This was an interesting episode.
Kirstie Alley appears as Pam Staggs, a former classmate of Frankie's (Patricia Heaton's) from back in high school who appeared on Wheel of Fortune and won a million dollars. This was seen back on an episode of the show way back in season three.
She is richer and believes herself to be sophisticated and parties hard. And she drags Frankie with her. Drags isn't right. Frankie is thrilled that the popular girl Pam wants to hang with her. Turns out that Pam's husband took half her winnings in the divorce and her son is in South America helping people. But she's fine with everything, except for the horrible martinis at the bar. But during karaoke Pam reveals that everyone else she called moved away to pursue their dreams but not Frankie.
It ends sort of happily, at least for Frankie. Turns out Pam is miserable and hates all her money. Her husband didn't even cheat on her, he just didn't want to be with her anymore and her son is actually in South America but he grows pot. She wants what Frankie has and Frankie is thrilled, she takes pleasure in someone else's misfortune.
In the meantime, Sue (Eden Sher) is seeking out websites to figure out what will give her an edge when it comes to college acceptance. She tries playing the oboe, and then rowing before settling on the under-the-radar 4H. Hopefully this plot line will continue for the rest of the season.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) tries to get Devin Levin (Gina Mantenga) to go out with him but she doesn't feel that she has the time to devote to a real relationship so he tries to beat her at something sports related. But he loses at basketball and running, which is terrifying before she scratches at billiards, planting a kiss on his lips, not ever telling if she let him win.
Alley wasn't a bad guest star and I would like to see her back again though I doubt that will happen as the episode ends with Frankie announcing that Pam is dating the real estate agent who sold her her house in Orson. Good for her.
However, this was one of the weaker episodes for this season as it didn't give the main actors each their due and that is just upsetting as this is one of the strongest casts on television and they each need their time to shine. And, also equally upsetting, this episode wasn't even that funny, with the jokes just really falling flat. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-The funniest bit was when Mike (Neil Flynn) was telling Frankie to stop sending so much time out with Pam Staggs and Sue is in the background trying to practice rowing in the Heck family pool but she falls off her little boat and thrashes around in the water.
-Brick (Atticus Shaffer) gets literally nothing to do in this episode, though he is annoying Mike the least during that week.
-Frankie insists on going out again because it is Ladies Drink Free Night so she will be the dutiful wife and return home to spit the beer in Mike's mouth. He grimaces because that is what happened the night before.
-The night before Frankie returns home drunk and passes out on Mike in a gross scene.
-At the end, Mike is out shooting hoops and returns inside the house when Pam licks him and Frankie begins her freak out which starts Pam's breakdown.
-Sue comes home with a calf because of her 4H joining. I hope that carries on through at least one more episode. That will be a wonderful gag for future episodes.
-Axl takes delight in Devin losing, though of course, she didn't really lose because the prize is him and that is a wonderful reward.
-The whole show starts when Frankie gets a friend request from Pam and Sue tells her to accept it right away because it might be a mistake. Poor Sue.
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