[1-11] Dog Day Afternoon
Up [1-1] Pilot [1-2] The Great Pretender [1-3] The Apartment [1-4] Pride & Prejudice [1-5] The Rivals [1-6] A Star is Born [1-7] Grand Illusions [1-8] The High and the Mighty [1-9] Meet Tommy Dugan [1-10] The Competitors [1-11] Dog Day Afternoon [1-12] Criss Cross [1-13] Bye Bye Love [1-14] Starting Over [1-15] Gabby's Song [1-16] Kiss Me, Stupid [1-17] An Affair to Remember [1-18] Snowbound [1-19] Striptease [1-20] Deaf Becomes Her [1-21] Hot in the City [1-22] Bone Free [1-23]The Mayor who came to Dinner [1-24] Mayor over Miami

 

Writer: Jeff Lowell
Producers: William Barnett & Jeff Lowell
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel


Episode Length: 22:01
Guest Stars:

Victoria Dillard: Janelle
Taylor Stanley: Karen
Jerry Adler: Police Commissioner
Jason Antonio: Cab Driver
Robert Masichio: Bingo's Partner

Rating:#16 15.91 million viewers 10.9 rating 17 share

First Broadcast: December 10, 1996

Opening sound: Barking Dog

 

Storyline #1: A Dog-Gone Day
The police commisioner is upset. The administration has been taking too much credit for the recent decrease in crime statistics. In order to smooth things over, Mike promises to do everything he can to promote the police force. His chance comes when Bingo, the most famous police dog in New York, meets his maker. The Staff sets up an elaborate funeral in order to kiss up to the commissioner. There's only one small detail: While transporting the deceased pooch, Paul and Carter leave it in a cab. They proceed to call Mike's apartment where Ashley hears the message and goes nuts trying do decide whether or not to run with the story. Eventually, Mike finds a replacement for Bingo that even fools his partner. Then, while the Mayor is giving his euology, the new dog raises his head and barks. Mike convinces the crowd that canine reincarnation has just occured. Mike eventually tells Ashley the truth, but not Bingo's partner, who looses a purse snatcher when the fake Bingo runs away.

Storyline #2: Air Stuart
Recently, the staff has made some mistakes due to an over-ambitious schedule. So Mike decides to compensate by buying the staff an air hockey table. Stuart seems to think he is the master of this new distraction. However, after one shot by Janelle, we see that Stuart is just full of hot air. He gets beaten so badly, he decides to up the ante and bet on the games. The rest of the staff join in. When Mike finds out, he is appaled and declares that the table will be removed. But when Mike and the Mayor cannot decide where to put the table, they play for it.

Review: Dog Day Afternoon

Overall, a howlingly good episode. I was especially impressed with the way Ashley was used in this story. Now that she's leaving, they are finally find a storyline where she uses (or struggles with using) her connections with Mike. This type of story should have happened a long time ago. I was also pleased to see the increased screen time and laughability of Janelle. It's nice to see her do more than hand Mike papers. The show continues its venture away from telling jokes and more into the realm of physical comedy. The bit with Carter & Paul in the cab was especially nifty, as well as the funeral. Hopefully, the show can continue this good mix. It's also interesting to see Carter being a foil to someone other than Mike or Stuart.

And now a little more about the imminent departure of Carla Gugino. First off, there is one line I still haven't figured out yet. At the end when Mike confesses to Ashley, he says, "Here we are. Back at it again." When were they ever not at it? Or is that just foreshadowing the imminent? There are a couple of clues given as to how they may be able to sneak her off the show. Her mother tells her that she is "wasting time with that Flarety boy." It's possible that Ashley may end up taking her mother's advice. Another way out could be the struggle with not running with the Bingo story. She may decide she can't live like that and moves out.

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 4.5

 

Did you notice ...

The police commissioner is named Howard?
Paul, not Stuart, held the old record for screwing up earliest in the day?
Stuart has trouble with scheduling events, much as he did in The Apartment?
Public School 434 gets $12 million for it's luchroom? (No, it's not Tommy's school.)
The decrease in crime statistics were mentioned previously in The High and the Mighty?
Mike & Ashley are going to spend a quiet night at home listening to Beck?
The Mayor's dog's name was Sniffer?
that Mike didn't use Ashley's dog, Rex, mentioned in the Pilot?
The oft-seen Roberta works in Payroll?
Paul is allergic to dead cats? (He should hook up with James's ex, Becky.)
Bingo's obituary is on page 39? (Most newspapers don't have a section with a page 39.)

Top 10 Lines

10. Janelle: (to Stuart) "Yang that."
9. Stuart: "You sure? Cause I've been saving a doozy. It starts out as an excuse but I end up blaming James."
8. Paul: "Yes, we have time for just the question. Not the answer."
7. Mike: (on The Mayor eating canoli) "What do you want him to do? Give his title away?"
6. Cab Driver: "I am not a racecar driver."
    Carter: "No, you're a racist driver."
5. Mike: "And the next person to say 'And Bingo was his name-o' is fired!"
4. Mike: (to the dog) "Sit. Lie down. Play dead."
3. Mike: "Well, man was his best friend. And as far as hobbies go, I'd have to say digging holes & licking himself."
2. James: "Didn't he sniff out 10 kilos of cocaine at La Guardia?"
    Mike: "Poor little guy didn't sleep for weeks after that."
1. Stuart: "This isn't a wedding. We can't exactly say Bingo called it off because he has cold feet."
    Nikki: "Well, actually..."

 

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