"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 308 Recap: “Going Once … Going Twice”

Cut to an N.A. meeting, although it took me a moment to figure out that’s what it is, because they weren’t sitting in a circle and clutching coffee in paper cups.

There’s a guy addressing the group, and … Hey! It’s Dave Foley! Although it’s somewhat of a shock to see the guy who was the petite, pixie-ish one who made the most convincing girl on Kids in the Hall turned all big and bearish, with this Howdy Doody head grafted onto Orson Welles’ body. Still, though, it’s Dave Foley! We love him!

He’s talking about his troubles after his boyfriend of ten years dumped him, saying he’s lonely now with nothing better to do than chat with “Todd, the cable guy.” What’s with this fixation this episode on lonely gay guys and repairmen? It’s like the writers from some gay version of the Penthouse Forum have taken over.

As he talks, you can see the gay-fix-up lightbulb appear over Justin’s head. After the meeting, he approaches Foley, calling him “Paul,” and introducing himself as “Justin … ex-soldier … wounded knee.” I was scrambling my brain trying to come up with some “Bury My Heart At…” joke to go here, but Paul does me one better by saying, “Oh, yeah. The one with the horndog daddy issues.” Heh. I think I’m going to like Paul.

Justin asks if Paul has dinner plans for the following night, and Paul naturally assumes Justin is hitting on him …

Paul: I’m so flattered. But I’m afraid I’m way past my twink phase.

You’ve got to love this show for teaching mainstream America the word “twink.” I must also say I’m impressed with Paul’s self-esteem, what with thinking he could bag himself a much-younger hottie like Justin. Although he probably just assumes that Justin’s taste in men is driven by his lingering horndog daddy issues.

Justin takes it in good stride (unlike how I’m sure Tommy would), and simply says, “I have a girlfriend … who’s definitely a girl.” I wouldn’t be too sure of that if I were him, especially after the un-sistering that came up with her before. There’s always the possibility of another sweeps-month revelation, this time ripped off from The Crying Game.

Stately Walker Mansion. Kevin gripes to Nora about how even though Scotty’s getting a raise, he can’t get past the fact that personally he’s now in a much lower tax bracket. Then he sees paperwork for these houses Nora is planning on bidding on. She seems to think this is a great way to get a house on the cheap, although I’d assume that any house being sold through auction was seized from a drug dealer, or the site of a mass murder, or haunted.

Kevin has concerns too, and keeps bringing up all these things Nora should have checked out and asking her about her auction strategy. Obviously irritated by him, she insists she’s got it under control. But he pretty much ignores her and insists that she needs his help, whether she wants it or not. Clearly, he’s his mother’s child, although she might not be able to appreciate that irony at the moment.

Ojai-Waker Food-Landing. For some reason Justin shlepped all the way out there to visit Rebecca, although it’s obviously in blatant violation of temp agency protocol to allow visitors who can distract peons from filing. He’s bragging about the fix-up…

Justin: His name is Paul. He’s not too tall. He’s going to love Saul.
Rebecca: So basically he’s a Doctor Seuss character?

BEST. LINE. EVER. It’s almost like Rebecca commissioned an outside joke writer to come up with that for her, because it’s so much wittier and funnier than anything she’s ever said.

Just then, Holly pops up behind them horror-movie style, wondering who they’re talking about. When Rebecca tells her that Justin’s got this terrible idea to fix Saul up with a guy from N.A. who was addicted to prescription drugs, Holly says, “Could be worse. It’s not like it was crystal meth,” and the way she says it, you just know she’s describing any number of her own past tricks. Rebecca snarks back that this is great, they can simply introduce him by saying, “Meet Paul. He’s never done meth.” Heh. Mabye she’s got that joke writer on commission for the whole episode.

After Justin leaves, Rebecca asks her mother why she’s being so nice. She wonders if it’s because Justin is her boyfriend and she’s trying to be supportive, or because she’s excited about the possibility of another Walker dinner disaster. Holly says it’s a little of both, which shows she’s at least sticking by her promise of being honest, even if it does make her out to be a beyotch.