Aaliyah and Mary Jane hang out and talk about Justin.
They make it back to MJ’s place after attending a warehouse party.
Justin is still in Paris and MJ says he is still being cold towards her as a result of the negative social media attention his ex girlfriend Simone has been getting as result of the popularity of the #JustinKissedALotOfFrogs hashtag.
“It has been radio silence since he got back to Paris.” – MJ
She sends him a text message warning him to let Simone know to avoid social media for a while.
He then texts her back saying his ex doesn’t have a social media footprint. Turns out she passed away years ago, and he sends MJ a link to her obituary.
“Justin’s ex who is getting dragged on social media is dead? Oh my God.” – Aaliyah
Kara and Orlando discuss his future.
Kara does Orlando a favor and grills one of his friends about Orlando’s loyalty. She accuses Orlando of cheating and demands the friend finds Orlando so he can verify that he’s not cheating.
The friend leaves to locate Orlando.
Turns out she was just doing Orlando a favor because Orlando didn’t feel like hanging out with his boys and he’s actually hiding in her place.
Kara then asks Orlando why he won’t just get serious about a career in sports news since he’s over baseball and hanging out with his friends. He tells her that he’s ready to give it a go and she promises to set things up for him after his GDU interview.
His GDU interview is about he and his teammates’ ongoing protest regarding immigration. Kara tells him Bryant Gumbel’s producers are interested in meeting with him about possibly giving him his own show.
At work, MJ shows Kara that Simone died from cancer and left Justin millions via stock options from her multi billion dollar start up company.
MJ is starting to feel like she can’t compare to Simone’s resume.
“She’s a genius and apparently a saint.” – MJ
Kara then reads aloud all of Simone’s achievements, including being on the boards of several charities.
MJ brings up Justin during a segment but later tells Garrett that she’s over doing it because it may end their relationship. However, Garrett tells her to keep doing it to make sure ratings stay up.
MJ runs into Lee’s new girlfriend.
Jessie Lords, the author MJ will be interviewing, comes into the studio. They have a cold encounter and Ty and Kara eventually tell her that Jessie is currently dating Lee.
MJ suspects Lee has been bad mouthing her and Jessie is just being salty.
Emma comes up to them and tells them that producers have just informed her that she will be interviewing Jessie instead of MJ.
“Salty. The b*tch is salty. Look who’s salty. Her. Because she has to follow me. I’d be salty too,” – MJ
Paul comes clean about Helen, sort of.
Patrick and Paul bump into each other in the kitchen. Patrick has some questions about Helen’s absence.
“Mom on strike or something?” – Patrick
“She’s not here. Your mother and I decided to take some time apart.” – Paul
Paul tells Patrick he needs to talk to Helen to find out why.
Jessie gives MJ a major update on Lee.
MJ tries to smooth things over with Jessie, but Jessie explains that the producers thought it would be best for Emma to interview her instead because Emma has children and Jessie’s book is written for parents.
She tells MJ that Lee doesn’t really bad mouth her and instead worked out his frustrations with the breakup via his standup shows. His career is taking off now and a network even gave him a show about their breakup.
After her conversation with Jessie, MJ gets some advice from Aaliyah and Kara.
“I just want to step out the spotlight but I keep being dragged back in.” – MJ
Aaliyah says MJ needs to respond either in a statement or an interview. MJ suggests she sits down with the Breakfast Club, and her plan is to make it clear that she’s happy for Lee.
Kara and Aaliyah don’t think this is a good idea because they feel like The Breakfast Club is “shock jock radio” and she will be baited into a bad interview.
“I’m a journalist, I know how to play the game.” – MJ
Aaliyah reluctantly agrees to set up the interview but she wants to practice first. MJ agrees to this.
Kara gets things going for Orlando.
He comes to the studio to do the GDU segment to talk about his protest. He says the owner of his team is cool with him retiring and focusing on a career in news.
Kara also confirms to him that Gumbel’s people are on the way to the studio.
Dani is talking to Garrett and begs him to give her a second chance after the disastrous interview with the school board member. After he turns her down and says he’s benching her from covering another story for now, Dani then hops on her phone and tweets an update to her followers. They immediately go after Garrett on social media.
Patrick continues to bond with Jovan over dominoes, but sends a text message to Helen asking to meet.
MJ got a hold of Lee’s script and she says it makes Cookie from Empire seem like “a Sunday school teacher.”
Meanwhile, Orlando’s mom drops by much to Kara’s surprise.
Patrick talks to Helen.
She tells him about her past with Frank, and her old feelings for him have returned. When he asks her if she’s cheating on his father, she says it’s more complicated than that.
She says that Frank is his real dad, but Paul stepped up after Frank was reenlisted.
“Now when Frank reenlisted, I was in a bind.” – Helen
“A blind?” – Patrick
“And your father stepped up.” – Helen
“What kind of bind? Pregnant?” – Patrick
Helen shakes her head and Patrick says he doesn’t want to hear anymore.
“Patrick, Paul will always be your father. Always. But Frank, he’s your blood.” – Helen
He gets really angry and rushes out of the restaurant.
Orlando’s mother doesn’t trust Kara.
Orlando’s mother, Delphine, says she’s been in Miami a lot lately because her sister just had a baby. Kara tells her Orlando may have his own show soon and she invites Kara to the park for a little family reunion.
Kara is surprised when Orlando’s mother kisses him in the mouth before they head out.
In the park, Delphine tells Kara about how Orlando was in high school and says she had to protect him from girls back then. She sternly tells Kara that Orlando will not be retiring from baseball.
Later on, Orlando tells Kara that he’s nervous switching careers but he agrees to do the segment anyway. Kara encourages him to invite Delphine.
Delphine comes by the studio and is star struck by MJ. She appears to be coming around to Orlando working at the station and gets excited when Kara offers to show her around.
MJ, Ty and Aaliyah point out to Kara that she has a lot in common with Orlando’s mother. They even walk the same.
Aaliyah tries to prep MJ for her upcoming interview on the Breakfast Club.
Aaliyah pretends to be Charlamagne and asks some messy questions. MJ starts off strong but ends up ranting about black men and misogyny.
“I’m happy for Lee, you know, I really am. But let’s admit his project is trafficking in the same tired a*s tropes…that black women are crazy. Black women are promiscuous. Black women are angry. But have black men ever taken responsibility for driving us to that? We live in a society that treats us like we’re the bottom of the barrel when it comes to romance. Couple that with having to constantly prove ourselves as worthy enough, right? Be confident, baby girl, but not intimidating. Be smart, but not emasculating. Never enough, but too much. Too damn much all at the same damn time. Men are encouraged to objectify our bodies, but the second we search for s*xual satisfaction, oh baby, we are called whores.” – MJ
Aaliyah tells her that she’s not ready for the interview and sounds bitter.
“And you sound like everybody else when they talk about black women. Nobody ever asks how? Why? Why do they feel like this? i was tempted to cheat on Lee even before Justin. But how did I get to that point? Is it because I don’t think I deserve Lee? And if that’s the case, what the hell does that say about my relationship with Justin?” – MJ
Aaliyah urges MJ not to do the interview because she’s going to make herself look crazy, but J isn’t hearing it.
Aaliyah reminds MJ that she’s not a yes woman and she may not be the right publicist for her.
Orlando handles Dani.
Garrett tells Kara that Dani should interview Orlando with Aaron, but Kara doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Orlando thinks it’s a good move because it could help his protest.
During Orlando’s interview, Dani doesn’t waste any time asking Orlando if he hates America and if protesting the anthem is even helping his cause.
Orlando outs Dani in check despite her annoying talking points when he states that being American means standing up for your beliefs which are dear to him since his own mother is an immigrant.
Kara and his mother are both relieved that Orlando came out on top.
After the interview, Delphine gives Kara her approval and tells Orlando that Kara really has his back.
“Orlando, a player is nothing without his coaches. And this lady here is a damn good coach.” – Delphine
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.” – Orlando
Orlando then kisses Kara’s hand while Delphine proudly looks on.
Kara tells MJ that she agrees with Aaliyah about her not being ready for the Breakfast Club interview. Kara explains that she has a lot going on with Justin, and it’s probably why she’s so stressed about Lee’s new show.
Kara suggests they focus back on the news and find a story that MJ can really sink her teeth in. She suggests they get MJ a prime time special that will run for an hour about a topic she really cares about.
She also suggests MJ apologizes to Aaliyah.
Patrick has an intense talk with Paul.
He’s still upset and questions why Paul didn’t tell him the Frank is his father.
“This was your mother’s secret to tell, not mine.” – Paul
He slips up and says Frank is an alcoholic who gambles too much and Patrick gets upset and demands to know why he didn’t know this considering his addiction to drugs may be genetic.
But Paul says knowing that would not have helped Patrick.
Patrick then jacks Paul up by his shirt and Paul assures him that he’s still his father and he’s really mad at Helen too.
Patrick leaves the house angrily.
MJ apologizes to Aaliyah and agrees to call off the interview, Kara makes her move.
After Dani delusionally taunts Kara about embarrassing Orlando during the interview, she looks and sees that Dani’s supporters feel like she had the upper hand.
She tells Garrett she can handle Dani but he has to promise to give MJ a show in the fall for one night.
He agrees.
Patrick goes to a sobriety meeting, and he says that getting some bad family news makes him feel he may spiral out of control. He’s there to prevent that from happening.
Justin sends some flowers to MJ’s place. She gets excited and dances around the house.
What are your thoughts on the episode?
I called it last week, definitely saw Frank being Patrick’s Dad coming. Anyway, I see where MJ get’s her messy, troubled relationship issues from. I can definitely understand it was a different time and all that, but Helen really did Paul dirty. She stayed and created a family with this loyal man for 44 years without feeling the same type of love for him that he has for her. That’s so messed up.
Soooo disappointed in Helen.
Helen is messy as f-ck. She can’t say sh-t about MJ ever again.
Also, MJ’s rant during the faux BC interview was everything. She said everything I’ve felt about how the misogyny within the Black community and I really wish alot of Black men could just watch that clip and understand why we as women feel the way we do.
I agree.
Yeah that was my fave part of the episode.
Things got messy super quick.
I’m glad the season has improved. It seems like it’s hard to enjoy this show when we don’t see much of MJ’s family. They and the heart of the show for me (at least). I’m also loving Kara’s relationship with Orlando. I’m still not really sure about Justin but we will see how the season ends. I’m disappointed in Helen, but I think the purpose of this season was for people to understand why MJ has made the mistakes she has made. She’s a lot like her mother.
Helen really suprised me this season. But this explains why Patrick as the oldest son isn’t the junior but the youngest brother PJ is.
Poor Patrick. I’m glad he went to a sobriety meeting after because I know it’s going to be hard now knowing what he knows.
The writing has gotten better. It was boring at the beginning of the season. Anyway Patrick needs to remember Paul is still his daddy. He raised him. Frank didn’t.
I feel really bad for Patrick but I feel like this season is showing that the sins of the parents do fall on their children. Mary Jane’s issues with men are a result of her mother’s sins. And Patrick’s drug addiction is a result of Frank’s sins. But every child can break the curse, if they choose to. And I think Mary Jane and Patrick will.