OUAT: Pulled Together

Last time on “OUAT:” Henry was busted for shoplifting but Regina and Emma both realize he was framed by his so-called friends Ava and Nicholas. Emma realizes they have no parents and are on their own. She goes on a search for their father but Regina tells her to take them to Boston to separate group homes. Emma does find their father but he doesn’t want them. So she reluctantly heads out of town when her car breaks down. When their father comes to fix the car and he sees his children, he realizes he needs to be in their lives and agrees to take them in.

In the Enchanted Forest, Nicholas and Ava were Hansel and Gretel. When their father goes missing, the twins are discovered by the Evil Queen. She sends them on a mission to retrieve something from Emma Caulfield’s House o’ Treats. Emma Caulfield tries to eat them after Hansel falls prey to the lure of her delicious cupcakes but the two outwit her. Regina offers to let them live in the palace with her and while Hansel seems all for it, Gretel says they’ll never live with someone as awful as her. So Regina sends them away and then releases their father, who she imprisoned, wishing him luck in finding his children again.

As Emma and Henry enjoy a late night slice of pie that no doubt would send Mayor Mills into a rage because Henry snuck out again, a stranger on a motorcycle pulls up. He asks for a place to stay as Emma and Henry stare in shock.

August has arrived.

Speaking of him, Henry finds August fixing his motorcycle outside Regina’s house. He asks the man questions and he really doesn’t give him any answers. Regina comes out of the house and is alarmed, like any mother would be, to find her son talking with a stranger. She hurries down the path but August drives away before she can question him. She asks Henry if he knows who that was and Henry shrugs.

(Concerned!Regina is concerned)

ANTM: Welcome to the Dollhouse

Last time on “ANTM:” The models had an acting challenge where Devin and Ashley failed to impress the CW executives. After a night trying to use ASL, the models felt they had a better understanding of Nyle. They then filmed a commercial on the beach. Lacey rose to the top again while Devin and Ashley fell into the bottom two. In the end, Ashley was eliminated. Nine models remain—who is eliminated tonight?

Find out!

Lacey goes into the Tyra Suite to get her TyTyTip. She warns her not to get too sleazy when getting too sexy. So she gives Lacey some tips as Lacey says she feels some jealous eyes on her now.
Mikey and Devin stare at a picture of Ashley. Mikey is heartbroken and Devin says DMA took a big hit. Now they’re just DM. Devin says he has to try and reign himself.

Meanwhile, Bello asks Courtney if she wants to go back to Mikey now that Ashley is gone. She starts laughing and she reveals that she has a crush on him. Don’t do it, Courtney! You’re better than him! She skips around the house in a dress she borrowed from Hadassah. Mikey says he only likes her as a friend and Devin says she would bring them down. They leave her alone.

Hadassah confides in Justin and Mame (shocker, I know) about Bello, saying that she feels he liked her better when she wasn’t doing well. And now that she’s doing better than him, she’s not sure where he stands with her. Bello meanwhile soaks in the hot tub and says he liked getting a 10 from Tyra. He focuses on that and says he’s going to win and he’s coming after everyone. As he walks while staring at himself in the mirror. He might be practicing his angles, but seriously, Narcissus?

Wanna be on top?

OUAT: Family Always Finds Each Other

Because after four seasons, you do realize that’s one of the messages of the show, right?

Last time on “Once:” When Regina tried to appoint Sidney the new sheriff, Emma decided that she wanted to be sheriff and ran against him. Gold offered to be her benefactor but after saving Regina from a fire, Emma realized that that might include things she wasn’t too happy about when she suspected he set the fire. Emma just wanted to be a hero for Henry, who took Graham’s death hard. In the end, Emma won the job though she may not be free from Gold just yet.

In the Enchanted Forest, we met Rumpelstiltskin, the town coward with a teenage son he wanted to protect from the Ogre War. He listened to Wormtongue and went to steal the Dark One’s dagger from the Duke. After stabbing the Dark One, Rumple learned it was Wormtongue and that he was now the Dark One. Using his powers, Rumple got revenge on the soldiers who mocked him and kept his son safe. Except Bae didn’t look too thrilled with dear old dad’s new powers.

Got it?

Good.

ANTM: Fooling Around

Last time on “ANTM:” Things got tense between Mame and Hadassah, with arguments that went into three rounds. Meanwhile, Ava decided she was through with the drama and felt drained.
Cycle 10 winner Whitney Thompson stopped by to help with their challenge—creating a campaign for SimplyBe. Nyle won the challenge and he celebrated. Courtney struggled and got overpowered by Devin. She and Ava were quite shaken. Everyone had to pretend to be possessed by high fashion for the main photoshoot. Nyle managed to also get the first callout while Ava and Courtney fell into the bottom two. In the end, Ava’s confidence sent her home. Ten models remain, who will be eliminated tonight?

Find out!

Everyone returns home as Nyle goes to the Tyra Suite. In her video, Tyra does some sign language before turning it over to Ramon. She tells him not to get stuck in fine and to be fierce. Lacey says that Nyle is a good model but that he’s getting frustrated with all the fighting, feeling lost. You’re not missing much, Nyle. Trust me.

Courtney and Mame read a card left on Nyle’s bed with him, saying that he should be prepared for an evening of “signing and dining” with his fellow models. I’m intrigued. Go on. He says that he’s interested because he feels he struggles with communicating in the house. That when he’s surrounded by the deaf community, he’s pretty popular but that he’s having difficulty being surrounded by hearing people all the time.

Bello and Hadassah discusses his look for the next day and he says that he’s serious about the competition, unlike some other people. Yep, it’s time for Bello’s Whine about DMA this week! He once again notes that Ashley has joined the “Mean Girl clique” and that they are cocky and loud.

But Ashley says she doesn’t want to get too cocky because she needs to stay focused. Ashley talks about her sister Ming-Ming and wanting to start over, to let her walls down and move on as a person she is proud to be.

OUAT: The Quest for Power

Last time on “Once:” Emma’s rejection of Graham after discovering his affair with the mayor sent him drinking. When he kissed her, it sent him into a spiral of memories. Graham went searching for the truth and a concerned Emma tagged along for the ride.

The memories Graham recovered are about him as the Huntsman. He was raised by wolves and was shunned by the others for preferring the animals’ company. He was a man of honor but who would kill if need be. The Queen ordered him to kill Snow but he couldn’t after reading a letter she wrote to the queen. Instead, he sent the princess running for her life and tried to fool the queen. It didn’t work and so she took his heart, keeping him for her own tasks…and sexual pleasure.

In Storybrooke, Graham didn’t find the answers he was looking for but did find the strength to stand up to Regina. He ended it with her and she blamed Emma. When Graham continued to choose Emma over her, Regina crushed his heart and Graham died in a heartbroken Emma’s arms.

Harsh.

We open in the Enchanted Forest as Rumpelstiltskin sits at his spinning wheel. But he’s turning wool into yarn, not straw into gold. A young boy runs and tells him that they have come for someone. Rumple grabs his walking stick and limps out of his cottage after the boy.

Soldiers pull at a young girl while her parents try to hold her back. They insist that she’s too young, that she’s not yet sixteen. The soldier replies that the Duke lowered the age to fourteen and so its time for their daughter to go fight in the Ogre Wars. Her parents continue to plead for her to stay until they suddenly can’t breath. The guard smiles, saying the Dark One thinks their daughter is going to fight. Rumple and his son turn to see a figure all in black using magic in the distance.

(Cue the dramatic music!)

With the parents incapacitated, the soldiers ride off with their daughter. Rumple holds his son, Baelfire, closer as the boy points out his fourteenth birthday is in three days. He says they’ll come for him and Rumple says they’ll find away to keep him safe.

ANTM: Call the Exorcist!

Last time on “ANTM:” Bello and Mikey nearly got into a fight and then later on, he got pissed off when Courtney told Ava something he said. The models learned about covering up their flaws to prevent the need for retouches. At panel, Lacey came out on top while Hadassah and Dustin fell into the bottom. His good looks couldn’t save him and Dustin was sent packing. Eleven models remain, who will go home tonight?

Find out!

The models return home and Lacey celebrates her photo and notes it was au naturel. Lacey invites Nyle to join her in the Tyra Suite and he talks about having to step up his game and bring it in his confessional. As he and Lacey celebrate, Mikey says that he’s coming for her and that being deaf may make some people avoid hiring Nyle.

Upstairs, Ava asks Courtney not to tell her if anyone is talking behind her back again. She says it hurt her and Courtney says that starting that day, she was going to stay out of house drama. Bello, though, calls Courtney sneaky and says she listens to people’s conversations and then goes to tell the person they don’t like. We see clips from last week as Ava reinforces that she doesn’t want the drama, that it’s too draining. Courtney agrees.

Ava talks about her life and about being home schooled. She says she’s experiencing the outside world for the first time and she can’t handle the drama. She needs to pull herself back.

OUAT: The Hunter and the Haunted

Last time on “Once:” David returned home from the hospital but still couldn’t remember anything. He was still drawn to Mary Margaret so he made the decision to leave Kathryn and try a relationship with her. Mary Margaret wasn’t too sure but Emma convinced her to go. On the way, David was misdirected by Regina and ended up in Gold’s shop. Using a windmill that had once been on the Nolans’ lawn, Gold brought back David’s cursed memories. David let Mary Margaret down and returned home to Kathryn while Mary Margaret had a one night stand with Whale.

In the Enchanted Forest, we met Prince James, a noted monster slayer. He agreed to slay a dragon for King Midas but got killed seconds later. King George, desperate to save his kingdom, called upon Rumple—who had given James to the king when he and his wife couldn’t have a child. Rumple agreed to bring the king James’ twin brother, David. David only agreed to it to save his family farm. He slayed the dragon and ended up engaged to Princess Whatever. David said goodbye to his mother and then went off to live happily ever after with Princess Don’t Care.

Until Snow White intervened.

Meanwhile, Emma did Graham a favor and worked a night shift. As she patrolled the area, she discovered someone sneaking out of the mayor’s house. When she confronted the person, she learned it was Graham and that he had a sexual relationship with Regina. She stormed off, no doubt looking for some brain bleach to get those mental pictures out of her mind.

ANTM: Touchy, Touchy

Last time on “ANTM”: Devin continued to be loud and some new romances started to form. The models took photos with some veterans before heading toward everyone’s favorite time of the season: makeovers! Most people liked their makeovers, Ava is the only one who came out with a questionable one and Hadassah had the hissy fit over the fact that Tyra wanted to shave half her head. She was about to quit but Miss J convinced her to go through with it. At panel, Ava rose to the top while Hadassah and Stefano fell into the bottom two. Hadassah was given a second week to rock her shaved head as Stefano was eliminated. Twelve models remain, who will be eliminated tonight? Find out!

At the house, some of the models play beer pong. Dustin and Nyle seem to have a bromance going on. Dustin even learned some sign language to have conversations with Nyle. Nyle thinks that Dustin’s a cool dude and just needs to step up his game so he can continue on in the competition.

Devin and Mikey take to the runway to teach everyone how to walk better. Uh, isn’t that Miss J’s job? They even mock some eliminated semi-finalists walks. Ashley jumps up to join them and Bello calls them the “Mean Girl clique.” Devin calls them DMA (Devin Mikey Ashley) and Mikey says they are a modeling gang and will take on any other gangs out there.

We get some footage of the developing romances—Justin and Mame sharing a bed as Mikey shares one with Ashley. Though Ashley claims Mikey jumped into bed with her. Bello has the bed next to hers and says he needs eight hours of sleep. He says he starts to hear moaning and we cut to night cam to see him pushing Ashley’s bed away from his. He says he doesn’t want to be touched and they ask him who is touch him. He continues going on and Mikey jumps up, getting in his face and cursing. Bello taunts him to “knock him out” as we go to CREDITS!

Wanna be on top?

Nostalgia Nook: S Club 7

Everyone probably knows ABC Family. But remember when it was FOX Family? Because I do. There were a lot of good shows on it. Including one centered around a British band import called S Club 7.

Most of us recall S Club 7 fondly from what I can tell. So why’s that? Let’s take a look, shall we?

Reach for the SPOILERS!

OUAT: David and Goliath

Last time on “Once:” Emma became the deputy sheriff as an old mine shaft collapsed. Regina looked ready to kill Graham but had to focus on assuring the people of Storybrooke that something will be done with the mine…and then assuring her son that she wasn’t hiding anything. Except she totally was, but he didn’t realize that. Regina demanded that Archie step up his therapy and squash all the fairy tale notions from her son. He was reluctant but she threatened to destroy his life.

So Archie did so and an upset Henry decided to explore the mine by himself. Archie went in after him as Emma searched around the mine. Another collapse trapped Archie and Henry in the mine, forcing Regina and Emma to work together to save their son. Emma did so and Archie confronted Regina, threatening her so he could continue treating Henry the way he saw fit.

In the Enchanted Forest, we learned more about Jiminy Cricket. He wasn’t always a cricket and was a human man trapped by his conmen of parents. He met a young boy who shows him some kindness but he ruined everything when he accidentally gave the boy’s parents a potion meant for his parents. The parents are turned into demonic marionettes and Blue turned a guilty Jiminy into a cricket so he could protect the young boy, Gepetto.

All the while, David and Mary Margaret were undeniably attracted to each other. But he still has a wife.

That, my friends, is a conundrum.

ANTM: Hair for Days

Last time “ANTM:” The 21 contestants discovered who was staying and who was going. The top 14 returned to their house before being paired up for photoshoots. At home, Mikey showed his true colors to Courtney and that friendship flamed out. Devin was crazy, Bello continued to hate him and Hadassah was just annoying. At panel, Devin rose to the top while Delanie and Stefano fell into the bottom. In the end, Delanie was sent home and Stefano given a second chance to prove he’s not just an accessory. Thirteen models remain, who will be eliminated tonight?

Find out!

Devin goes back to the house to celebrate his best shot. Everyone gathers into the Tyra Suite to see Tyra’s video. She gives him a tytytip about his strengths and weaknesses. Meanwhile, Bello still hates Devin.

There’s Team DMA—Devin, Mikey, and Ashley. Devin says Ashley and Mikey like each other. Ashley confirms it…as does them getting pretty cuddly in the confessional…and the tub.

TYRA MAIL! “A hero never gives up.” Hadassash thinks it means acting. She says she can’t worry about what everyone thinks of her. You might want to care a bit. Hadassah revealed she was in a school play as Sandy in Grease. There’s something about Devin being a scarecrow, so she dressed as one with Bello of course playing along as Dorothy. Devin reveals he doesn’t like Hadassah and he confronts her. He says she doesn’t have any friends and that she acts like she’s better than anybody. She says she never announced it because she would never say that…even if it was true. You just proved Devin’s point. Brava. Devin says she’s a pageant girl and not a model as we cut to…CREDITS!

Wanna be on top?

ANTM: No Neck Monster

Last time on Top Model: The top 22 finalists moved into their house, designed by the Property Brothers. Hadassah did nothing to endear herself to the others by calling a house meeting and explaining everything that she didn’t like. The next day, they had their first photoshoot but Alexa decided to call quits before it. Kelly even begged her to stay!

After the photoshoot, the judges whittled down the group to the 14 finalists. So the 21 remaining hopefuls were brought to a shipyard where they were told that they would walk a high-flying catwalk. Those who were chosen would make it across safely and the seven not chosen would be “dropped” (lowered down). Who made it? Who was dropped? Find out!

Wanna be on top?

We return to the shipyard where Alexis Borges repeats the challenge. He then tells the models that he’ll be watching so pretty much don’t screw this up. But they all seem to be freaking out about being suspended over the ground and frankly, who could blame them? Devin meanwhile goes on about how needs this show to make a name for himself.

Debatable.

OUAT: I’ve Got No Strings

Last time on “Once”: Emma met a pregnant teenager named Ashley who wanted to keep her baby despite everyone telling her she wasn’t suited for it. Emma tells her she can, no doubt also working through some of her issues about giving up Henry. Ashley assaults Gold and he asks Emma to track her down. Along the way, Emma meets Ashley’s ex-boyfriend/baby daddy and learns his father has arranged for Gold to give the baby away. Furious, she’s even more determined to make sure Ashley gets to keep her baby. She makes a deal with Gold to ensure it happens and Ashley gets to keep her little Alexandra as she reunites with her boyfriend.

In the Enchanted Forest, Ashley is apparently Cinderella. After Rumpelstiltskin kills her fairy godmother for her wand, Ella makes a deal with him to go to the ball. She fails to read the fine print and is horrified to learn he wants her firstborn child. That’s…kinda his thing, though. Anyway, when she gets pregnant she tells her prince the truth and they work with Charming to capture Rumple. Ella tricks him into using a magical pen and in revenge, he takes away her prince.

Harsh.

We open on…a puppet show. Or rather a marionette. As a couple entertains a crowd, a redheaded child makes his way through the people and picks their pockets. No one catches him and…wait…doesn’t that look like Pinocchio? Is this when he’s running with the wrong crowd?

(I'm not crazy, right?)

ANTM: Delayed!

I probably should've mentioned this last week and I'm surprised I didn't. But I've been on vacation, so I haven't been able to watch this week's episode. Once I do, I'll post the recap.

Thanks for your patience!

OUAT: Are You Sure That What You Wish is What You Want?

Last time on “Once”: Henry convinces Mary Margaret to read to John Doe, the hospital’s coma patient. When she does, he wakes up and ends up running off. Mary Margaret helps Emma and Graham find John Doe in the woods. She gives him mouth-to-mouth, saving him, and they return him to the hospital. There, Regina reveals that they’ve discovered John Doe is really David Nolan and she introduces his wife, Kathryn. Mary Margaret’s heart breaks as Emma grows suspicious over how convenient this all is. Regina manages to convince her otherwise, no doubt laughing all the way home about how she’s fooling the Savior.

In the enchanted forest, Snow and Charming meet when she robs the carriage he’s riding in with his fiancée, Prince Abigail (still hereafter known as Princess Can’t Be Bothered and the like). Snow makes off with some jewels, including a ring later revealed to have belonged to Charming’s mother. He chases after her and captures her, forcing her to bring him back to whoever she sold his jewels too. After a brief skirmish with the Black Guard, Snow brings him to the Troll Bridge. Things go south quickly and they have to defeat the trolls together. Though they part ways after, it’s clear the two are already starting to fall in love.

And judging by the longing look David gives Mary Margaret, those feelings still exist despite the curse. As a forlorn Mary Margaret considers this, Emma shows up to ask if the spare room is still available. It is and the two become roommates.

All together now: Aww!

ANTM: Strike a Pose

Last time on “ANTM:” Cycle 22, y’all! The 31 finalists hit Hollywood, posed for pictures and walked a runway. They met the judges, made friends, made enemies and then 22 of them survived the first cut. Who makes it to the final 14? Find out tonight!

Wanna be on top?

ANTM: Somewhere in the Middle

Cycle 22. Wow, you guys. Can you believe it? I know I can’t. I also realized I’ve been watching the show for ten years now—I started watching in fall 2005. It’s been a trip.

Well, let’s start this cycle and see what Tyra and co. have in store for us this go-round.

Wanna be on top?

I missed the first three minutes and apparently missed most of the guys entering. I enter with Nyle introducing himself…and Ramon, his interpreter. Nyle’s deaf and communicates using ASL. Well okay then. This should be interesting and I have a feeling I’m going to be jealous of him since he won’t be able to hear all the drama and ridiculousness contestants are known to spew.

OUAT: I Will Always Find You

Last time on “Once”: Emma decided to stay in Storybrooke, much to Regina’s consternation. So Regina does everything she can to make Emma’s life miserable—including having her arrested and evicted. But Henry keeps coming to her rescue—with Mary Margaret in tow. Emma decides she needs to stay to help her son and decides to go along with Operation Cobra—AKA Henry’s plan to defeat the Evil Queen and break her curse.

In the Enchanted Forest, Regina decides to cast the Dark Curse to take away Snow’s happy ending. She goes to Maleficent and pretty much assaults her only friend to get the Dark Curse back (she exchanged it for the sleeping curse) and then attempts to cast it. When it doesn’t work out, her servant suggests she go talk to the Dark One. She does so and he tells her that she has to crush the heart of the person she loves most. In exchange for this information, Regina owes Rumpelstiltskin a favor. Well, that can only end well, right? Anyway, turns out Regina’s servant is really her father and she crushes his heart, casting the curse.

This is supposed to be a family show, right?

OUAT: Crushing Hearts Since 2011

So, way back in 2011 I first watched Once Upon a Time. And I really, really meant to recap it since the first season. But life got in the way then and I didn’t start recapping until last year with season 3B.

My sister put me on her Netflix account (thanks KB!) and so I’ve been able to go back to watch Season 1 Once Upon a Time again. Since season 5 doesn’t start until September 27th, I’m going to recap an episode until it comes back. (Yes, I realize I probably should’ve started earlier. But oh well). Maybe I can catch up soon.

So, let’s all go back to the eh year of 2011 and recall how we started the strange yet incredible journey that is Once Upon a Time.

Way, way back in the pilot: Prince Charming awakens Snow White and they get married. The Evil Queen shows up to threaten their happily ever afters and destroy the couple. Snow becomes pregnant and as she gives birth, the Queen casts her spell. Purple clouds devour everything as Charming gets their daughter to a magical escape hatch, being fatally wounded in the process.

That daughter may or may not be Emma Swan, who on her 28th birthday is found by the son she gave up for adoption. He says he’s been adopted by the Evil Queen and he lives in a town where everyone is a fairy tale character but they don’t know it. Emma takes him home and she gets the feeling that something is wrong. Henry asks her to say, his mother (the Mayor) practically bullies Emma to leave and some guy named Gold is creepy.

As she goes to bed, the town clock that’s been broke forever starts to move.

dun dun DUN!

The Astronaut Wives Club: Scandal

Last time on TAWC: Gus heads up into outer space as Betty tries to keep it together. She seeks advice from Louise, who is dealing with her cold persona and relationship with the other women. When something goes wrong during Gus’ flight, he ends up under scrutiny and it affects his whole family.

John Glenn prepares to orbit the Earth while his wife Annie prepares to face the media with her stutter. When John’s flight is delayed, Vice President Johnson comes to visit her himself. But she refuses to let him in and NASA tries to ground John. When the men rally around him, they relent and John eventually orbits the Earth.

Deke Slayton ends up grounded before his big mission and Marge fears her past played a part in it.

Brace for impact.

We pick up where the last episode left off. Marge asks Deke why he’s grounded. He says it’s because of an irregular heartbeat. But Marge notes he’s always had it and Deke says NASA was fine with it when he was chosen. Now they aren’t and he doesn’t know why.

I still think it has something to do with Marge’s past.