Superior Donuts – Thanks For Nothing

By: Jay Smith

Randy (Katey Sagal) is on the phone and we get the tail end of her conversation. Once she hangs up she proclaims her daughter is dead to her. That is after she stops giving Franco (Jermaine Fowler) a hard time because she is spending Thanksgiving with her boyfriend and not her this year. She goes on to say how her daughter is ungrateful and breastfeeding was a nightmare. The comparison to a puppy with a new chew toy makes Sofia (Diane Guerrero) and Carl (David Koechner) cringe. Sofia jumps in and defends the daughter because she’s going through the same thing with her own mom. She explains that this weekend would be great for her business because of holiday shoppers. Franco chimes in that he’s staying home as well because his mom is going to Vegas with friends and no one likes spending Thanksgiving with his dad because he’s rude and recollects the time he told him he danced like a soccer mom. Franco suggests they all have Thanksgiving together in the shop and they’ll treat it like a potluck. Randy wants to use the opportunity to guilt her daughter, but is still excited for the gathering. Arthur (Judd Hirsch) comes in and agrees the misfits can have their dinner in the shop after Franco tells him their plan. He had planned on being alone like always, but after hearing everyone’s contributions, seeing Franco dance and Randy comparing it to him dancing like a mom trying to get on the jumbotron at a Bruno Mars concert, he agrees to come.

A young lady comes in and after judging the establishment and a failed attempt at bribery, Franco calls Arthur and he’s immediately shocked to see his daughter Lucy (Annie Mumolo). Arthur introduces Lucy to Franco and Sofia, but Franco can’t control himself. Because of his excitement, Lucy calls him loud and irritating and asks if he has an off button, which hurts Franco’s feelings. He smiles though because she’s just like her dad. Lucy explains the abrupt visit because Arthur randomly called. She called him back and left messages, but he never called back. Arthur says he didn’t get messages and Franco takes his phone and plays them for him since he doesn’t know how to work his phone. The two share an awkward catch up when Carl comes back with a disgusting Thanksgiving life hack. He and Lucy also have a quick catch up and Arthur excuses himself to the kitchen. After Lucy denies him, Sofia tries to help Carl by giving dating advice and he takes it as flirting and he denies her. Franco goes to the kitchen and he and Arthur talk about his strained relationship with Lucy. Franco suggests Arthur invite Lucy so they can be a family again, but Arthur won’t commit unless Franco invites his own father. Both men being stubborn causes them to agree without thinking the whole situation through.

Franco is setting up places when Randy comments on the placements, especially his seat with Sofia. Carl wants to change the arrangement to get another chance at Lucy because he’s failed before at Joanie’s funeral. Randy switches gears to commend Franco on inviting his dad, but he gives insight on how he only goes to family’s houses for food. Fawz (Maz Jobrani) comes in bundled up because he’s prepared for Black Friday shopping. He’s treating his son to the latest game system because he’s a shady businessman at a young age like he is now. He pours himself a hot cup of coffee into his thermos and sticks it in his pants to prepare himself for the cold. Once he walks out the shop, Lucy comes in and she’s excited to see Randy. She thanks her for teaching her how to roll a joint and putting on a condom properly. Lucy and Arthur speak to each other and Franco pushes them together for a hug. Of course, it’s awkward but they bond over Lucy bringing her mom’s turkey dish and not paying for the toll road. A “Hey Franco” scares Franco and we see it’s his dad Reggie (Cedric The Entertainer). He explains the early arrival and all day visit on his aunt moving and not telling him and the rest of the family not inviting him to the family reunion in Detroit. Of course, he invaded the new tenants’ meal and pulls biscuits out of his pocket to stop a hug with Franco.

Reggie insults Arthur with a terrible joke and Franco asks him to behave. He explains to him he’s trying to fix the relationship between Arthur and Lucy after Reggie misunderstands “get them together” and how Arthur has been spending holidays alone. Reggie makes fun of Franco by calling him Dr. Phil for his efforts and tells him to fill his cup. Franco wants Arthur to talk to Lucy and Randy explains they all know he’s nervous because of how he’s dressed. Carl and Lucy are catching up and in more words than needed he tells her he works odd jobs. Again, Franco tries to get a conversation going with Arthur and Lucy and we get another failed dialogue between the two. Lucy stops the awkwardness and agrees the two should just move forward and enjoy the day. Franco declares for the meal to start when Carl realizes he left the turkey. To no one’s surprise, they knew this would happen and they try to work around it. Unfortunately, everyone brought the same dish – yams. Fawz comes back in, warms up to Arthur because he’s hairy and explains he left his spot to return because he’s cold and paid a homeless man to take his place. He also had a hunch Carl would screw up the turkey and sadly bought yams as well. Annoyed, Randy is ready to leave, but Franco departs to find food. Her and Reggie put their alcohol and biscuits together for a temporary meal.

Sofia ignores her mom’s call and this sets off a back and forth with her and Randy. The exchange confuses them both, but Randy still ends it with a mom threat. Franco comes back with turkey sandwiches and the excitement for food is officially gone. He passes them out and the homeless guy Dave (Matt Shea) shows up causing Fawz to leave. Franco kicks him out and before he goes he takes Sofia’s sandwich, too. The group again tries to make the best out of the situation and Arthur and Lucy bond over their distaste for Joanie’s old stuffing. Franco applauds them, but Reggie ruins the moment by repeating Arthur has been having his meals alone, which is probably better than the sandwiches. This makes Lucy upset since he didn’t want to spend it with her all these years.

The group is cleaning up when Fawz comes in ecstatic that he snatched the game system from a little girl and got it for his son. Arthur tries to pass blame on Franco, but he doesn’t take it. Randy and Sofia tell him to make it right from their respective perspectives on missing family today. The ladies decide to have one more sweet awkward mother and daughter moment by hugging and then calling their family. Franco agrees with Randy and he explains regardless of his own dad being awful, with Reggie agreeing to some of it, he still loves and hangs out with him. Arthur takes the advice and leaves to mend things with Lucy. Reggie decides it’s time to leave too and thanks Franco for being the only one to invite him over. They share one last tragic childhood memory of Franco before he officially leaves. Arthur shows up at Lucy’s house with the turkey and an apology for abandoning her and explaining how him working with emotional stuff is hard. He also tells her he took the toll road so he’s really serious about doing right by her. They both agree to check on each other during the holidays when they both really miss Joanie and start a new tradition with the chicken Arthur brought over.

Arthur returns to the shop and the group is honestly happy eating pizza that Franco got from an open pizza parlor. He tells them he and Lucy made up and Carl tells him he and Lucy can’t work out because of her daddy issues. Sofia has a sarcastic comment on the matter and Carl again turns her down. Franco has them all raise a slice of pizza to the important things in life, but Fawz cuts the list off when he realizes he forgot the controllers and hurries out the door to buy some. He comes back in for a quick second to say if he doesn’t come back the small girl he fought earlier may have done it and he would want her to be tried as an adult.