Breaker one-nine, breaker one-nine… Oh, the nostalgic glee that filled my heart when B.J. and Rick broke out the CB radios on last night’s Swingtown. I was wondering when the show would recapture the mid-’70s moment when the CB went from being an unglamorous communication tool for professional truckers to a status-symbol accessory in the station wagons of carpooling moms. (To be followed, of course, by the radar detector, allowing every suburban dad to imagine himself as Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit, outracing and outwitting the law through superior nerve and machinery. But I digress.)
The writers expertly deployed the glorified walkie-talkies in this episode, fittingly titled "Surprise," as a metaphor for all the bungled communications and unexpected revelations taking place here in Swingtown. Starting with the unlikely "handles" the boys chose for themselves: Rick was "Ladykiller" (as if!), and B.J. was "Silver Bullet." (What did that mean? That he kills werewolves? That someday he’ll be a Coors Light drinker, once they introduce the brand in a few years?) Lesson two, after choosing a distinctive CB username: Don’t sit on the mic button, or your friends will hear you reveal that you panicked when an eager girl took off her top, or that you don’t understand what your friend and his almost-girlfriend see in each other, or that said-almost girlfriend is moving to Naperville to live with her aunt, who plans to fight the girl’s cokehead mom for custody.
Sam may not be the only one moving out of town. Roger finally got a job offer for his dream gig, applying his actuarial knowledge to safety assessment for a company building skyscrapers. (Follow that dream, Roger!) Unfortunately, the job’s in Cincinnati. As usual, Roger told Susan but not his own wife. He was still pressing Susan to declare her feelings for him after last week’s kiss, and she she was still resisting, though they were plain on her face. When she finally told Roger that she really wanted him to take the job and move 300 miles away, she couldn’t have sounded more unconvincing.
Janet remained blissfully unaware of the monkey wrench about to be thrown into her potential promotion from office busybody to newspaper advice columnist. Of course, the old Janet would have dropped that opportunity in a heartbeat to be a dutiful wife and rush off to Ohio, but now, blossoming under mentor Henry, I’m not so sure. (Anyone think Henry’s being set up as a possible romantic rival to Roger?) Then again, she still thought Roger and Susan had been spending so much time together just to plan her surprise birthday party. In fact, Roger and Susan made sure to invite lots of Janet’s friends so there would be a buffer to keep them from having to talk to each other. But that plan would backfire in unforeseen ways.
For instance, Bruce, who has finally entered full-blown midlife crisis mode. When he told Susan he felt like a stranger in his own home, it wasn’t just because it was full of guests he didn’t know. (Typically, he didn’t seem to grasp that when Susan said she felt the same way, she also was not talking about the party.) Bruce was miserable because of Melinda, the co-worker he’d made out with a few weeks back, who was now threatening to leave for a rival brokerage. He was moping about being barely able converse with Susan, while with Melinda, he could talk about interesting stuff like the stock market and baseball. Still, I didn’t expect him to go so far as to concoct that obviously false lie about having left his briefcase at the office and having to go back into town, so that he could secretly hook up with Melinda. Susan, who’d overheard his incriminating phone conversation with Melinda, let him spin this unconvincing story — perhaps because it gave her an excuse to talk to Roger.
(Let’s pause for a moment to note one other, superfluous example of miscommunication: Laurie mishearing Doug’s "All I have is Yoohoo" as "I love you" and responding, "I love you, too." Realizing she’d said "I love you" first, she jumped to the conclusion that Doug was preparing to dump her and take that faculty job. This is the plight of characters who, unlike us viewers, don’t have the benefit of knowing how to deal with such situations from having watched them thousands of times on episodes of Seinfeld and Sex and the City. Fortunately, Doug does love her and is even willing to give up the job so he can keep dating his former student. That seems foolish, especially to those of us annoyed by the Laurie-Doug subplots, but it’s certainly sweet.)
The lone example of positive communication this episode came from Janet and Rick, who vented his frustration by getting belligerently drunk at the party. Taking him aside, Janet quickly figured out that what was really bothering her son was his sense that he’d lost B.J. to Sam, then gave him some good advice (be a pal and earn his friendship back), and made it all better with a motherly hug. It was a tender and lovely scene, the first we’ve witnessed between these two all season. It certainly impressed eavesdropper Trina (pictured), who marveled at Janet’s maternal skills, then revealed her own big secret.
Show of hands: When did you realize that Trina was pregnant? She’d been dropping hints the whole episode, from her early-morning queasiness to those den-mother comments about mentoring fledgling swingers Bruce and Susan (an analogy that becomes really creepy if you think about it), to Bruce’s rant to Trina about how hard it is to be a parent and breadwinner, and how lucky the Deckers are that life has yet to throw them any real curve balls. At least Trina’s sure that the baby is Tom’s (she did the math and figures that she conceived during the Deckers’ moratorium on swinging), but it seemed clear that she and Tom hadn’t planned to have a child…ever.
So: How do you think Tom will react when he finds out he’s going to be a dad? (Pretty well, judging by the spoilery preview for next week’s episode.) How will Janet react when Roger tells her he was offered a job in Cincinnati? How will Bruce react when Susan confronts him with his apparent infidelity? Will Rick’s gift of the CB enable B.J. and Sam to conduct a long-distance relationship? Will we ever find out if Rick’s feelings for B.J. are more than platonic? And how do you think the season will wrap in next week’s finale?
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This is incredibly frustrating as a fan of this show knowing that next week’s episode will almost certainly be its last. Will there be some sort of resolution to all of these developing storylines? Was the finale written in a way that it could serve as a series finale? Did the producers and writers know whether it would be back at the time it was written? I have a feeling that Bruce and Susan’s relationship will be left in flux for perpetuity. Give us one more season CBS!
I watched the show online this morning, so I didn’t get to see previews, but I did hear that the writers made a conclusion that could be a season or a series finale. I really really hope that the show comes back though, because I have gotten involved in these characters’ lives…
I will miss this show so much (I don’t hold out any hope that CBS will pick it up for the fall or a mid-season replacement). I was 17 in 1976–same age as dopey Laurie–and I have enjoyed every episode, hearing songs I thought I’d forgotten, seeing the spot-on wardrobe and hairstyles, and enjoying the fine writing and acting. I am sorry to see it go.
The preview referenced the “final” episode next week, which seems a bit more concrete than season finale. Which SUCKS. Maybe we’ll be thrown a bone on the DVD set?
Don’t we think Henry is gay?
For once, I actually began to feel a dose of sympathy for Bruce. Not because he felt trapped, or because his dedication as breadwinner prevented him from following his dreams, BUT because Susan mistook him for a White Sox fan. As improbable as that is (considering both Cub and White Sox fans wear their fan pride on their sleeves), it nevertheless made a telling moment regarding how far apart these two have gotten.
I also got a thrill about the shout out to Naperville, my hometown for 10 years. I don’t know if it was the same in the 70s, but it is a certifiable yuppie haven, and if this show were to continue, could provide for a troublesome change in the previously down-to-earth Sam.
Finally, could this show really be that expensive to make that CBS couldn’t swallow it for another year to let the fan base grow? The actors, though wonderful, don’t have high-salary demands, and unless 70s fashion costs mucho dinero, it seems they could make two for one cookie-cutter Flashpoint.
I really hope CBS brings the show back as I love it. I think they are going to purposely leave some loose ends in case CBS does bring it back, so I do not expect a tidy little ending next week.
I really can’t stand Bruce, so I dont care what happens to him and Susan. I would say I’d like to see Susan and Roger together, but my fave character is Janet, so that won’t work LOL.
Swingtown has been my favorite show all summer, and I hate to see it go. I too suspect it won’t be picked up by CBS. It’s being shopped to cable networks, but we’ll see. I’m just trying to be glad that it was played through and not yanked and shelved like so many other shows.
Now- so many points from last night’s episodes seemed to be leading up to stories that might have been explored next season. For example, I still think that Janet’s kid is probably gay, and I thought maybe this co-worker of Janet’s might be there as someone for Jante to talk to if and when her son came out to her.
Sigh, we’ll never know, I fear. I have my fingers crossed, but I’m thowing a swinging bye bye Swingtown party next week, with pigs in a pickle and harvey walbangers.
I totally think Henry and Rick are gay. I would be interested in seeing how that was dealt with in that time, I was too young to know any different.
Loving the Janet career path arc.
What hacks me off about the uncertainty of the show, is that I read that they (creators) were in negotiations with Showtime and this Nancy person in charge of CBS regular programming, snatched it out of Showtime’s clutches (CBS owns Showtime.) Sooo, she snatches it, then moves its air time to Friday night after three eps, and surprise surprise, the ratings tank, which puts the show in jeopardy. Jack ass.
She should have left it alone and let Showtime develop it.
Another good show going down because the powers that be are complete morons. Does CBS own other stations like NBC does with USA, A&E, and Bravo? Maybe they could move it to another where it would get the attention and time it needs.
They can get rid of Laurie, that pig nose of hers drives me absolutely insane.
I knew Trina was pregnant when she said it in the preview. Damn spoiler! They should warn us.
Great episode. I am hoping Showtime will pick the show up. Swingtown is getting better and better every week. Hate to see it end next week. Great cast, writers and attention to detail. Loved the scene with Janet and Ricky and Trini with Janet right afterwards. Want Roger and Susan together,even though I love Janet! Tom is the man (Grant Show is so cool in this role).
Janet’s talk with Rick near the end of last’s night episode, as well as the subsequent one right after between her and Trina made me realize just how much I’ve come to care about all of these characters (even the initially annoying BJ, Rick and Sam; Laurie can still drop dead though) and how sad I’ll be to see all of them go. It’s incredibly frustrating that this thoughful, well-written and superbly acted show will probably gone forever from the airwaves after next week, while crappola like CSI will stay on for another 10,000 years. I just hope that A) the show gets a DVD release in the near future as I’ll be the first in line to buy and B) that it is not completely forgotten at awards time next year. At the very least, the writers and all three lead actresses have done award-worthy work.
I don’t subscribe to any premium cable networks, but if this show is moved to Showtime, for instance, I would subscribe just to see it. We have stupid shows on TV such as Ghost Whisperer, Wife Swap and Wipeout, but a great drama such as Swingtown doesn’t get renewed? I hope we have one more season, or another network picks it up.
I really love this show. It has saved my summer! I hope that it gets picked up by someone because I can’t bear the thought of it being over.
This can’t be the end. What a fantastic summer it has been with Swingtown. How will we know if another network picks it up? Please CBS if you are paying ANY attention, don’t lose this show!!!!
I couldn’t agree more with all the comments below. “Swingtown” is so intelligent, thoughtful and touching and it just gets better episode after episode. It’s criminal for one of the best shows in years to be cancelled after only 13 episodes!
On the bright side, though, there is already an Amazon listing, where you can pre-order the DVD box set, which will be released on Dec 18!!
http://www.amazon.com/Swingtown-First-Season/dp/B001E6DLK0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1220137500&sr=8-2
Oops, my bad. It’s Dec 16, actually! Just in time for the holidays! Yay!
Swingtown is a great show all summer, and I hate to see it go. Its like everything on TV they have a good time slot and decided to move it and BINGO its down the tubes. Friday nights was a Very Poor choice. Its the last day of the week and no one really stays home on a Friday night to watch TV. oh well that’s good thinking
can’t believe there’s only 1ep left. I really hope Showtime picks up the show. Too bad Janet doesn’t have email she could do her column from Cincinatti.
I really hope this show comes back next summer though without Laurie. I did feel for Bruce because when you think of it him and Susan been together really since they were kids and he has been working hard his whole life to provide for his family that he never got a chance to really live his own life. And for Susan to just hear that conversation and let Bruce leave without confronting him made no sense. All season we have been watching her break out into this feminist than for her to regress like that was disappointing. Don’t care about the kids. Roger always has that sad look on his face. I always feel so sorry for him because, even though Janet is a good character, I know women like her and they are annoying. I bet Janet wasn’t like that when they first started dating but in time she felt she had to become this housewife woman and it has now overtaken her.
The Seventies. Those were the days when education was still important. People read books for entertainment, as well as to learn the correct usage of similar words. Like ‘then’ and ‘than.’ Reading these boards can be taxing for those who know the difference.
Everytime I’ve predicted what will happen, I’ve been proven totally, absolutely wrong. This is an amazing show with talented writers. If I begin to feel uncomfortable or want to jeer, the scene shifts and then makes sense. I originally thought Swingtown was a glorified soap opera but it’s much more clever. It deserves another year. However, it may be badly written and won’t be remembered fondly at all.
I love this show and it’s really unfair that CBS asks viewers to invest 13×42 minutes of their lives and then turn around and cancel the show as if saying “you suckers!” This show is far superior than any of the CSI franchise crap. Last night’s episode was simply beautiful filled with great moments.I care for these characters and i wanna see more of them. Lana Parilla (Trina) was sensational last night.
I can’t believe that people are sympathizing with Bruce. How about Susan? How horrible must it be knowing that you’re husband is flat-out lying to your face and walking away casually his hand in his pocket to go sleep with someone else. I felt terrible for Susan in that scene.Truly heartbreaking. I also loved the scene between Trina and Janet in the kitchen.I found it interesting that Trina told Janet first about her pregnancy. About B.J. being gay: I think if there’s gonna be a gay character in the show it should be a grown-up. That way it would be much more interesting in terms of sexual dynamics between the adults. And finally DO NOT CANCEL THIS SHOW !!!
Wathching the breakdown of Susan and Bruce’s marriage is quite sad. This episode gave insight into Bruce, which doesn’t justify his actions, but makes you wonder if Bruce and Susan have just grown so far apart that the marriage simply can’t be saved. Janet is a great character because she is truly an annoying person trapped in the old-fashioned housewife stereotype, but yet has many redeeming qualities. This is a show that presents the characters as complex people, that you don’t generally get on T.V. These are people that the audience can really care about. If CBS doesn’t get it, that is really a tragedy and will be our loss.
Miss Education–do you feel better now that you’ve gotten your shot of superiority in? Has it helped you get through the night?
No?
Try adjusting the stick you’ve been schlepping around in your backside.
You poor thing. Although I’m unfamiliar with using sticks in that manner, clearly, you are not. For your introduction to reading, I would suggest a book on self-esteem, one on comportment, and a third on manners. I would have said etiquette but, frankly, you need to start with the basics. Finally, buy a dictionary. Knowledge is power, and from the content of your post, you need to read. A lot.
Superiority takes effort. You’ve barely achieved mediocrity.
Hey! I didn’t watch the spoilery preview because I didn’t want to know. Sheesh. I’m almost too mad to say that it was obvious Trina was pregnant when Tom told Susan she wasn’t feeling well.
CBS is the MOST ignorant network around. They are infamous in doing the exact same things(starting good series shows and then canceling)them when we all get into them, they did it with Jericho, they did it with Moonlight, and now Swingtown. Any series with an actual good plot and character growth doesn’t stand a chance. I’ve soooooooooo had it with this network, all they seem to know are ridiculous reality shows and CSI, the powers that be should ALL be fired for canceling this and other shows..perhaps the ratings were bad is because people like myself are tired of their pattern of getting into shows only to have them drop them, I personally know people who said they would not watch this show, no matter how good it may be, because CBS will cancel it…shame on me for being sucked into another one of their good shows and now being let down again. And now I too am done, put whatever you want on CBS, I will not be watching your network ever again.