Flipping Out: End of Season 4 with House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year, No Slapping & New Job Titles

It seems like Flipping Out just started up. But, apparently it has been on for a couple months, with last night's last episode of Season 4, that being Episode 10: Rock, Paper and the Kitchen Sink, being the final episode of the season.

Apparently there is no Flipping Out Reunion Show this time. I suppose that makes sense. What are they going to re-hash? The Chuck slapping of Trace? Jeff's various Flip Outs? Crazy Barbara and her phone calls to Monkey?

Last week's Trace Slap was heard around the Internet World. By those who watch Flipping Out. Jeff does not fare well out there in TV opinion land. Most seem to think he was a giant wuss for not putting Chuck in his proper place after assaulting Trace. Strangely, no one seems to make a federal case out of the mauling of Jenni, which took place prior to the Trace Slap. Maybe this is because Jenni is seen as a tough gal who can take care of herself, particularly in Deb mode, while Trace is just a delicate, fragile little thing.

Although, surprisingly, Trace really turned into a killing machine when no one else seemed willing to deal with the nasty infestation of white flys invading Jeff's home base. One would have thought this task would have been taken up by Jett, what with him being the Senior Manager of In House Operations.

The wrapping up of the various projects is always interesting. You can say Jeff Lewis is a big wuss, bravely yelling at his underlings, while watching helpless while his employees are assaulted, but no one can say Jeff Lewis does not design cool looking spaces.

Did anyone really think Jenni was not going to New York City for the Rockefeller Center House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year deal? I suspect Jeff had 1st class tickets all along, with Jenni sitting next to him. Jeff and Jenni are masters at producing some manufactured drama. Lost day planner. Bickering in front of Christy at Casa Vega.

Speaking of Casa Vega. That was the least impressive of the projects. Its completion will have to wait for Season 5.

Towards the end of the episode Jeff told us he can't afford to give his help raises, so he's giving them titles. That was sort of amusing. Zoila is Director of In House Operations. Or something like that. Zoila seemed pleased. I already mentioned Jett's title. I forget Jenni's title, but the initials are C.O.O. Sarah's title was something ironic, like Chief Communications Officer. Trace was not in the room when the new job titles were given.

We got a peak at Season 5, sort of, with the final episode of Season 4 having Jenni and Jeff check out a new big project, down in Newport Beach, remarking that the House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year success was bringing them a flood of new business.

I hope Jeff rids himself of Sarah by the time Season 5 starts filming. Out there in TV Forum Land there is heavy duty dislike for Sarah. Pretty much all the things I find annoying. The slathering on bad makeup job, with weird eyebrows. The constant gum smacking. The stupid things she says. The stupid things she does. And the worst of it all, adding "sie" to just about any word. "Sweetsie," "Funsie," "Drinksie," "Oopsie." It just ain't cute, charming or remotely clever or amusing.

Whilst watching Flipping Out there was a preview of the soon to start Real Housewives of Beverley Hills. I did not like the look of this one. Not at all. I'll likely watch.

Flipping Out: Trace Gets Slapped

The looks on Jeff and Jenni's faces on last night's next to the last episode of the current season of Flipping Out are their reactions to seeing the client Chuck suddenly slap Trace.

Jeff had given Trace his first assignment with a client, now that Trace has graduated from Design School and is a full time Jeff Lewis employee.

Jeff told Trace to meet with the Chuck client to go over tile choices some more. And then to take Chuck to lunch, where Jeff told Trace a cocktail or two was permitted.

Trace took Chuck to Hamburger Mary's where Chuck got drunk and became too much for Trace to handle. So, Trace made a 911 call to Jeff and Jenni, at the office. They then came to the rescue at Hamburger Mary's, where Chuck kept getting weirder and weirder.

Including fondling Jenni where she did not want to be fondled.

After the Trace slap, Jeff and Jenni were stunned. Jeff did not know what to do. Eventually Jenni got Chuck away from the table and into the restroom. Jeff then told Trace to escape.

All in all the Trace slap was one of the stranger things I've seen on a Reality TV Show.

The Trace slap was not the only thing that happened on last night's episode, but it was the most memorable.

Everyone in the office, including Zoila, went to Trace's graduation, where Jeff's ADD kicked in. So, he, Sarah and Jett snuck out to drink beer til it was Trace's turn to graduate.

There was more trouble with no-show contractors at Jeff's various projects. Don't these contractors realize their bad behavior is being recorded on a Reality TV Show?

For next week's finale Jeff goes back to New York City for that Kitchen  project we saw him get picked for several episodes ago. The previews seemed to indicate something goes seriously awry with the kitchen. But,  previews are always so misleading.

Flipping Out: Jeff Flips Out At Sarah

Even though Jeff feels some sort of obligation to employ Sarah Berkman due to her being the sister of his brother's wife, I really don't see why this is a good enough reason to keep her around. Or on my TV screen.

On his Bravo blog this week Jeff Lewis is all apologetic over lashing out at Sarah on this week's episode.

He did go a bit too far with the insults. Telling Sarah she has a pea-brain, or whatever it was, exactly, that Jeff said, may have been a bit harsh. But, it seems fairly accurate.

I think I would have lost my temper at Sarah at that point in time too. Jeff clearly told her to call a contractor and ask why he was not on the job. If the contractor did not have a good excuse, Jeff told Sarah to tell the contractor they'd find someone else to do the job.

So? What does Sarah do? She gets the contractor on the phone, does not ask why he was not on the job, and simply tells him they don't need him anymore. Or something like that.

If I were Jeff, at that point in time, I don't think I would have yelled at Sarah. I think I would have fired her.

And why does Jeff Lewis not have a no gum smacking policy? Sarah's constant gum chewing is very annoying.

Jeff's constant nagging at Sarah about her need to get married to her live-in Steven boyfriend was annoying. And then magically Steven proposed, which has Sarah showing up at work with a ring on her finger. I doubt  this Steven guy proposed. Sarah likely bought herself an engagement ring just to shut Jeff up.

And what is up with Jenni's frequent emergency restroom breaks requiring a makeshift outhouse? This week Jenni's makeshift outhouse used a sheet of sheetrock for a wall. And what's up with Jeff always torturing Jenni when she is in her makeshift outhouse? This week it was Jeff throwing rocks at the sheetrock.With Jenni throwing the rocks back at Jeff.

The previews for next week seem to promise some good drama, with Jenni losing Jeff's scheduled, which, apparently, is a firing offense. And Trace getting slapped by a client should be interesting.

Flipping Out: Zoila Gets a Car

Last week's previews for this week's Flipping Out led me to believe that Jeff's constant criticizing of Zoila had her break down in tears.

We did see Jeff being way too picky about Zoila's housekeeping in Jeff's immaculately kept house.

But, the tears came when Jeff told Zoila that she could now have Sunday's off, that she no longer had to go clean his grandma's house on Sundays.

Near as I could tell Zoila's tears were due to feeling guilty about wanting that day off, but after so many years of Sunday's at Jeff's grandma's, Zoila had developed a relationship with the grandma. I think.

This episode, in addition to Zoila's tears on two occasions, I'll get to the second tearful Zoila occasion later, but, in addition to Zoila's tears, we were treated to scenes of a painter named Jesse being gaga over gag-worthy Sarah. And other workers enjoying staring at Sarah's plus-sized, ultra-round, rumpus area, which Sarah seemed to be wiggling on purpose. It was all very unpleasant.

So, back to Zoila. Jeff tells Zoila he is talking her on a field trip. Jeff tries to make Zoila think this will be on a plane. Instead Jeff drives Zoila to a car dealer where he presents her with her very own new car, wrapped in ribbons. As Zoila sat behind the wheel Zoila had her second tearful moment of the episode.

We did not visit Casa Vegas on this episode. We did visit the barber shop salons that are taking 3 years to re-do. Chaz? Is that the name? All the fussing over preserving one mural was sort of amusing, particularly when some random guy spray painted an X on it, which had Jeff giggling and Chaz horrified.

We heard a trace from Trace this episode. He opined that the Jeff/Zoila relationship was disturbing, like Norman Bates in Psycho type disturbing. I did not think the analogy was all that apt. It's more like Jeff & Zoila are a very odd version of The Odd Couple.

If the previews are to be believed, next week it is back to Casa Vega where that inept contractor finally gets axed. I'd be nervous axing that guy if I were Jeff. The Russian Mafia likely has a bureau in Los Angeles.

Flipping Out: Jeff Lewis Nears Flipping Point

Last night's Tuesday, September 14 episode of Flipping Out seemed to have more than the usual amount of Jeff Lewis flipping out.

Jeff was way out of line calling Jenny a moron because she dared verbalize a positive opinion about a possible positive outcome of the door hinge debacle at Casa Vega.

Jeff did later apologize for the moron remark.

I found that Barb lady highly disturbing. I can see how she might be entertaining in a short dose, but she was just way too far over the top. I thought Jeff and Jenny handled their divorce from Barb well.

But, how bad were Barb's feelings hurt when/if she watched last night's episode?

There had not been a trace of Trace in the previous 2 episodes, but there was a trace of Trace on last night's episode. Mostly he just looked wonder-eyed at Jeff's fussing. I do not remember if he spoke.

When Jeff sort of politely, asked Sarah to quit marching like a Nazi Goosestepper on the wood floors, I totally understood why that got on his nerves. What I do not understand is why Jeff does not institute a gum chewing ban. I could not take Sarah's open mouth gum smacking.

If I were Jeff I'd also insist Sarah do something about her distracting eyebrows.

I thought Christy was rightly upset over how badly the workers were working on her Casa Vega remodel. Why does Jeff not fire these people, I sat and wondered? Is it real difficult to get competent construction workers in California? When that guy, last night, did not know to make sure the wire was dead before touching it, even after Jeff cautioned him, and then him getting shocked, well, if I were Jeff I think that would have been the you are fired moment.

The previews showed Jeff in full blown Jeff mode, criticizing everyone, telling Zoila she's lazy and pointing out her housekeeping errors to the point he drives her to tears.

The martinis seem to calm Jeff down. I think maybe he should up his dose.

Flipping Out: Zoila's Birthday in New York City

Two episodes in a row of Flipping Out with no trace of Trace. This week Jeff flew Zoila and Jenny, first class, to New York City. It was Zoila's birthday present.

Jeff was in NYC to present his plans for a kitchen for some magazine, to be constructed at Times Square or some other well known New York City location that I've already forgotten.

Jeff and Jenny's meeting with the magazine people was strange and awkward. And then got stranger when they were told they were heading to the penthouse of the incredibly futuristic Hearst Building (I remember the building, but not where the kitchen is going to be).

Jeff was a bit nervous, but then got in the Jeff zone, making a joke about the only reason they asked him to do this was because the guy who contacted him wanted to meet Zoila.

While Jeff and Jenny were doing their meetings, we cut back at times to Zoila having fun in New York City.

Or we cut back to California to watch Sarah run the projects for Jeff. I find nothing amusing or interesting about Sarah. I can't get past her strange eyebrows. Or her equally strange, very bulbous butt. Why do they have to show Sarah's bulbous butt so much?

Towards the end of the episode, or maybe it was the end, Zoila, Jeff and Jenny were in a restaurant, in a scene we've not seen much of before. As in Jeff being real nice to Zoila, making clear how much he appreciates her, asking her if she'd help raise his baby, saying he'd hire a new housekeeper and all Zoila would have to do is take care of the baby. It was all strangely touching.

Now, what has become of Trace? I suppose I could go read his blog. I hope Sarah screwed something up real bad and Jeff fires her. But, from the previews it appears Jeff screws something up real bad at Casa Vega. That should be interesting.

Flipping Out: Lunch at Casa Vega with No Hugging, Flying or Human Coyote Repellant

There was no trace of Trace in the latest episode of Flipping Out. On the episode previous to the latest there was a lot of Trace. Trace is funny. He has this deer in the headlights, what the hell am I dealing with, competently calm way of dealing with the sometimes totally kooky antics of Jeff Lewis.

Like insisting Trace help contribute to the covering the property perimeter in coyote repelling urine project. Trace was appalled. So he did research and presented Jeff with the fact that human urine does not repel coyotes.

Last week I learned I share a couple traits with Jeff Lewis. And one with Trace. Both Trace and Jeff have an aversion to hugging strangers, well, more precisely, strangers doing the unwanted hugging. I find the hugging thing to be annoying and agree with Trace that I don't like my personal space violated.

Jeff Lewis and I also share a fear of flying, for the same reason. We both don't mind flying. It's the people flying with you that can be the problem. Until it does not happen, I sit in dread fear that the person next to me is going to be hugely fat, or be repugnant due to some other reason.

The change in the Jeff Lewis design business is being interesting to watch. Way more clients, doing remodels, rather than flips. Watching Jeff deal with the clients is amusing. He really has learned to be a lot nicer.

I like the trips to Casa Vega, always timed for lunch. That remodel must have gone remarkably well. Jeff is constantly plugging the food. It's like an advertisement. It makes me want to eat there. Casa Vega has a good website with a good video giving you a good idea what the restaurant looks like. I assume this must be after Jeff has finished with the remodel.

Jeff helping take care of Jett's baby, Mason, was very funny. Jeff is thinking about reproducing. That also is very funny. Zoila seems to know a lot about raising a baby. Maybe Zoila could be the surrogate.

Flipping Out With Jeff Lewis, Jenny & Deb

The other day I was watching a re-run on Bravo, of what I don't remember, but while watching the show I don't remember I thought to myself that most of my favorite TV shows are on Bravo.

Top Chef, some of the Real Housewives, Kathy Griffin's Life on the D-List, I'm probably forgetting one or two. And then there's Flipping Out. After watching last night's episode (Tuesday @ 10/9C on Bravo) I thought to myself that Flipping Out is my favorite Bravo show.

The characters on Flipping Out are so funny together it's like a scripted sit-com at times. Not a reality show. Some of the stuff Jeff Lewis comes up with. Like this episode's punishment for making a mistake. Jenny and new girl, Sarah, had to wear a big, white smock all day. I didn't quite get how this was much of a punishment, but it was funny.

Jeff teaching his ex-partner Ryan's kid, 3 year old Chloe, to say things like "chardonnay" when asked what she'd like to drink and Hooters when asked where she wanted to work when she grew up, was funny. Well, typing it it doesn't seem all that funny, but watching it, it was.

Season 3 of Flipping Out is being interesting due to Jeff no longer flipping houses due to the economy tanking. Watching Jeff have to deal with clients and bad contractors has been amusing.

Like the incompetent Vlad. Jeff paid Vlad too much in advance, or so he says, and can't fire him. Vlad looks like he could get scary if the cameras weren't on him to keep him in check.

Jeff's un-paid intern, Trace, is an interesting one. Jeff only learned, in this episode, that he'd be grading Trace. Trace is in college. Where in the LA zone, I don't know. Last week Trace wore way too shorts to work which resulted in some amusing Jeff Lewis lines.

I like how feisty Zoila, the housekeeper, has become. Next week it appears that Zoila has problems with the houseboy, Jett. I don't quite get why Jeff Lewis needs a Jett. I wonder how much the job pays?

On this week's episode we learned that when Jeff wants to get tough with a difficult person he has Jenny, who is an aspiring actress, which was a big issue this week, with Jeff accusing Jenny of not giving him her full attention, even though she has been doing so for almost a decade. Anyway, Jeff has Jenny assume a alter ego identity named Deb. Deb is a real tough talking, straight forward, blunt, no-nonsense gal who quickly shapes up whover she is calling.

But, isn't the Deb trick done with now that it has been exposed on TV?