The scariest part about this episode is the first scene where the geeky computer dweeb eats a candy bar, then carefully folds the wrapper up length-ways exactly as I do. Luckily, this compulsive OCD lunatic tucks one end into the other to make a ring, whereas I tie the wrapper in a knot. Totally different.
Nelson is a twitchy dweeb lacking in self-confidence, and is taken advantage of by co-workers. He must never have gotten a Participation Trophy. In his case, an Existence Trophy might have been more appropriate.
Coming home after a rough day at work, though, there is a ray of sunshine. He is getting the cute across-the-hall neighbor I never had (sorry, Karen). She mistakes him for the mover, but it’s a start. As he closes his door, a dude leaps out of his chair wearing a red smoking jacket and yellow ascot. He is smiling like an idiot, clapping his hands, yelping, “Daddy’s Home! Daddy’s Home!” It is reasonable to guess that his dog somehow became human, but no.
This weirdo, Eddie, mocks the evening before them. There is the telescope pointed at a 400 pound neighbor in her underwear, the microwaved leftovers, and surfing the internet. Unfortunately, this is conveyed with Robin Williams style antics and voices. But it is about as funny as watching Robin Williams after you know what happened to him. Eddie chews him out for letting people at work take credit for his work.
They are interrupted by Nelson’s new neighbor Jane knocking. The phone company did not show up, and she wants to use the phone. In possibly the only gag that works in the episode, Nelson opens his door with the still-yapping Eddie behind it. He invites Jane in. When he closes the door, Eddie is gone. Bravo! And not just because of the absence of Eddie. But partly that.
OK, so Eddie is the suppressed wildman inside of Nelson. Nelson and Jane go out for Chinese. She is very impressed when Nelson orders in Chinese. Oh boy, Eddie shows up again. He talks in an exaggerated Chinese accent and begins feeling Jane up, though, she is unaware.[1] She says she is a psychologist and Eddie quite reasonably wants them to scram.
Nitpick: Both Nelson and Jane are both socially awkward because they were years younger than their schoolmates. Jane says, “I was the 3rd youngest person to graduate my college. I can’t imagine what hell the other two went through.” Hunh? Actually wouldn’t she be the only one who could understand?
Anyhoo, she and Nelson have the sex. Nelson and Eddie duke it out over whether to bail on her. At one point, Nelson charges at Eddie. I expected Nelson to 1) dive inside Eddie like Neo did to Agent Smith in The Matrix, or 2) run right through him and out the window behind him. Again TFTC takes the mundane route — during the fight, Eddie just throws Nelson out the window. This causes problems.
- When Nelson flew out the window, it didn’t break, it just sort of shimmered. OK, they couldn’t kill Nelson, but when did this become a dimensional portal issue?
- At work the next day, we see Nelson, but with Eddie’s personality. Nelson faded away, so when did Eddie physically become Nelson? Presumably before he walked back into to the bedroom and continued boning Jane. [2]
- How long before someone throws Nelson out a window because he has become such a f*** ing douchebag?
Meh, they should have made Eddie a dog like I first thought. The weakest part of the episode is just that Eddie is sooooo grating, is it torture when he is on the screen.
Other Stuff:
- [1] He also does a little Elvis which is cool because the actor played Elvis in Forrest Gump that same year. He also played Elvis again 13 years later in Protecting the King.
- [2] A commenter at IMBb says the Eddie actor assumes Nelson’s position at work but no one notices. No, even with partial face-blindness, I recognize him as the actor who will go on to star in the dreadful 9th season of 24.
OK, Gene Morton is in a maximum security prison. But instead of working in the laundry for $.15/hour, he seems to work in the clean room of an electronics lab in the prison. And one of his neighbors has a saxophone in his cell. Toto, I don’t think we’re in
Lawrence, who I thought could not be more obnoxious than when he played the sax in the cell-block, is a motormouth punk. During a basketball game, he accidentally breaks the
Special commendation is also deserved for the MEMS. This was almost 20 years ago, and they look great both as the glowing orbs and in the close-up shots. Under the microscope, the tiny propellers, arms and clamps were absolutely convincing as being tiny units that could do almost anything.
Truman Bradley has a visitor.
The conference room in DC is so close to the capitol dome that it must be on top of the senate. SecDef Sturgis explains that a new fuel has been developed that will enable a man to go to Mars and return. He is given one year to determine whether humans can survive in space. If it is possible, Arnold will select and train the crew. Janice is not thrilled about this. However, Arnold explains how important it is and offers her a job evaluating the volunteers.
He frankly tells the group of other dangers. He name-checks
The group is put into a small cabin to simulate the close quarters of space travel. They quickly begin getting on each other’s nerves. They are subjected to other tests of physical stress and endurance. Sadly, one of the women drops out, and one of the men is thrown out for sabotaging the tests. The crew is not shorthanded, though, as Joyce returns and she and Arnold take their places. The final shot is them blasting off to Mars. It ain’t a
Georgia is belting out a tune as Bert Haber plays piano at a swanky nightclub. And she’s pretty dang good. For a change, a singer on TV that I would pay to see. But I went to see Bob Dylan this week, so my judgment is not to be trusted.
Bert goes backstage to Georgia’s dressing room. Apparently this writer is too smart for me:
As Georgia walks through the crowd to the stage for her second show, Dorf grabs her hand. He stands up, showing himself to be a few inches shorter than her. He is so persistent that she finally pours a martini over his head. Bert runs to her defense. There is a scuffle and Dorf falls to the floor. He, Luca and Clemenza beat it out of the club. Bert goes to the bar and orders a double. A well-dressed goon tells him Mr. Dorf recommends he buy some insurance.
It’s no fun kicking around a family down on their luck. So, simply stated, Steve Cranston is an unemployed construction worker. He is currently residing in a shelter with his wife Elaine and daughter Lisa. The bad luck continues as he learns the shelter is about to be foreclosed on.
In a possible sign of Steve’s real problem, surrounded by rich guy stuff, Steve first steals a swig of Mr. Perry’s booze. On the way in, he has also knocked over a plant, left the door slightly open, and left a trail of muddy footprints. Maybe this guy’s problem is not the economy — he’s just not very smart.
Soon, for no apparent reason, the two men later swap bodies again. Frederick Perry abides by Steve’s good deed (i.e. the deed to the shelter). Steve even gets a job out of the deal. Whether Perry understands what happened is never addressed. They all live happily ever after. God bless us every one.