Awkward. In The Defense of Lacey Hamilton AKA: Defending Awkward's Most Hated Characters

So here is where I make my "In The Defense of Lacey Hamilton" case, which I realize probably isn't the most popular side to take.

Lacey Hamilton

First and foremost I want to say I DO NOT agree with the fact that Lacey wrote the letter, it was WRONG. I am not defending her actions so much as trying to find a way to explain them, so hear me out.

Let's face it Lacey is a basically a child. She had Jenna young and had to "grow up" real fast, only problem being she never really did grow up. From what we've been told Lacey's relationship with her own mother was not the greatest. This is alluded to in the very last episode of season one, when she tells Jenna how she believed her mother loved a dress more than her. She spent her entire childhood trying to please a woman who just couldn't be pleased.

I can not imagine her mother was all too pleased by the fact that her daughter got knocked up in high school. Not to mention the fact that getting knocked up, probably didn't do wonders for her popularity back in high school, taking away from her the two things she desperately craved, affection and acceptance.

Cut to Lacey as we know her now, is she a little shallow? Yes. A little self-absorbed? Of course, but really when it comes to Jenna, despite not knowing boundaries and such, her heart is in the right place. She desperately wants Jenna to confide in her, she on more than one occasion reminds her that she isn't that much older that her, and she still remembers what it's like to be a teenager. She also tries on multiple occasions to connect with her daughter.

Sure, she's a bit misguided, more concerened about her daughter's popularity than Jenna's own wishes, but when it comes down to it she fiercely loves her daughter. Remember her freak out on Ally for slipping Jenna a Beta-blocker? Or the sweet reassurance she offers to Jenna, when she goes to talk to Tamara? As well as my personal favorite mother/daughter moment before the Winter Formal when Lacey tearfully tells Jenna, ""...you are the best part of me...because you're not me. You are better.""

The letter was definitely the wrong approach, but I have to believe that Lacey did it because she could think of no other way to reach her daughter. Now for all of you who are now furious with me and shouting varying versions of "That is NOT how a parent should act!" Please know while I agree with you, I ask you to realize that Lacey has never really needed to be an adult before. She had Jenna do young, and seems to always be trying to regain her youth. From what seen, Kevin seems to be the "stricter" of the two.

It's no secret that despite the fact that Jenna loves her, and she does, that she doesn't respect her mother. So Lacey had to believe, at least at the time, that writing the letter was the only way she could get through to Jenna. She was bound to pay more attention to advice, no matter how harshly put, from "a Friend" and peer than Lacey herself. So she did what she thought she had to to get Jenna to listen to her.  

Awkward: "Sex, Lies and the Sanctuary": AKA: And the Plot Thickens

So a video camera has been discovered taping the Sanctuary and a panic is whipping through the school. Jenna is freaking out at the possibility that one of her secret hooks up with Matty having been caught on tape. This of course leads to the problem of whether or not to tell  Jake. It becomes a question of which is the lesser of two evils, is it better to tell Jake about her and Matty or have him possibly find out when the tape is released.

Look how cute they are...

Meanwhile Jake is having a freak out of his own, obsessing over not only the fact that Jenna isn't a virgin, which he just always assumed she was, but also, and more importantly, that she was in love with the guy she slept with. I have to admit his freak out was kind of adorable. It shows not only how insecure he can be, but also how much he cares about Jenna. "What I want, is for you to be able to tell anything, even if you think I don't want to hear it, I want to hear it." Seriously Jake gets the best/most swoon worthy lines. His face when Jenna told him she was invested in him, was adorable. I know, my Team Jake-ness is showing.

Oh, Matty. You just don't get it.

Matty on the other hand, is still making trouble for the happy couple. When Jake reveals that Jenna told him that she was in love with guys she slept with, Matty runs straight to Jenna and tells her "I love you." Oh, Matty, once again his selfishness has depleted my sympathy for him. Even his pleading at the end for Jenna not to tell Jake, because he "can't loose him too" sounds hollow. He doesn't really care if he looses Jake if he gets Jenna, and if he can't have Jenna than he won't loose Jake. All he really cares about is his own "happiness".

In an attempt to find out what is on the tape, Ming is unintentionally inducted into the "Asian Mafia". Which I'm hoping means they'll give her more to do now. And Val managed to use the tape to get promoted to VP.

And perhaps in one of the more glossed over moments of the episode, Lacey admits to Kevin that she wrote the Carefrontation letter. I'm sure we'll all have to deal with next week.

Asian Mafia 

Also the mysterious commenter on Jenna's blog has returned. I'm really curious as to who it is. Ming and Tamara have already denied their involvement, but as we know, as far as this show is concerned, not everyone tells the truth all the time. We all remember Tamara's letter writing confession don't we? I'm pretty sure it isn't Jake, because if it was was he would know about Matty and Jenna, since she frequently writes about them. However, I wouldn't be surprised if it was Lacey reaching out to her daughter in another form. Or Kyle...seriously, when are we going to get some more Kyle. I refuse to believe that Jenna's stalker would just disappear quietly. After all she basically offered him a window into her life by apologizing, I don't think he would just give up. 

Next week we get more into Matty's sabotage on Jenna and Jake's relationship, and I can only imaging the start of the fallout from Lacey's confession. Things are getting interesting.

Awkward."Resolutions": AKA: It's Gonna Be A Happy New Year....

Cast of MTv Awkward Photo Credit: MTV.com

As I excitedly announced yesterday, last night marked the return of MTv's hit series Awkward.



 SPOILERS ABOUND: So proceed with caution!




We pick up about a week or so after the season finale. It's Christmas time, and Jenna gives us a lovely little voice over recap, in the stye of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, to get us up to speed on what's been going on. She has yet to confront her mother, or tell anyone what she discovered. Lacey seems to have finally accepted her daughter for who she is and is somewhat adorably clueless to the sudden additional strain on their relationship.

Too Cute! Photo Credit: MTV.com

Jenna's relationship with the adorable Jake Rosati is progressing nicely. Not going to lie, as a big Team Jake supporter, the scenes in the montage, especially the cookie scene, made me giggly. Has anyone else noticed that Jake seems to be way more physical with Jenna then he ever was Lissa? I will to write it off as the effects of a shiny new relationship, because Jake is the type of guy who's probably been a "boyfriend" since the fourth grade, and it was most likely Lissa the whole time. Still, while he was willing to wait with Lissa, be it either because he respected her beliefs of had fallen "out of love" with her  at that point, he seems more that ready not to mention eager to take his physical relationship with Jenna forward and fast. I'm not saying it is unbelievable, just felt it was interesting note that change in him.

I also find it adorable that he goes to Tamara and Ming to ask why Jenna hadn't made their relationship online official.  He really likes her and I think perhaps for the first time is feeling insecure about it. After all it was clear that Lissa's feelings were stronger for Jake than his for hers, so he never really had to question where he stood. With Jenna, he finds himself in almost the exact opposite situation. His insecurity was not helped by the skiddish way she was acting at Matty's New Year's party, or by her admission, when he discovered her father's Christmas gift of a large box of condoms,  that not only is she is not a virgin, but was in love with the guy she did sleep with. Talk about dropping an emotional insecurity bombshell.

Damn it Matty! Photo Credit: MTV.com

Speaking of Matty, as much as he was beginning to win over my sympathetic side at the end of season one, he has completely lost it in the very first episode of season 2. First off is the complete disregard he has for his "best friend" after a few drinks. Telling Jenna he wants to start over with her, and he should meet him in the garage for a midnight hook up. "...And Don't worry about Jake, He'll understand, once he knows...". When Jenna questions Matty on "knows what?" Matty simply states, "That I was with you first".  Whoa, whoa, whoa, not only do I have issues with his implied "possession" of her and the fact that know she was with him would cause Jake to no longer want to be with her, but also that he is completely writing Jake off as any sort of competition. I'm sorry but when you're too ashamed to tell you supposed best friend you are "with" a girl, let us not forget he had AMPLE time to tell Jake,  between camp and when Jake started to have feelings for her but refused to do so, maybe you don't deserve to be with her.

Later on, when Jenna makes her choice, which shocker isn't him, because really everything, other than maybe her fuzzy brain causing feelings all signs logically point to the fact that Jake is the better guy for her, he spends midnight and after wallowing in the garage, where Sadie finds him. More on her in a moment by the way. He then tries confiding in her and garnering sympathy from her stating how "now I've be relegated to second string." Really, someone needs to tell Matty that relationships aren't a competition or a game that is to be won.

Douche-Bag Moment in Progress. Photo Credit: MTV.com

As for Sadie, I couldn't help but feel bad for her in this episode. Lissa has, at least for the time being, grown a back bone and stood up to her, leaving her more alone than before. She finally admits her long standing crush to Matty, who in a spectacular douche-bag move (though I'll allow a little leeway in the fact that he was drunk) and made advances on her, which she happily accepted, and then passes out halfway through. Not a shining moment for any girl, but for a girl with as much insecurity issues as Sadie, that is HORRIFYING. She finally "gets" her dream guy and he isn't even aroused enough to stay conscious. Ouch.

In other news we got to once again see "drunk Lissa" who is always entertaining, her meowing for a nonexistent cat ans her need for Jenna's forgiveness, including her badgering Jenna to slap her so they could be "Old Testament even" you know a cheek for a cheek and all that, was positively brilliant. Ricky Schwartz and Tamara are still having their "issues" and I am happy to say once again we were treated to  little Curt, the adorable sophomore winter "princess" from the dance. Which lead me to wonder if we are ever going to get to see Kyle again. You know Jenna's stalker? The guy who made the "Jenna Lives" tshirts, who was the reason Jenna got detention in the first place that ultimately lead to the misunderstanding between Jake and Jenna that lead him to Kiss her and thereby ultimately realize he has feelings for her? Bet you never realized what an important role he played in this world did you?

"Carefrontation" Letter V 2.0 Photo Credit: MTV.com

The episode ends, much like the first episode began. Once again Lacey is seated at the counter happily chatting away on the phone, only this time it is Jenna who hands her a letter stating "This came for you". Lacy opens the letter only to find a page of the "Carefrontation" stationary bearing the words, "THIS IS WHO YOU ARE", echoing the sentiments she had written on a card for Jenna for Christmas.

Next week's preview reveals that there has been a security came above "The sanctuary" aka: under the bleachers all along, and the footage has been stolen. This leaves our poor Jenna reeling , since she and Matty had definitely hooked up under there. It looks like she might be forced to tell Jake about her and Matty sooner rather than later, so she can make sure it comes from her and not from him seeing their unintentional sex tape.

AWKWARD. Returns: AKA: Are You Ready For More?

That's right folks, MTv's AWKWARD. is back at a new day and time.

When we left off last season, Jenna made her choice between Jake and Matty, and the identity of the letter writer was revealed. The new season is picking up about a week or so from the finale and I, for one, am eager to see where this new season takes us.

Honestly, I can not remember being this excited for a premier in a LONG time. In honor of said premier I am proudly sporting my "Jenna Lives" shirt at work today, which lead to this conversation between me and  a co worker:

Co-worker: Feeling "Punk" today?

Me: No, I took out my earrings so it would look less so.

CW: Really?

Me: It's completely unintentional.

CW: So you're telling me it is completely unintentional for you to look punk, wearing your pointy cross, a "school girl" skirt, and a black t-shirt that says "Jenna Lives"?

Me: Yes. This is my wardrobe...sometimes this happens...

CW: [laughs] Impressive.

So maybe I am skewing a little more rock star and a little less office worker today, but I definitely felt the need to show my AWKWARD. pride. 

So tune in tonight at 10:30pm to find out what's in store for our band of misfits.

The Finder "An Orphan Walks Into A Bar": AKA: My First Crack at the Midseaon Show

This past Thursday marked the first official episode of FOX's new series The Finder. Having been a Bones fan since the beginning, ever since I heard they were doing a spin off of Bones was doing a spin off I was excited to see what Hart Hanson had in store. I'm not going to lie and say that the fact that the pilot was guest starring, Brett Davern, Awkward's Jake, didn't make me even more excited to see it.

The show had what is called a backdoor pilot, that ran last year as an episode of Bones, it wasn't perfect, but it definitely had potential.The show has been tweaked since that first episode, getting rid of Saffron Burrow's character of Ike Latulipp, who didn't get a great response from fans. Instead she was replaced with the characters of  Willa Monday, epic name by the way, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Isabel Zambada.

Isabel seems to have been added to give Walter, played by the gorgeous Geoff Stults, a verbal sparring partner/love interest, to sort of fill the gap that would be created by removing Ike. Making her a Deputy U.S. Marshal gives Walter an inside with proper authorities.

 The addition of Willa adds a whole other dimension to the show, a younger perspective. Having her being from a home of thieves and sent to Walter and Leo, played by the ever amazing Michael Clarke Duncan, against her will in an attempt to reform her is a really interesting twist, sort of a will she won't she type thing. While I would say her reforming is more than likely, you never know I definitely didn't see Vincent's death coming on Bones, by the way, I am still not over that. Willa's questionable state also lead to my favorite quote of the show:

"She's redeemable" 

"Like a coupon!"

Brett Daven did an amazing job as Cooper Allison, a future military man searching for his father, who's plane had gone down. It was pretty awesome watching him kick ass as opposed to his usual nice guy demeanor. Sure, Cooper was still a nice guy, but a nice guy who could take you down if need be. I can't wait to see how his character returns.


All and all The Finder's first official episode was a pretty good effort, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.

Throw Back: Boy Meets World and Other Classic Tv & Film Love Moments...

So all the back and forth between Ben Savage and the ladies of Awkward (Greer Grammer, Jillian Rose Reed and Jessica Lu) on twitter, which all lead to THIS, got me reminiscing about Boy Meets World, the younger years of course. The years when Topanga was still weird, Eric wasn't a complete idiot and his best friend was Jason Marsden (you know "That Guy",  the one who was on like EVERY tv show back in the early 90's), Minkus still existed and Rider Strong was my huge fangirl crush.  It was a simpler time...and because everything  in my world seems to link back to one another that all got me thinking about this:

Heart Strings by Find Vienna. Seriously one of my fave songs at the moment, and the love montage video is just amazing! I can't even count all the awesomeness, Singing in the Rain, Moulin Rouge, I Love Lucy, Mickey & Minnie, The Sound of Music, Grease, Titanic, Boy Meets World, Mary Poppins, the list goes on. I even forgive them for the Twilight moment, because there are so many great movies/tv shows in there.

(If you're interested the Cory/Topanga moment comes at 2:44)

AWKWARD. "I Am Jenna Hamilton" & "Fateful" AKA: Why Jenna Should Have Choosen Matty...For Now...

Photo Credit: MTV.com

 So last night was the hour long season finale. It has been a really long time since I have been so emotionally invested in a show and so the finale was an emotional roller coaster to say the least.

To his credit, The Boy gave me a kiss goodnight and then left me on the couch to watch the show in peace. Which was probably for the best as I may have had a few spazzy moments. To be fair though A LOT went down last night, so bear with me on this, it's gonna be a long one.

SPOILERS AHEAD
If you haven't watched last night's special one hour finale yet, go do that right now....I'll wait....





Welcome Back!

Okay, let's start with giving props where there due to Lissa, for FINALLY standing up to Sadie! It's about time. It was a nice way to end the season, all though this begs the question as to who is Sadie going to hang out with next year? Clearly her and Lissa are no longer friends, unless for some reason Lissa comes crawling back over the hiatus, and I don't think Jake will put up with her tormenting of Jenna, so who's left? Matty? That should be interesting. Also it was really sweet of her to tell Jenna she looked nice.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Let's talk Lacey, she had some really great scenes with Jenna last night, particularly the dress scene.  Jenna is frantic over the fact that she HATES the dress she bought and Lacey came to the rescue allowing Jenna to wear "Nana's dress", which we learn is a huge deal. Lacey gets all tearful and tells Jenna, "...you are the best part of me...because you're not me. You are better." She then hugs Jenna tightly and tells her she's "so sorry", which you just write off as her being sorry for crying, but did it mean something more?

The BIG issue of pretty much the whole season was the Carefrontation Letter, and just as promised last night we discovered the the author really was. After she and Jake accidentally set off the security alarm, Jenna goes looking for the shutoff code, which she has conveniently forgotten in the kitchen junk draw. Silly Jenna, every girl knows to keep the code in your cell phone for quick access. However the search through it leads to a VERY disturbing discovery. The stationary that the Carefrontation Letter was written on. Jenna's first thought, Mom.  I will admit to toying with the idea that it was Lacey who wrote the scathing letter, but I'm not 100% sure I buy it. After all didn't Tamara confess to writing the letter? If that wasn't true, why should we believe this discovery? I'm not fully accepting Lacey as "A Friend" until she admits to it and/or there is concrete proof.

Okay, onto what we all really want to discuss. We're gonna end with every body's favorite love triangle. Let's face it the past couple of episodes they've totally been trying to build the Team Matty camp, and although I've been on Team Jake from the beginning, I'll admit they've done a pretty good job of it. As I've said before, Matty's not a bad guy, Jake is just better for Jenna. So while I was ecstatic that it ended up being Jake that Jenna picked, I'm a bit worried that she picked him too soon.

Seriously, they have now made Jake into the obstacle keeping Jenna and Matty apart, and he is far better than that. Let's be honest, Matty is not going to be able to handle "loosing" Jenna, there is a 95% chance he's gonna start avoiding her and/or Jake, and most likely gonna get a little bitter/snippy in the process. Whereas Jake would have definitely been hurt, but being the adorable puppy he is, would have stuck by her, been a good friend and waited patiently for her to come around.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

A perfect example of his tendency to do this was when she was in total turmoil over the Carefrontation letter being printed on the ballots. Who came to make sure she was ok and try to cheer her up? Not Matty. It was Jake and that was even after she turned down his winter formal invite. And when Jenna ended up asking him to go with her, after her whole blow up at Matty, he could not have been more adorable.


Jake doesn't even hesitate to having Tamara come with them, because, despite personally wanting it to be a more romantic evening, he knows it'll make Jenna happy. He's not afraid to be a dork, especially if it'll make her smile and trust me that's a big deal, especially in high school.

He likes Jenna because of who she is and how everything feels so easy with her. When she asked him if he believed in fate and he told her, "I don't know, but considering you're here...with me...right now...means that the universe is working in my favor", my heart melted a little. Hell, I would have kissed him too!

Photo Credit: MTV.com

 Oh and can we talk about that kiss for a min? I'm so happy it wasn't one of those "kiss moments" you see in every tv show/film, the sweet/tender/too perfect/this when we kiss kiss. No, it is a full on teenager make out kiss! I may have actually cheered. Then the scene outside her house after the dance was adorable. When she says she wants to take it slow, he takes her hand and tells her, "Look, there's no rush, I'm not going anywhere", which is something Matty never would have done. Jake wants an actual relationship with her, as a person, and while it's clear he's attracted to her, especially by the speed in which he answered yes to her inviting him in, it's not just about the physical.

He's actually proud to be with her, he's excited to bring her over Matty when he sees that he is at the dance. I mean he's practically beaming. Of course, his happiness is what actually clouds him from seeing what's happening between Matty and Jenna.

I HATE that Jenna refers to him as her head's choice by the way. It makes it sounds like she's just using him. Clearly she must have some feelings for him, or she wouldn't have kissed him at the dance. It was only after the kiss, when she saw Matty that she started to once again feel conflicted.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

While part of me feels bad for Matty, he brought this upon himself. If he had just said something to Jake, months ago, when he started this whole affair with Jenna, this wouldn't have happened. Hell, even if he had something when Jake told him about the accidental kiss, I'm pretty sure Jake would have put thoughts of perusing Jenna out of his mind, but no. In fact, Matty didn't even really start seriously perusing Jenna, booty calling aside, until AFTER Jake confessed to thinking he had feelings for Jenna. So while his feelings, could very well be real, and I'm not saying they're not, I can't help but feel that they are bolstered by competition with Jake.

The first season of Awkward is being released on DVD November 7th. You can preorder it at MTV.com, no word yet on when season 2 premiers. I honestly have no idea what I am going to do til then...

Awkward "No Doubt" : AKA: Matty is Finally Starting to Win Me Over...Just Not Completely

Seriously MTV, enough of this 11:30pm crap, don't you realize some of your Awkward Addicts have to get up for work in the morning?

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Last night was the last episode before the one hour season finale of Awkward, and honestly, I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do without my Tuesday night entertainment.

 Thankfully, Jenna and Tamara made up, because I just couldn't take it anymore. Even better, Ming got to help patch them up, yeay Ming! I will admit I'm kinda disappointment that T's "I wrote the letter" confession was a total misdirect, having Tamara as the author was an interesting twist.

Jake finally told Lissa about The Kiss. Personally, I think the fact that he told her, when he clearly didn't have to, show just what a sweetheart he is. I know, it sounds weird calling a guy a sweetheart when he's admitting the fact that he cheated, but you get what I mean. He stepped up and took responsibility for his actions. Of course this wasn't taken well and culminated in Lissa publicly slapping Jenna across the face, but what made this moment so great is that she crossed herself and muttered a prayer before doing it, which perfectly illustrates how Awkward is able to walk the fine line between being pure comedy and pure drama.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

I have to admit, I actually feel a little bad for her. She's not really a bad person, just too easily lead by Saddie. She was basically willing to forgive Jake and in a truly Christian move wanted to turn the other cheek. It is only because of Saddie's pushing that she goes along with "testing" Jake and ultimately giving him the letter to read to Jenna. If not for Saddie, Jake and Lissa would probably still be together, at least for a little while longer.

This further illustrates just how much of a bitch Saddie is. Not only is she cruel and manipulative to others, but also to her "friends". Lissa seems to be Saddie's only "real" friend, given as she the only person we ever see her hang out with, aside from Jake and Matty, but I doubt she's really confiding in either of them.

Speaking of Matty, how adorable was he last night? Still all about Team Jake, but so feeling the Matty love lately. Seriously couldn't stop smiling when he actually asked her out. It was perhaps the most adorable interaction they ever had, the kinda moment that makes you wish you were, if only for that moment, Jenna Hamilton.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

 You really get the sense that family is really important to Matty, first with by how embarrassed he was by his brother, then by the fact that of all places to take Jenna to dinner he chose his Uncle's restaurant. His confession about how he never ever took a girl on a real date, coupled with how great he was with Ming & Tamara totally score him major points. It's nice to see Matty being more comfortable with who he is. And seriously Jenna needs to STOP over analyzing his every word/action. Ok, no she doesn't, because that's what you actually do when you have a crush, and  what makes the show so perfect is that it's so real.

But back to Jake, because it just wouldn't be right if I didn't throw in some Rosati love. He scored major points this week for not reading Jenna the letter, which was just another example of how he is to confident to be manipulated into doing something he feels is wrong. While he felt awful about cheating on Lissa, and was going above and beyond to make it up to her in an effort to not hurt her further, there were just somethings he refused to do. Unfortunately, under the guidance of Saddie, Lissa had found the one line she shouldn't cross.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

His impromptu apology was adorablely awkward and at the same time completely sincere. Making his breakup with Lissa all the more perfect. He really let her have it, poor thing didn't even realize what was happening. Grabbing his keys and leaving her and Saddie sitting in that beautiful car as he stormed off was just awesome.

I would like to point out the fact that Jenna didn't tell Matty that it was Jake at the door gives my little Jake/Jenna heart hope. If he really meant nothing more to her than a friend, then why wouldn't she tell Matty he had stopped by? It's not as though anything happened, and as they are friends there's no reason why he shouldn't stop by. Am I over analyzing? Probably, but I am refusing to give up the Jake/Jenna dream.

Next week we get the special one hour season finale, in which, unless Lauren Iungerich was lying to TV Line, we find out who wrote the letter AND who Jenna chooses. Words can not truly do justice to how giddy with anticipation I am!

Awkward "My Super Bittersweet Sixteen": AKA: Way to Go Matty

So this week, Jenna is stuck dealing with the aftermath of last week's party. Tamara is still not speaking to her, and Ming is just not speaking, a online comment at the beginning of the episode informs us that she has mono, so no Ming in this episode.

Could someone please explain to me what the writers have against  Ming? She was set up in the first episode to be one of Jenna's two best friends, yet we're in episode nine now and we've hardly seen her. I know they mentioned that Ming felt left out in The Scarlet Eye, but at the end of the episode even though Jenna said she needed to include Ming more, and seemed to be mending the bridge, that was the end of it.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

But back to last nights episode, for a moment, I thought that Tamara was coming around when she went to talk to Ricky after the game. Clearly even she could see that Ricky was a dog, and how ridiculous it was for her to be ice queening Jenna, while totally forgiving him. However that didn't exactly work out as planned and basically proved that when it comes to boys and relationships, T is just a dumb girl.

I'm actually a little surprised that Jenna didn't seem all that mad at T. I mean sure Jenna messed up, tho in an altered state, but Tamara wrote the letter. Jenna was all about reconciliation, and while I realize that Tamara is/was her best friend, that letter was WAY harsh. Would a real friend really write that and send it anonymously? She said it was shock, but personally I don't know that I would be so ready to forgive someone for that.

So not only is Jenna dealing with the lack of friends in her life, but guess what, it's her birthday!! Happy Sweet Sixteen Jenna!

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Of course things don't go well, where would the fun in that be? She starts the day off by failing her driver's test, due to the discretion of an instructor with hook hands. I swear to you I can't make this shit up, but luckily for us their writers can. Things seem to be going from bad to worse for Jenna, she's humiliated by an over eager Valerie, gotten her "monthly gift", thus ruining her pants and forcing her to wear her gym shorts for the rest of the day, her mother is refusing to come get her, Sadie is back and bitchier than ever this week, oh and Matty? Well, he's acting all weird since Jenna ripped him a new one at the party. Not even her lucky socks, rainbow striped knee highs, which I LOVED by the way, could make things better.

In fact the only person, Val aside, who seems to be nice to her is our beloved Jake. He invites her to sit with him, and consequently Matty and Sadie, at lunch. He invites her to the "big game" after school and actually looks excited when she shows up. Not to mention that he invites her to come with to the after party and then when Sadie throws a mini bitchy hissy fit that Jenna isn't invited, he goads Matty into giving Jenna a ride so she's no longer stuck waiting to be picked up. Seriously, even after this supposed lecture, Jake is still a total sweetheart. What's more, he doesn't seem to be acting like that because he has ulterior motives. Sure he has feelings for her, and really they SHOULD be together, but it seems, at least in last night's episode anyway. That he respects her "wishes" to just be friends, and is treating her no differently than any of his other friends.

Side bar, Brett Davern, who plays Jake, tweeted that during the episode: "for the record there used to be a line at the game where jake simply compliments jenna on her socks, matty just chucks 'em"...further illustrating my point that Jake likes Jenna for who she is and not afraid to be different, thus clearly making him the superior choice for her. Just saying.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Jenna gets home and sees her mother has surprised her by redoing her room. Lacey is beyond excited and it's actually quite endearing. Sure it may not be what Jenna wanted, but it is exactly what Lacey wanted at that age and so naturally, since in many ways she's still a kid herself, she thinks that there can be no greater gift for a sixteen year old girl. Although the mirror over the bed is totally in appropriate, it's almost sweet in how innocent Lacey is about it, claiming the best part about a mirror on the ceiling is that you can do your make-up in bed.


Ok, first things first I am still a full blown card carrying member of Team Jake, that being said, credit must be given this week to Mr. Matty McKibben for stepping it up. As I said last week, basically everything Jenna said was true. I mean, maybe he didn't think he was too good for her, but he certainly acted like it. So it was a great scene in the car where he admitted that she was right and that it had hurt so much more coming from her because of how much he admired her.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

 I love the fact that all the characters on the show actually have some growth to them. It would be so easy with a show like this to just have a bunch of stereo typical characters, the loser, the jock, the self absorbed mom, the bitch cheerleader, but not once while watching the show do I ever feel that way. Sure, some of the characters do things we don't like, but we are always given little glimpse as to why they are what they are, Sadie is a raging bitch, but it's mostly because she doesn't like herself. Matty can be kind a jerk, but it's b/c he's so insecure.

Despite being all about a Jake/Jenna relationship, even I found it endearing when Matty showed up at Jenna's confessing he wanted to be more than friends, giving Jenna the one thing she's always wanted.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Awkward "The Aventures of Aunt Ally and the Lil' Bitch" AKA: The Bomb Gets Dropped

So I'll admit I wasn't 100% in love with last night's episode till the big reveal.

I am warning you now if you haven't yet watched last night's episode, GO DO IT NOW, spoilers ahead.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

So Jenna's dad goes out of town and her mother's best friend, and possibly the world's worst influence, Ally comes to visit. In order to spice things up, Lacey and Ally decide to help Jenna throw an EPIC party, which she initially resists, even after Tamara's urging, that is until Matty calls asking what time he should be there.

Pre-party, Ally and Lacey give a make-over, and Ally slips Jenna a "beta-blocker" to loosen her up. A little wary at first as she'd already started drinking, Jenna is quickly convinced to just take the pill. I'm sure you all know this is not gonna end well.

The party seems to be in full swing, when Jenna opens the door to see Jake and Matty standing there. Which sidebar, although I can buy Sadie not going, how the hell did Jake make it there without Lissa? She seems to me like the kinda girl who'd want to know where her b/f is at all times AND with her jealousy over Jenna, I don't care how much she hates her, there would be NO WAY in hell Lissa'd let Jake go to her party without her.

So after a blurry shot of Jenna "greeting" Jake & Matty, we cut to Jenna waking up the next morning, groggy with almost no memory of what happened the night before. A very hung over Ally informs her she attacked some guy with her tongue, causing Jenna to freak, since Ally has no idea who the boy was, and Jenna can't remember if it was Jake or Matty. Was anyone else ridiculously rooting for it to have been Jake? And for some reason Tamara isn't picking up her phone.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

A pissed off Lacey comes in & informs the two the have 5hrs to clean before Jenna's dad gets home so they need to hop to it. I have to say, though it was nice to see Lacey step it up for once and act like a "real" parent. She completely reams Ally out for having given Jenna the pill. For all her kooky antic/suggestions, throwing a rager, suggesting Jenna get breast implants, she really does want her daughter to have a better life. Plus her moment in the car with Jenna, reassuring her was great. Maybe she isn't as self absorbed as she seems, ok that may be a stretch, but you get the idea.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Okay, I just wanna throw it out there that drunken recall does not work like that, especially not drugged-up drunken recall, no one sees an item and the has a perfectly clear remembrance of what occurred, however for the purpose of tv exposition I am willing to let that slide.  However I am getting more and more annoyed that in reality we never really SEE much of what happens between Jake and Jenna, we are only told about it later. Examples being, the time spent together the party where they first truly bonded, of course Jake told us in the next episode, he had a really great time and it was the best party of the night, but we never really found out what went on. Then there was the phone call where the discussed the kiss, it's mentioned in the episode that "everything was cool" when they talked, but what exactly was said? Now we add in the "lecture" she supposedly gave him. Listen, I understand, it's a tv show, and a half hour one at that, so clearly we are not going to see everything, I get it, however she had TOTAL recall of her Matty convo, couldn't we at least get a snippet of her supposed lecture of Jake. I mean honestly how do we know she even gave him a lecture? The only part we actually got to see was her telling Jake he's like the nicest guy she's ever met...do I think Jake would lie to her? Not really, and I don't think they hooked up, but he seemed a little too collected to have been lectured, just saying...maybe there is more to this...

Speaking of the Matty total recall...I personally think he's being a bit of a baby.  Ok, so maybe the things Jenna said were a little harsh, but lets be honest, it was all true. Or if not completely true in his intentions, it's what he's actions seem to be saying. So while, I'm sure it stung, sometimes the truth hurts...grow a pair Matty.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

So now that we've established Jenna made out with neither Matty nor Jake, who could it be? And here is where the real shit starts to hit the fan...it's none other than Ricky Schwartz, Tamara's obsession...erm I mean crush/date/whatever. I feel it is important to note that in the picture Ricky has Jenna against the wall and she isn't touching him, well with anything other than her lips. My theory is he made the move not her, and she was in too much of a drunk/drugged-up stupor to stop herself.

Obvi Jenna feels AWFUL, and tries, by going to visit her with a box of doughnuts, to apologise to Tamara for what happened, but T ain't buying it. She claims Jenna thinks she better than everyone now. I get the fact that she's hurt and she has every right to be upset, however the claim that Jenna, by her new associations, thinks she's too good for anyone is just ludicrous.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Tamara has been the one pushing Jenna into this new social group, she made her go to Lissa's gathering, which Jenna brought her with by the way, has been fully fueling the Matty/Jenna relationship, telling her to go for it and not to DTR too soon. She was the one begging for Jenna to throw the party when Jenna originally resisted. As far as we have been lead to believe there was one incidents, the lunch with Olivia and Matty, that Jenna chose anyone over Tamara in any sort of social setting, so really the "too good for" claim is unfounded and therefore in my mind makes T's argument invalid. But then she dropped the MOTHER LOAD... "I'm so glad I wrote you that letter."

Seriously I don't think i fully processed anything that happened after Tamara's confession. I just wanna point out that I TOTALLY called it like 3 weeks ago. Honestly though, I screamed "WHAT?" out loud at my tv, which is what good tv does to you.

Next week it's Jenna's birthday, and things appear to be well awkward with Matty, Jake AND Tamara, add in Val's rapping cake presentation and this promises to be a birthday Jenna won't soon forget.

Awkward "Over My Dead Body" AKA: Shit's Getting Real...

So last night's Awkward gave Jenna, and us, a lot to processes. Jenna's epic performance as "Dead Stacy", her standing up to Matty, Jake's crash side confession, seriously things are going down.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

First off there was the whole "Matty shunned me in front of his brother" episode. This may be the first and last time I ever say this but, she needs to give him a break. At least as far as this incident is concerned. His brother was clearly bombed, and thus acting a bit creepy to boot. It was easy to see how embarrassed, and slightly horrified even, Matty was of his brother's behavior. While his reaction wasn't the ideal way of handling the situation, it is completely understandable. Jenna needs to cut him a little slack on this one. Oh and if that is how older McKibben acts all the time, then Olivia deserves SO much better...just saying.

Ok, it has to be said how amazingly, cringe worthy awkward was the convo between Jake and Jenna about Dead Stacy outside of Val's office? A perfect reminder of how gut wrenchingly awkward it is to be a teenager in "like like".

Photo Credit: MTV.com

Plus Valerie was hysterical, though she's a total scatter brain, her heart is always in the right place and her protective side over Jenna and her well being is mega endearing. Sidebar, where the hell did Val think she was getting a "Zima" from. As far as I know they discontinued it due to low sales, I think they still make it Japan though...


Jake's confession that he thinks he "like likes" her to Jenna during CRASH'D made me to squee out loud and happy clap. While I admit I think it might have been more fun if they hadn't opened this door so quickly. Lissa's outrageous reactions to Jenna and Jake's interactions were WAY funnier when the were completely unfounded.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

And even though I am SO Team Jake, I can't help but start to feel bad for Lissa. I mean think about it, her current boyfriend, luckily unbeknownst to her, just told another girl he thinks he has feelings for them. That just sucks, especially since her only crime is being a ditz who is easily manipulated by the queen of mean, Ms. Sadie Saxton. But enough of the Lissa pity party, back to what really matters.

Team Jake! Although, he didn't exactly pick the best moment to reveal it, Jake finally did it. He told Jenna, "I think I like like you". Honestly it's the most adorable of word vomit I have ever seen. He was seriously almost spazzing before the show, and when he finally couldn't take it anymore, he laid it all on the line. Of course, I would have LOVE to see him do this at a more appropriate time, you know where Jenna could have given him an actual response, that would not have served the story as well, because, honestly, what is more awkward than an unanswered declaration of "like like"? Which by the way was the perfect choice of words for Jake to use, kudos to the writers for that one.

Photo Credit: MTV.com

And although in that moment before the curtain rises, Jenna seems to contemplate her feelings for Jake, of course once the play is ended with a show stopping  kiss between Jenna and Tamara, Jenna is all about Matty again, and the attention he is giving her. Stupid girl.


Next weeks promo promises that Jenna either makes out with Matty or Jake while in a boozy haze...I find it interesting that the "drunk party" episode is airing the week after the "drinking awareness" episode. More importantly there are only five more episodes people! Five, until we, supposedly, learn who Jenna picks...[Just remember Jenna the correct answer is Jake].

Awkward: AKA: Seeing the Connections to My Own Teenage Years

Cast of Awkward (Photo Credit MTV.com)

I'm telling you, this show is my new crack, if you haven't been watching, seriously, go. Do it now. It is such a smart, funny show, and though some of it is a bit far fetched, the themes and feeling, well the teenage awkwardness, is spot on realistic.

Brace yourselves folks, I'm about travel back to my teen years and relate to an MTV show...

As I sat on the couch glued to the screen, pining for Jenna to wake and see the awesomeness that is Jake, which sidebar, I have recently found out that Brett Davern is not only LEGAL BUT OLDER than me, I no longer feel like a creeper for adoring him/Jake, I realized that I could completely see aspects of my own teen years staring back at me. I had my own "Matty" he may not have been the hottest/most popular guy in our school, like Billy Orlando, but he was cute, sweet, funny and I'm pretty sure EVERY one of my female friends had a crush on him at some point. Unlike Jenna and her Matty, there wasn't the same social divide, my "Matty" and I were friends, not overly close, but we ran in the same circles and often hung out when there was a group of us.

Sometime during my senior year, my "Matty" and I started talking on the phone, which was a bit odd at first, as he had always hated talking on the phone, but whatever the reason, we started having some pretty intimate phone calls. The thing about phone calls though, they're all talk, you don't have to take them seriously, and as I would from time to time remind him, he was all talk and didn't have the balls to actually act on any of it. Everything continued on in our relationship, at least in public, as if our chats didn't exist, which was fine by me.

Then came the day he called my bluff, you can get your mind out of the gutter, we both left V-Cards still intact, but things changed, and I developed fuzzy brain. Unlike Jenna, I was a little quicker to DTR, I remember asking, "Why did you decided to kiss me now? I mean clearly you knew I had a thing for you for awhile, so what changed?" The response: "Because I knew that I could."

Just like Jenna, it felt like a slap in the face when he told me he didn't want to be in a relationship, yet I told him it was "cool" and went along with it anyway. Why? I guess because part of my couldn't believe that the guy who I thought was so great, could actually be attracted to me. I stupidly thought that would be enough. Shocker, it wasn't, at least not for me.

Luckily, I did meet my Jake, though much later. I couldn't be happier. He's smart, and funny, and sweet and has put up with my insanity for far longer than anyone else. Most importantly, he loves me for who I am, the good, the bad and silly/crazy. Trust me it's FAR better to have a Jake than a Matty.

After hashing all that out, it reminds me how Awkward so perfectly captures the emotions/thoughts/actions of the teenage years. It's easy to see why it is their highest rated scripted show ever. Not only can teenagers now relate to what is happening, but those of us have have passed out high school days, can watch and remember when we felt exactly what these (surprisingly) well layered characters do.

Jake & Matty do the morning announcements

Awkward: AKA: You Can Keep Your Matty McKibben, Why I Want a Jake Rosetti

Let me start by saying for the purpose of this post I am reverting to my teen self, it makes the fact that I am schoolgirl crushing on a fictional high school character a bit more bearable.

Matty McKibben (Photo Credit: MTV.com)

On MTV's Awkward, our star, little Jenna Hamilton is in love/lust/fantasy with popular jock Matty McKibben, and although it seems our dear Matty has a bit of a soft spot for Jenna, he like many boys of that age, is too insecure to grow some balls and take their relationship public. After (unknowingly) deflowering her he tells her, "You're the shit J-town, but no one can know I like you."

Um, ouch. I have to say, Jenna handles this a lot better than I would have. I probably would have cried my eyes out as soon as I had gotten home and away from everyone.

Although he then goes on a "Jenna-Bender", their relationship which consists almost entirely of meeting up and "bumping of uglies", he's still squeamish of being around her in public. When Sadie posts the picture of Jenna changing, Matty's response is to gather around it with the other kids and ask what the big deal is since they're so small.

Jenna & Matty at the bonfire (Photo Credit: MTV.com)

He explains later, that he was trying to be her hero, by deflecting attention from the picture. Still as a full fledged member of the itty bitty titty committee, let me say this guys, saying a girls boobs are small, or really anything less then fantastic, will not have us looking on you favorably.

As their "relationship" progresses, he invites her to a gathering at one of the popular girls house, once there he barely pays attention to her. Mostly out of fear of his so-called friends opinions.

 While the Bonfire moment, where he pulls her away from the hose and to the seclusion of behind the dumpster, um eeeew btw, is kinda cute, it is only the prelude to him telling her, he doesn't want to be in a relationship with her. Or rather he can't handle dating her because he can't handle what other people will think.

Of course, Jenna says she cool with it, even though she is sooo not. She can't help it, she's blinded by teenage puppy love. Can't say I blame her, hey if Billy Orlando had told me he liked me back in High School, I probably would have gone all fuzzy brained too. Admit it every school had a Matty McKibben, that perfect popular guy, who every liked, every guy wanted to be like and every girl wanted to be with.

Jake Rosati (Photo Credit: MTV.com)

But the problem with Jenna's Matty fuzzed up brain, is that it is causing her to miss the amazing guy that is Jake. Ok, ok, so Jake is technically with Lissa, but before you all jump down my throat on not wanting Jenna be a home wrecker, from the way the story seems to be heading, they're gonna break up soon with or without the help of our dear Jenna. Jake is clearly the superior choice here. He's cuter, what can I say I have a thing for blond haired blue eyed boys. He's Student Council President, so clearly well liked, or at least liked enough to be voted in, and not afraid to speak his mind or what other people think. In the very first episode he tells Lissa to go ahead without him so he can finish talking to Jenna.

He gives her a ride home when her mom forgets to pick her up, as well as goes on a small tirade on his anger on the "photo incident", passionately stating that whoever did it should be severely punished, unknowing that the offender was his own girlfriend. Now that's a stand up guy right there.

Let's also not forget at the party when Jenna is stranded after seeing Matty kissing someone else, that is Jake who comes to her rescue. He confides in her Lissa's hilarious attempt to quell his sexual appetite with the offering up of her B-Hyman, proving as Jenna, herself, points out, that he trusts her. The episode ends with the two of them laughing and driving off to go hang out for awhile.

Jake, Lissa & Jenna discussing the "Knocker Nightmare" (Photo Credit: MTV.com)

The following episode we don't get much Jenna/Jake interaction except when he stops her & tells her how much fun he had with her after they left the party....at which point she is so focused on getting to Matty, she barely pays him any attention, stupid fuzzy brain.

Not gonna lie would LOVE to have seen even a little bit of them going out after the party. Clearly they didn't hook up, but seeing them bond would have been cute.

So yeah, Jenna may think Matty is the one, I mean he's not a bad guy, and he is trying, but he's just not secure enough to be/think for himself. Jake is adorably sweet on Jenna for who she is regardless of what anyone thinks, and a girl couldn't ask for anything more.

Jake & Matty (Photo Credit: MTV.com)

Awkward "Jenna Lives" AND "Queen Bee-atches" : AKA: Shit goes down!

So I stayed up WAY too late last night. Having been on vaca last week and nomading at the parental where family time is expected I am about 2 weeks behind on my TV. I know I know, I too am ashamed of myself.

So last night, I decided to catch up on MTV's Awkward, seeing as MTV decided to be evil and temporarily take eps down off their web site, I scurried to watch last week's ep on demand, Fios is a beautiful thing people, and the pulled out the lap top to watch this week's offering.

First up was last weeks, "Jenna Lives", and shit goes down. Jenna sees Matty walking into school with some girl and assumes that this is his new girlfriend. She starts to worry that her suicide stigma is following her around and that maybe THAT is the reason Matty is reluctant to be with her. Which leads her into so crazy awkward behavior. Her attempt to tell Matty that she's "normal" in the lunch like was cringe worthy brilliant.

She has a freak out scene over Kyle, who she believes is a her stalker due to fact that she sees him EVERYWHERE, and he's sporting a "Jenna Lives" t-shirt. He attempts to explain it away, claiming that "Jenna Lives" is the name of his band and  that he is always around because he is an office aide. Her "attacking" of another student lands her in detention with Jake and Matty's mystery gal. Turns out Olivia is really nice, and despite her heartbreak over Matty, Jenna actually likes her.

In Jenna's moment of inner torment,who is there with a cold drink and an attempt to comfort her? Why Jake, of course. She confides in him about the boy she likes, who has a girlfriend and doesn't want to be with her, and refuses to tell him who it is. Clearly this is going to lead to trouble, delicious trouble.

So after detention, Jake approaches Jenna again, telling her he's thought about it and any guy would be lucky to date her, and that he's sure if this guy didn't have a girlfriend he'd be all over her. Gee, wonder who he is talking about...Jenna appreciates the encouragement, and they seal it with an awkward hug. That's when it happens. JAKE LAYS ONE ON HER! Now I know I am not the only lady who sqwee-ed with joy here, and let us not forget, though she didn't address it and basically bolted, Jenna DID kiss him back.

YES! (Photo Credit: MTV.Com)

Anyway at the end of the episode Jenna discovers that Olivia is actually dating Matty's older brother. Guess that means McKibben boys suck at dating, it's also a little weird that the brothers are seeing girls who look similar...also in a fun twist, although Jenna is wrong about Matty, she was spot on with Kyle, who really is stalking her...though she doesn't know it.

So now on to episode six, "Queen Bee-atches". We open with Jenna and her mom attempting to join, the Knick Knackers, which is some oober snobby charity group. Jenna of course wants no part in it, but for her mother it means the chance to be popular, so she goes along with it. Jenna soon realizes the event is being held in the lair of her arch enemy, Sadie, who's mother is the Knick Knacker President. Jenna comes into possession of Sadie's Food Journal, and decides, though she sympathizes with her issues to take back the power!

I really liked that they actually addressed Sadie's struggle with her weight. They're really trying to add more and more layers to each character effectively making them "real". It's nice to see that dispite being popular and feared by all Sadie's life isn't perfect, and the reason she's so mean is because she is so unhappy.

While serving cocktails at the event, Jake spazzs when he sees Jenna, still a reeling form the smooch. Matty notices and Jake confesses to his friend what happened...of course Matty doesn't like this at all.  In an attempt to down play the situation, since technically he's still dating Lissa, Jake keeps the details vague...further sending Matty into a panic that maybe Jenna has dismissed him....which she basically should. He made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want a relationship with her, why shouldn't she go for someone who might? Team Jake!

Matty's response to Jake's confession was priceless, coming up with all sorts of reasons why Jake shouldn't talk to Jenna about it, and then the mad scramble to text her first.

The race is on! (Photo credit: MTV.com)

But having dealt with Sadie, Jenna finally understands the brilliance of having the power, and isn't gonna let Matty get it back that easily. Way to go Jenna.

Once again I finished the episode craving more, mad props to MTV for an inventive relatable scripted show. I am SO excited they were already picked up for a second season. Also series creator Lauren Iungerichtold TvLine that by the end of the season, the infamous letter writer will be revealed..my current votes are for Kyle or in a surprise twist either Ming or Tamara. Also she promises by episode 12 we will know who Jenna ends up with....let the count down begin...