(8)+November+6

=Partners=



__Program Introduction__
//Partners// is an American situation comedy that aired on the CBS in 2012. Though this freshman comedy, //Partners//, was aired at the same primetime period, Monday 8:30PM, as other famous sitcom like //2 broke girls//, //How I Met Your Mother// and //The Big Bang Theory//, it was not as popular as the other previously mentioned comedies. The ratings were so bad that CBS even canceled the comedy before the season finale.

Since the comedy's rating is bad, the reason why we want to present this comedy to you is that we want to choose a comedy which is mostly unknown to classmates, so that we can get everyone's attention. Besides, the episode we present today got 7.5 ratings on IMDb and we are sure this episode is absolutely funny.

Partners is about Louis and Joe, who are lifelong friends and business partners running an architecture firm. The special difference between Louis and Joe is that they are "one gay, one straight". The story also includes their own lovers, Ali and Wyatt.

There are rumors that this CBS show has many similarities with a 1995 Fox sitcom of the same name. You can get more information about Partners from IMDb and Wikipedia.

__Character Introduction__

 * Louis**, the homosexual one in the partnership. He is the clown of this show, also a shallow, super confident and self-centered character. He works as a architect with Joe, his best friend since their childhood. His boyfriend, Wyatt, is a nurse, but Louis always introduce him as a doctor for vanity. He also has a friendship with Ali.


 * Joe**, the straight one. He is a humble and down-to-earth hard worker and runs the architecture business with Louis, his lifelong friend. He is an ordinary young businessman who has a hot Fiancee, Ali.


 * Ali**, the typical hot blond leading female character of the show. She opens a new jewelry shop of her own. She is engaged to Joe in the first episode. Louis is her best gay friend.


 * Wyatt**, Louis' muscular boyfriend, who grew up in a Mennonite family. He is cautious and self-disciplined, and he has quit partying and drinking for five years. He is a nurse working in a hospital.


 * Ro-ro**, the secretary of Joe and Louis' company. She is attracted by Wyatt.


 * Renata**, Ali's cousin hired by Ali as an assistant. She is dull and stupid.

__Today's Episode__
Today we're going to watch the 2nd episode of season one, which called "Chicken & Stuffing".

You can download this episode here: [] (It is a private link uploaded by Nick and only for educational purpose. Please do not share the link to people who are not in the class.)

Here is the transcript of this episode.

Although this is not the first episode, the simple character structure makes it easy for the audience to follow the story.

The story of today's episode tells that Louis accidentally finds that Joe and Ali have not had sex for 9 days because Ali is busy managing her newly-opened jewelry shop. He encourages Ali to take the initiative, while Ali and Joe both feel bothered. He later finds out that Ali has never cooked for Joe, so he gives her his zesty lemon chicken recipe and tell her to make it for Joe. Although Joe is angry that Louis is always butting in on stuff between him and Ali, he orders a cake for Louis when he forgets Wyatt's fifth "sober birthday". The partners agree that each is good at taking care of the other.

**1.The laser-hair-removal place called. They don't do balls.**
The laser-hair-removal place did not remove hairs from testicle.

**2.Show me on the model where Ali hurt you**
This is what child psychologists say to kids who they think have been abused.

**3.You're not lesbians**
Lesbians in a long term relationship have the lowest sex rate.

**4.Ali just has a hard time blowing anyone off.**
To blow somebody is to give someone a oral sex. To blow somebody off is fail to keep an appointment with someone.

**5.If you get involved, I am screwed.**
There is two definition of being screwed. First, describes someone who just had sex. Another definition is the position that is a result of a problem or bad situation that seems impossible to solve/get out of.

**6.casual friday**
In some company, you don’t have to wear a suit to the office on Friday.

**7.Sober birthday.**
Sober means to quit drinking and lead a temper-less lifestyle. They are celebrating the fact that Wyatt has not had a drink for 5 years. This is an important milestone for a recovering alcoholic. You can check out the link about "How to Stay Sober"

**8.tonight while we're brushing our teeth - your alternative live style**
Joe thinks what Wyatt says is a implicit way of doing oral sex. But Wyatt doesn't mean it.

**9.Kelly Ripa's belly button.**
Kelly Maria Ripa (born October 2, 1970) is an American actress, and she was photo shoot by the media that wearing bikini and showing a outtie belly button. There are two kinds of belly button, innie and outtie.

**10.Everyone was on crystal. She was the dishwasher.**
Crystal was referring to Crystal Meth, the drug.

**11.This one did not make it across the road.**
From the common Riddle or Joke “why did the chicken cross the road?"

**12.Lame jokes for $1,000**
Reference to the game show Jeopardy.

**13.Mamie Eisenhower.**
Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower (1896 - 1979) was the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and First Lady of United State from 1953 to 1961. Mrs. Eisenhower was known for her recipe for "Mamie's million dollar fudge" which was reproduced by housewives all over the country after it was printed in many publications.

**14.1950s housewife. Minus the racism.**
The 1950s housewife is remembered as being pretty, made up at all times of the day, the cook and maid, consumer, mother, and loyal wife. But, people were still really racist at that time. the television sitcom (1957-1963) "Leave It To Beaver" depicted a typical 1950s family, and the wife character had became stereotype of how a 1950s housewife should be like. media type="custom" key="24301900"

**15.motorboat sound**
Sticking your face between a ladys boobs and blowing hard allowing the boobies to wobble on your cheeks.The resulting sound that is created sounds similar to an outboard boat motor.

**16.Enya CD.**
Enya is an Irish singer. media type="custom" key="24175434" @https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfYIMyS_dI

**17.Turn Ann Romney**
Ann Lois Romney is the wife of American businessman and politician Mitt Romney. Published a Cookbook called "The Romney Family Table”

**18. Flamboyant**
Mostly means over the top, loud, colourful. Can be applied to objects or people. “Flamboyantly gay” When something is undeniably, overtly, and/or disturbingly homosexual in nature or appearance.

**19.code word**
a word or phrase shared by a group which has a special meaning to that group

**20. Throw you a parade - hostile euphemism for gay**
Refers to gay pride parade

**21.Mary-Kate and Ashley.**
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen, also known as the Olsen Twins.

Hush puppies
This is a brand of shoe that has a beagle as their mascot. In the program Louis calls his lover hush puppy as a term of endearment (like calling a person honey, baby, or darling). Notice that Louis and Wyatt also own a pet beagle. I've never heard hush puppy used like this before. A hush puppy is also the name of a fried corn biscuit as can be seen in the second picture. Think of how people may call their girlfriends sugar or cupcake.



__**Listening Activities**__
Comprehension Questions: 1.What recipe did Louis give to Ali? 2.What kind of woman that Louis said every man want to marry? 3.Who does Ali think that suit her belt? 4.Who did Renata give her purse to?

Intensive Listening Activity: Listen and fill in your part of the transcript. You can work in a group to do this. Then get into a new groups of 3 and act out the scene.

__Discussion Questions__

 * 1) Have you ever prepared a meal for your lover or family? How was it?
 * 2) Do you think it's proper for Louis do such things for Joe? What would you think if you were Joe?
 * 3) Have you ever done something sweet to surprise your friend?
 * 4) Do you want to lead a sober lifestyle?
 * 5) how do you interacting with gay or lesbian friend?
 * 6) How does louis call wyatt?
 * 7) Does any friend of you have engaged? how is their life?
 * 8) Do you know any other code word?