The Crazy Ones seeks to destroy everything you love, one bad sex pun at a time. With a slew of guest-stars and awkward moments, this episode consistently proves that these crazy ones are just treading water.
The sole bright (well, brighter) spot is guest Fred Melamed, who steals the show. Even though he is insufferable at first, with the same A-hole voice over actor schtick he played in In a World, it's worth it for the shot with him and Andrew in the sound booth. I almost resent the build up to that magnificent showdown. The deck is stacked in their favor, with Andrew's deliciously sudden low intonation and the fake Ecstasy of Gold music manipulating my emotions (an unfair move if there ever was one, since nothing triggers quite like that Morricone tune). Despite using underhanded tactics, it was still the funniest thing to happen on this show. Melamed cradling the "shaking chihuahua" of Andrew was a sight to behold, especially as he releases the fully grown "Mandrew" to the world. It was only marred by the ending tag, with Melamed using the epic music and "In a world" line to seduce the hot British interloper. That's an uneasy cheap shot, taking away from the prior booth brilliance.
The problems with that sexy British interloper were what ruined this episode. As Simon, Zach and SMG all salivated and competed over this worldly woman, it led to a blurring of personal and business lines that was increasingly uncomfortable. Perhaps The Crazy Ones would argue that that's just my stodgy, suppressed American sensibilities keeping me from enjoying the freedom of sexual expression, but I say nay. Wrong, and that's a flimsy bluff to hide behind. It's uncomfortable because there should be a standard of professionalism, regardless of sexual freedom, and these people are trampling all over it. It seems convenient and unbelievable that a client would keep all these casual relationships with a business, only to stay with the agency once those business members publicly explode at their place of work. If this is a show that wants to be taken seriously as a company caper, they really should invest more in making the business at least pretend to have a basis in reality. Instead, it's a completely incidental and somewhat insulting backdrop.
And if we are going to investigate "She's so European" through the lens of sexy, sexy expression, there's still no excuse for the way the relationships are handled. Those parts of the episode aren't even edgy or pushing the envelope. The slight discussion of uptight Americans--an excellent topic that could be investigated effectively and with humor--is pushed aside in favor of obvious sex jokes. Discussing potency, O-faces, and using a jar of mayo as a symbol for virility--these things aren't new or exciting or even interesting. It's the gross, lowest common denominator humor that this show has been sinking to time and time again. The one moment of interest is when SMG treats staid pictures of old people holding hands like they are gruesome scenes, even screaming "Are we watching The Walking Dead!?" But even that brief examination of how old people need sex too (a topic that season six of Scrubs actually handled quite nicely before) is brushed off in favor of jokes about Simon's orgasmic grunting. It's tasteless, and not it a fun way.
Some Thoughts:
-Enough referencing! Once is fun, twice is embarrassing. "Are you a professional monster slayer? No, because that's not a thing." Doesn't matter if it's uttered by Lauren and without SMG in the room. Still not OK.
-It resolves with a tasteless and unnecessary Mormon joke, but that could just be my over-sensitive radar speaking.
-A month being a long dry spell? What world does David E. Kelley live in? It's no wonder people have unrealistic expectations for their sex lives.
The sole bright (well, brighter) spot is guest Fred Melamed, who steals the show. Even though he is insufferable at first, with the same A-hole voice over actor schtick he played in In a World, it's worth it for the shot with him and Andrew in the sound booth. I almost resent the build up to that magnificent showdown. The deck is stacked in their favor, with Andrew's deliciously sudden low intonation and the fake Ecstasy of Gold music manipulating my emotions (an unfair move if there ever was one, since nothing triggers quite like that Morricone tune). Despite using underhanded tactics, it was still the funniest thing to happen on this show. Melamed cradling the "shaking chihuahua" of Andrew was a sight to behold, especially as he releases the fully grown "Mandrew" to the world. It was only marred by the ending tag, with Melamed using the epic music and "In a world" line to seduce the hot British interloper. That's an uneasy cheap shot, taking away from the prior booth brilliance.
The problems with that sexy British interloper were what ruined this episode. As Simon, Zach and SMG all salivated and competed over this worldly woman, it led to a blurring of personal and business lines that was increasingly uncomfortable. Perhaps The Crazy Ones would argue that that's just my stodgy, suppressed American sensibilities keeping me from enjoying the freedom of sexual expression, but I say nay. Wrong, and that's a flimsy bluff to hide behind. It's uncomfortable because there should be a standard of professionalism, regardless of sexual freedom, and these people are trampling all over it. It seems convenient and unbelievable that a client would keep all these casual relationships with a business, only to stay with the agency once those business members publicly explode at their place of work. If this is a show that wants to be taken seriously as a company caper, they really should invest more in making the business at least pretend to have a basis in reality. Instead, it's a completely incidental and somewhat insulting backdrop.
And if we are going to investigate "She's so European" through the lens of sexy, sexy expression, there's still no excuse for the way the relationships are handled. Those parts of the episode aren't even edgy or pushing the envelope. The slight discussion of uptight Americans--an excellent topic that could be investigated effectively and with humor--is pushed aside in favor of obvious sex jokes. Discussing potency, O-faces, and using a jar of mayo as a symbol for virility--these things aren't new or exciting or even interesting. It's the gross, lowest common denominator humor that this show has been sinking to time and time again. The one moment of interest is when SMG treats staid pictures of old people holding hands like they are gruesome scenes, even screaming "Are we watching The Walking Dead!?" But even that brief examination of how old people need sex too (a topic that season six of Scrubs actually handled quite nicely before) is brushed off in favor of jokes about Simon's orgasmic grunting. It's tasteless, and not it a fun way.
Some Thoughts:
-Enough referencing! Once is fun, twice is embarrassing. "Are you a professional monster slayer? No, because that's not a thing." Doesn't matter if it's uttered by Lauren and without SMG in the room. Still not OK.
-It resolves with a tasteless and unnecessary Mormon joke, but that could just be my over-sensitive radar speaking.
-A month being a long dry spell? What world does David E. Kelley live in? It's no wonder people have unrealistic expectations for their sex lives.