I am – Hercules!!

Canada continues to get “Studio 60” a day before we gods-fearing Americans, and our star Canadian spy “L-Prime” tells to what we Yanks can look forward:

What’s it called?
“The Harriet Dinner”

Who’s responsible?
Teleplay by Sorkin, based on a story by Eli Attie

What does TV Guide say?
“Part 1 of 3. The cast and staff attend a dinner in honor of Harriet, while Jordan and Danny are stuck on the rooftop. Meanwhile, things between Harriet and Matt deteriorate.”

What is TV Guide not telling us?
While the romance is indeed the order of the night, Jack sets the mission to keep the Asian daughter on the straight and narrow, and Simon continues his asinine vendetta against Darius.

So, romance moving front and centre?
Very much, indeed so. The Matt/Harriet piece at least took a somewhat realistic turn, with some real, grown-up interchange, but both Danny/Jordan and Tom/Lucy fall prey to elongating of plot/ridiculous contrivance. I said previously that it could be a welcome turn, but it really needs to feel more organic than this.

Danny still coming off all stalkery?
Not so much. I think Sorkin caught on to the vibe he put across last week. The pursuit is by no means over, but there’s definitely some self-realization at work.

Hey, you forgot about Timothy Busfield last week!
Yeah, I don’t really remember him showing up last week. But even with his directing stint this week, he’s got the best subplot, involving Dora the Explorer and two-dozen poisonous vipers.

Lucy. You forgot Lucy too.
Her budding romance continues, and she’s as delightful as ever, minus the stupid roadblocks thrown in the way.

Any movement on Macao?
Tom goes on the date with the daughter, but it’s played more for laughs than plot progression.

Anything with the humour/show-within?
Masi Oka shows up as the host for next week filming a promo for Harriet and gives one of the best meta-digs of the hour.

So, is this part two of three?
Actually, according to TV Guide, one of three. And THIS feels like preamble, setup, what you will. Last week felt self-enclosed, whole. This week, not so much.

What’s good?
“Yeah, I’m gonna keep talking until I’m done, then I’ll give you a second.”; the furthering of the realization that putting Nate Corddry in costumes is funny; “You just…” “Oversaw the whole thing.”; “I looooove event TV. I don’t watch it, but I’m crazy about it.”; “These snakes are your problem.” “Of course they’re my problem!”; “It’s always something like that.”; “You knew about it.” “…Bid $5301.”; “Hey, an award’s an award.”; “Simon’s gonna kick his ass sloooooow.”; “You know you’re going to need to act, you can’t just do your funny voices.”; Masi Oka!; “So if they bite you, you what?” “Go into anaphylactic shock.”; the militant fruit thing is about as funny as you’d expect – fittingly to show the jackass side of Simon; “No no, I’m very young and … physically fit.”; Lucy Davis! (and I do like how instantly her affections changed from Simon to Tom); “Nothing! It’s slang…”; “Good, don’t skimp on the snakes!” “Yeah!”; the entire rest of the snake thing; “Star Wars…”; “And the address of Skywalker Ranch is?” “5858 Lucas Valley Road.”; “He called it.”; “Eighteen.” “Thank you.”; Loving More; “You think snakes don’t know how to crawl up?”; “Hi Tom.”; “Your best isn’t going to do it Tom, you need to do someone else’s best.”; ‘And then what?”; “What goes in after the coyote?”

Not so good?
I really can’t figure out what in the hell they’re trying to do with Simon; Harriet’s ‘lock on a best supporting actress Oscar’ feels more than a little tenuous; I don’t like that Luke dude … I don’t like that Luke dude at all; that they resorted to the oldest trick in show business to get Danny and Jordan together (but at least they admitted it); the ridiculous, arbitrary obstacle put between Tom and Lucy (or, hell, everybody at this point); Simon, basically as a whole at this point. Where some thought last week as too much setup, not enough payoff, I thought it worked (though, as mentioned, turns out that the three-parter didn’t start until tonight). This week, however, felt very padded. The only thing that really clicked was the general banter, and the entire Cal subplot.

Rating for 1.13 (out of five)
*** (for the ep as a whole, but aficionados can add ½* for some good gags)

10 p.m. Monday. NBC.

Yahwah Weewah!! Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan!!

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