The New Normal – Episode 4 – Recap – Obama Mama

In the fourth episode of The New Normal, “Obama Mama”: David, Bryan, and Nana bicker over their differing political viewpoints; Rocky’s younger brother—Clinton—is interested in Goldie; and David & Bryan make some new friends at Shania’s mock election (which took place at her elementary school).

Read the recap here:

This episode kicked off with Goldie (Georgia King) eating fast food burgers to satisfy her cravings. She had strayed away from the strict diet that David (Justin Bartha) had put her on. (Shania was also with Goldie in the kitchen). David and Bryan (Andrew Rannells) got home from Farmer’s Market, and walked in on Goldie eating burgers.

David: “You could eat this healthy organic food from Farmers’ Market.”

Goldie eating a burger

Shania (Bebe Wood) stated that her elementary school was going to hold a Mock Presidential Election. She had the choice of voting for Obama or Romney. Goldie later revealed that she was thinking about voting for Romney since her family has always voted for the Republican candidate. This sparked a disagreement between her and David & Bryan. Since David & Bryan favor Obama and the Democratic Party, they asked Goldie to re-think her decision.

Bryan secretly ate a fast food burger when he was alone in the kitchen. However, as soon as David walked into the kitchen, Bryan fed the rest of the burger to his dog. (Bryan’s been eating fast food in secret… because David highly favors organic & healthy food over processed junk food).

Soon afterwards, Nana (Ellen Barkin) barged into the kitchen. She was upset about Bryan & David asking Goldie to re-think her political decision. Nana has always voted for the Republican candidate:

Nana: “My family has voted Republican since Abraham Lincoln!”

Bryan: “Obama is black, and you don’t like anybody who’s not like you!”

David: “Mrs. Forest (Nana), I believe you are racist.”

Nana: “Oh please. Like every other Liberal, you can walk the walk, but you can’t talk the talk. You don’t know any black people.”

Nana and David & Bryan bicker over their political differences

In an effort to prove Nana wrong (that they, in fact, DO have a diverse group of friends), Bryan & David planned to host a party. While they creating a list of people to invite, they couldn’t think of anybody else—other than Bryan’s assistant Rocky (NeNe Leakes)—who is a person of color.

During the party, Bryan & David were extremely happy to see Rocky (just so they could prove Nana wrong). She also brought a group of friends (whom were of Caucasian descent). Bryan & David assumed that she would be bringing friends of African-American descent, and Rocky found this to be incredibly insulting:

Rocky: “You’re assuming I only have black friends. That’s racist!”

Rocky

Then, Rocky mentioned that she invited her younger brother Clinton (Sterling Sulieman), to the party. (Clinton is portrayed by the same actor that played “Nate” in Pretty Little Liars). He’s so hot!!! Goldie met Clinton at the front entrance.

Rocky’s younger brother, Clinton

Bryan also noticed that the waiter at the party was of African-American descent, so he asked the waiter to “act” as his good friend whenever Nana was around. The waiter previously took acting classes, so this was his chance to show off his impressive acting skills.

Bryan introducing the waiter as his “good friend” to Nana

At the dinner table, Jane/Nana proceeded to think aloud… yet again. She stated that she doesn’t think Americans should be entitled to affordable health care:

Nana: “It’s like giving penicillin to a Kardashian!”

Right after Clinton asked Goldie out on a movie date, Bryan & David announced the pregnancy. Nana then revealed to everybody at the party that Goldie is the surrogate mother and that Goldie also has a daughter of her own (Shania). This upset Goldie, so she ran off to a fast food restaurant. Clinton was surprised to find out that Goldie is currently pregnant and that she is already a mother.

Clinton later mentioned that he is voting for Romney, not Obama.

After the party finished, Nana figured out that the waiter is not actually one of Bryan’s good friends:

Nana: “This party is a bigger farce than Tom Cruise’s marriage to that girl with the dead eyes!”

Bryan: “Which one?”

Bryan, David, and Nana scurried over to the fast food restaurant that Goldie was hiding in. (Bryan asked Shania to secretly order him a burger). Goldie revealed that she wasn’t upset over what happened during dinner…. she was actually upset over the fact that her ex-husband, Clay, is suing her for full custody of Shania. Shania has to head back to Ohio soon.

Goldie upset over her ex-husband, Clay, suing for full custody of Shania

At Shania’s elementary school, Shania voted for Obama in the Mock Election. Wilbur (the boy she made out with in Episode 3) hit on her again:

Wilbur: “Hey Shania, you wanna help me pull my lever?”

Goldie didn’t reveal (to Bryan & David) whom she voted for. She left them guessing.

After much thought, Bryan & David decided to reach out to people of other cultures. They met a family at the elementary school: an Asian-American mother, an African-American father, and a bi-racial son. They instantly befriended the interracial family, and the interracial family was ecstatic over this because they had been looking for gay friends.

I think Ryan Murphy should lay low on the derogatory comments. I didn’t find this episode to be as funny as the previous three episodes. I was actually annoyed by the racist comments that Nana made in tonight’s episode. (I know it’s all scripted, but I think Ryan Murphy’s script went a bit overboard tonight).

The next episode airs Tuesday, 10/2, at 9:30pm ET on NBC.