BET’s hit scripted series, ‘Being Mary Jane,’ aired the 8th episode of it’s 3rd season last night (December 1, 2015).

[FLASHBACK: RECAP: Being Mary Jane Season 3, Episode 7 (Watch Full Episode)]

This week’s episode is titled, ‘Wake Up Call’ as Mary Jane Paul experiences several ‘aha’ moments relating to her family matters & selling out in her career.

Synopsis:

Mary Jane hears harsh opinions about her show while sitting in on a journalism lecture.

In other events, Patrick’s life seems to be on track until he’s surprised with a family intervention.

Read recap + watch full video below…

VIDEO: Being Mary Jane Season 3, Episode 8

Never a borrower or a lender be…

This week’s episode starts out with a family gettogether at Mary Jane’s house of glass.

What starts out as a ‘picture perfect’ family gathering turns into a huge dispute as Mary Jane’s niece announces that she wants a car. While Neicy gets roasted for attempting to spend her first bit of earnings on a new car.

Mary Jane, who coincidentally takes the position at the head of the table, gets a bit preachy when she convinces her audience that they all should be a bit more frugal when it comes to family money matters.

All of this is spoken while the family dines in Mary Jane’s lavish glass abode and partakes in her courtyard swimming pool… but I digress.

Mary Jane references Suze Orman’s suggestions for obtaining financial security but her speech about ‘communal accountability’ falls on deaf ears.

“That’s why y’all don’t have nice things… “ ~ Mary Jane Paul

Scandalism Sells…

Mary Jane heads to speak at Clark Atlanta University about journalism and she notes how branding is also the key to success in today’s scandal driven media.

There’s a bit of shade thrown at CNN’s Don Lemon, who Mary Jane states injects himself into the news.

“People say they want in-depth reports but all they really look are headlines,” Mary Jane tells the class.? She also states that people today are obsessed with blogs and tabloid gossip and that the ‘real news’ has to compete with all of the drama.

When asked how she overcomes those obstacles, Mary Jane notes that ‘branding’ is key… and the reason why people like Kim Kardashian have a voice, but a knowledgeable student in the room calls her out about her statement.

The Kim Kardashian analogy doesn’t apply to you.

When you gave up talk back to prime time to ‘brand yourself’ you lost your voice. Seeing your Black face up there validates these bandwagon stories that contributes to a culture of fear based news.

You sold out. That’s why we don’t trust you.

POW!? That had to hurt!!

White men have pink peens…

Mary Jane finally invites her club jump off to her home but not before running a full background check on her handsome new man (who she has saved in her phone as ‘White Men Can’t Jump’)

In honor of World Aids Day, Mary Jane also has a platter full of home AIDS tests, which she fully intends to take along with her latest sex partner.

The pair take the test and after coming up negative they fall into a full blown sex fest.

[Sidebar: I wonder if MJ made cutty butty, the married dude and David all take the test too??]

Mary Jane also allows her new ‘swirl’ to spend the night, indicating that she may be feeling him a little bit more than a one night stand.

When Kara asks about her encounter, she states ‘It was pink!’ Mary Jane also notes that the stereotype about White Men and oral sex is totally true.

“They do love to chomp on the box…”

Extortioners give great career advice…

As Mary Jane drops off her final payment to CC the stud extortionist (Loretta Devine) she seems to want a bit of advice for her money.

Mary Jane realizes after speaking to the college students, that she is perceived as being more concerned with being famous than reporting the news.? Her reference to Don Lemon seems to ring true about her own career.

Mary Jane asks her extortioner if she feels she’s a ‘sell out’ and when CC shares her thoughts, MJ gets defensive about the issues in her life.

“You prefer things and not value…” ~ C.C.

CC suggests that Mary Jane may be missing her position on ‘Talk Back’ (where she actually tackled socially conscious issues)? as opposed to her money making position delivering news about lost puppies.

She also shows up unannounced to Mary Jane’s home to give her a bit of advice.

Don’t go back to ‘Talk Back’ for less money for your people.? We don’t need to tear down to build.

Keep prime time.? Do their news, but ask them for ‘talk back’ and do that show any way you want. Ask for both.

We need you on Prime Time because that’s progress and our babies need to see winners in all walks of life…. even if they are screwing White boys.

Oddly enough, Mary Jane takes C.C.’s advice and asks to reclaim her position ‘Talk Back’

“The African-American audience is ratings gold hunny. It’s a demographic we could easily exploit. Especially when we tackle the hot-button, emotional stuff.” ~ Mary Jane

A ‘lil something’ can eventually add up to a lot…

Everybody has been rooting for Patrick (Richard Brooks), but it seems his recovery has been somewhat tarnished by his will to succeed.

Tracy returns to discover that her baby daddy is no longer interested in a relationship with her, so she goes to Mary Jane to snitch about Patrick being back on drugs.

Mary Jane decides to have a talk with her brother (just to be sure) and sure enough… Patrick, a recovering drug addict, has fallen off the wagon once again.

Patrick admits that he’s just using ‘a lil something’ to focus and excuses his drug use because he’s not using ‘street drugs.’

Mama & Daddy Patterson are waiting in the wings and hear Patrick’s confession and they each vow to take his daughter until he gets back on track.

“I’m sick & tired of all you grown ass adults sucking up all the air when you should be taking care of these babies!” ~ Daddy Patterson

The episode ends and Patrick storms out but we never discovered exactly what drug he was using.

What did you think about this week’s episode of Being Mary Jane?