Where's Billy Mumy to wish the whole Peter and Sue Ellen storyline into a cornfield? This is just so ill-conceived a plotline, and the producers are doubling down on it, even awarding it this episode's title. It's ironic, however, since "The Peter Principle" book and business term describes people rising to a level of incompetence, which arguably explains the demented decision to make this tawdry May-December romance the seventh season spotlighted subplot.
I mean, it's distressing to see a desperate Lucy pining for this loser with whom she had what, two dates? The Oil Baron's Brawl and that schlocky movie. Lucy is just a pawn anyway, allowing Peter access to Sue Ellen poolside and at the big barbecue Another innocent pawn in Peter's scheming is John Ross, who expresses his heartfelt concern for his missing counselor and "friend" (using the term loosely). How can Sue Ellen live with herself knowing her illicit involvement with Peter is hovering threateningly over the lives of those she loves?
I groaned as Sue Ellen played a cut-rate Mrs. Columbo tracking down clues from a mullet-headed dorm rat who may or may not suspect this cougar's on the prowl for her prey. I suspect he did, as he tossed her a bone in spilling Peter's new address. And what's this about her talking to Peter's professor about what a promising student he was? Having walked and worked in those halls of ivy, FERPA since 1974 strictly forbids such discussions, even with family, let alone panting paramours! At what point do we call Sue Ellen a stalker? Anyway, when Sue Ellen stepped through Peter's apartment door, didn't you already know this scene was going to end in adultery? C'mon!
Coincidentally or otherwise, at this same time a similar storyline was playing out Wednesday nights on DYNASTY, where a younger man--Dex--is aggressively pursuing the considerably older Alexis. Alexis is unmarried, however, and Dex a full-grown adult, not a starry-eyed manchild like Peter.
Or maybe a better parallel is the new wrinkle introduced this episode with Marilee Stone suddenly (and inexplicably) attracted to Cliff? Talk about strange-not-yet-but-woulda-been bedfellows! Cliff denied to Pam that he's having an affair with Marilee--and he was right! But would he be in the throes of one had Afton not shown up unexpectedly early? Yeah, I think so. Cliff, didn't you ever see THE APARTMENT on the late show? You don't have your assignations at home. As for Cliff being faithful to the masochistic Afton, I contend from circumstantial evidence that Cliff already ceded that high ground by sleeping with Sly a few episodes back.
Good history provided by JR over coffee with Mama about Sue Ellen's past unfaithfulness, living on Clayton's Southern Cross ranch during her dalliance with Dusty back in the fifth season. Miss Ellie should have responded, "Oh, yeah, back when you duped your own mother into being a pawn in your plot to kidnap your son?"
Thinking back to those helicopter-heavy episodes, Clayton referred to his son as "Steven" in this episode, and I had to stop and remember that is Dusty's given name. Later I smiled and shared JR's frustration when he was conferring with Harry McSween, "Dusty or Steven or whatever the hell that rodeo rider calls himself nowadays."
I'm a JR fan and marvel watching just how low he can go. It's refreshing that digging up dirt on Clayton is proving a dry well. Of course, the fact JR just can't believe any man can be that clean says more about JR than humanity. Tonight's tantalizing tidbit about Clayton having a presumably estranged sister in England may prove interesting. Why didn't Clayton ever mention her? Does Miss Ellie know? Why didn't Clayton tell Miss Ellie over lunch that JR is actively investigating him? Are there indeed skeletons rattling behind closed doors and in the San Angelo police files?
That lunch reminds me, what is with this relatively new restaurant set that has been turning up in virtually every episode? The one with the illuminated bar that almost invariably fills the background. I wondered, how long have Clayton and Ellie been back in Dallas where they are already regulars known by name and ordering the usual. And they know the hostess, Dora Mae, by name. Poor suffering Dora Mae, by the way, having to take both JR's and Ray's cowboy hats. Surely they breezed past the hat check on the way in. What a couple of uncouth rustics under that veneer of wealth and taste. (Note that Clayton dutifully checked his.)
Anyone feeling deja vu all over again? Kinda like Cliff's reheated chow mein. Here are Miss Ellie and Donna working out in the gym (cue "Let's Get Physical"), which brought to mind the days when virtually every episode shoehorned in a scene of Pam aerobicizing (and soft selling Victoria Principal's real-life books and videos). Underscoring that flashback was seeing Jenna decorating her eponymous boutique. Whatever happened to Pam's aerobics studio? Flushed down the memory hole along with Lucy's modeling career? I was going to add Afton's lounge singing, but that one reared its head again tonight after a lengthy absence.
Patrick Duffy directed this episode and did some curious things with the camera. Like when Mark is bawling out Pam for seeing Bobby. I seriously thought John Beck was going to jut that chin of his right through my TV screen! Duffy is always ready for his close up, like when Sue Ellen and Peter lip lock. Yeesh, their quivering, tentative, and expectant faces filled my screen to bursting, and I could see every pore like craters on the moon. I tried to push myself back right through my chair. Talk about invading someone's personal space, and in such an unseemly moment to boot.
In closing, I especially enjoyed the in-joke of Clayton taking Miss Ellie to CAMELOT knowing Howard Keel himself is a song-and-dance man with an impressive voice that elevated many a musical. I wondered what Priscilla Presley thought in that scene (I knew a man who could really sing too). Here's an idea I'll send back to Lorimar via Tardis: Howzbout next year's charity event at Billy Bob's be a karaoke night/amateur hour where the cast can spotlight their singing and sketch comedy talents, you know, like they used to do on I LOVE LUCY and THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW? Bad idea? Hey, no worse than this protracted Peter and Sue Ellen train wreck. Instead of star-crossed lovers, give us shining stars Keel and Bel Geddes belting out duets of show tunes. "If ever I would leave youuuu...!"
I mean, it's distressing to see a desperate Lucy pining for this loser with whom she had what, two dates? The Oil Baron's Brawl and that schlocky movie. Lucy is just a pawn anyway, allowing Peter access to Sue Ellen poolside and at the big barbecue Another innocent pawn in Peter's scheming is John Ross, who expresses his heartfelt concern for his missing counselor and "friend" (using the term loosely). How can Sue Ellen live with herself knowing her illicit involvement with Peter is hovering threateningly over the lives of those she loves?
I groaned as Sue Ellen played a cut-rate Mrs. Columbo tracking down clues from a mullet-headed dorm rat who may or may not suspect this cougar's on the prowl for her prey. I suspect he did, as he tossed her a bone in spilling Peter's new address. And what's this about her talking to Peter's professor about what a promising student he was? Having walked and worked in those halls of ivy, FERPA since 1974 strictly forbids such discussions, even with family, let alone panting paramours! At what point do we call Sue Ellen a stalker? Anyway, when Sue Ellen stepped through Peter's apartment door, didn't you already know this scene was going to end in adultery? C'mon!
Coincidentally or otherwise, at this same time a similar storyline was playing out Wednesday nights on DYNASTY, where a younger man--Dex--is aggressively pursuing the considerably older Alexis. Alexis is unmarried, however, and Dex a full-grown adult, not a starry-eyed manchild like Peter.
Or maybe a better parallel is the new wrinkle introduced this episode with Marilee Stone suddenly (and inexplicably) attracted to Cliff? Talk about strange-not-yet-but-woulda-been bedfellows! Cliff denied to Pam that he's having an affair with Marilee--and he was right! But would he be in the throes of one had Afton not shown up unexpectedly early? Yeah, I think so. Cliff, didn't you ever see THE APARTMENT on the late show? You don't have your assignations at home. As for Cliff being faithful to the masochistic Afton, I contend from circumstantial evidence that Cliff already ceded that high ground by sleeping with Sly a few episodes back.
Good history provided by JR over coffee with Mama about Sue Ellen's past unfaithfulness, living on Clayton's Southern Cross ranch during her dalliance with Dusty back in the fifth season. Miss Ellie should have responded, "Oh, yeah, back when you duped your own mother into being a pawn in your plot to kidnap your son?"
Thinking back to those helicopter-heavy episodes, Clayton referred to his son as "Steven" in this episode, and I had to stop and remember that is Dusty's given name. Later I smiled and shared JR's frustration when he was conferring with Harry McSween, "Dusty or Steven or whatever the hell that rodeo rider calls himself nowadays."
I'm a JR fan and marvel watching just how low he can go. It's refreshing that digging up dirt on Clayton is proving a dry well. Of course, the fact JR just can't believe any man can be that clean says more about JR than humanity. Tonight's tantalizing tidbit about Clayton having a presumably estranged sister in England may prove interesting. Why didn't Clayton ever mention her? Does Miss Ellie know? Why didn't Clayton tell Miss Ellie over lunch that JR is actively investigating him? Are there indeed skeletons rattling behind closed doors and in the San Angelo police files?
That lunch reminds me, what is with this relatively new restaurant set that has been turning up in virtually every episode? The one with the illuminated bar that almost invariably fills the background. I wondered, how long have Clayton and Ellie been back in Dallas where they are already regulars known by name and ordering the usual. And they know the hostess, Dora Mae, by name. Poor suffering Dora Mae, by the way, having to take both JR's and Ray's cowboy hats. Surely they breezed past the hat check on the way in. What a couple of uncouth rustics under that veneer of wealth and taste. (Note that Clayton dutifully checked his.)
Anyone feeling deja vu all over again? Kinda like Cliff's reheated chow mein. Here are Miss Ellie and Donna working out in the gym (cue "Let's Get Physical"), which brought to mind the days when virtually every episode shoehorned in a scene of Pam aerobicizing (and soft selling Victoria Principal's real-life books and videos). Underscoring that flashback was seeing Jenna decorating her eponymous boutique. Whatever happened to Pam's aerobics studio? Flushed down the memory hole along with Lucy's modeling career? I was going to add Afton's lounge singing, but that one reared its head again tonight after a lengthy absence.
Patrick Duffy directed this episode and did some curious things with the camera. Like when Mark is bawling out Pam for seeing Bobby. I seriously thought John Beck was going to jut that chin of his right through my TV screen! Duffy is always ready for his close up, like when Sue Ellen and Peter lip lock. Yeesh, their quivering, tentative, and expectant faces filled my screen to bursting, and I could see every pore like craters on the moon. I tried to push myself back right through my chair. Talk about invading someone's personal space, and in such an unseemly moment to boot.
In closing, I especially enjoyed the in-joke of Clayton taking Miss Ellie to CAMELOT knowing Howard Keel himself is a song-and-dance man with an impressive voice that elevated many a musical. I wondered what Priscilla Presley thought in that scene (I knew a man who could really sing too). Here's an idea I'll send back to Lorimar via Tardis: Howzbout next year's charity event at Billy Bob's be a karaoke night/amateur hour where the cast can spotlight their singing and sketch comedy talents, you know, like they used to do on I LOVE LUCY and THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW? Bad idea? Hey, no worse than this protracted Peter and Sue Ellen train wreck. Instead of star-crossed lovers, give us shining stars Keel and Bel Geddes belting out duets of show tunes. "If ever I would leave youuuu...!"
