It's Chris Keslar's Turn to Be "Flipping Out"

Just a few quick thoughts about last night's episode of Flipping Out ("Looks Like New").

While the action surrounding Jenni and the dissolution of her marriage to former trash guy-turned-house manager Chris Elwood seem to have subsided this week, the real drama this week was surrounding Jeff Lewis' new house assistant Chris Keslar. (Fun fact about Chris: he's the brother of Project Runway 3 contestant Angela Keslar.)

Chris has been upfront about his interest in the real estate business since Jeff first hired him and has made his dissatisfaction at the details of his current position clear to all. This is a guy who would like to be shopping for tile and finishings for Jeff's homes... rather than cleaning up after the dogs at Commonwealth. And this week, things went from bad to worse as Jeff pulled a power play and decided to put Chris in his place, first telling him that he'd have to take the bus back after dropping off his car to be serviced (which, yes, is ridiculous as your employer should pay for you to at least take a taxi back than waste time waiting around for a bus) and then later denying his request to take off for Memorial Day, "a national holiday," according to Chris. (I loved how feisty Zoila shot back that the people working in hotels and restaurants still have to work that day too.)

I do feel for Chris. As someone who works in the entertainment industry, I had to pay my dues when I was starting out... and pay them I did. It's not easy, it's certainly not fun, and typically the person directly above you has a thing about making the practice as demeaning and emotionally draining as possible, just because they had to go through it too. (Yeah, kids, hate to spoil the illusion but the television industry can be a cesspool.)

That said, I do understand where Jeff is coming from as well. Chris was hired to do a job in the role of house assistant and that comes with certain responsibilities and expectations; Jeff does want to help Chris achieve his goals but it clearly takes time to earn his trust and respect. We all know that Jeff has boundary issues (just look at him harrassing Jenni about where she's living or the fact that he went into a someone's apartment whilst she was away and rearranged the furniture and threw out "unnecessary" items) and--to him anyway--it looks like Chris is trying to overreach from his current position.

As for how long Chris Keslar will actually stay at Jeff Lewis' office is another matter. Chris' blog posting on BravoTV.com seem to be written in the past tense... leading some to question whether Chris still even works for Jeff Lewis. Hmmm. I wouldn't be surprised if the season finale of Flipping Out leads to Chris leaving for greener pastures, maybe even going to work for Ryan.

But how great was it to see Jeff get browbeaten by an eleven-year-old? Little Erin, the daughter of demanding client Lorie (who herself seems to have no concept of budgets or expenditure or, hell, profit), throws a fit when she sees the colors that Jeff has selected for the accent wall of her bedroom as one of the pinks is ugly and doesn't have enough "contrast." After all, she wanted orange in the first place and this little girl is going to tear Jeff down until she gets what she wants. Ouch.

Best line of the evening: "I haven't done an exorcism... in six or seven years." - Jeff

Next week on Flipping Out ("Tapped Out"), Courtney's husband starts sniffing around the job site, leading to some conflict between Jeff and Ryan; Jenni inadvertently sends the wrong list to Carrie.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Big Brother 10 (CBS); Baby Borrowers (NBC); America's Next Top Model (CW); Wife Swap (ABC); So You Think You Can Dance (FOX; 8-10 pm)

9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Baby Borrowers (NBC); Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (CW); Supernanny (ABC)

10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Law & Order (NBC); Primetime: Crime (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

9 pm: Project Runway on Bravo.

Season Five (the final season on Bravo) of Project Runway continues tonight with sixteen unsuspecting designers thrown into the deep end. On tonight's episode ("Grass is Always Greener"), the designers must expand their way of thinking by going green with the help of their models.