Thoughts on Mad About You, episodes 102-106

 

Courtesy Amadeus3000

"Sweetie, inhale so Mommy can leave home."

-- I'm not going to give my crown to any one performer, writer or director. This is an overall enjoyable batch of episodes. With Jamie giving birth assured for the season finale, Mad About You has the opportunity to get back to basics regarding who the Buchmans are while also having some fun with its now-arsenal of supporting players. Four of the five episodes I watched were directed by David Steinberg, with the exception of "The Gym," which was directed by Michael Lembeck. 

-- We begin with "Outbreak," written by Richard Day. Parodying the movie of the same name, with the news of Jamie's pregnancy being spread instead of the Ebola virus, the episode was also apparently Carol Burnett's Emmy submission. Paul and Jamie know they're going to have to start sharing their news. She ends up telling a stranger (Joanna Daniels). Paul doesn't like this, explaining it in terms of Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon and how Sylvia could end up being the last to know. The Buchmans decide they'll tell everyone in their circle on Thanksgiving, which is less than three days away. 

-- The problem is, Ira's not planning on going to Paul and Jamie's. He's got a date and has booked the honeymoon suite at the Pierre. Paul's evasiveness, not to mention the fact he's stopped talking about conceiving, helps Ira realize what's up. Burt just manages to stay in the dark. Jamie isn't thrilled that Ira knows and wants him to keep a secret. The only problem is, he told his hairstylist, Arturo (José Zúñiga), who lives for having gossip to share. By the end of the Arturo episode, Lisa knows. She can keep a secret (just ask Sanford, who wet the bed until college), but still ends up sharing the information. She's not alone. Arturo told a customer, Mel Slotkin. Sanford, who found out about the pregnancy from Lisa, decides to dedicate "You're Having My Baby" to the Buchmans. Jamie races to the station ...

-- ... And runs into Fran! Leila Kenzle returns to MAY after a six-episode absence. Jamie really needs to stop that "Baby" dedication. Meanwhile, Theresa is listening to the station Sanford called. Once again, Carol Burnett gets a few moments to mug. It's Carol Burnett, are you going to ask her not to? Back on the street, Fran wonders if Jamie's gotten tired of her, a claim Jamie doesn't adequately deny. Jamie's zero for two, because the DJ (Carol Rosenthal) also misinterprets her mimed clues not to give the dedication. (This is why I always keep a pen and paper on hand.) Theresa freaks out at the news. 

-- A little later, Paul learns that Burt's poker game includes Mel Slotkin (Alex Rocco), with whom he has an antagonistic relationship. Paul knows he has to play the game to keep Mel quiet. He also has to stop Debbie, making pies at the Buchmans', from seeing an incoming floral delivery. Ira figures Paul should give up, saying there are already monkeys in Africa who know about Jamie being pregnant. Theresa, meanwhile, is hurt about how she found out. Not to mention that Jamie's three months pregnant. She actually mentions that it could have been revealed during "Jamie's Parents." On the other hand, Theresa is coming around to being known as a "grandmother," which Paul can't say because Debbie's around. Debbie, annoyed at Paul being coy, is ready to leave. She and Paul meet Maggie, who has the flowers, at the door. Meanwhile, at Arturo's, Fran is poised to learn what's up. 

-- Shortly after that, Sylvia's leaving her apartment so Burt can play poker. She's preparing to help out Jamie. Sylvia's not thrilled about attending the only Thanksgiving in America without a kiddy table. Paul learns that Mel doesn't want to tell Burt about the pregnancy, until he finds out it would hurt Burt to hear it from him. Mel's ultimately bribed. Back at the Buchmans, Sylvia is harassing Jamie ("My son will die childless.") and Joan's on her way over (she had a fight with Debbie about keeping the pregnancy a secret; hello, Hippocratic Oath?). Sylvia and Joan end up crossing paths and Joan's about to eschew confidentiality. (Sylvia is indeed the last to know about the pregnancy. Either her or Gus.) Back at Burt & Sylvia's, Burt wins the poker game with a straight flush. "Your son's having a kid."

-- Anyway, Thanksgiving arrives and Paul and Jamie's announcement is treated like old news. Everyone's annoyed at how the couple handled things. Incidentally, where is Theresa? Paul and Jamie nearly win back their guests with thoughtful words about how they got to share the pregnancy with their loved ones. And the female stranger from the start of the episode, who's a guest of Hal and Maggie's ... along with her friend, Kevin Bacon! He congratulates Paul and Jamie in front of the pissed guests.

-- Next is "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge," solely by Victor Levin. Paul and Jamie have sexual problems. He wants to do it, but he's afraid he'll hurt her or the baby. Ira, whose partners included a pregnant woman, explains that it can be done safely. Paul doesn't have to be abstinent until July. For her part, Jamie is willing to have sex, leading to a funny sequence where Paul attempts to suspend himself above her body. Besides figuring out how to comfortably have sex, Paul and Jamie are also putting up with her morning sickness. On the plus side, they're finally taking a vacation. It's a trip to see the upstate snow. In six months, they're not going to be able to have that kind of alone time.

-- Paul and Jamie are meeting Burt & Sylvia for lunch. It takes them a while to realize a PDA-abusing couple are the elder Buchmans. Sylvia's on estrogen therapy and as Burt puts it, "We're back in the saddle!" They've been cutting a sexual swath through New York, including at the Bronx Zoo. Jamie's nausea returns. Sylvia: "She's not the strongest girl." Soon after, Burt goes to the bathroom. "He's got the greatest ass, doesn't he?" Relaxing at their bed and breakfast, Paul and Jamie discover that some locally-made fudge is an aphrodisiac. They take the available opportunity, then get some more fudge, then have sex again, then get some more fudge (to the annoyance an old lady general store proprietor). Paul and Jamie, still horny, arrive home and disturb Maggie ("Monkeys."). The spell is broken when they catch Burt & Sylvia in their bed. No, SnackWell's and Mallomars won't do the trick. Furthermore, Jamie's losing her mojo. She also fears Paul is too sexually aggressive, leading to more advice from Ira.

-- My least favorite episode in this batch was "The Gym," by Levin & Day & Larry Charles. MAY just isn't that good at doing Seinfeld-esque episodes. "Gym" is one where Paul and Ira are assholes and in Paul's case, an asshole hiding behind a veneer of decency. Paul's into working out at the Inferno, a gym Ira is trying to close a merchandising deal with. Paul doesn't want Jamie to go to the Inferno and he's not thrilled about Ira being there to work on owner Dante (Paul Parducci). The Inferno is Paul's sanctuary from his everyday existence, a place where he doesn't have to be anybody. (Because, you know, being Paul Buchman is so demanding.) Paul's fellow exercisers and Dante are on an information-when-it-comes basis with him. Unfortunately, aspiring actor Dante figures out Paul's in show business.

-- Soon after, Paul and Jamie encounter former bookseller (and now homeless) Virgil (Bruno Kirby). He lost his job due to the chain the Buchmans visited at the episode's beginning. (If it's any consolation, that place likely was killed by Amazon.) Virgil's a decent guy. He provides Jamie with a copy of the then-rare Ask the Dust. She rewards him with the 10-visit gym pass Paul wouldn't let her use. Paul won't let Virgil know when he works out. Jamie eventually calls out Paul, saying Mystery Man has become Hypersensitive Man. Ira's tried of the Mystery Man crap, too, saying so to Paul at a time when the cousins and Virgil are all at the gym. Dante wants Virgil out, vowing to kill whomever gave him the pass.

-- Ira's pissed at Jamie for potentially jeopardizing his deal (which Dante has yet to commit to). Jamie's pissed at Paul for offering the "there's no winners" excuse. Paul and Ira meet Virgil and his fellow homeless men at the library, where Paul claims to understand being struggling. He offers to bribe Virgil for the pass. Virgil, for his part, likes that Ira's straightforward with him. It's still presented as "Dante wouldn't want homeless people in his club," but it's apparent that "Paul and Ira have a problem with the homeless guy." Again, Seinfeld would have been honest about this. Anyway, Jamie learns about Virgil losing the pass and goes to raise hell at the Inferno. She gladly kills Mystery Man in front of the gym rats. Virgil arrives and he's acknowledged as an acquaintance of Paul's. Remember, Dante still wants Paul to give him a job, so he ends up accepting Virgil and commits to the deal with Ira. Virgil leaves the gym to go back to his sidewalk store and Jamie kisses Paul in front of everybody. "My wife, ladies and gentlemen."

-- The Buchman, Brockwell and baby sagas return in "Chicken Man," written by Jonathan Leigh Solomon & Ron Darian & Charles. I have to give props to Darian, who not only co-wrote the episode, but gave a memorable performance as "Chicken Man," a gifted pitchman requiring a specific work environment. Anyway, Paul's trying to find a narrator for his documentary while Jamie needs to get some maternity clothes. It's time for her to tell Brockwell and her co-workers about the pregnancy. Over at campaign headquarters, they're trying to get an endorsement from Ed Koch (so far, he'll commit to the idea that Lance is "electable"). The pregnancy announcement is a eureka moment for Troy, who now knows why "every time we needed you most, you were off peeing." I like Patrick Bristow, but I'm not going to be mad to see Troy gone. He's such an unappealing character.

-- Narrators auditioning for Buchman include a horror announcer type (Roger Behr) and a way-too-friendly sounding man (Danny Breen). Paul would love to get Chicken Man, but he's asking for $5,000. (Just what is the budget for a Paul Buchman production, anyway? And isn't Buchman being financed with a grant?) Ira imitates James Earl Jones, then offers to provide the money. Paul is hesitant about doing business with family. (And yet he's a silent partner at the store ...) Back at Brockwell's, everyone's treating Jamie like a porcelain doll. Adding insult to insult, Brockwell has hired Molly (Kari Coleman). She looks like Jamie, she has a similar background as Jamie and she's clearly meant to act as Jamie in lieu of the real deal. I'm not against this idea, but I couldn't help but wish MAY brought Doug back instead.

-- Chicken Man has a short-lived stint as Paul's narrator. He doesn't have his preferred water and is offended when Ira doesn't take the requirement (or his status as a talented artist) seriously. Jamie, meanwhile, isn't delegating any responsibilities to Molly and doesn't want to go shopping anymore. At Klarik's, Fran is getting more out the maternity wear experience than a rushing Jamie. Lisa's making a bid to be the cool aunt. "C" is for "condom." Jamie has a dizzy spell. Over at the studio, after Ira tries to narrate (reading the script with the skill of a kindergartener before singing), the Buchman cousins get into an argument over whether Ira's actually a producer. It's interrupted by the news about Jamie. Joan informs her more-or-less sister-in-law that the baby's calling the shots now. It wants Jamie to slow down. Jamie resolves to stop trying to do it all. Paul's not going to let her apologize to Molly until tomorrow. As the Buchmans settle in to watch Wheel of Fortune, Ira leaves a message on their machine. He got James Earl Jones (actually the voice of Marcus Smythe)! "Paul, this is 'Buchman.'"

-- Finally, "The Recital," by Moses Port & David Guarascio (soon to write for Just Shoot Me!) & Jenji Kohan & Maria Semple. Picking up maternity hand-me-downs from Fran, Paul and Jamie are forced to listen to Ryan's horrible violin playing. He's got a recital next week and Paul, for whatever reason, commits himself and Jamie to attending. (You'd think he'd be much more adept at reading Jamie's mood.) Fran, meanwhile, reveals she pays Sheila $80 an hour for therapy. Paul and Jamie pay $100 an hour. The news leaves Paul "nearsighted with rage." (Why? Fran is one woman having a session, while Paul and Jamie are two people. If anything, the Buchmans are getting a steal, even for 1997.)

-- Paul and Jamie discuss whether she offended Fran. I'm on Jamie's side here. Ryan's playing sucked and it would give me a headache, too, the kind I'd mention to Fran so she'd halt the practice. "Ryan! Take five!" From there, Paul talks about how Jamie's bad at apologizing. This, plus Paul's passive aggression over the extra $20, is unsatisfying touched upon during the session. Paul has a hard time confronting Sheila about the money situation while easily seething about things like her world travels and picking up the tab when dining with friends. As it turns out, Fran wasn't aware of the meaning behind Jamie's headache comments. Now she's hurt. Ryan (Spencer Klein, returning to the role after four years) is a child. It takes years to master the violin, Jamie points out. "He's been playing for years!"

-- Jamie, trying to make peace, is forced to listen to more of the musical massacring. She finally cracks, and Ryan hears Jamie's harsh but true criticizing. Cut to Ryan's bedroom, where Jamie's trying to console him. This is an okay scene, but I don't care that much about Ryan to begin with, so ... I did like the idea of Ryan giving Jamie a tambourine so she could join him on "Turkey in the Straw." I had a better time with Paul trying to resolve his fear of confronting Sheila. Following Ira and his employee Marvin (Jeff Garlin) play acting a confrontation about Marvin's salary, Paul meets up with the good doctor. Paul and Jamie are new patients and her rates changed since Fran first started seeing Sheila. Paul admits his anger, which Sheila says is a good thing. She suggests he receive additional personal sessions. Once alone, Paul realizes the financial implications of that idea. "Oh, she's good."

-- Ryan's playing still stinks. Fran is the only recital-goer moved by him, despite earlier denying that she's blinded (or rather, deafened) by motherly pride. Ryan, haunted by Jamie's words, stops his performance, smashes the violin and runs off crying. Cut to Sheila's office, where he's slamming his head against the wall. Fran wants him to talk to Sheila. After all, she's paying $120 a session ...

-- The Buchmans Go Broadway: Ira played Jud (or possibly Curly) in a school production of Oklahoma! ("Chicken Man"). The Buchmans, Fran and Sheila are eating at a restaurant next to Don't Tell Mama ("Recital").

-- Blooper: The mike cord can be seen over Helen Hunt at the climax of "Fudge."

-- Fanservice Junction: Besides Parducci, "The Gym" includes Alfonso De Rose as a hunky, Italian gym rat and some sexy, pumped up Black men.

-- Hey, It's the '90s!: Jamie compares Paul's avoidance of her stomach to doing a Jack Palance pushup. Later, he's fiddling with the bed and breakfast TV, complaining that as the millennium approaches, he's dealing with a rabbit ears antenna ("Fudge"). If the entire plot of "Outbreak" wasn't enough of a '90s reference, its source material, The Hot Zone, is seen in the background of "The Gym." Paul considers buying The Lost World or When Elephants Weep as his reading material while exercising, but opts for The Runaway Jury (at least, I think it is).

-- Musical Moments: "One Way or Another" (subtle joke?) plays as Paul and Jamie are riding upstate and discussing how things have changed ("Fudge").

-- Fun with Inside Jokes: Paul says that Six Degrees didn't catch on with Mickey Rourke ("Outbreak"). Rourke, Reiser and Kevin Bacon all appeared in Diner.

-- Today in Classic TV: Jamie confuses Six Degrees with "Hi, Bob," the Bob Newhart Show drinking game ("Outbreak"). At the general store, Paul grabs a pitchfork and claims he's Eddie Albert ("Fudge").

-- Great Moments in Shilling: Paul's unnecessarily complicated Marlon Brando-Kevin Bacon association includes a mention of Demi Moore in the then-recent Striptease ("Outbreak").

-- Fun with Not-Product Placement: The not-Diet Coke in "Outbreak" and the not-Evian in "Recital." On the other hand, the recital refreshments include unmodified bottles of Hawaiian Punch.

-- Continuity Corner: Sylvia wants the baby to be named Leon and claims never to have had morning sickness; also, Murray gets a bowl of dry dog food every morning and lots of water throughout the day; finally, I'd have to go back and check, but Paul and Jamie's bed and breakfast might have the same establishing shot as the one in Vermont in "Weekend Getaway" ("Fudge"). Paul used to be a child musician. He played "Moonlight Sonata" until Mozart's estate wrote for him to quit it ("Recital"). Finally in "Recital," Shelia's office is on the same backlot street as Paul and Jamie's "neighborhood."

-- Supporting Scores: Ira leads, with four episodes. Fran's in three, followed by Lisa, Burt, Sylvia, Maggie and Joan with two each. Debbie, Brockwell and Troy (making their penultimate appearances), Sheila and Marvin appear in one episode each. Mark is presently missing in action (not even a mention in "The Recital") and Nat still needs to appear this season.

-- Before the Credits: Paul can't remember Jaye P. Morgan ("Outbreak"), whispers an explanation of baseball to the baby while Jamie sleeps ("Fudge"), goes back out to get the mini marshmallows for Jamie's late night, craved hot fudge sundae ("Gym"), gets Jamie to realize the light amazingness of a newspaper story ("Chicken") and explains why there's no business like show business ("Recital").

-- Under the Credits: Two monkeys in Africa talk about the pregnancy and their degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon ("Outbreak"). Murray's eaten and seems to be affected by the fudge ("Fudge"). Paul imagines the narration for his life as Mystery Man ("Gym"). Ira realizes Chicken Man has a point about bottled water quality ("Chicken"). Jamie ends up joining in a hum along of "Turkey in the Straw" ("Recital").

-- Ratings Roundup: A range of 12.7 and fourth place for "Outbreak" to 10.6 and seventh place for "The Gym." Home Improvement led all five weeks. The TV movie spotlight is on Unlikely Angel, starring Dolly Parton as a deceased diva having to earn her wings. It came in second place the night of "The Gym." America just couldn't get enough of HI. That hindered MAY when it started and it's going to help kill the show in Seasons Six and Seven.