Thoughts on Mad About You, episodes 87-91

 

via IMDB

"You can survive blackmail in politics, but you cannot survive your own stupidity."

-- It's been the best of times and it's been the worst of times rewatching Season Four of Mad About You. On the one hand, I'm been consistently impressed with Hunt and Reiser's performances, not to mention his growth as an actor. On the other hand, I'm am so, so ready to be done with the How We Met Our Mabel storyline. I remember reading somewhere that MAY was pitched as "a shorter, funnier thirtysomething," but at this point in the season, the comedy-drama balance feels out of whack. Not helping matters is that the episodes are flirting with serialization. The next batch includes a genuine three-part episode, but you could argue that Season Four is a 24-part story.

-- Today's batch begins with "Do Me a Favor," directed by Gordon Hunt and written by Ron Darian. It's the first episode for Doug (Bradley White), who'll soon cause trouble in the Buchman marriage. With that in mind, it's interesting that Paul and Jamie's first conversations about Doug should include Paul recommending that Jamie unbutton her shirt a little to get his interest, and later that she should imagine him naked (i.e. vulnerable). Jamie wants Doug, a close ally of Lance's, to recommend her for the Fun City Committee (Hey, It's Cleanup-era NYC!). Doug doesn't want to do Jamie the favor. Meanwhile, Paul has a camera with great zooming capabilities and Ira's back with an old girlfriend, Iris (Kathleen Wilhoite). Ira has promised Iris' daughter Sophie (Tiffany Taubman) an autographed photo of Giuliani. Ira is leaning on Paul to have Jamie do him a favor and get the photo.

-- Paul and Jamie's lunch includes discussing how to pronounce "gyro" (the Greek food) and catching Doug, Lance and shady political operative Arthur (Richard Portnow) covertly meeting. Paul takes a photo of the three men, with Lance spitting out a too hot portion of his gyro. Back at City Hall, Doug says he knows Jamie would be right for the committee, but it's a matter of her not having enough power. Doug is soon proven wrong when Jamie gives him Paul's photo.

-- "I think we just blackmailed my boss." Before Jamie comes to this realization, Doug and Paul share a misunderstanding. Paul thinks Doug wants to talk to him about the autographed photo. Doug wants to talk to Paul about the blackmail photo. Jamie gets her committee assignment, then remembers Arthur used to work for Giuliani's previous mayoral campaign. The Buchmans come clean with Doug, who says their conversation can't leave his office. He wants Jamie to do him a favor and keep the job.

-- Beginning with "The Glue People," David Steinberg directed the remainder of Season Four. "Glue" was written by Victor Levin. At first glance, it seems like this will be a high concept episode. Through a series of phone calls, a dinner for six is arranged. It will allow Mark to see that Fran and Ira are not a couple anymore* and allow Ira and Iris a chance to renew their relationship**. Paul doesn't like the idea of getting involved, but Jamie convinces him that they're the least crazy people among their friends, the pair that everyone looks up to socially.

*Seeing Fran and Ira together arouses Mark's suspicions. He's starting to understand crimes of passion.

**Fat chance. "Glue" ends up being Wilhoite's last episode.

-- Alan Ruck makes his last MAY appearance in "Glue." Lance is following through on his dream of running for mayor of New York City. He's doing it with a team including Doug, Fran and Jamie. The announcement of Lance's campaign includes Jamie sending Paul a message ("I ... love ... Greek dancing?"), then flashing the bottom of her boob (Hey, it's the pre-YouTube era!). Jamie wants Paul to direct Lance's commercials, which leads to the couple arguing about Paul being apolitical, Lance vs. Giuliani and Lance's platform, which includes raising subway fares by a nickel and renaming streets after famous people. I wish the show had been more honest about why Paul doesn't want to do Lance's commercials. He can claim he doesn't want to be a "propagandist" (and invokes the Nazis for good measure) but I'm certain it's really that he thinks the work is beneath him as a serious filmmaker.

-- Lance's campaign includes, of all things, the idea of making New York New York again***. If that wasn't enough secondhand slogans, we're also informed that "It's morning in Central Park again." Paul's ad, which includes Lance hugging a swan, is a hit with everyone but Paul. In fact, the ad helps Mark, Fran, Ira and Iris break the ice. Before that happens, the gag of wondering how to pronounce a food item ("bruschetta") is repeated. Anyway, Mark suggests that had Paul been around, Dukakis would have been elected president. Tension rises between the Buchmans, who end up storming out of the restaurant. Their guests wonder why they always eat with Paul and Jamie, but determine it's because the couple look up to all of them socially.

***MNYNYA?

-- Next up is "The Sample," written by Ron Darian & Seth Kurland & Larry Charles. Paul and Jamie are taking some of his semen to be examined at the hospital. Paul's carrying the sample in a cooler, which makes it look like they're either carrying picnic items or something to be transplanted. After 45 minutes, the sample is no good. Jamie promised Lisa could borrow the Buchmans' car after she drops off her and Paul. Paul promised Ira could borrow the car. It looks like nobody's going to borrow the car, which is caught between the curb and a truck containing equipment for a Sidney Lumet movie starring Al Pacino. Despite insistences that getting the car out is doable, Paul opts to wait until the truck's moved, which will only take seven minutes tops. By the time the quartet comes back, the car's gone. "See, Paulie, doable."

-- Paul and Jamie's nurse isn't a sexy woman, like Ira hopes for, but ... Brad Garrett. Brad leads Paul to the depository, ordering him not to dilly dally while creating a new sample. Just as Paul's getting into the latest issue of Slap & Tickle, Ira interrupts. Ira's seen most of the porn available. He turns on the TV, revealing coverage of a high-speed chase involving the NYPD and the Buchmans' car! Outside the depository, Lisa reveals to Jamie that she's involved with Sanford Klarik, who's sexy, in his 20s and the heir to the department store fortune. It's not a casual thing. Sanford wants to marry Lisa. Back in the depository, Paul is fretting that if his sample ends up colliding with a ovulating woman, he could face a paternity suit. Lisa and Jamie enter the depository, with Paul pointing out that now Lisa wants to watch the car. The chase ends and the bomb squad approaches the cooler ... Brad ends up throwing Paul and company out of the depository for treating it like a playroom.

-- From the depository to the men's room ... Paul's having a hard time getting in the mood. There's a fly in there. Paul swats at it, making noisy and easy to misunderstand sounds. He needs Jamie to do something for him. Cut to Jamie (badly) singing "I Wanna Be Loved By You." Paul wants her to sing it louder. Hey, it does the trick. Paul and Jamie learn his sperm's just fine. Jamie's immediate reaction is wondering what's wrong with her.

-- This leads us to "The Procedure," written by Brenda Hampton & Larry Charles. Whether you call it a procedure or surgery, Jamie's rendezvous with handsome Dr. Griffin (Julian Stone) is being prepared for with all the anticipation of a date. Griffin comes recommended by Fran, who has a crush on him. Paul plans on being there for Jamie, but he's also got to deal with office politics. It seems that Paul violated Explorer Channel policy by directing Lance's commercial, a matter that Hollis is determined to pursue. Hollis arrives in time to meet Ira, who poses as Paul's agent. Ira Unibal, like the pen manufacturer but with only one "l." He's Portuguese and will appear on Paul's behalf at that afternoon's board meeting.

-- Jamie's not happy that Fran's also dolled herself up for the hospital visit. While the ladies go on a pre-procedure search for Dr. Griffin, Mark sets Paul straight about their behavior. Not only do patients sometimes look at their doctors as gods, but a doctor can seem sexier based on their rank. An ugly surgeon beats out a handsome podiatrist. Jamie is nearly forbidden from wearing her special nightgown, but Mark gets the nurse (Judyann Elder) to back off. Back at the Explorer Channel, Ira's losing his cool. He's seen friendlier-looking parole boards. Paul leaves as Jamie's sedative takes effect ...

-- Mrs. Buchman may or may not be having an out of body experience. She asks Dr. Griffin his opinion. Everything appears to be in order. There doesn't seems to be any medical reason why she can't have children. Before returning to her body, Jamie asks to see her doctor's face. "*blinding white light* Wow. You're gorgeous." Ira, meanwhile, lays the whole breach of contract fiasco at his feet. It gives Paul a chance to declare how mortified and horrified he is, not to mention it saves Paul's neck with the executives minus Hollis (who's chastised when he tries to pursue the matter a little further). Back at the hospital, Jamie learns from Paul that she really is okay. She immediately wants to know why she isn't pregnant yet. He wants her to enjoy the good news for at least five more minutes.

-- Last, and to be honest, least, is "The Weed," written by Billy Grundfest & Larry Charles. Paul and Jamie are due for a vacation, but he can't go until he finishes his latest project. It's the price one pays when you work for the man. Jamie: "What are you, Shaft?" Besides, Paul's the man. The Type A man. The perfectionist man who'll waste two hours getting the lighting right, consults a continuity person**** and is very much against having the weed in question be manipulated in any way. Over at their office, Doug, Jamie and eventually Fran (she had a two-hour lunch with Mark) are dealing with Lance's faux pas. He accepted money ($14, it turns out) from a reputed crime boss. Doug has no life outside his job. Jamie's life is on hold. Fran's life is active. She gets permission from her colleagues to go away with Mark for the weekend. It seems the Pennsylvania trip he planned is non-refundable.

****A documentary requires a continuity person? 

-- "The Weed" is Sid's last episode. He's not thrilled about staying late while Paul agonizes over footage. "It's 2 a.m., don't you have a life?" Later, Sid asks if Paul's seen Citizen Kane. "This ain't it." Rather than, say, maybe consider that he's a friggin' hired gun and that he takes himself too damn seriously, Paul wonders if he wants to still work for a big company. The uncertainty continues at the Buchmans. It's 4 a.m. Paul watching his footage is interrupted by Jamie, who reveals she almost quit her job. When Paul finishes his movie, they've got to get away for a bit. Paul's distracted. He considers making it more obvious that Weed is from the weed's point of view.

-- I haven't been this annoyed at Paul's filmmaking technique since the New York at Night arc in Season Two. He does 47 takes of a shot involving a crane, tries to ban Hollis from the street he's shooting on, claims Bobby (also making his last appearance) has turned on him, clears everyone but himself from the shooting site and ends up trapped several feet about the ground. When Ira's not waiting on an old lady (Amzie Strickland) who's looking for sweatshirts, rifles, tetherballs, blow guns, windbreakers and hatchets, he suggests that Paul learn to sacrifice a little. Seriously, I am so Team Ira right now it's not even funny.

-- Amazingly enough, the Explorer Channel executives love Weed. They wouldn't change a thing. On the other hand, if there is the opportunity to make the weed more sympathetic ... how about a street-smart weed with a nemesis? An incredulous Paul half-seriously suggests a cat or a crazed gardener. Once again, I'm rolling my eyes at Paul once again putting up with yutzes with power. The top executive (Sherman Howard) points out that the channel expected Paul and Hollis to turn in a friendly, upbeat film on schedule and on budget. Since there's no way to reach a constructive solution ... they're both fired. Suddenly Paul and Hollis are on friendlier terms. David Strickland has one more episode to go ...

-- As for Paul and Jamie, she wonders if he's in denial about how he feels after losing his job. And why not? She felt the same way in "Married to the Job," also in Season Two. Paul insists he's fine. He and Jamie catch the premiere of Weed, which has been re-edited to include the cat and crazed gardener.

-- Continuity Corner: Paul now greets Ira by calling him "Splinky" ("Glue" and "Procedure"). Paul claims to have grown up in Queens ("Glue"). The graphics for the establishing shot of Buchman's Sporting Goods have changed ("Weed").

-- Great Moments in Not-Exactly Shilling: Ira and Iris argue over him bringing home sandwiches rather than the Chinese they agreed upon. The sandwiches in question are from Blimpie's ("Favor"), which isn't specifically named. Paul drinks not-Diet Coke ("Favor") and not-Pepsi ("Sample").

-- Hey, It's the 90s!: Dr. Griffin and his anesthesiologist compare ER with Chicago Hope ("Procedure"). Hollis declares "I love you, man!" while hugging Paul ("Weed").

-- Fun With Voiceovers: I'm not 100 percent sure, but it sounds like Kevin Nealon as the voice of the reporter covering the chase ("Sample") and Ramsay making the hospital announcements ("Procedure").

-- Before the Credits: Paul tries to scare away Jamie's hiccups ("Favor"). Jamie wonders what their dermatologist does at night, prompting Paul to make up a story where he's a vigilante, removing blemishes without consent ("Glue"). Jamie gets Paul to stop making slurping sounds by asking for a divorce ("Sample"). Jamie claims Paul got a call from "Andy Griffith," but it's actually Randy Rifkin ("Procedure"). Jamie completely botches shuffling a deck of cards. "Is this your card?" ("Weed").

-- Under the Credits: Sophie gets her autographed photo, only it turns out she doesn't even know who Giuliani is ("Favor"). Paul uses the new street names while giving directions ("Glue"). The nurse helps a man find what he brought his sample in -- a violin case ("Sample"). Hollis investigates if Unibal Talent is real ("Procedure"). Paul is strongly considering buying exercise equipment from TV ("Weed").

-- Ratings Roundup: MAY ping-ponged during this batch, either ranking No. 4 or No. 7 for its evening. The most notable TV movie was Harvest of Fire, a Hallmark Hall of Fame production where FBI agent Lolita Davidovich befriends Amish widow Patty Duke while investigating the arson burning of several barns.