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Nip/Tuck

Nanette Babcock

Season 1, Episode 3, Aired Aug 05, 2003

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9.1

EPISODE RATING: Superb

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Sean and Julia discover Matt has tried to circumcise himself. The business is sued by a faithful client after Sean accidentally leaves a surgical tool inside of her body. Meanwhile, Christian and Grace struggle with a mentally unstable patient.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Sophia Bush

Ridley
GUEST STAR
Javier Calderon

Esai
GUEST STAR
Gina Marie Fields

Airport Security Guard

Dylan Walsh

Dr. Sean McNamara
Julian McMahon

Dr. Christian Troy
John Hensley

Matt McNamara
Valerie Cruz

Dr. Grace Santiago (Season 1)
Joely Richardson

Julia McNamara

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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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A pasos agigantados

9.2

"Superb"

By napen, Aug 19, 2008

OK, est bien, lo acepto. Me apresur en bastardear a Nip/Tuck. Perdn.
Todo mejor tan repentinamente que me entusiasmo con la posibilidad de llegar a un 9.5 en cualquier momento.
Aunque no me encanten las actuaciones de los protagonistas los personajes secundarios los guest stars trabajan de maravillas. La doctora Santiago le agrega esa cuota de misterio, sensualidad y buen gusto a la clnica (cosa que faltaba).
Muy bien tratado el tema de la obesidad, sin golpes bajos (esa chica acta bien bien).
La nica contra sera que no es muy creble (no existe) que una familia con tantos problemas los pueda solucionar de un da para el otro. Ah! claro! es ficcin!
Nanette Babcock: inspirer.moreless
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No, No, Nanette

9.8

"Superb"

By maxpower03, Oct 03, 2007

This episode was all about how plastic surgery can't cover up your inner feelings, with both Mrs Grubman and Nanette being damaged inside, and liposuction and tummy tucks being unable to heal all their internal issues. It was also the first masterpiece Nip/Tuck ever produced.

Nanette was a tragic character. A product of this celebrity-driven world we live in, she was deluded enough to think that everything in her life would be perfect if she lost weight, and that if she looked thinner at her reunion, everybody there would like her. Lindsay Hollister was truly amazing in the part, keeping the audience's sympathy throughout the episode. Her suicide was literally disturbing, and I was completely shaken up by it when this episode first aired.

My favorite storyline this episode was Mrs Grubman's. Christian was hilarious when he was protesting that he doesn't want to "stick his d*ck in the Crypt Keeper", and I loved that in the end he realized what a sad, lonely woman Mrs Grubman really is. Both Julian McMahon and Ruth Williamson were excellent in their big scene together, making Christian and Mrs Grubman one of the most interesting double acts in the series.

You have to feel bad for Matt. After going through all the pain and frustration of an adult circumcision, it turns out the girl he really loved was screwing around with another girl all along. The scene where he broke down in tears really showed how much she meant to him. Unfortunately, she was more interested in that damn girl from One Tree Hill. Booo!

An emotional, powerful episode featuring stunning performances from all involved, and several well-written storylines. The best episode so far, and one of the best of season one.

Director: Lawrence Trilling
Writer: Ryan Murphy
Rating: A+moreless
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"Unfortunately we live in a world where only one type of beauty is recognized"

8.5

"Great"

By Tim_Bronx, Jul 12, 2006

Today's episode took us to the dark side of beauty. Obviously there are two sides to Nannette Babcock's case, whether they should have operated on her and installed self confidence or if they made the right choice in canceling her operation. Both sides have to admit though that she did have some pretty bad emotional problems, as displayed by her obsessive wall full of glorious supermodels, the people she wish she was. Her case was one I'm sure many people could relate to, and her suicide at the end was very effective. Today's whole episode dealt with the idea that society places pressure on people to look a certain way, expiecally women, which is a subplot throughout the rest of the series.

Sean's preoccupation with Matt's surgery almost resulted in a 10 million dollar settlement, and Christian was forced to fix the problem the only way he knows how: "You want me to stick my dick in the Crypt Keeper to fix your mistake?" Mrs. Grubman actually had a moment of weakness with Christian, as she revealed that the reason she gets so many tummy tucks and face lifts are to make herself fell wanted. We actually got to see a deeper side to a seemingly shallow character, and I actually began to sympathize with Mrs. Grubman. It appears though that the next day she was up to her devious ways again ("we have a lifetime pro bono"), and I look forward to seeing more of her in the future.

Sean and Julia actually looked, strangely, like a functional couple today. Julia (supposedly) has decided not to blame Sean anymore for not being where she wanted in life, and has decided to go back to medical school. Sean appears to be very supportive of this decision. I doubt though all of their problems are solved.

Final Notes and Quotes

- The Michael Jackson impersonator at the beginning of the episode was humorous, and provided good comic relief for an overall darker episode.

- Rewatching this episode, the phrase "beauty is a curse on the world" came to mind for Nannette. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say more on that in later seasons.

- Julia's one moment of weakness, flushing Annie's gerbil, keeps coming back to haunt her. She now has to take an Animal Anger Management class. That should be interesting.

- Matt seemed very hurt when he found his girlfriend kissing another girl. Good acting from John Hensley.

- It appeared at first glace that Nannette was responsible for what happened to Christian's car, but she seemed very shocked when she was accused.

- Mrs. Grubman getting tackled in the airport was hilarious. "We have a runner"

- Christian: "Ironic, that after these years of my enduring your be-more-responsible lectures, you're the one who screwed us."

Final Rating: A strong episode, 3 out of 4 stars.

- Tim Bronx
Find this and many other reviews at: www.motionpicturereviews.commoreless
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Good episode!

9.1

"Superb"

By OeTvGreat, Jun 04, 2006

Christian does a consult with Mr. Diamond, a Michael Jackson idolizer. After reviewing his history of numerous face operations, Troy sends him away. Liz informs Troy that Sean is at home, dealing with a family emergency. Mrs. Grubman approaches Troy and demands better sheets for her bed.

Julia patiently waits outside the bathroom while Sean discusses what happened with Matt. After seeing it, Sean schedules an operation later in the day, but after Matt promises to be more open with him.

At the office Troy does a consult with Nanette Babcock when Grace enters and after informing Troy of her hiring, joins in the consult. Nanette describes that she wants liposuction and the stretch mark on her chest gone and then explains that she wants to look good for her ten year high school reunion.

All of the McNamara's(except for Annie) have finished eating breakfast when Officer Stone arrives and tells Julia that she must choose between taking an animal anger management class or a $5,000 fine for flushing Annie's gerbil.

While getting prepared for Matt's operation, Christian argues with Sean about firing Pendleton and hiring Grace. When they enter the operating room Sean gets nervous so Troy does it in exchange of Sean doing Mrs. Grubman's tummy tuck.

Afterwards, Troy decides to do Nanette's operation, but Grace and Sean change his mind. When he calls her, she is looking forward to it but soon becomes mad at hearing they won't do the surgery. When Troy goes to his car he finds it vandalized.

At the hospital, Vanessa visits Matt. Troy brings it into a mechanic and he is told that it is unfixable. Sean calls and tells him that Mrs. Grubman has been put down for another appointment. Troy then calls her and asks why she set up an unapproved appointment. After much debate, Troy decides to cut her off from their business. Meanwhile, she walks through a metal detector at the hospital and after going through it again chooses to go anyway. She gets tackled by security.

Later at the office, her attorney explains that one of them left a surgical tool in her and that she is suing them for ten million dollars. Sean at first accuses Liz but soon figures out that he was at fault. Troy visits her at her house and she offers to drop the suit for a favor.

Matt, all healed, goes to Vanessa's house and finds her making out with another cheerleader and storms out.

Sean questions Julia about searching for another Frisky and then compliments her on being a good mother. Julia decides to stop blaming Sean and to go back to school. Matt returns and tells his father that sex with Vanessa was good.

Grace visits Nanette at her home and they talk but Nanette refuses to go see a psychologist. Later Sean calls and asks her to come in. Once there she expects that he will do the surgery for her but all he does is give her a psychologist's number. Troy spends the night with Mrs. Grubman and the next day she informs him that from now on all her surgeries are free. At Nanette's place, Nanette puts a gun in her mouth and shoots.

This episode was really good and I like it ver much, really revealing!!!!moreless
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"The one with all the big performances".

8.5

"Great"

By untouchable57, Jan 03, 2006

Mrs Grubman. An old woman obsessed with monthly surgeries and looking her best. Her addiction her habit, her reason for living, it's all about the surgery.

We first met Mrs Grubman back in the "Pilot" episode, and she reappears again tonight demanding her surgery. It's a request McNamara/Troy are all too used to, but it's tonight that we get our first hand experience with Grubman. She marches down the corridoor of M/T jumping Troy, and it's not long before we see her in surgery getting her operation at the hands of Sean.

Ruth Williamson puts in a fantastic performance as Grubman, jacking up the humour and always giving a laugh. This ideology is reinforced later on in the episode where she's chased at the airport by security for the alarm going off. The operation not as succesfull as it seems, it's revealed Sean left a scalpel inside of her, prompting the alarm to sound when she walked.

At the opposite end of the spectrum however, Grubman proves she is more than just a comedy backdrop and does impress later on in the episode during a tearful scene with Troy. The scene is done so well as Grubman reminisces about the days of married life and sex. It's cringeworthy in content but the performance is solid and in the end, you do feel a little bit of sympathy for her.

Another big performance of the night comes from the character this episode is named after, Nanette Babcock. An overweight woman who wants to look great for her school renunion, Babcock has been ridiculed most of her life as a result of her size. Things are of course made worse by the doctor's refusing to operate on her due to her being a manic depressive. Her despair only grows throughout the episode, and after a rather painful and tense scene with Dr Santiago, she commits suicide. The story was truly gripping throughout the episode and by time her scene with Grace came around you just found yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, desperate to know where this would go.

Valerie Cruz as Grace dissapointingly, wasn't so good in these scenes, providing more of an ethical voice via character than anything else. Sadly things dont get much better as the season progresses, but this really was Valerie/Grace's chance to shine. A missed oppurtunity by both writer and actress alike.

In a night of big performances it was reassuring seeing Hensley step up a little. After Matt's self-circumcision in the previous episode, this episode gave both him and Sean a chance to bond a little. Their scenes were great to watch, and along with other scenes in this episode involving Julia, it totally reinforced the idea of Sean as "family man".

The end of the episode sees Matt teary eyed and upset, and it's revealed early on to Matt that cheerleader Vanessa has been "seeing" someone else. Of all people, another cheerleader. It's upsetting knowing that he tried to circumcise himself just for her, but at the same time provides him with a reason to wake up and generally get his head out of the clouds.

What has the future got in store for Matt? As always, we'll have to wait and see.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- Despite the episode being named after her, Nanette Babcock doesn't have surgery. This is the first time that the episode is named after someone who doesn't have surgery.
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- Featured Music: "Theme Song" by Emergency (Matt walks in on Ridley and Vanessa) "The Blue Danube Waltz – Op. 314" by Johann Strauss (Mrs. Grubman's tummy-tuck surgery) "Breathe Deeply" by Bird York (Christian calls Nanette/Nanette working out on treadmill) "The Boy from Ipanema" by Peggy Lee (Mrs. Grubman and Christian in the bedroom) "So Damn Beautiful" by Poloroid (Nanette commits suicide)
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QUOTES (7)
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- (Mrs. Grubman starts crying) Christian: Mrs. Grubman? What´s wrong? Mrs. Grubman: Nothing. It´s just... Christian: Tell me. Mrs. Grubman: I haven´t been touched by a man like that in 12 years. Not since my Marvin died. I know I´m pathetic, bribing you for affection. Believe me, I know that. The nights are the worst, you know. That´s when I miss him the most. We used to have a little ritual, my husband and I. I´d take my makeup off in the bathroom and I´d get in bed all clean and bare. He´d lean over and look at me, and he´d say: "You´re so beautiful." Oh, God. Oh, how sad you must think I am. Christian: You´re beautiful, Mrs. Grubman. Unfortunately, we live in a world where only one kind of beauty is recognized anymore. But I´m telling you, tonight, the way you worked that room, the way you flirted with those rich guys, batted your eyes and walked away with a $100.000 check for a cause that needs you that was beautiful to me. Mrs. Grubman: Thank you.
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- Christian: Kiss my tan waxed ass, Sean!
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- Nanette Babcock: (to Grace) You with your perfect face and your tight ass and your tits that don't sag down to an elastic waistband you don't have to wear. I hate girls like you.
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- Mrs. Grubman: (to Security guard) Loosen your braids and take a look, sweetheart. Do I look like a terrorist?
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- Sean: Did she indicate that if you slept with her she'd drop the lawsuit? Christian: Are you actually telling me to stick my dick in the crypt keeper to make your mistake go away?
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- Liz: (to Christian) You really want to get inside a woman? Stop thinking like a dick.
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- Sean: Before we leave, you need to shave your genital region. Julia: Carefully. Matt: And the humiliations just keep on coming, don't they? Sean: I've got a son who tried to cut off his penis, a wife who flushed a gerbil. It's like I've moved back into Hell House. (Before having sex) Mrs. Grubman: Do you want the lights on or-- Christian: Off.
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NOTES (2)
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- Music Used In This Episode: Breathe Deeply - Bird York Blue Danube Waltz: Op. 314 - Johann Strauss The Boy from Ipanema - Peggy Lee So Damn Beautiful - Poloroid
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- Roma Maffia receives the 'and' credit.
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Christian: Are you actually telling me to stick my dick in the Crypt Keeper to make your mistake go away? The Crypt keeper was the host of the "Tales from the Crypt" horror comic books published by EC Comics. He has also appeared (in varying forms) in a live action movie, television series and animated cartoons.
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- Sean: I've got a son who tried to cut off his penis, a wife who flushed a gerbil. It's like I've moved back into Hell House. Hell House is a novel thriller by Richard Matheson. The story of four investigators hired to study the notorious Hell House to find proof of life after death. But they soon fall prey to the malign spirits that haunt Hell House. It was later made into movie by director John Hough.
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