Mulaney: What Lou Doesn’t Know Might Hurt Him

Courtesy of Fox

Warning: Spoiler Alert

“I don’t like people. Is that a good way to start? I like ‘persons’, but I don’t like groups of people coming together. It frightens me. Like if I could have dinner with any three people from history alive or dead…I wouldn’t.”

John invites Jane to view a live taping of You Guessed It. This is fine and all as in some very small way it advances the story line that we expect somehow, someway that John and Jane will end up together. Even if it’s tragic. Problem is that Jane does not laugh at much. And she didn’t laugh at all in front of Lou Cannon. And Lou is more than neurotic enough for that to be an issue. Apparently the only thing she finds funny are animals acting like humans and people severely injuring themselves on camera. Thus her affection for America’s Funniest Home Videos.

The next day John attempts to get Lou passed the one audience member not laughing at his jokes, and focus on his new web content idea. Then there is a knock at the door. It’s Jane. Lou has hired her as a physical trainer. A job that she is apparently not very good at. Jane was under the impression that John got her the job. John had absolutely zero to with this. Lou is merely using this opportunity to get a laugh out of the lady who didn’t laugh.

John: Jane! What are you doing here?
Jane: I got a call that Lou needed a trainer, I assumed you got me the job.
John: NO. I had nothing to do with this. And I don’t think he hired you to be his trainer.
Jane: What?! You mean he wants to sleep with me?
John: Its worse than that. He wants to make you laugh.
Jane(gasps at the thought of it): That’s gross.

The plan of action is to get Jane to ‘fake laugh’ at the next thing Lou says. A complicated plan as Jane’s real laugh is awful and her fake laugh is almost equally so. Her fake laugh comes on the heels a quick adlib moment that no one would laugh at. So as Lou adds cheesy jokes and play of words, she continues to laugh. Thus creating the illusion that he is hilarious now and funnier than before. Thinking this charade was over, John tries to create a nice exit for Jane. Lou sees her as his new trainer/consultant. John gets the day off and Lou focuses on Jane. At first she’s afraid. Then Lou throws out a number.

Lou: We’ll call you my Trainer/Consultant. How’s $750 a day sound?
Jane: For $750 a day, you can call me a dumb b***h.

Motif is headlining the “Urban Experience” comedy show. He invites John, but John knows he’ll just be the token white guy getting roasted in the first row. With Jane occupying Lou, he decides to go. The second Motif’s friends show up, he begins to lay into “this cornbread @$$ looking idiot”. The friends chime in on the characters he does. Then John drops the little bombshell about how Motif is not from the ‘circle’ that his characters would suggest.

Jane spills to John about her day with Lou. And to John’s amazement, it wasn’t horrible. That combined with Jane being hired for the week is driving a visible wedge in John’s mind. Motif walks in looking dejected. His real life is no where as funny as his made up one. Just then Oscar knocks on the door with the timing only the writers could give to Oscar. Apparently Motif’s father is squash partners with Oscar’s brother Mortimer. Which for me, is all I need to make it funny. Whether it’s true or not doesn’t really matter. But Motif shouldn’t be taking stand up advise from Oscar. Oscar’s a different kind of humorous.

John shows up at Lou’s apartment to find Jane dressed like a trophy wife doing a photo shoot with Lou. Lou throws out a few layout and wardrobe suggestions. All of which John supports without thinking about it. Jane rejects them all. Further cementing the idea that Jane will give him the truth, no matter what. With Lou out of the room, John tries to point out the problems with this set up. In the end, if push comes to shove and John decides to out Jane, Jane would just have to out John.

John finds himself hanging out with Andre. We’ll come back to that later.

Motif attempts to bring his very cushy, happy childhood and the people from it into his act in front of an ‘urban’ crowd. It doesn’t go well.

On set, John attempts to pitch his green room idea where he would interview guests before they come on stage. Lou puts it to Jane and she shoots it down immediately. Then back peddles when John reacts. Then she tries a different fake laugh. Lou suggests against fake laughing. Lou and Jane leave for dinner with Ringo Star. Outside the restaurant, John stands leaning against a lamp post, in the pouring rain. Sad, like the little guy in a teenaged romantic comedy. He is approached by a woman staring at the same table. This woman is Molly Shannon of SNL fame (surprise surprise) and as it turns out, she is the former Mrs. Cannon. She even admits that she’s stalking Lou, and might kill him. Or might not.

John enters Lou’s apartment soaked from head to toe. He goes full on Jerry Maguire on Lou and Jane letting his jealousy run wild. Actually a very well done scene. The first half of the Mulaney run felt like a writer reciting his material. A few months ago marked a level of improvement on the show. One factor of which is that John is sounding less and less like a writer on camera. While John is letting his crazy out, he mentions how all of this started from Jane’s laugh. Jane’s real, authentic laugh. Then Andre walks in with his dog riding a skateboard. An English Bulldog named, Rasta Fazuli. An English Bulldog dressed like a Jamaican pot head. Now it’s important to remember, Jane laughs hysterically at only two things. People injuring themselves on camera and animals that look like humans.

Lou (pointing at Jane): What is that? Is someone tickling a witch?
Jane: Look at that dog!!! He’s a stoner

Jane leaves content to be fired with her severance of $3500, many gifts and healthcare for 6 months. John apologizes for his behavior. Lou then admits that he can depend on John, but he get bored of dependable people. Lou goes on to admit that when he gets bored, he brings a bossy woman into his life, the turns his back on them, and there are no hard feelings. Except for the infrared laser pointed on his chest. Then John yells, “It’s your ex wife” and tackles Lou to the ground.