Popular - There is no such thing as an easy clean-up.

Popular: 1x09 Wild Wild Mess

• Short review because even though this is a good episode, I don’t find myself having to say much about it
• The motto of the week comes from Professor Ross, and it is inspired by the chaos and destruction following a strike of the school’s janitorial staff: “Life is messy, Miss Ferrara, and how we deal with that mess says a great deal about our character. You can either ignore this stench until it seeps into your pores and suffocate you, or you can face the filth and accept the fact that there is no such thing as an easy clean-up.”
• Brooke thinks she’s pregnant (even though recently ex-boyfriend Josh and she were using protection). Sam witnesses the freak-out, and turns out to be understanding and helpful instead of horrible and judgemental  laying a first foundation for a solid friendship between the two in the process.
• Josh does all the awkward trying-to-be-responsible things a good ex-boyfriend is supposed to do, but Sam turns out to be more practical and helpful. 
• Brooke alludes to something bigger she dealt with on her own to Sam, but doesn’t tell her about the eating disorder.
• When Brooke finally finds out that she isn’t pregnant, there is a beautiful quiet moment of understanding between her and Sam – a heartfelt “You’re welcome”. 
• The school asks the students to nominate people for a “principal-of-the-day” job. While the cheerleaders pursue their dreams of going to Paltrow High for a day, Carmen, Lily and Sam try to get Harrison’s mum for the job – who used to date George Stephanopoulos. Turns out, Harrison’s mum spent years of her life pretending to be straight which resulted in incredibly unhappiness, and is currently dating a lovely co-worker who Harrison likes in theory, but he also thinks that his mum’s sexuality contributes to his status as an outcast even more, which is why he tries to keep it a secret from his friends. 
• “It’s bad enough I hang out with three girls and that I’m not dating any of them. I don’t need the whole damn school thinking that I’m queer too. You don’t mind people thinking you’re a freak? Fine, I do”.
• The friends, whoever, inevitably find out and try to convey to him that his mum is a really cool and lovely person, regardless of her sexual orientation, but in the process of trying to get their fellow students to vote for her (against Harrison’s request), they find out that homophobia still prevails (“Because it’s gross. I mean, it may be trendy, but it’s still wrong.”). 
• Sheila, Harrison’s mum’s girlfriend, turns out to be one of the most awesome parental figures on Popular and also kind of understands where Harrison is coming from. In the end, they reach an agreement that Harrison is going to try and be supportive and his mum is going to try and understand that “the whole world’s not on my schedule”. Harrison ends up nominating her for the guest-principal spot. 
• In a ridiculous sub-plot, Mary Cherry, Poppy and Nicole kidnap a man who they think is Gwyneth Paltrow’s personal shopper. In the end, he tells them that they are the true fashionistas since they create their own style (“Why do you worship some stranger who doesn’t have the confidence to buy her own underwear? You’re the real thing.”), while Gwyneth needs hired help – and they let him go, only finding out he’s a delusional mental patient later. I guess the whole thing is slightly funny considering that Gwyneth Paltrow is now a country singer who occasionally guest stars in Glee. 

Random notes: 

Nicole (to Sugar): If I wanted your opinion the subject would be pancakes. 

Carmen takes a comically long time to realize that Harrison’s mum has a girlfriend. 

“At this point in my life I’d be more likely to date Hillary Clinton”. 

What is that thing on your hair Sam? Is it alive? Does it eat humans?

Brooke tells Sam: “We’re gonna have a baby”. Also the word “threesome” is thrown around a bit, thusly contributing to Popular’s well-deserved “most intentional gay subtext” award.