Special: Being Teen Dads

There are more than three dads from the Teen Mom trilogy that could have been used for this special, so I'm rather intrigued with the choices of Ryan from Teen Mom, and Jo and Corey from Teen Mom 2. Jo and Corey could have been easy selections, based on footage the producers had from recent seasons of Teen Mom 2, but that option wasn't really there with Ryan. Granted, Macy is such a fan-favorite that he's a good choice (especially over the likes of Gary or Adam), but I'm still curious... Gary could have made an interesting selection because of his sole guardianship of his daughter while Amber was in jail...

Teen Mom "Being Teen Dads" (Special):
Jo: He's 22 now, and Vee wants a ring, and seemingly, children. When his friend moves to California, Jo seems sad that he doesn't have the same freedom. [I just kinda shrugged at that.] Jo wants to run a food truck, and Vee wants to run a daycare... specifically in Florida, where she wants to settle down. [um, how does she see marrying Jo and moving to Florida in her future unless Javi gets stationed down there?] When Jo tells Vee he might not want more kids, she gets upset.

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Corey: Ali is now wearing a "binder" for an hour a day to make it easier for her to move around because it supports her abdominal muscles. [otherwise, there really was no news there.]

Ryan: He met Shelby a year ago and is now working as a lineman for a power company. He and Shelby say they love one another, and plan to move in together, which upsets Bentley because he doesn't want to live in a different house. [awww.] Ryan's dad doesn't think the move is a good idea, either, fearing the couple will break up. [Ryan spying on Bentley at preschool was cute.]

Special: Being a Teen Mom

While Maci's special aired late last summer, the rest of the original Teen Mom parents all had their catch-up programs air on the same night. I'm a bit skeptical, but assume that too much time had passed and they just needed to air them, hence the rush for no apparent reason. One of the interesting things about this set of specials is that we're seeing more "behind-the-scenes" than ever before. The producers can be seen/heard asking the folks on the show to do things, and the people in the girls' lives seem as if they've had to do more than one take of a few things, which is kinda funny. Overall, the issues between the teen moms and their families remain unchanged: Catelynn and Tyler still have conflicts, Farrah can't get away from her mother, and Amber can't let Gary be himself. I wouldn't say any of the girls' stories stand out, but I'm sure some fans are excited for the updates regardless.

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Teen Mom "Being Farrah: A Teen Mom Special" (Special): With money she earned from doing p0rn and whatnot, she bought a house in Austin, Texas, and her father now lives in her guesthouse. Her parents divorced but Debra comes out for five days during the holidays, though she is considering moving the thousand miles to be closer, which frustrates Farrah. [I would totally be upset, too. does Debra not understand why Farrah went so far away?] Farrah maintains her high maintenance attitude, seeing an aesthetician for "preventative work" on her face. She's supporting her daughter by promoting a line of sex toys and writing a monthly column. [she seriously drives a Tesla? I would NOT have guessed that!] Sophia is going to preschool and dance classes, though she still uses a pacifier. [I don't know if I should be surprised or not.]

Teen Mom "Being Catelynn: A Teen Mom Special" (Special): Now 22, she and Tyler bought a house, and her teenage sister, Sarah, lives with them. The couple is in college, and put off getting married last summer (7-13-13) because Tyler got cold feet. [I didn't realize he called it off on national television via Couples Therapy!] Catelynn has been in therapy ever since, and she even paid the $725.38 balance on her wedding gown. [in case it interests anyone, her bridal undergarments are apparently a size 38DD.] Tyler wants to reach more goals before marriage, but he admits to his mother that he's just paranoid that it won't work out, though he eventually re-proposes. [it was definitely awkward when she knocked him for not marrying her at the speaking engagement! also, I bet Dawn is happy with the random money she gets from being their adoption counselor, as most don't get the same attention!]

Catelynn removed her IUD because of an erupted ovarian cyst, and she has a pregnancy scare, prompting her to talk to Sarah about birth control as well. As for the rest of the family, Butch is back in jail, and April is opening an antique store. [with what money? I don't know.] Carly's adoptive parents don't let Catelynn and Tyler post pictures of their daughter online, which upsets them, though they still pick out some Christmas gifts for the little girl.

Teen Mom "Being Amber: A Teen Mom Special" (Special): She served 17 months in jail, but got her GED while in prison. [some good in everything, right?] The paparazzi show up when she's released, as does her father. She saw now-almost-five Leah three times while locked up, and is excited to see her the first night she's free as well. [all of her clothes being too small was interesting; the only people I know who have been locked away for a year or more lost weight while in prison.] She moves in with her grandparents, and wants to open rehab facilities in the future. [interesting goal.]

Amber has an instant uncomfortableness with Gary's new girlfriend, Kristina, who has a daughter, Karly. So, they hold separate birthday parties for Leah. 

Teen Mom Special: Maci Moved Again

One of the magical things about DVRs is that surprises sometimes pop up. I have Teen Mom set on "series record - new episodes only," but as the series officially ended ten months ago, I was completely caught off-guard when "Being Maci" appeared in the list of recordings. Apparently, last December (evidenced by Christmas decorations), the cameras were back with Maci, Ryan, and Bentley for some more filming. The young mother jumps from one holiday to another, it seems, as a photo of a Fourth of July celebration was recently posted as well.

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The hour-long special actually does not really give much new information. Maci and Ryan continue to struggle with co-parenting. Ryan is still with Dalis (who first appeared in the middle of the fourth season) and Maci is single, living with two friends. Maci is still in school but now has a radio show and over a million Twitter followers. Otherwise, not too much...

Teen Mom "Being Maci" (Special): Maci has a radio show called "Ask Maci," which makes her nervous. [the questions recorded were either obviously forced or were from her very first day, as they are the most generic things ever.] She comes home to housemates Katie and Nikki, and roommate Bentley, as he doesn't want his own space. [I don't remember a lot about being four years old, but I couldn't imagine wanting to share a room, LoL.] Ryan is concerned about the new living situation because there is a keg and beer pong table in the garage, and his worries are only made worse when Dalis tells him that Maci's roommates have rough histories. [because on the Teen Mom shows, everyone knows everyone, regardless of how big the town is.]

Ryan takes Bentley for a weekend when Dalis is away, but, as usual, he leaves his son with his parents as he hits the clubs. He's caught by Maci and her posse, but no problems come out of it. [I wasn't really clear on what Brandon did before almost getting into a fight...] Because Ryan and Dalis seem to be having some problems, Ryan appears to be extra-nice to Maci, even inviting her along when he takes Bentley to the dirtbike track. [I can't imagine letting my preschooler ride a motorized bike on that bumpy trail!]

A little of Maci's parenting is shown when she won't allow Bentley to treat her poorly and when she praises his "gold star" at preschool. [that looked like a serious school.] We also see her mature attitude when she tells one of her roommates that complaining about math won't help anyone.

Teen Mom: Are We at the End Yet?

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

I feel like Teen Mom has been milking their final season before it even began airing. How many different post-season specials can they run?? Well, I *think* we've finally hit the end of it (though Catelynn would have us believe otherwise), so I present to you some recaps from those final specials... the "Farewell Special" has everyone (minus Amber) talking about the whole thing.. the casting process, the first days of filming, evolving from 16 & Pregnant to Teen Mom, what it's like to be recognized, what they knew about birth control before they were pregnant, what their current birth control methods are, and how they'll educate their own children. "Amber Behind Bars" is rather self-explanatory. "Ask the Moms" gave viewers a chance to ask some questions of the now-(in)famous teenage mothers, and the girls gave some goodbyes as well. Nothing uber-enlightening came from any of these final specials, but here you go with a recap nonetheless. 

Teen Mom "Farewell Special" (Special):
Amber Gary: We see Amber's casting tape, where she talks about her relationship with Gary and the day she found out she was pregnant. [did we really need to see the abuse between this couple again??] Now, Gary has full custody of Leah (who started dance classes), Amber has been sentenced to five years in prison for opting out of drug court, and Gary struggles over what to say to Leah about Amber's whereabouts.

Catelynn: They heard about 16 & Pregnant casting through their adoption counselor - Tyler was much more excited about it than Catelynn. We see the drama again between Catelynn and her family when she and Tyler decided to pursue adoption. They loved the cameras capturing their one-year visit with Carly. Now, they have moved into a new place, are still in college, and are planning their wedding for July 13th, 2013. They have finally gotten Brandon & Teresa's address so they can send presents directly, and also a potential wedding invitation. 

Farrah: She was pursuing modeling and acting when she found out that she was pregnant and wanted something positive out of it, which is why she applied for the show. She talks about how difficult it was to bring up Derek on the air. [yeah, I was dumbfounded when he came out of nowhere at some point!] Now, she lives in a new place in FL, is working on self-employed projects, doing modeling, and Sophia is in Early Learning School. [she doesn't say that she graduated, though...]

Maci: Maci's mom found out about 16 & Pregnant through Craigslist, and she suggested Maci apply. Ryan and his parents didn't know, and Ryan wasn't thrilled about how filming worked. [totally believable!] We see Maci prepare to get married, and Ryan talk about how he might not have ever loved Maci. [this seemed a bit forced to me.] Maci's parents talk about how Maci probably thought that she and Ryan could make it because they made it as teen parents. [that probably had a lot to do with it!] Now, Maci and Bentley have been on their own for five months, but she does have roommates. [has she always had that shoulder tattoo??] Maci is doing well in school, anchors school news, Bentley is in preschool, and Ryan has an apartment and is single.

Teen Mom "Amber Behind Bars" (Special): Amber takes no drugs so feels everything again. She explains that, in prison, she went through intake, then open population, and is now in therapeutic community, where she's been for two months. She didn't know in advance that she'd end up there when she went to prison. She reminds us of the road that got her here... it started with the domestic battery with Gary, then she broke probation with pill possession. She's in prison for five years, a decision she made because nothing else was working. [still sucks, though!] She hears rude people say things about her in prison. She misses Starbucks, driving, shopping, her family, and freedom.

Leah nor Gary have visited, which makes Amber feel like she doesn't matter and never did. She's sent visitation papers twice, but Leah doesn't exactly know the situation, either.

She shares some deeper things, like how she got hooked on harder drugs and didn't care about anything besides getting her next fix - she'd even use while taking a screening! Amber says that she's ready to get sober his time, though she's said that before. On a daily basis, Amber wakes at 7:30am, has group meeting at 9am, then she has Narcotics Anonymous, then she cleans bathrooms for sixty cents an hour, then she takes mandatory classes, she takes a GED class (on Saturdays), and she takes an anger management class.

"Be calm, be true, be quiet. Accept criticism as well as accept praise. Be true to your highest ideals," is something that they chant three times per day. [I found it a tad difficult to believe that Amber subscribes to this mantra, but whatever.] 

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Teen Mom "Ask the Moms" (Special):
Amber:
What's prison like? it sucks.
What first attracted you to Gary? he was a Senior and the biggest guy in high school. He was goofy and funny.
What did you think when Gary bought a $21 engagement ring and asked for the return policy? I thought he was nervous that I'd say no.
What will you tell Leah about boys and sex? I don't even want to think about that.
If you could change anything that happened in the last three years, what would it be? hitting Gary on TV. [ya think?!?]

Catelynn:
How do you feel now that it's over? glad to have a break.
Is it weird that you're technically marrying your brother? [I've thought this one, too!] They were together for years before their parents got together.
Do you plan to have kids in the future? yeah. She tried to talk Tyler into five. She wants to wait, though. She thinks Carly will understand if she has more kids because there will be a 10+ year difference. [who thinks Catelynn and Tyler will wait that long??]
Has anyone in the family met Carly? Kim, Tyler's mom, has. Everyone else has to wait until they're sober.
What will you do now that Teen Mom is over? plan a wedding.
Wedding details? She doesn't share much besides the fact that she has quite a few colors: red, burgundy, cream, light pink.
If you could change anything that happened in the last three years, what would it be? nothing.
Will you ever be on TV again? Catelynn wants to see a stronger finish for herself and Tyler.

Maci:
Why did you submit yourself? she wanted to keep someone from having to go through the same changes she did.
have you and Ryan hooked up since you broke up? right when they broke up, obviously, but since then, no. [does she say "obviously" because it was apparent on the show or because she assumes that happens with people??]
Are you secretly in love with Ryan? no.
Do you have to watch what you say around Bentley? for sure.
Does she get nervous allowing Bentley to watch all of the scenes on the show? yeah, but she can explain them.
What will you do now that Teen Mom is over? finish school. 
What's Bentley up to? he rides his dirt bike on a track.
If you could change anything that happened in the last three years, what would it be? nothing, because maybe she wouldn't be as happy.
Will you ever be on TV again? it's a tough decision.

Farrah:
are you dating anyone new? no. she wants to be more reserved now.
Whats her dream guy like? A smart, rich doctor. j/k. the guy version of her. j/k. a good father figure and a great partner, a great family guy who is hard-working. [what a super-annoying Farrah answer!]
What does she enjoy most about being a mom? Hanging out with Sophia for a whole day. 
Did you tell Derek you were pregnant? She tried to call him but when he didn't answer, she shut him out.
What will you do now that Teen Mom is over? She wants to open her first restaurant, continue writing books, do more music.
If you could change anything that happened in the last three years, what would it be? incorporate Derek more.

Teen Mom: Season Four's "Unseen Moments"

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

The "unseen moments" are never great episodes, in my opinion. I mean, they didn't make the actual season for a reason. This time around, Maci potty-training Bentley wouldn't have been bad, but I wasn't too big on the whole "let him pee in the yard" thing. Ryan treating Maci badly and others asking about the status of Maci & Kyle's relationship aren't news. Similarly, Amber complaining about Gary is par for the course, and Gary trying to pawn off Leah on his mother wasn't surprising. Catelynn joining Weight Watchers and Tyler considering joint bank accounts were a little more interesting, but perhaps there was no follow-up and so TV didn't bother to put it into the regular season. It would have been good to include the restaurant scene, though, where Catelynn seems to be set on her education degree... only because she waffles so much in just a few episodes. And, Farrah... well, the Michael scene wasn't too shocking, but I was more disappointed that Dr. Drew acted like she was bringing in a child psychologist to help with Sophia, not a childproofing specialist! As with every season of Teen Mom, there seem to be a bunch of various "wrap-ups," so whether this is truly the end or we'll have another finisher of some sort, we'll see. Either way, I think I'm beyond ready to bid this show farewell... what about you? 

Teen Mom "Unseen Moments" (Special)
Maci: Maci and Kyle try to potty-train Bentley with a potty seat and cookies for targets, but also letting him try it urinating in the yard. [I wonder if this will be like taking away his pacifier... it will take forever because the routine at Ryan's and the routine at Maci's are not consistent.]  Another scene has the couple having friends over who ask about their relationship status and why they're not engaged yet. [do people not understand how awkward that it?] We see Ryan talk to his parents about how upset Maci was that they didn't go to Bentley's birthday. We see Maci turn 20 and have to deal with Ryan not coming on-time to pick-up Bentley.

Farrah: When she can't get Sophia under control, Farrah calls a childproofing specialist to help keep Sophia from making more messes. They get gates on the doors, locks on the cabinets, and a stopper on the toilet. [umm... okay.] We see a scene where Michael is planning to move to Florida for a year so that he can be part of Farrah's life, but he would plan to live with her, which she won't allow. [duh. she tried so hard to get away from her parents!] We see Farrah put on a risque temporary tattoo in Austin and then send a picture to her mother, who calls and lectures her on being professional. [it seemed like she knew it was a joke, though. I also didn't like that Farrah called her mom "loser."] 

Catelynn: Tyler's mom invites Catelynn to join Weight Watchers with her, as Catelynn still wants to lose some baby weight - she put on 60 pounds with her pregnancy. [dang.] She weighs 154.6 and wants to get back to being around 115 (she gets 29 points per day). Later, we see Tyler tell his mother that Catelynn doesn't pay attention to her finances and that he wants to get joint accounts and be in charge. [I don't think Catelynn would really let him be in charge, though...] His mother doesn't think it's a good idea because they're not married. We also see the families sharing a meal just before Catelynn and Tyler graduate from high school and Catelynn is dead-set on being a preschool or kindergarten teacher, even telling her brother that she's set and won't change her mind. [hahahahaha!]

Amber: We see Gary get frustrated with Leah being a brat and trying to get his mother to watch her for a while. [how often do you bet this happens?] We see Gary thank his mother for going over to Amber's when the teen mother was suicidal. Then we see Amber venting to a friend about how Gary took Leah to have her hair cut and didn't ask first. [it's still long, I don't get what the big deal is.]

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Teen Mom: Maci, Kyle, Ryan, and Gary

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

There's nothing left to say about Farrah and Catelynn after Part 1, so this installment looked at Maci and her life, as well as Gary's situation. We know that Amber couldn't appear for legal reasons, but normally they bring along Gary's mother or someone else from Amber's life so it was different for Dr. Drew to only speak with Gary. Of course, that also gave him a much shorter time slot than Maci's. I was a little sad to hear that Maci and Kyle are no longer together, but Ryan trying to keep Maci and Dalis apart was probably the stand-out shocker of the episode. I'm going to miss seeing those little kids, but I'm also glad that they'll be able to transition to a more typical childhood out of the limelight. Though, I suspect that Maci and Catelynn will continue to give talks to various groups about teenage pregnancy, so it's not like Bentley will never know that he's the product of a four-month relationship.

Teen Mom "Finale Special: Check Up with Dr. Drew Part 2" (Special):
Maci: Without a baby, she probably would have been better at college. [yeah, that's pretty much a given.] She's still speaking to high schoolers and college kids weekly. Kyle cheated on her (he says he didn't actually sleep with anyone else, but he was talking to women with whom he previously had relationships) and she moved out without allowing him to explain the situation. Bentley hasn't asked about Kyle at all and the poor boy is having attachment issues again. When Kyle comes onstage, we learn that his talking to old girlfriends has been an ongoing problem, and Maci had just had enough after living with him in the house for five months.

Maci also says that if she wasn't a teen mom, she'd still be with Ryan. [kiddo... let's get real. It's been four years... how many teenage relationships last that long?] Maci's grandfather recently passed away so Ryan has been extra nice to her. Dr. Drew asks Ryan about skipping out on Bentley's birthday, and he basically blames Maci, though Dr. Drew kinda feels like the blame belongs to both of them. [I don't understand why the whole thing was so last-minute anyway!] Maci talks about it being difficult to do everything separately all the time, but Ryan doesn't think they need to do anything (like trick-or-treating) together. Ryan says that he's not upset about Bentley going to preschool in general, he just doesn't want to lose time with his son. [I feel like that is the response he came up with after knowing the question was coming, LoL.] Dalis supports Ryan having 50/50 custody. Maci brings up a situation where Ryan turned to her when he and Dalis were fighting, and Dalis basically continues to accuse Maci of still trying to get with Ryan. [what's this Cruella DeVille look with dark hair underneath light hair?] Dr. Drew encourages the two girls to have coffee and be friends, an idea Ryan doesn't like. [haha!]

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Amber Gary: Amber sent a statement about how she needs to be sober and change her life. [anyone surprised?] Gary says that Amber treated rehab as a resort and didn't do outpatient when she came back, and he's had Leah full-time for over a year now. [I can't seem to tell how happy he is with his life at this point... thoughts?]

We end with Dr. Drew asking the kids some questions and the girls all talking about how they support Amber. [none of the kids were very cooperative with the questions. at least Sophia took out her pacifier long enough to attempt speaking...]

Teen Mom: The Beginning of the End

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

This show is finally about over. Though I will miss the Maci and Bentley updates, I'm not really sad about MTV no longer following these four girls. I got sucked into 16 and Pregnant when it first debuted a little over three years ago, starting with Maci's debut episode, and although that starter series may continue (as might Teen Mom 2 and a new Teen Mom 3), I'm happy to have some closure on Teen Mom. [if you're interested, by the way, here's Amber's debut episode, Farrah's, and Catelynn's (which has no real substance, sorry.] I have nothing to say about Farrah's life choices at this point. I'm starting to wonder how MTV is trying to spin Amber... if you keep up with the news, you know how bad her life gets, so are they trying to foreshadow that it only gets worse? Or are they trying to make her look extra-bad? Or, heaven help us, are they actually censoring how awful the girl is?? The bulk of Catelynn's episodes don't revolve around parenting, and I think that ended up working against the show at some point a season ago or so. She was a great asset to the spin-off early on, but because her experiences as a teenage birth mother are so random now, we mainly follow other aspects of her life, and that doesn't really fit with what the show is about, in my opinion. The series will wrap up in another week, so if you had any desires to discuss the show, now's the time!

Teen Mom "Change of Plans" (S04E10):
Farrah: In Austin, she and Daniel have dinner, see the bats under the bridge, and see his family. [she's super-awkward around his stepmother!] She spends $43 on little red boots for Sophia, then $54 on a fake engagement ring. She tells him that she's ready for a serious commitment, but he gets awkward, and Farrah ends up leaving a dinner with his friends early, goes back to the hotel alone, and even heads to the airport on her own the next day. He tells his friend that Farrah is pushing too hard for a commitment. [well, she is!]

Amber: Her house was vandalized a couple of months ago, so Social Services won't allow Leah to spend the night. Because of this, Amber is trying to move and has to see houses on the day she's supposed to see Leah. She flips out at Gary, then complains on the phone to someone else about how her life has never been good. She really likes a house that she sees and gets the paperwork started. [does her friend have laryngitis? and odd to see Gary without facial hair again!]

Catelynn: Catelynn and Tyler go to the parent support group but realize they need social work degrees, not human services degrees and panic about college. [she finally got her braces off! and why take off an entire semester? you know they need the gen-ed stuff!] Tyler's mom is concerned and arranges for them to talk to a counselor about their futures. The kids plan to start again in January.

Maci: Maci skips class to have a yard sale. [what day is she having this yard sale??] Maci tweeted about how things would be better for Bentley if she and Ryan could have stayed together, but Dalis got pissed about it and Ryan thinks that she was trying to break them up. [I still am not clear on why she tweeted that...] Bentley's birthday is coming up, and it'll be on Ryan's day, so Maci decides to stay out of it. [good for her!]

Teen Mom "For the Best" (S04E11): It's October-November for Amber and late October for Maci.
Farrah: Farrah explains to her mother how the Daniel thing went down. On Sophia's last day in Florida, Farrah takes her to the playground, bringing along the dog, even though it's against the rules. [I hate when Farrah blatantly disobeys the rules!]

Amber: She complains about Gary's new place, demanding he get swings for Leah, despite the fact that there's a park down the street. [how can she demand anything he provide for her above the required?] Leah starts daycare on Monday, October 17th, and Amber claims that she can't afford the cost. Still, Amber picks her up after her first day, spends some time with her, then later drops her off at Gary's, where the little girl has a meltdown because Amber can't stay, as per the no-contact order. They have court November 15th, and Gary suggests that they put off Leah's birthday so they can celebrate together, AND that he can allow Amber to spend more time with Leah if she signs over permanent custody. Amber's mom tells her that she shouldn't allow Gary to have sole custody, because he'll keep Leah from her, though Amber claims that won't happen. [hahahaha! "you sound like a water buffalo."]

Catelynn: Tyler's mom is thinking about seeking counseling about Carly, whom she's starting to miss. Catelynn's mom kinda wants the same, so an adoption counselor meets with the four of them to talk about the situation.

Maci: Bentley is turning three and because Ryan has him for his real birthday, Maci and Kyle plan to celebrate a day early. Kyle thinks that they should try to have a joint event, and Maci thinks that she should allow Bentley to make that decision. [really, she should have kept it all separated.] Bentley invites Ryan's parents (who plan to attend), and leaves a voicemail for Ryan. When Ryan calls back, he tells Bentley that he will "see what he can do" but tells Maci he won't be there. [did he not want to be the one to disappoint his own son or what?] Because Ryan isn't coming, his parents skip the party, too. [poor Bentley.] When Ryan picks up Bentley afterward, Ryan tells Maci that she should have just told Bentley that they're having separate parties, and after he insults her, she walks away.

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Teen Mom "Wake Up" (S04E12): It's mid-November for Amber. 
Farrah: She takes an extra course in bartending, but she's really starting to miss Sophia. She's amused at what it's like not to have additional responsibilities. [I bet! I remember starting college and only having to worry about my own food and laundry, not that of the whole family!] It's been almost a month since Sophia's been gone, and Farrah has a classmate over to work on making a fortune cookie cannoli. She also works on a plan to be able to handle Sophia being there, so she looks into some preschool art classes. [when Farrah shortens her daughter's name, it sounds like she's saying "soap," LoL.] Farrah receives high As in her classes. She picks up Sophia in Nebraska and Farrah's mom immediately starts asking when they'll be back - it won't be Christmas, because Farrah doesn't want to fly back that much. [why were they moving around a carseat? Did Farrah rent a car for a two-day trip??]

Amber: She's started dating a guy from outpatient therapy. Leah turns three years old, and though they're having a joint party the next week, Gary goes ahead and celebrates on Leah's birthday. [I see nothing wrong with that, personally.] Gary says that Amber changed things when she started dating this new guy, but she claims that that has nothing to do with Leah's birthday. [she's just "Plain Old Amber" in his phone??] Amber calls Gary the day before their court date to ask if she can see Leah for a bit and Gary tells her no, because it's not a good day and she's a wh0re. [haha!] She screams at him that she'll fight for custody. [this crazy woman raises MY blood pressure!] Gary calls Amber the morning of the court date to explain the paperwork, apologizes for what he said the previous day, and says that Amber can have Leah the next day. [what kind of no-contact order allows them to hold hands?] Amber signs everything, despite her family's protests. The ruling won't go into effect for 30 days, so Amber celebrates Leah's birthday just the two of them by baking cupcakes.

Catelynn: They're starting classes in a couple of weeks. [...so did they decide to go for fall after all or is it actually late December now??] They watch Catelynn's brother, Nick, for a few days so that April can have some time to herself. Tyler has issues with cursing in front of Nick, especially after the dog "goes" in the house. [this is why I don't do dogs!] Tyler's temper bothers Catelynn, but he's also realizing that it's getting worse. He decides to see a counselor, apologizes to the dogs, and tells the counselor that he's afraid his father will never love him. [sadly, that could be true.] Tyler writes his dad a letter, saying that he can't handle the junk Butch puts him through. Tyler and Catelynn question whether adoption was the right choice, but realize they did the right thing.

Maci: It's Bentley's birthday. [that kid is the CUTEST!] Maci is doing well in school. [well, "well" by her adviser's standards, apparently. An 80% ain't great if you ask me.] Ryan sees a lawyer about getting 50/50 custody and stopping Maci from being able to live with Kyle. ["if not more fit" ?? why would Ryan be a better parent than Maci??] Ryan asks Maci for Bentley's birth certificate, and she tells him it's at her mother's house, or he can get a copy from the health department. She's in denial that he'd get anywhere in a custody battle, but he's hoping to switch to each of them getting a week at a time with their son. Dalis and Ryan's parents talk to him about letting Maci live with Kyle - it's not a bad situation. Maci tells her mom about the situation and asks for Bentley's birth certificate to give to Ryan.

Teen Mom "Finale Special: Check Up with Dr. Drew Part 1" (Special): Farrah, Maci, and Catelynn are with Dr. Drew - Amber has personal and legal reasons for being absent. Sophia's birthday was a week ago, so it's likely late February or maybe early March 2012

Farrah: Sophia loves her new classes three days a week. Dr. Drew talks to her about Adam and Daniel and how they might have just wanted to date someone from television. Farrah liked that she put pressure on Daniel, as if commitment isn't there, she wants to know. [but still... can't you date for three months first?? geez!] Dr. Drew asks her why she calls her father by his first name, and she says that she has no respect for him, so Michael can't be called "dad" anymore. [I had forgotten that he was her real father... I guess at some point I assumed that he was her stepfather!] Farrah talks about how her parents fought her whole life. Farrah's mom, Debra, says that she thinks that she and Farrah are becoming closer. Dr. Drew asks Debra about Ashley's comments regarding how screwed up she and Farrah are, and Debra plays the ignorant card. [annoying woman!] Farrah explains that being out of town all the time and fighting with your husband when you're around sucks. Her mother says she hears lots of anger and no love and Farrah says that it's ridiculous and that Debra and Michael shouldn't be allowed to enjoy one another's company now. [I am tired of this woman!] Debra says that she'll always love Michael and they should be able to do whatever they want because they're adults. ["thank you for being my mom," "thank you for being a great Grandma" etc. are the "inches" Farrah gives Debra. all forced.]

Maci: Bentley is riding a bike, is potty-trained, and no longer uses a pacifier. That's really all that comes out there, so stay tuned for the next part!

Catelynn: she and Tyler are in college now. Dr. Drew asks her why she thinks that adoption rates are so low for teenagers, and Catelynn says that people aren't educated, so she gives some facts. [she's a walking encyclopedia of teenage parent facts, guys.] She and Tyler have set a wedding date, and Dr. Drew asks why they've decided to move it up before they finish school. [eyeroll at Catelynn's soul mates comments!] She has a dress already but they're still a year off. Dr. Drew asks what Catelynn would say to her younger teenage self and she talks about rebelling against her dad leaving the family and her mom not being sober. Tyler also wasn't a great kid as a young teenager, defying all sorts of authority figures. He'd tell himself to shut his mouth. [LoL!] Tyler never sent the "stop talking to me" letter that he wrote to Butch. [I was surprised he wrote it, so I guess this isn't too far off.] Catelynn now keeps her "Catelynn-Carly-Teresa" bracelet in a jewelry box so she doesn't lose it or break it again. Catelynn thanks her "fans" because they lifted her out of depression right after they placed Carly. April is brought out, says she's up to 173 days sober, and Dr. Drew asks if her if she thinks Catelynn accepts her apologies, which he doesn't think she does. (April agrees with him.) [I don't agree... but I also don't think it matters. Drew on the couch with his hand on April's shoulder was awkward!] Catelynn tells April that you're always supposed to choose your children first, and April apologizes for the millionth time. Dr. Drew asks Catelynn if she would let April around Carly, and Catelynn brings up that it's up to Brandon and Teresa. [Catelynn seems really relieved that she doesn't have to make that decision herself! and I can't blame her!]

Amber: She sends a statement about how she's missing because she has a probation violation.

Teen Mom: Butch Arraigned, Maci Moved, Amber Freaks, Farrah Needs Help

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

So... at this point, I kinda think that the only reason that this show features Catelynn and Tyler is because of a contractual agreement of some kind. I mean, seriously, what's the point in giving us ten minutes of fluff on them each episode and thirty seconds of something actually happening? At least two things happened to them this week - Tyler's dad got arraigned and Catelynn's mom started AA. Lots of things happened with Maci, and Farrah had some big issues on her plate as well. Amber? Well... the series has pretty much decided that they just need to focus on the fact that she's mentally unstable, so that's what they do. That's all that they do. If she isn't freaking out about one thing, she's complaining about another. No serious progress in any area, except she has realized that if she doesn't take her medication, she's crazy. And, if she doesn't take naps to combat the side effects of her medication, she can't function. Thank goodness we are THISCLOSE to finishing this series!

Teen Mom "By the Rules" (S04E09): It's probably late September or early October for Maci, October for Amber, August for Catelynn, and September for Farrah.

Maci: The offer that she and Kyle put in on a house was accepted, so they fix up the house and move in. [why do Maci and Kyle think Ryan might react badly? They need to move and they're already living together, so I don't see the big deal.] Bentley isn't happy about the change (especially the new bedroom), and when Dalis asks Bentley if he'd rather live with Ryan all the time, he says yes. [well, that's not really fair. why is Bentley's head shaved? why are they riding around with the new dog in the car? and whose was that third car at the new house?]

Farrah: She's struggling to do her homework because Sophia won't let her have time to herself. [why isn't that child-gate up? she's studying the different highball drinks, by the way.] Farrah decides to go to bed with Sophia and then just get up really early to work instead, but the next day she has Daniel come over to entertain Sophia while Farrah gets some work done. [I am curious as to what they cut when Farrah started to tell Sophia that she was "act(ing) like a little..."] Sophia takes a marker to the wall and Farrah gets pissed, deciding that it's the final straw and that she needs to have Debra take Sophia back to Iowa for a month or so. [while it made sense that she'd call her sister, I'm surprised that she didn't also call her therapist.] Fortunately, Debra is coming in just a few days to watch Sophia while Farrah goes to Texas with Daniel. [...they're taking a vacation in the middle of the quarter?] When Debra arrives, she almost immediately has to deal with Sophia - this time she "made waste" in her panties. Daniel meets the family for an Italian dinner, and after talking about what they'll be doing in Austin, he tries to field Debra's question about his ten-year plan. [not that I believe in introducing your parents to your significant other so early in the relationship, but I'd be pretty upset if my mom tried asking someone that only hours after meeting them.] Debra also tells Daniel that he needs to be Farrah's biggest cheerleader. [I found that to be really awkward...]

photo by MTV

Amber: Gary has now moved. Amber's counselor calls and encourages her to go to outpatient therapy, but she says she's not doing anything but sleeping, and Gary is stressing her out to much to get anything done. [needy one, that Amber...] Amber gets angry that Gary keeps leaving Leah with his mother and going out of town, but Gary doesn't feel like he needs to justify himself and his trips. [though even I am curious as to what he's doing out-of-state so often!] So, when Amber goes to Gary's mother's house to see Leah and nobody is there, she freaks out and has an anxiety attack. Later, when Gary's mom arrives at Amber's, she asks if they can start communicating better, which she's willing to do. [she claimed that she didn't answer her phone because she didn't know it was Amber... I blame Amber for that! If she got a new phone number and knew that Gary's mom was going to be caring for Leah, why wouldn't one of the first things she did to be making sure the woman had her new number??!?] 

Catelyn: Tyler goes with his mom and Catelynn's mom to Butch's arraignment while Catelynn works. Butch says that he plans to represent himself, the judge says that's a bad idea, Butch asks to be let out so he can access a law library for research, and he's told that his record won't allow something like that. Plain and simple. He'll be back the second week of November for a trial by jury. [yep... this is some serious stuff.] Catelynn, Tyler, and both of their mothers all think Butch is being an idiot. April starts AA and enjoys the sense of community she feels around others with the same problems.

Teen Mom: Sophia Meets Daniel, Maci Moves, Amber Complains, Butch Jailed

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Ugh. I have gotten to the point where I'm glad that this show is just about over. I've been tired of Amber. Nothing ever happens with Catelynn. I feel like Farrah just wants to settle down and she's still a couple years away from doing so. Maci's storyline is the only one that I look forward to anymore... will she and Kyle stay together? Will Bentley become more independent? After she finishes school, how will Maci do in the job world? How will Ryan change if he gains more custody of his son? And, now, how will Kyle owning the home where they live affect their lives? Yes, some of these points can be researched, given that the show is nearly a year behind the present, but the way the show presents Maci's life is interesting to me, so I continue to watch. What about you? Whose stories are you tuning in for at this point?

Teen Mom "The Next Step" (S04E08): It's late September for Amber and Gary, late August or early September for Farrah, probably mid-August for Catelynn and Tyler, and probably mid-September for Maci.

Farrah: She takes Sophia to ride a pony, then talks to the toddler about Daniel. [no helmet??!?!?] Farrah has her first day of school and plans a date with Daniel and Sophia that night. [I was kinda sad that the only comment Farrah had about her class was that she was there for three hours... that's what you get when you want to commute minimally.] Sophia is acting up and Farrah worries that it'll scare off Daniel. [I sit here and roll my eyes at the way Farrah asks Daniel questions about being around Sophia, who really needs to take her pacifier out of her mouth when she speaks...] Later that night, Farrah asks her mom to come watch Sophia when she goes to Austin with Daniel. [they've been dating for about a month and she's going to go on a trip with him? to meet his family?? And her mom has no qualms??? I'm a bit skeptical here...] 

Maci: The condo she's been living in has been sold, so Maci and Kyle debate over whether they should rent or buy their next place. They want a nice yard so they go to see a few houses with a realtor. [cute house graphic of gummies.] The first place is a $379K house, but they need less house, more yard, and a cheaper price. [yep. why even look at a place that expensive??] They want the mortgage payments to be under $900/month, and the house will be in Kyle's name. [hmmm...] Maci wants another baby but isn't ready to be married yet, so she's holding off. [this is so odd for me... I don't understand the desire to be responsible for another life without having a life partner with whom to do so...] Maci's mother surprises her by being supportive of she and Kyle buying a house. [who plays the violin in Maci's family??] Kyle and Maci go to look at a 3/2 with a huge yard that's only $79,000, and although it needs some work, they put in an offer of $70,000. [anyone see that weird "m" shirt that Maci and Kyle wore at different points in the episode?] In other news, Ryan talks about joint custody some more, but still no action.

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Amber: she admits to being a dumb-@$$ for not finishing high school. [well, yeah.] She asks Gary if she can come by to see Leah before she goes to bed, but Gary says that five minutes is a tease to Leah. [and he's right. that would definitely rile and confuse the little girl.] Gary is going to move October 7th. [lmao. I love how they blur out Gary's name on Amber's phone. because that's not known by the public, ha!] Amber complains to her friend that she hasn't seen Leah in a week, so the friend pressures Gary into bringing Leah to Amber the next day. However, Amber's mindset is questionable anyway, especially after she says that sometimes she wishes she could go back to rehab because sometimes "she doesn't know how to live." [doesn't it kinda scare you that she would care for a child??] It doesn't take long for Amber to fly off the handle and start cursing up a storm at Gary. [is Amber allowed to drive again??] We also learn that Amber hasn't been to outpatient yet, complaining that it's 52 minutes away. [yeah... no wonder she doesn't have herself together.]

Catelynn: Butch got into a fight with Catelynn's mom and ended up in jail. [it's gotta be rough to get a text that your fiance's dad beat up your mom!] Catelynn goes to check on her mom, and sees all of the damage and injuries. Her mom decides to start going to AA. [did we know Butch's dad committed suicide?]

Teen Mom: Catelynn & Bentley have School Woes, Farrah Dates, Amber's Back

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Is it just me, or is Bentley the cutest little two-year-old boy? Of course, it can't be that hard to be adorable on a show where your competition is Sophia and Leah... those two are so different. Not that it's their own fault... I CAN'T STAND how Farrah's mother talks to or about Sophia... no wonder Farrah wants to live a thousand miles away! It's also rather awkward to watch Amber try to be a good parent to Leah when you know that she's going to wind up in the slammer because she sucks at life. Hopefully, Catelynn isn't going down a similar path... because Tyler ain't having a wife who doesn't have a college education! I was actually a little taken aback when he expressed how he felt about that... I mean, I feel the same way, but I've got a decade on the kid. Either way, we're officially on the final wind-down for the show, as it is ending after this season. Are you even bothering to tune-in anymore, or have you already given up on these four moms? 

Teen Mom "Fresh Start" (S04E07): Amber's 60 days are up, it's probably August for Catelynn and Tyler, Maci might be in early September now, and Farrah is probably mid-August.

Farrah: Her mom is still around for the bulk of the episode, but rarely seen. Before she leaves, however, she does talk about wanting to come again soon. [ugh. it's times like these that I'm glad my mother doesn't fly. I'd go crazy if she was always trying to visit!] Her sister has gone back already. Farrah dates a new guy, Daniel, who has a big family in Austin. They go horseback riding the day before she starts school. [I can't believe she worse a dress on purpose.]

Maci: It's Bentley's first day of preschool, and he's upset about it, though he eventually does okay when they get there. [I was shocked Kyle lied to him like that! why is Maci all broken out again? and are we supposed to believe Ryan has a classical music ringback tone?] Ryan is still very skeptical that Bentley should be in preschool, plus he's running behind, so Maci has to go pick up Bentley, even though it's Ryan's turn. Ryan isn't working or going to school right now, and his mother is pushing for him to pursue 50/50 custody. [I can't stand how Ryan tries to coach answers out of Bentley!]

Photo: MTV

Amber: As her stint in rehab winds down, she makes a list of what she needs to do when she gets out: get her license, start school, move in with Gary and Leah. [part of me kinda hopes she won't be able to pass the test for the GED at this point. she's put it off forever and I'm spiteful, what else can I say?] Her therapist's advice for life outside of there? Show up for appointments. Amber's mom picks her up from the airport and she gets to see Leah the next day, presenting her with a necklace, a cup, a hat, and some socks. [odd assortment, but it wasn't exactly a tourist trip!] 

Catelynn: This is apparently the longest Butch has been out of jail in 20 years, and it hasn't even been three months. [I don't even know what to say about that...!] Catelynn hasn't gotten everything in for school yet, and Tyler and friends pressure her to get everything done in time - the semester starts in about a month. [they sleep in their regular clothes?? gross.] She starts to feel overwhelmed, and when Tyler goes to the hairdresser with his mother (who is going without a perm for the first time since Tyler has been alive), he expresses his concern that maybe she won't be attending college at all. That's not cool with him, but she does make an appointment to talk to someone in financial aid, so maybe she's back on track.

Teen Mom: Visitors Need to Leave

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

The weirdest thing in this episode has got to be Sophia's grandmother asking her to pray and the little girl just saying, "no." Another thing I found weird but might not be is the preschool situation. I was always under the impression that you couldn't just "show up when you want," that there was structure and that absences would confuse kids over what they missed. Until I saw the movie One Fine Day, I never heard of "drop-in" type childcare, where paperwork is apparently minimal and you just dump you kid there to get him back later. I understand that Bentley could still benefit from going once a week, but at that point I wonder how much of a difference it would actually make. In other areas, Amber is still hopelessly annoying, and Tyler and Catelynn are forced to evict Butch... not a whole lot going on, folks.

Teen Mom "Temper Tantrums" (S04E06): Farrah doesn't seem to be in school yet, though it's definitely Fall for Maci. It's been almost two months since amber arrives at her rehab center, and it's still summer for Catelynn and Tyler.

Farrah: Her sister, Ashley, visits Farrah in Florida, though their mother arrives a few days afterward. [a two-year-old doesn't need her own bathroom.] Ashley and Farrah get a blue wig for their mother to wear, but she doesn't see the fun in dressing up. While the sisters are out, Sophia gets nail polish on the dog and her clothes, and Grandma blames Farrah for leaving it accessible. [though the fact that Grandma fell asleep is also to blame.] The family goes out to lunch but winds up in a big fight. [I had forgotten that Farrah's sister was older than her.]

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Maci: She has started classes and Kyle has been watching Bentley. She wants him to adjust more to socializing with others and learning things, so she goes to look at preschools. [not a bad plan, Miss Maci.] Bentley is afraid to even have snack away from Maci and Kyle, who are off hearing about the rates ($140-$150/week, 6:30am-6:30pm). [poor kid.] They don't plan to have him there full-time, but Ryan being on-board with the idea would certainly help the transition. Maci is worried about Ryan being a jerk about it, and when they actually talk, Ryan immediately dismisses the idea, but eventually says he'll think about it. [um, let's time-out to draw attention to the fact that Dalis doesn't wear her seatbelt!] Ryan talks to his mom about preschool for Bentley and she thinks he doesn't need to go until he's four (he's not even three yet), but Ryan isn't sold at all. They also are concerned that Ryan will lose a day a week with Bentley if he's in preschool Tuesday and Thursday. [that is actually a valid point.] Maci plans to take Bentley once a week anyway. [hmmm.... how's this going to play out...?] 

Amber: She's homesick and depressed since Gary and Leah left. His mom thinks that Amber needs more help that she could get there anyway. [probably true. well, definitely true when you keep up with her in real life.] Amber gets into a bad argument in a group session so she calls Gary and says she wants to come home. [you know, because running away from her problems is her trademark.] Gary tells her to talk to her therapist... she's been there 46 days but wants to leave before the 60 mark. She's told not to leave hastily, and that verbal assaults aren't going to work out well for her. She has hypnotherapy and uncovers that she has pain from her dad. [oh, goody. more issues to work through. that should keep her there a bit.] 

Catelynn: She and Tyler are both working at a clothing store but have different hours. Their trailer park required a background check on Butch and won't let him stay there anymore. [I guess I had missed the fact that they were in a trailer park?] Butch is ready to be homeless, but Tyler wants the situation to be a little safer than that. [can't blame Tyler for that!] After Butch leaves, Tyler goes to see his mom. [so... does Butch hitchhike?] The next day, Catelynn invites her mom over to talk about the no-contact order between her and Butch. A week later, Tyler eats with Butch. [such a Butch-centric season this has been for Catelynn and Tyler... let's hope something more exciting comes about!]

Teen Mom: Farrah's Family, Maci's Classes...

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Sophia and Bentley are talking so well now! We never hear Leah, so it's difficult to talk about her speech, but I imagine that she's quite similar, which is good because talking kids are much cuter. I actually am starting to wonder which one tends to be up to the most mischief, but it's difficult to tell when we see them in such different environments. Anyway, this episode has Farrah back to dealing with her parents' desire to keep Sophia with them, Amber still in rehab, Catelynn making an appearance in a support group, and Maci making some major career decisions. Catelynn's story was pretty much a wash - nothing new or exciting there, though we do see her interact with her grandmother. I'm convinced that the show needs to keep showing Amber in rehab in order to draw out the fact that she's now in jail. Farrah and Maci had decent storylines, but I'm kinda tired of the same stuff between Farrah and her family each time that they see one another.

Teen Mom "Homecoming" (S04E05): Timeline-wise, Catelynn states that she gave up Carly for adoption about 2.5 years prior. Amber is still in her 30-45-day rehab. Farrah has lived in Florida for a month but school has not yet started. It's still summer for Maci.

Farrah: it's been a month since she moved to Florida, and they're going to Iowa (with the dog) for the weekend to visit the family and for Farrah to have her braces removed. [why are they bringing the dog? we know that Farrah knows a few people (one of whom owes her a dog-sitting favor), so why go through the hassle and expense of lugging it along when it's such a short trip?] Sophia really enjoys talking to Farrah's parents via Skype. [how cute!] Farrah talks to her therapist for advice on how to deal with her parents. [I don't know that it made all that much of a difference. of course, Farrah's mother comments that her having braces hardly made a difference, so clearly everyone has their own opinions...] Her sister, Ashley, is going to come back with them for a few days, so her mom wants to take that opportunity to visit, too. She is also, of course, still trying to take Sophia while Farrah is in school. [I seriously need her to give it up. Farrah is not a "new mom" anymore - I think she's got it under control.] Her dad even mentions it, which only makes Farrah more annoyed. Lastly, we see the family (minus Ashley) have a cook-out for Farrah's belated 20th birthday. 

Photo by MTV

Maci: she needs to sign up for her classes, and is worried that she won't be able to keep up with five of them (Comp II, history, math, poetry, mass communication). Maci goes to academic advising and is told that she might be taking on too much... which pushes her all of the way into thinking that perhaps she needs to pursue a two-year degree instead. So, she meets with "the head of the journalism department" to talk about an AAS degree, which requires more specialized courses, but would allow her to finish in Spring 2013, which she's happy about. [I question the woman's actual title because what kind of journalism professor says, "where you're at" when discussing a student's academic path??] Maci really wants to keep her poetry class, and also has to keep her algebra course, but changes the rest of her plans to just take Intro to Mass Comm as her final course, finishing the semester with nine credits. [once again, to each their own. I do hope that she doesn't have to drop/withdraw this semester, though!] There's also mention that Maci is looking at preschools for Bentley, but we don't get any more details than that. 

Amber: Amber spends some time with Leah, even giving her a bath. Amber and Gary see a new therapist, and Amber just really wants to spend more time with Gary and Leah. They're told to keep the parental discord away from Leah. [you know, the same bit of information that they've hear a thousand times.]

Catelynn: her dad's mom visits, and Catelynn talks about teaching K-2 and being an adoption counselor. She's invited to do a birth parent support group at the last minute, and her grandmother goes, too, as she can relate a bit to some of the young mothers - she was pregnant at 17 and didn't have a lot of support. [I'm not sure how likely this scenario could be in real life, but I'll go with it - sometimes serendipity just works that way.] 

Teen Mom: Vacation, Dating, Rules, Therapy

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

...was it just me, or was this episode fairly useless? For everyone, it was a 2-3 day adventure where not all that much happened. Maci's in Florida and hardly sees Ryan and Bentley, Farrah meets a guy but after two dates she's done, Catelynn and Tyler let Butch live with them but he's not doing the greatest job at following their rules, and Amber gets to see Gary and Leah. Nope, can't say I was too impressed with the actions that took place in the girls' lives, but they can't all be full of excitement - that wouldn't be "reality" enough. ;)

Teen Mom "Strike Out" (S04E04): It's the end of May/beginning of June for Farrah, as her birthday is May 31st. It's probably June or later for Catelynn, if this episode is in chronological order.

Maci: In Florida, Ryan's friend suggests that Maci is still in love with him. Maci is obsessed with seeing Bentley, but Ryan doesn't want her to text him the whole time, so he invites her down to see them. [ALL of her posse need to come? no.] Bentley is whiny when Ryan and Dalis leave, telling Maci to "go away," so Maci only stays for a couple minutes. [if she hadn't brought 8 friends with her, it might have gone better, LoL.] They are planning to take the family photo the next day, and Maci is worried that Dalis will try to be in it. Maci didn't like how nice Dalis was to her. [ha!] But, Dalis is respectful, and Maci even invites Ryan and Dalis out to the clubs with her and her friends. [wow... how weird would THAT have been??] Dalis was game, but Ryan thought it would be awkward, so they don't join. [think they'll be back from vacation by next episode?] 

Farrah: Farrah tells her sister that she likes one of her neighbors. [who dog-sits for someone they barely know?] Alethea watches Sophia while Farrah and Adam (who is 28) go out to the driving range. Then, for Farrah's 20th birthday, she takes Sophia to the Miami Zoo before going out to dinner with Adam to Taverna Opa while Nancy watches Sophia. [what was with the free ride she scored for them around the park? or maybe it wasn't free, but Farrah was still super-awkward about it. and why are different people watching Sophia all the time?] Adam asks Farrah what she wants to do on her day off, and she says that she wants to work... which isn't compatible with him, as he wants to chill at the beach. That's the end of their relationship, and we see Farrah call her sister to update her. [eh. he was a neighbor. he was convenient. let's move on.]  

Catelynn: Butch is out of jail and planning to stay with Catelynn and Tyler. Tyler goes over the rules of the house again, and it looks like Butch might stay for about six months. Except, soon, Butch stays out all night, doesn't check-in with the kids, and doesn't answer his phone. [but he also doesn't have a key?] Tyler explains to him that he only gets one more chance, as they don't want the responsibility of parenting a parent. [totally understandable.]

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Amber: Amber is told that she and Leah and Gary can't actually all be together, as there was a miscommunication. [boo!] Gary admits that he is jealous of Amber's other guys, but she winds up getting upset and leaving before they can really discuss it further. [of course. some things never change.] We do learn, however, that Amber struggles to take her medications on-time. [well, that's her own fault, so she needs to get her act together.]

Teen Mom: Triple Update on our Four Families

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

The girls are back! Well, kinda. Amber's not with her family, as she's stuck in rehab in California, but we're welcomed back to the lives of the others, more or less right where we left off. Catelynn and Tyler graduate high school and visit Carly again, Maci hanging out with Kyle and dealing with Ryan not always spending time with Bentley, and Farrah moves to Fort Lauderdale (with Sophia!) to continue her education. I wonder what else Catelynn and Tyler will do this season, but everyone else seems kinda blatant already... Farrah will get accustomed to Florida, Maci will deal with Bentley preparing to attend preschool, and Amber will try to get well enough to see Leah on a regular basis. What do you guys predict?

Teen Mom "Separation Anxiety" (S04E01):
Maci: Maci and Kyle take Bentley for a swim lesson, but the poor kid is terrified to be with someone he doesn't know. [Maci has some attachment issues with her son... she also looks pretty broken out for some reason.] Maci wants to try taking Bentley to daycare again, in preparation for starting preschool in the fall. Kyle takes in Bentley and introduces him to the other kids, and Maci is surprised that Bentley is fine this time. [some kids need baby steps!]

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Catelynn: They send their daughter gifts for her second birthday. [how normal is this? that you'd send presents to a child who isn't in your custody any longer?] Brandon and Teresa invite them to New York City to meet up and see Carly. [um, who pays for Tyler and Catelynn to travel?] They call Carly on her birthday, then have a cake and celebrate for her. [I liked that they made wishes for her, that was cute!]
Farrah: She's not looking forward to leaving Sophia behind when she moves to Florida. After talking to her therapist, however, she's decided to take Sophia with her. [good.] She tells her sister, then her parents, who aren't sure that Farrah can do it on her own down there. [while I agree that there's some room for concern, they're harsh.]
Amber: Amber's headed to rehab and is worried that Leah will forget her. [those are some nails!] Her cousin is pregnant again. [is this going to play a role later?] She calls the rehab to request a single room so that she doesn't hit anybody, but they tell her that she needs to socialize. [hahaha.]

Teen Mom "Letting Go" (S04E02): It's early May when Farrah moves and late May or early June when Catelynn and Tyler go to NY.
Amber: Gary calls 911 because Amber mentioned that she might hang herself. She winds up in the hospital and on suicide watch for 72 hours, then shipped off to California for rehab. [this girl has been so unbalanced for so long!] 12 days in, she finally gets to call Leah, but the little girl doesn't want to talk and does nothing but whine and push away the phone. [kids will be kids!] She tells her therapist about how much her parents fought when she was a child and how much pain they put her through. We learn that she's newly sober, and that she illegally self-medicated from ages 14-16. [can't say I'm all that surprised, really.] She doesn't think that she's going to be ready to leave after 30 days are up, but at least Gary and Leah are invited out to her rehab center.
Maci: Maci and Kyle try to teach Bentley to ride a bike. Maci asks Ryan to come by for Bentley early so she can take a flight to do a speaking engagement out-of-state, but he's upset that she only told him the day before. [well, yeah, that WAS wrong of her.] Ryan has lunch with some friends and talks about going back to school. Kyle and Maci get into a fight and he leaves, planning to stay with his mother in Nashville. Maci has Bentley leave him a message saying that they miss him and that he should come back. [cute!] Maci wimps out of dropping off Bentley at daycare, so she brings him to her mother's. [cute of Bentley to think that's "cool."] Kyle and Maci talk when she returns from her trip.
Farrah: Farrah's working on moving and asks Michael to help her pack the U-Haul and then drive it for five days, then she'll fly out and meet him in FL with Sophia. [Farrah is b!tchy to Michael as he moves stuff for her!] He hauls a MiniCooper as well. [but we also see her drive one the day before she allegedly leaves, so maybe they have multiple in the family?] Farrah's mother acts like she'll never see them again. [such a drama queen!] The day before they leave is Derek's birthday, so Farrah and Sophia go to see his gravesite. We hear Farrah say things to Derek.
Catelynn: The plan is to meet Brandon, Teresa, and Carly for breakfast on Saturday in NYC. Catelynn and Tyler stay at the Affinia Manhattan and meet the others at a Hilton. We see some photos of the visit, though no video. [in reality, Carly is already 3, by the way.] After they say goodbye, the duo cry, missing their little girl. 

Teen Mom "The Places You'll Go" (S04E03):
Maci: Ryan and his family are taking Bentley on vacation to Florida for a week, and Maci is sad that she'll be away from him for that long. Maci suggests to Kyle that they go, but he has plans already. Maci doesn't want to intrude, so she asks Ryan about it. He says that as long as they don't have to hang out, it's fine. She can babysit if needed. She's surprised that his girlfriend is going on the family vacation, as they haven't been dating for very long. She checks with Ryan's parents, too, who hope that she can spend some time with Ryan and Bentley while they're all down there. [his parents were super-nice this episode.] A bunch of Maci's friends are excited about coming, so it's more of a girls' trip. [I don't remember her having oodles of friends, but whatever.]
Farrah: Michael wants to move to FL to be part of Sophia's life. They all go to the beach and out to eat, then Farrah interviews some nannies. She'll be taking Art Appreciation for three hours on Mondays, Modern & Post-Modern Civilizations and Principles of Public Speaking on Wednesdays, and Fairytales & Archetypes and Psychology of Personal Effectiveness on Thursdays. [wow, all three-hour classes! hope she has that kind of attention span! I know that it was a shock for me in graduate school. it did amuse me, though, that Farrah didn't know how to pronounce "archetypes."] Her mom says that those are pre-reqs and she could have taken them anywhere. [kinda.] Her mom begins to lecture her about not letting Sophia out of her sight, so Farrah gets off the phone. They gave away the dog before they moved, but Farrah wants Sophia to have a pet, so they go to look at fish. But, after looking at a French bulldog, Farrah ignores Sophia's repeated pleas for a fish by buying the puppy and naming it "Stitch." It isn't trained yet, so it "goes" on the carpet. [let's all hope this one is better trained than the previous dog!] 

Photo by MTV

Amber: Gary goes to his lawyer to let him know that some paperwork might need to be done to get himself and Leah out to California to see Amber. Amber calls her brother to ask him his opinion on where she is in life and what might be her challenges. [ha!] Gary calls to tell Amber that he and Leah and his friend, Andrew, will be heading out there the next day.
Catelynn: Her dad and little brother are coming up from Florida for graduation, and Butch is still in jail. Catelynn's brother is a paraplegic so they try to make him and his wheelchair comfortable in their home. [his name is River, by the way...] Butch calls and says that he's getting out Monday, the day after graduation. [poor Tyler. he did look a little sad.] Catelynn shows her mother the pictures from their visit with Carly. [I liked Catelynn's graduation dress.]

Teen Mom "A Closer Look" (Special): [what's the background on this hostess?]
Maci: She's not jealous of Dallas (Ryan's girlfriend) and doesn't want Dallas to be jealous of her. Maci likes that there are pictures of her up at Ryan's parents' house, but she does think that his parents want them to get back together. She says that Farrah has a lot more drive than she does.
Farrah: She mentions that it would have been nice to have Michael around in Florida, even though she wasn't thrilled with the idea of him moving down. She didn't miss her parents for about three months, but now, a year later, she calls her mother like three times a day. [interesting. This is about as close as I've heard to someone like me - I don't really "miss" people, ever. but, I'd also kill myself if I had to talk to my mother three times a day, haha!] Farrah insisted on the puppy because it was so cute and she wanted a pet that Sophia could actually play with, which doesn't work well with a fish. Sometimes she's bitter that Catelynn and Tyler are still together.
Catelynn: She's the first person in her family to graduate high school, and she's reminded that she likely wouldn't have done that if she had kept Carly.
Amber: not present because of personal and legal issues. The girls all say that they encourage Amber to keep her head up.

Teen Mom: Recap on the Girls

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

I swear... if it wasn't for my DVR picking up anything "first-run" and "Teen Mom," I'd never know when random specials and updates came on about this show! I don't know why MTV doesn't advertise it more; it certainly has been a cash cow for the network! Anyway, we didn't get a whole lot of new stuff... in fact, it really just served as a reminder regarding who the four moms are on the show and what we've seen from them so far. Because of its review-like nature, I only put in some main facts and left out a lot of potential commentary because it's all been seen before, on Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant. Teen Mom returns June 12th. The one fun fact I realized through this special, by the way: Ryan, Catelynn, and Tyler all have tattoos of their children's names.

CR: Louis A Raynor

Teen Mom "Catching Up with the Girls of Teen Mom" (Special):
Maci - Maci and Ryan were a happy family when Bentley was first born. Things got harder as time went on. A year later, they have problems with Ryan's dedication to the family. Later, Maci and Bentley move to Nashville, and Ryan later fights for custody.

Catelynn - They chose adoption for their daughter because of how crazy their family lives are - they became step-siblings after dating for a couple of years. Their parents weren't thrilled with their decision, and they end up not having their daughter at their high school graduation because of them. They get engaged and see their daughter when she turns a year old. They finish high school and Butch moves in with them, but later goes to prison.

Amber - She and Gary moved in together and got engaged before Leah was born. Amber gets frustrated with how difficult it is to have a baby, faced anxiety and depression, and went on medication. Amber later physically assaults Gary. She begins preparing to take the GED. Gary proposes. Child Protective Services gets involved and Amber has to go to court.

Farrah - When Farrah got pregnant, her mom suggested adoption, especially after Farrah stopped talking to Derek, the BabyDaddy. Farrah and her mother had a power struggle over Sophia, mainly because Farrah wanted to remain a teenager, staying out late and dating and whatnot. We're reminded that Farrah's mom was charged with domestic assault. Farrah and Sophia moved out, Farrah began therapy, and she came to terms with her life. Farrah reluctantly left Sophia behind when she went to college in Florida.

News Roundup: Late May

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Renewals, Cancellations, & Scheduling:
Oxygen has renewed Best Ink for a second season.

Disney XD has ordered a second season of Lab Rats. [haven't heard of the show? don't worry; most people haven't heard of the channel.]

Rules of Engagement, believe it or not, was renewed by CBS for a 13-episode seventh season. Look for it mid-season.

TruTV has renewed South Beach Tow for a second season.

Rather than canceling LA Complex completely, the CW has decided to air 13 new episodes over the summer, beginning in July.

Just when we thought that Pan Am was off the air, it seems that Amazon might actually pick them up again. We previously mentioned that Amazon is looking to do original sitcoms and children's programming, but I guess dramas are in their minds as well.

MTV has canceled I Just Want My Pants Back.

A&E has canceled Breakout Kings. They've also canceled Dog the Bounty Hunter. [I'm glad. Every time I hear about that show I flash back to this horrible car trip I took four or five years ago where the girl sitting next to me wouldn't shut up about that show for over an hour!]

SyFy has canceled Sanctuary.

Cake Boss is back on TLC this Monday, May 28th at 9pm ET/PT.

The National Championships of the History Bee will be televised on Friday, June 1st at 8pm on History. Al Roker will be the moderator to the 32 regional competitors.

Over on CMT, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Brides premieres Friday, June 2nd at 8pm ET/PT.

History has renewed Ice Road Truckers, with the new season beginning Sunday, June 3rd, 9pm ET/PT.

Also on Sunday, June 3rd, at have Fast Food Mania premiering at 10pm ET/PT on Discovery.

Dance Moms will return on Tuesday, June 5th at 9pm ET/PT.

Flying Wild Alaska returns to Discovery on Friday, June 8th at 10pm ET/PT.

Redneck Island, Steve Austin's reality competition series, begins Saturday, June 9th at 10pm ET/PT on CMT.

True Blood's fifth season on HBO begins Sunday, June 10th at 9pm ET/PT.

Sunday, June 17th at 9pm ET/PT is the premiere of Forensic Firsts on the Smithsonian Channel.

Disney XD's Pair of Kings will begins its third season on Monday, June 18th at 8:30pm ET/PT.

Baby Daddy, ABCFamily's new comedy, begins Wednesday, June 20th at 8:30pm ET/PT.

The Soul Man, Cedric "The Entertainer"'s new show, begins Wednesday, June 20th at 10pm ET/PT.

The Exes is returning to TVLand on Wednesday, June 20th at 10:30pm ET/PT.

Lifetime's Army Wives continues on Sunday, June 24th at 10pm ET/PT.

TVLand's Retired at 35 will return on Tuesday, June 26th at 10pm ET/PT. [yeah, I forgot that this show was still going, too.]

Disney's Gravity Falls will begin Friday, June 29th at 9:30pm ET/PT, though there will be a special preview on Friday, June 15th at 9:55pm ET/PT.

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World premieres July 6th at 9pm ET/PT on PBS.

Breaking Bad will return to AMC Sunday, July 15th at 10pm ET/PT.

AMC's Small Town Security will debut Sunday, July 15th at 10pm ET/PT.

AMC's Hell on Wheels returns Sunday, August 12th at 9pm ET/PT.

SyFy's Haven will begin its third season on Friday, September 21st at 10pm ET/PT.

Cast & Plot Updates:
Britney Spears may appear in a fall episode of Glee to be a tribute to the pop star.

After recent allegations that Raven-Symone is gay, the actress tweeted in response that it's her right to be straight or gay and to disclose whatever she wants.

Remy Gonzalez (ex-husband of Buddy's sister Lisa on Cake Boss), has been sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

Amber Portwood, of 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom, is probably going to prison for five years, as she just can't keep it together trying to complete a drug court program.

JoAnna Garcia will be the new lead on Animal Practice on NBC in the fall.

Season 2 of American Horror Story will be set in the sixties.

Shows in Development & Other Fun Stuff:
ABC is still developing a new Hulk television show, possibly for the 2013-2014 season.

YouTube's latest original content channel is HUNGRY, which goes live on July 2nd. It will feature 60-180-second how-to videos, celebrity-driven food videos, with new episodes being posted weekly. Longer format videos may come later.

Did you know that the slow-motion running on Baywatch stemmed from a lack of funding that caused them to have to fill the time slot?

Now that House is finished, Jesse Spencer (Dr. Chase) has admitted to taking his pen and his badge from the set.

Eugene J. Polley, inventor of the television remote control (in 1955), has passed away.  

Hulu has a bunch of original series coming up. Spoilers begins June 4th. Up to Speed and We Got Next begin in August.