Paula and Anibal handshake = major LOL moment.

JA's convo and facial expressions with Paula (what? are you nuts?) were even more fun.

Another Balzac-less night. Come on, writers, at least throw us a bone. (pun intended) Hopefully it was the FF's shoe he used as a pee pad.

 

Roy is definitely a danger. I hate that Tomasina wasn't around to hear his pachyderm show comment. I'm sure Roy will only say these things in private and Nikki surely won't tell anyone about it. For me, Roy is hands down the most despicable character right now (along with leo). No male should EVER say those things to a female...especially considering the body image messages most young girls receive via the media.

leo and Roy's bad behavior is just too real life. It makes it uncomfortable to watch the show sometimes.
 

Sara, here's the Niecie-Balzac Scale:

a. Was Balzac in it?
b: If not, were we amused/distracted/entertained enough not to mind?
 

Oh yes, Mads, definitely. It's over Nelson's shoe that we must imagine Balzac lifting a leg. (But Balzac can't get caught because Nelson would pull an Odette, I'm sure.)

Are they recycling the Bulimia Theme? Interesting. I do enjoy the incidental music in this novela .

Toni,
Thanks for the generous offer of a banana peel. Way to step up to the plate!

And yes, Vikki has to find out what Arriaga knew about Paula which will unleash Vikki's inner shrew once more. Ay ay ay!

Sara,
I didn't notice Aníbal's coat and am too lazy to go back and look. But the image of Uncle Fester is delicious. Thanks.

Yeah, Roy is pond scum. We know he'll be unmasked; let's hope for sooner rather than later. But we also know that in the Balvanera Mansion, someone is always just outside the door, listening. Hey, he made the Pachyderm Parade remark while Jean Marie was in the kitchen, right? Wait until Frankie overhears him. Or Vikki.

Diana,
Thank you so much. I'm basking in the sunshine of YOUR words. I see you are also ready to donate banana peels in the service of Roy's escalericide. How kind! :)

I wonder if Adri will just blurt out the Paula is Aníbal's mistress or if she will bite her tongue, remembering that Paula took pity on HER and told her the truth about Lucía.

Vivi,
You're probably right -- maybe the whole gang went on a retreat at this point during the filming. I have no complaints about staring at the sea and imagining myself in a warm place where no one has snow shovels.

Doris,
That Kendra is indeed a piece of work. I think this episode was "The Kendra Show." I suspect that the 238.8 males in the viewing audience appreciated her efforts.



 

Sara:

"leo and Roy's bad behavior is just too real life. It makes it uncomfortable to watch the show sometimes."

You're right, of course. But at least we can expect to have the satisfaction of seeing these bastards unmasked and taken down -- a satisfaction that real life rarely offers.
 

Excellent, Novela Maven, excellent. I am such an admirer of your work.

"I suspect that the 238.8 males in the viewing audience appreciated her efforts."

Guilty as charged, but I also begrudging admired how she handled Salsero...it wasn't even close. Sorry sucker, but haven't you bragged that she is your creation? Now enjoy.

I loved seeing the kitchen scene with Nikki, José Ángel, and Ratiana again. That was so cute. I love it when Nikki calls Arriaga Superman and I suspect that he does too.

Cristina was very funny even though I had trouble believing that her character would take even soap and shampoo from a hotel, much less linens.

I say turn Balzac (heh heh) loose on Roy... what a creepy rat-bastard he is.

Carlos
 

Damn it Carlos: "Sorry sucker, but haven't you bragged that she is your creation? Now enjoy."

Wow! Harsh but I have to say, you nailed it amigo. Fab line.

Diana

 

Shucks, Carlos. It's not like I was baiting you or anything. Well, ok, maybe just a little ...

Now we'll find out if Gringo reads the comments.

:)
 

Carlos:

I also enjoyed that line about Kendho being Salsero's creation. What I want to know if she was a "lady of the evening" and I am using that term loosely, lol, how come her "clients" haven't recognized her? Unless she changed her "luke" so drastically she is "unrecognizable" now?
 

NovelaMaven:

I love that term Ferrettied, lol. So apropos. I forgot to mention that in my comment earlier : )
 

So much to say, I don't know where to start----NovelaMaven, homerun.
Line after line, I don't know how you recappers do it, you all should have books in Barns and Noble.
the other models walk slowly in a white clad zombie parade---
an almost hallucinatory composition of white and blue and beige--sand, water, sky---
Toy One, Roy the Boy---
The doorbell rings and it's not the Avon lady---So many great lines
today.

Yes, Gringo ALWAYS reads the comments. Kendra---How could any man see her in that 1920's wedding
dress with the lace headpiece and not absolutely melt? OMG!!!
And yes---the camera did focus in on her "enhancements" and I didn't complain, not even a little.
Yes, it was the Kendra show last night, for sure.

Cris, the small town girl out in the big world for the first time is playing her part well. She was a hoot while in vacation heaven but her joy will not last long when that picture appears. Her 20 year marriage is about to unravel--
to bad.

Tonight--what will happen to Salsero and what will Adriana do now? Can't wait.

Cozumel---I want to go!!!
Can you drink a Bailey's on the beach over there?
the gringo
 

NovelaMaven- WOW, I completely agree with Toni, I too smile from beginning to end. I literally laughed out loud as I read the part about the banana peel. Yoour sense of humor is definitely what I look forward to when I read your recaps :) Muchas Gracias!

Oh Thanks for sharing the lenght on Nikki's song, I loved listening to it even though it's used for sad moments during the novela.

Team Nikki/Guzmancito
 

I meant "link" instead of "length", sorry.

Team Nikki/Guzmancito
 

"Yes, Gringo ALWAYS reads the comments."

Good man, Gringo!

Victoria, I'm glad you liked the link to Nikki's song. I looked for it because I was going to write some lyrics for it and I needed to get the tune in my head. But then I decided not to do it -- all the words I came up with were too nasty for what is a small, lovely theme.

Hey guys,
Speaking of Large, Bulky Mammals to Which no Woman Wishes to be Compared --
Nikki sort of had the pachyderm/vaca comments coming to her. A few scenes back, she told Little Flower that if she didn't lay off the brioches, she'd become a cow.
 

NovelaMaven--We have to restructure the Niecie-Balzac Scale.
a. Was Balzac in it?
b. If not, were we amused/distracted/entertained enough not to mind?
c. If not, did the recapper mention him in a way that brought him immediately to mind?
d. Did we make fun of his antics?

So, for this epi, the answers are:
a. No; b. Yes; c. Yes; d. Yes.

Poor Balzac, cooped up in JM's room. We haven't seen him get any exercise. If he gets those left-over brioche, he's going to get as big as Maja.

Excellent recap. I don't like the Bulimia Theme, too sad.

I did see Fester's coat. Did they have to have it Fedexed Overnight?

Aaaah, blue feathers on the beach (well, actually, the Fresno Yacht Club pisina), how El Tal.

Vikki and Arriaga just aren't on the same wavelength. They need to change the dial on their conversation--one up and the other down. Arriaga tried, Vikki didn't.

I really don't care if or when Vikki finds out about Paula. She's already bonded with her, but she will feel betrayed--again--that Arriaga was holding out on her.

Episode's best scenes: Nikki going into full phony mode when Guzman shows up; and the Kendra-Salsero-Cris melange a trois.

Your best scenarios,MV: Nikki hurling the scales across the room as if it were Sergio Sendel's cell phone; and the whole Roy thing avoiding the absent banana peel, the arrogant little weasel.
 

Touché Novela Maven- Nikki *has* been pretty mean herself. Last night the writers decided to make her pitiable. (I am often confused about how I should feel about her.)
 

I like that our "good" characters are complex and have serious personality flaws to overcome. I did find it funny how Nikki hung around the kitchen all morning waiting to get a glimpse of her favorite chewtoy and how he smiled when he heard she had done so. Poor guy; he knows she's still into him, he just has no idea why she suddenly turned mean again.

I want to choke BoyToyRoy, or maybe tie him up and hit tennis balls at him all day. Or maybe it's time I took up golf. His hubris will be his downfall, right? He is so cocky; he doesn't even have his claws on Nikki's supposed fortune (not sure how her grandpa's money translates to instant money-troubles-be-gone for his family) and already he's aggravating her. I wish she were a little further in recovery so she could see what a jerk he is instead of taking his ridiculous insults to heart. He must have learned his horrible flirting skills from that wretched show that taught guys to dis their flirtation targets.
 

Sara: I am so with you about Nikki. On the one hand I feel for her cause she has all these image problems and thinks she is "ssso fat", when on the other hand, she is mean to really nice people and rude to boot.

Julia:

I so agree with you too about Roy. I too wish Nikki were further in her recovery to see what an a**hat the boytoy really is. I too can't figure out how the boytoy thinks he'll strike it rich if he marries Nikki and how that translates to his parents. I think I have an idea, but I don't want to say yet : )
 

Mads and Julia- Well it worked for Nelson-- 20% shares in the company, a well-paying cushy job, and a place in the mansion. But don't these tn characters always assume that when they marry rich, all of a sudden their whole family will also be able to freeload off of their rich spouse?
 

NovelaMaven- what form of nasty where you talking about? Just curious.

Team Nikki/Guzmancto
 

Victoria,
Not fun nasty or sexy nasty. Just, you know, unpleasant and clinical. It wasn't coming out funny at all. Sorry.

Wow Miss Anita,
Your restructuring of the instrument is impressive. As for Balzac's living conditions, I thought he had a yard to run around in. Of course he might be lounging around in the garden, nibbling on brioches and plumping up. A dog's life, you say?

Julia,
"He must have learned his horrible flirting skills from that wretched show that taught guys to dis their flirtation targets."

Is/Was there really such a show? And people question OUR taste in tv shows. Imagine.
 

I think the show was called "The Pickup Artist". I never watched it, but sometimes I would see clips of it on other shows. From what I could tell, they were trying to teach guys how to pick up women using nasty tricks like insulting them. How that worked, I have no idea. Some perverse psychological concept; maybe they first had to identify targets with low self esteem. The whole concept is gross, and so is CoyBoyToyRoy.
 

Kendra is a sociopath/psychopath/whatever with a suprisingly sharp mind, and Marjorie is a pretty good actress. She can switch between the cold, calculating villana, the seductress and the poor innocent victim in 2 seconds. It was an amazing scene, kudos to the actress and to the character as well.

Sara and Carlos:
"I don't think Salsero's kicking Kendra in the teeth would ruin his chances at redemption"

"Sorry sucker, but haven't you bragged that she is your creation? Now enjoy."

:DDD
Hilarious.
 

Thanks, Julia. "Gross" is right. I'd probably describe Roy as more of a "suck-up artist" than a "pick-up artist," though. Whatever kind of artist he is, he is still a pig. (I gave we reserve complexity for the main players; subordinate characters like Roy (or Leo, for that matter) can wear a sign: Greed. Brutality. Cruelty.)
 

Piggies can be kind of cute. Roy is more like a big-mouth suckerfish covered with slime. I think the actor is kinda cute, but he's doing a GREAT job of making himself unattractive.
 

I can't WAIT for Guzmancito to overhear one of Roy's abusive comments. Roy won't know what happened when he comes to with his parts rearranged.
 

And like Aribeth's avatar, we can hold up signs during performances to rate the secondaries from 1-5, with 5 being the lowest of the low on the Cruelty, Greed, Brutality attributes.

What should we do about rehabilitation, should we use colors? from black to sky blue to denote back among the decent folks?
 

NovelaMaven - Your recap is a blast. Some of my favorites:

“get Ferrettied”

“white-clad zombie parade”

"Salsero leaves on a personal errand (always a reason for us to worry)"

"The joy of having Coy Roy as her Boy Toy"

My compliments to the fight choreographer cause when Salsero grabbed Kendra by the hair and spun her around, I thought "dang, that must hurt."

Roy doesn’t know Nikki has bulimia but I do think he realizes she’s insecure about her looks. Can’t wait for him to be overheard by Guzman.
 

Julia,
Good point about the cuteness of piggies and the uncuteness of Coy Roy. (Though not if Sara's adolescent sources are to be believed.)

Anita,
I like the idea of graphic coding for rehab but color scales are problematic ... well, unless we use an existing one like RED YELLOW GREEN. Three steps are as many as we're likely to need, I'd guess.
 

"Of course he might be lounging around in the garden, nibbling on brioches and plumping up."

Wow I love this image of Balzac!! I've been giggling like mad over hear. "... nibbling on brioches..." hee hee. I like they way those words run together.

ooo, Julia...yeah! Guzmi hearing those comments would be awesome!

I can't see Roy as anything but unattractive. The actor plays the same douchy character in Miss XV (yeah, I said it, I'm watching Miss XV on Saturdays...*oh gawd I need help*) What is with his super high hair do? (also the same 'do in Miss XV where he doesn't have to contend with a tall actress.)
 

Niecie,

"Roy doesn’t know Nikki has bulimia but I do think he realizes she’s insecure about her looks"

I think so too. I also think he's onto her troubled relationship with food even if he can't put a label on the problem.

So it's agreed then? We all want to see Frankie kick Roy's candy ass? (Is that really seemly of us? Hmmm.)
 

Sara- What's Miss XV?
 

It's a teen novela "inspired" by Quinceañera (barely inspired I should add.) I believe it's a Nickelodeon Latino production. Actually, I'm willing to bet it's marketed more toward tweens. It's really, really corny. I'm telling myself it's "research" for possible future class use.

Official esmas site

Wikipedia article.
 

By corny I mean irresistibly gawd awful.

BTW- I just did a quick image search of Eleazar Gomez (actor who plays Roy.) There are a few pics in which I can see why my student said he was hot.
 

I've seen him in roles where he was MUCH more charming, so I can see the appeal. Just not here.
 

I don't watch Miss XV because the very first promos were enough for me, but I have a soft spot for Paulina Goto.

To my knowledge Miss XV was supposed to be produced by Televisa, but somehow it ended up on Nickelodeon (I guess it happened with the permission of Televisa, since it owns the rights of Quinceanera, and the company contracted Eleazar and Paulina.)

Btw, telenovela encyclopedia:
Quinceanera (1987) was the first/or one of the very first juvenil telenovelas in Mexico with Adela Noriega, Thalía and Ernesto Laguardia. It was produced by Carla Estrada and directed by Pedro Damián.

Later Damián became a producer, and he specialized in juvenil telenovelas. He made Rebelde, Clase 406 Lola érase una vez (with Eiza González), Verano de amor, Mi pequena traviesa and Nina de mi corazón (the remake of Mi pequena tr. with Paulina Goto).

In 2001 he produced Primer amor... a mil por hora with Anahí, Kuno Becker, Ana Layevska, Mauricio Islas and Valentino Lanús. It was the first remake of Quinceanera.

And last year Damián remade his own remake because he's the producer of Miss XV.

***

At first I wasn't fond of Eleazar. I couldn't stand him since Atrévete a sonar, which had such an obnoxious hype. But poco a poco I got used to him and now I like him. He has a certain boyish charm.
 

If this is the way Roy treats Nikki already, and they're not married yet, it would only go from bad to worse after a wedding, if she actually were to go through with it. I see him as a potential wife abuser, even if it is only verbal and emotional. Roy is pond scum.
 

Thanks for the info, Aribeth. I show my classes Lola every year and they LOVE it. I wish some of Pedro's other novelas would come out on DVD.
 

Salsero should go straight to Bea from Kendra's house and tell her exactly what just happened. He should tell her what an actress and liar she is and that with Cris as an eyewitness, she ramped it up to the nth degree. Bea will listen and believe him and will be forewarned so when Cris starts to blab, she can just say, "Thanks for your concern, I don't want to hear it." And leave it at that. But of course, in TNland, this won't happen.

Salsero should then send "un anónimo" to Vikki and tell her that her husband's amante is Kendra Ferretti and that they are STILL bumping uglies. Vikki should then follow Nelson like she followed Arriaga and catch them in flagrante; throw him out of the house; fire her, cancel her contract, blackball her in the industry (doubt if even Odette will touch her after a public scandal); and have her father kick him out of the business. So what if Odette ends up owning Nelson's 20% - that will make the novela interesting for the rest of the story!