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Originally Aired Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Written BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Episode Rating: ** (2 stars out of 5)
Episode Overview: The Mystic Tan salon opens, and "Paulie Walnuts" and John have yet another confrontation after a night of drinking.
Episode Highlights:
- Delayed by a hurricane, the Mystic Tan salon finally opens.
- John naps during the opening day.
- Paula loses control again after a night of partying, and John rises to her bait.
This season of The Real World has one of the most consistently likeable (or at least sympathetic) groups of roommates in recent years. This season is also frequently a total yawn. It's unfortunate, but I think the two are related. We might hate our reality show villains, but they are there for a reason.
Be that as it may, it's onto the mildly interesting business of the likeable kids. After the delay caused by Hurricane Katrina, they are ready to open their Mystic Tan salon. Zach Mann is enthusiastic about getting down to business. John Devenanzio offers himself as a "lab rat" to test out the spray, and goes whole hog - dropping trousers and everything.
That night, they make their usual rounds of the bars, but this time their chatting up has a purpose: letting people know about the salon.
The next day is opening day. John is worn out by his marketing and drinking efforts from the night before. He decides the salon is already well-staffed by his roommates, and that he will serve the business best by getting out of the way and taking a nap in a closet.
Paula Meronek, who is working the front desk, is aghast at this - both at John for taking the nap and at her roommates for not being outraged as well.
That night, the group is out drinking again, and Paula's resentment is unleashed by the boozing. At the end of the night, "Paulie Walnuts," her drunken alter ego, is in full effect. In case you ever need to spot a Paulie Walnuts in the wild for yourself, here's what to look for
- Repeated shouting of the phrase, "Kiss my aaaaass!"
- Occasional use of a baby voice.
- Out-of-control outbursts.
- Frustrated growling when words fail.
- Panicked gulping and near-hyperventilation.
The first three are exhibited in the van on the way home, and the outbursts are directed at John. At first, he tries everything he can to not engage with her, including sticking his head out the window. But she will not relent, and after several attacks on his manhood, he can't control himself any longer. He rips back into her, calling attention to her anorexia and self-mutilating behavior. The entire van gets quiet - he might have been pushed too far, but his comments are painfully accurate and the drunken revelry is over.
Paula then adds the fourth and fifth stages of Paulie Walnuts to her behavior for the evening. Strangely, her anger is directed at Jose Tapia and Zach. At this point, they've seen her drunken alter ego enough to avoid serious engagement or argument.
The next morning, sober, she talks to her ex-boyfriend, Keith, and says she feels like she needs to stop drinking. He agrees, but thinks it could be hard since that is the main activity for the rest of the house.
John and Zach decompress from the evening at the salon. John says the only solution he sees is to not be around Paula when she's drinking.
At the house, Paula checks in with the other roommates for the full report of what happened the night before - and Janelle confirms for her that she did, in fact, start the fight with John. She realizes she has to take responsibility for her actions, drunken though they may be. So, later, at the salon, when John approaches her and says he can't be around her anymore when she's boozing, she acknowledges her actions and the difficult position she's put him in. Once again, the two seem to be able to get past their differences and make peace.
Paula has started therapy to deal with exactly all these issues, and luckily has a session scheduled. After her appointment, she debriefs with Tyler Duckworth. She's happy with the even-handed approach her therapist takes. He's concerned, of course, about her rage and drinking to the point of blacking out. But he doesn't want her to feel she can't have fun or even have a drink. It might take her some time to find that middle-ground, but she seems happy to think it's a real possibility.
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