'Men of a Certain Age' Recap: How to be an All-Star

"It's time, right?" Joe asks his ex-wife in this week's episode of Men of a Certain Age on TNT. An incident at his son Albert's school, which the principal suggests is rooted in the "upheaval" at home, gives Joe the push he needs to finally move out of the hotel where he's been living since his divorce and buy a home that he and his children can call their own.

As a child of divorce myself at just around Albert's age, I have been able to relate to this aspect of Joe's story on a very personal level, as I'm sure many have. However, Ray Romano and Mike Royce, the show's creators, have given us a superficial picture of divorce. Sure Lucy would rather text than talk to her father and Albert occasionally suffers anxiety attacks at school, but it's an over simplified sub plot that leaves me wanting more.

While I don't think enough focus is being directed there, the focus this week was mainly put on the hot streak Joe goes on. Not only is his relationship with Dory, the blind date from three episodes ago, yielding some surprisingly scandalous results - hello car sex - but the man won a $25,000 bet on a Knicks game; they lost me right there because the god-awful Knicks could never come through like that.

I mentioned in my last review that Joe has a gambling problem. But like all addicts, he had a good reason this time. You see, in order to get the house that both he and his kids want, Joe needed to make a large down payment, which worked out to be more than what he had in his account.

However, no matter how well intentioned this excuse was, the fact
that Joe gambled on such a high stake strains his relationship with Dory, and even staggered his bookie Manfro. Luckily, his kids are
able to enjoy the new Jacuzzi-ready abode, oblivious to Joe's tormenting vice, the same one that helped end his marriage.

Another ending that became apparent this week was Owen senior's 40 years at his car dealership thanks to a much neglected health issue. When he finally agrees to take a break, Owen junior's face turns visibly numb upon realizing that his hot-shot rival at the dealership Marcus will be assuming the role of manager.

I have enjoyed the antagonistic bartering war between Owen and Marcus over control of the business after Owen Sr. steps away. Now that he has and Marcus is officially the quarterback and Owen Jr. the water boy at Thoreau Chevrolet, it will be interesting to see what is next. While both Joe and Terry are sailing without an anchor and the world infront of them, Owen is the one in the group with the cast anchor and no other directions to go. Joe's golfing and Terry's acting have been established as alternatives to what they're lives consist of now, but nothing has been established for Owen. Although I have a feeling it will be, the preview of next week's season finale would suggest differently.

There isn't much else to say about Owen this week, other than to point out that the guys, as well as Marcus, threw a few jabs about his lack of a sex life.

Conversely, no one can slight Terry's prowess with the ladiez, or his frequency, if you know what I mean. But this week, it's all about that alternative for Terry. He meets up with some old friends from his acting school at the premiere of a new film that they just so happen to star in. This forces Terry to evaluate his acting career, and it's not a masterpiece. Once the bruised ego mends, however, he takes on a minor part in their new movie to get the band back together.

The final episode of the first season of Men of a Certain Age is next Monday at 10pm EST on TNT.