[1-2] The Great Pretender
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: Sarah Dunn
Producer: Walter Barnett
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel


Episode Length: 21:54

Guest Stars:

Deborah Kush: Helen
Taylor Stanley: Karen
Sylvia Kanders: Roberta
Robert Trumbull: Priest
James A. Palumbo: Bartender
Kim Seralin: Lila

Rating:#9 20.8 million viewers 14.8 rating 23 share

First Broadcast: September 26,1996

Opening sound: Police Cars

 

Storyline #1: The Lonely Hearts Club
The Mayor and his staff must attend a dinner sopnsored by the Association of Christians and Jews. Those without dates must be put on Helen duty. (i.e. hang out with the Mayor's wife all night.) However, Mike makes a deal with his romantically challenged staff: if they can all find dates, then he will tackle Helen duty alone. The staff then decides to pair up with one another: James & Nikki, Paul & Karen, and Carter & Stuart, leaving Mike holding the bag.

Storyline #2: Lovin' Woes
Mike wins Manhatten Magazine's "Sexiest Man in New York." While originally enjoying the attention, The Mayor tells him that he is now in the public eye and everything he does will be scrutinized. Mike takes this to mean his performance in the sack. He and Ashley attempt to correct this problem multiple times but Mike "comes up short" consistently. Finally, in a heartfelt conversation with The Mayor about golf, Mike decides to take up sex again "for the pure simple love of the game." He and Ashley then go practice in the kitchen of the restaurant.

 

Review: The Great Pretender

Overall, a fair episode. The idea of the staff pairing up had tremendous potential but since we are still unfamiliar with the characters, they did about as much as they could. Very little governing in this episode other than covering up a scandal. Once again, we see that when an episode focuses on Mike and Ashley's relationship, it tends to fall a little flat. Great acting by Fox in his final talk with The Mayor. Being slouched up in confusion then staring out into space. Two questions arise and they both concern Paul. 1. Is it okay to tell Paul the truth now? 2. When he says he's fine at the bar (he's really not), why doesn't he grab his chin? Just wondering.

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 3.0

 

Did you notice ...

when Paul said "She didn't like me at first.", he did not hold his chin? (i.e. He was telling the truth.)
Paul went to Notre Dame?

 

 

Top 10 Lines

10. James: (getting ready to Party!)"We got peach Schnopps!"
9. Mike: "There are 10 commandments. I'd like your dates to check out on at least 7 of them."
8. Paul: "Does this boat have a jacuzzi?"
    Mike: "Why do you ask?"
7. Nikki: (on the collective office sexiness)  "Maybe but that's just beacuse Stuart's dragging us down."
6. Mike: "If the horse likes, it can whiny."
5. Mike: (trying to think sexy)"I'm thinking Chinatown. I'm thinking dead ducks hanging in storage."
4. Stuart: (inquiring minds want to know...)"Would you find me...?"
    Carter: "NO!!!!!"
3. Ashley: "We shouldn't have coulturally insensitive sex."
2. Stuart: (to Carter) "Pick you up at 7?"
1. The Mayor: (to the Priest and the Rabbi) "So both of you guys are in a rowboat..."

 

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