“Brothers & Sisters” Episode 212 Recap: "Compromises"

The show opens in the Walker mansion kitchen. Justin is sitting at the counter reading Highlights while Rebecca and Nora cook. Nora is really impressed with Rebecca’s hollandaise sauce. The girl clearly knows her way around a whisk.

Nora: You know what? I’m going to ask Kevin to talk to Scotty about getting you in as a trainee at the restaurant.

Oh God no. Why not just shoot her in the head? Why not just shoot me in the head? The last thing we need on this show is another character to go on endlessly about mango chutney salsa and de-boning game hens and such.

Rebecca wisely lacks enthusiasm for a cooking internship. Nora then offers up photography as a career path. Rebecca says that photography is only a hobby. She can’t earn a living with it, so maybe she should stick to her hollandaise sauce.

Justin: You better be careful. You don’t wanna “whisk” your life!

Justin should leave the punditry to trained professionals such as myself. That was dreadful.

Cut to Michigan campaign headquarters where McAllister and crew are reviewing the polling numbers. Seems like McAllister is now being edged out by another candidate. If this continues, Robert could lose the state of Michigan and … Zzzzzzz.

Sorry, nodded off there for a moment. It’s just that this fictional presidential campaign is not nearly as interesting as the real showdown now going on between Obama and Clinton. If I’m going to be following a political race, I’d prefer it were a real one and not some fantasy where the “Republican front runner” refuses to go negative, has a gay brother, and looks like a matinee idol.

Kitty suggests they drop everything to go campaign hard in Michigan. Robert’s on board with that. Turns out the Michigan governor is an old friend from boot camp. Boy, there sure were a lot of overachievers in his platoon, weren’t there? Anyway, the governor has promised to endorse him.

Robert then gets all wistful about missing his family.

Robert: Do you know I haven’t even seen Jason since he got back from Malaysia? I haven’t seen my kids. Hell, I probably wouldn’t even see you if you didn’t work for me.

Fire her. Please.

Cut to Cinammon Jack’s, which is supposed to be a gay bar somewhere in the Los Angeles area. I’m thinking maybe Long Beach or out in the valley because, frankly, the tragically unhip name “Cinammon Jack's” just wouldn’t fly in West Hollywood. No doubt there is a lesbian bar just down the street called “Nutmeg Nancy’s.”

Scotty is introducing Kevin to his friends, who we quickly learn are garage parking attendants, waiters and karaoke club promoters. Again, I’m thinking this has gotta be Long Beach or somewhere out in the valley.