RAISING HOPE “Burt Rocks” Episode 10 - Tonight’s very special bedtime story follows Burthew the Grass Cutter and Guitar Hero as he fells a dragon in the form of washed-up singer Smokey Floyd in the “Burt Rocks” episode of RAISING HOPE.
Oh, Raising Hope, how you make me laugh. You’re never boring and that’s why you’ll stay on much longer than a year. This episode is the perfect combination of hilarious and touching as Burt makes sure Jimmy won’t have regrets while Jimmy helps Burt face his own. “I hated you”/”You’re not just saying that?” Lucas Neff really goes all out with the “not normal” (understatement of the year) face and I love Hope’s expressions during that whole exchange. She gets more adorable and spot-on each episode, and I’m glad the show doesn’t romanticize parenthood: admitting it’s hard and exhausting (“The bloom is off the rose of that baby”–hee) is more realistic and meaningful.
Each week I think I can’t love this cast more and each week I’m wrong. Garret Dillahunt does indeed rock this episode with Burt’s actual rocking (love the synchronized music), his more than a little disturbing smooch with Jimmy (“Don’t kiss me on the lips”/”Stop saying things that make me want to!”), and his Smokey Floyd smack down. Burt’s freak-out dance on the front lawn is a sight to behold and oh, my: his head gets stuck to the metal shelf. Bwah!
Jason Lee and his wig are terrific as Smokey and he plays it just broad enough without taking it too far. I love his dry delivery and how his rage builds during his deliciously ugly rant. There’s a nice bookend effect to his story with the crying babies and a great shout-out to My Name is Earl with “Hey, Kenny.” Smokey’s big hit song is perfect for a hemorrhoid commercial, and wow, do I want the “Smoke on that, jerk” remix.
Grocery-palooza: Just like Lollapalooza, but without the lollas. It does have Rolling Scones and Back in Black Beans, though, and while there are no free cupcakes, I’ll bet you could get a great deal on a partially eaten one. Oh, Virginia. Poor math-challenged, couldn’t hack it as a waitress Virginia. Love Sabrina’s palm reading and the shout-outs to Sixteen and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Hee!
Favorite moments:
Tila Tequila’s brother Vince Vodka
“You’re telling me three bears couldn’t catch a little girl?” I always wondered about that, too.
“Smooth Pits McHairlessness the Third”
Procrasturbating: Forget refudiate. Procrasturbating should be the word of the year.
“Something that makes you happy–something that makes you stop acting like a freak.”
“Something’s going on. I cooked that food and it is not delicious.”
“Blahbity Blahbity means I don’t care what you’re saying.”
“Pants so tight he eventually lost a testicle”
“Shut the front door!”
Whatever I expected Raising Hope to be when it first started, I didn’t think it would be such a lovely father-son story, but it is. It’s also flat-out hysterical. I rarely laugh out loud like this over a show. It is such a joy.
What did you think of “Burt Rocks?” What were your favorite parts?
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