Before unanimously agreeing to let Gracie know about Chuck being her father, he and Kelly visit the station shrink, Sandra Jenkins (Diahann Carroll), as they air their grievances about each other personalities. Kelly admits to still having feelings for Chuck while he feels he missed important events in his daughter's first ten years. When they get back to their joint office, Chuck agrees to let Kelly delay the inevitable since Gracie has other extracurricular activities on the table. Meanwhile, while they and Ryan and Marsh talk about how guard Gerald always have hugs ready for them, all Gary gets is a greeting and that's it. Turns out when Gerald was Kenicke in a sixth-grade production of "Grease", Gary wrote bad puns of the show's song titles to show in his school paper review how bad Gerald's performance was. To make up with him, he agrees to see his one-man show about his life as a guard. When he and Ryan watch Gerald in his act, Gary, once again not liking his performance, tries to leave but Gerald gives him the eye making Gary stay for the rest of it. With the episode almost over, Chuck barges into Kelly's house after realizing she was lying about still having feelings for him. She then sends Gracie upstairs as they have another argument. Then she sends Gracie back down and tells her the truth at which point Chuck faints! Then after Chuck gets up, Kelly does!...With a little more lines and some personality time, Lilly Jackson is better showcased here than the previous episode though it still galls that the original actress-Laura Marano-wasn't allowed to continue as Gracie. Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammar perform excellently in their leading roles here and what a treat to see Ms. Carroll in her scene with them as, after Kelly says Carroll's character has no idea or couldn't care who they are, she mentions how they're her favorites news anchors! Part of me thought their fainting was a bit much but it's a pretty humorous way for the first of a two-part episode to end on a laugh after all the seriousness concerning Gracie's knowledge of who her father was. And the subplot abut Gary and Gerald was filler but pretty entertaining filler. So until next time...
2 Reviews
Something to tell Gracie
studioAT7 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
After the reshuffle in terms of cast in the previous episode, 'Hug and Tell' settles down and allows the writers to tell the story the show has been building up to - Chuck and Kelly telling Gracie the truth.
It's not a brilliant episode, but it has its moments of heart. I'm still warming to Lilly Jackson as Gracie though.
The other plots are a bit throwaway, but Ty Burrell does well in the one about Gary not being hugged by a security guard.
A decent episode.
It's not a brilliant episode, but it has its moments of heart. I'm still warming to Lilly Jackson as Gracie though.
The other plots are a bit throwaway, but Ty Burrell does well in the one about Gary not being hugged by a security guard.
A decent episode.
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