Review of "Smoke" (Episode #2 5/21/'03 on NBC)
Walt Parker
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This episode opened with smoke coming from a high rise hotel room
(that had actually been reported as a jumper at the end of "Couples",
where Lennie and Ed had gone through an extremely rough day) where a
trash can fire hit the window. It turned out that a baby fell out of a
top-rated comedian (Monty Bender's) hotel window and was dead.
We then see Lennie and Ed in the burnt out hotel room, when it turned
out that Monty had passed out and that caused the baby to fall. It
turned out the smoke alarms were disabled.
Lennie and Ed are then with Monty's nutritionist, who noted how
Monty's heart was a "time bomb", though it was noted the nutritionist
did smoke, and he thought it was that cigarette that caused the fire.
Ed is then with his stylist, who notes how they were playing with
Monty's baby, who then noted how bad the fire was and prevented them
from getting out. The nutritionist and stylist both were talking about
how Monty was keeping the baby alive before he fell out of Monty's
hands.
Lennie and Ed are then with Monty in the hospital, who said how he
was singing to his baby, quite upset about his death. He also
confirmed that the nutritionist and stylist was in there, also saying
how the baby who died was adopted when asked about where the mother
was. Ed was quite suspicious afterwards.
They then are back at the hotel, noting how the Monty and his
nutritionist and stylist had been model guests in the year and a half
they lived there, and a man working there noted a man named Harvey
(Monty's massusse) came about 40 minutes before the fire happened.
Harvey then admits to Lennie and Ed that he was gay, with Harvey
denying that Monty was gay, his then noting about how there were
clauses concerning having to give back all the money he had earned
from Monty over a period of several years. Harvey was also a "talent
scout" for Monty's kids, noting how Monty bought an ice cream truck,
noting how if Monty like a kid, he would invite the parents to his
home in the Berkshire Mountains.
Lennie, Ed and Anita are then talking about the case, noting that the
parents may have had no idea that Monty had been having sex with him.
Lennie and Ed are then at "30 Rock" with Larry Miller (playing
himself), who talks about Monty's comic routine. Lennie and Ed then
ask about Pedophiles, and he mentions there were some rumors about
accusing Monty of inappropriate behavior, and the family of that kid
was paid seven figures.
Lennie and Ed then talk to a man who supposedly co-wrote a script
that Monty bought. They then ask about $500,000 that the writer and
his wife (John and Lucy Morales) get every year, claiming it was
royalties. They then talk to the writer's son about the case,
explaining about how "a bird" had noted Monty was into "weird stuff",
with the kid leaving. Ed then gets a cell phone call, and they go to
ME Rogers. It turns out the baby may have been killed before the fire,
as his lungs were clean. Lennie and Ed are then with the stylist, who
think was covering up the murder of the child. The stylist then said
that Monty panicked, and held the baby out of the window before the
room filled with smoke. Anita then gets a phone call noting that the
fire may not have been Arson. Ed then walks in and begins to read a
profile on the now-student, who it turned out claimed that Monty had
touched him when he was little (which was probably why the parents
were getting the money they were). Monty is then arrested by Lennie
and Ed.
We then see Monty in arraignment court, with bail set at $1 Million.
Serena and Jack are with Monty, who claims the Morales family were
extorting him, and this was a vendetta. Jack then notes that the
statue had not expired on this case because of the money paid the
parents of the kid (Sammy, who was 11 at the time this happened). The
defense attorney files a motion to dismiss. Serena then notes a
website that was found called "UpYourButt.net", which was owned by a
Fortune 500 company. Jack and the defense attorney then argue about
where the evidence was found (on "Up Your Butt"). The judge denies the
use of such evidence in court, and dismisses the case against Monty.
Serena then talks to Jack about the case, and they then were
wondering if Sammy put the story on the internet. Serena then talks to
the kid, who denies putting the story on the internet, and the kid
vehemently said how his father would kill anyone who laid a hand on
him. Serena then tells Arthur and Jack that he was confused and angry.
Jack then suggests charging the parents with conspiracy to force them
to testify against Monty if he were arrested again. Sammy's parents
arrested by Lennie and Ed, pleading not guilty and threatening to sue
for malicious prosecution, with the same defense attorney for Monty
also representing the kid's parents. Jack then threatens the parents
with being prosecuted, with the mother then saying they took the money
because their other son had a deformed heart and they needed the money
for medical bills for him.
Arthur then talks with Jack and Serena, with Serena wondering why the
parents
In court, Harvey then testifies about how Monty had a compartment
with holes drilled in to see the kids. Harvey then says how he was
instructed to talk to the parents when he liked a kid, claiming that
Monty liked to help out city kids, giving them a weekend in the
country. Harvey then testifies how Harvey gave the kid's parents a
tour of the farm while Monty was with the kid, with a bed in the
playroom. The defense attorney then gets Harvey to note he never
actually saw Monty with the kids. The defense attorney then talks to
the kid's mother who testifies as to how he could not find her son
(Sammy), who then said that they dropped to suit and took money in a
settlement to pay for her other son's (Davey's) operations, which
totaled to eight (part of the conditions of the settlement was they
didn't report the molestation to the police). Jack then
cross-examines, and he rips the mother concerning her real motives in
dropping the suit against Monty, noting how they were now living on
Riverside Drive as opposed to East Harlem. The defense attorney then
puts Sammy on the stand, with Sammy claiming he made up the story
about Monty and him in order to get money for Davey, who then tells
Jack how he never actually was molested. Sammy then admits he was
doing it all for Davey and his parents, ending his cross-examination
for the time being.
Jack and Serena then go over the checks the parents receive, when it
was discovered that Sammy perjured himself, with it turning out that
Sammy's parents were paid $1 Million in the week before Sammy went to
the estate (with Serena noted that while the sex happened on Labor Day
1997, that year it was September 1, and the first check (worth $1
Million) was dated August 27, 1997). It turned out the parents had
"sold" Sammy, and Sammy was angry with them, then requesting to Jack
he be allowed to re-testify in court. Sammy then said what really
happened at Monty's estate, with his admitting that Monty then
molesting him, with Sammy saying how Monty said to him that he loved
him. Sammy then notes how he stared at the ceiling the entire time
that Monty performed oral sex on him. Sammy then says how her mother
would not go looking for her, and that her mother then said that "this
was her only chance", and that she set the whole thing up for Monty to
molest Sammy.
John and Lucy Morales are then found guilty of conspiracy to commit a
sexual act, with Sammy then looking at his parents and then walking
away. Serena then notes that Monty was again arrested for sexual
abuse, noting that Sammy would testify him. Serena then was pondering
the fate of Davey, the kid Sammy's parents set this up for to save.
A very bizarre episode to finish the 2002-'03 season.
Walt
Chris ®
>2002-'03 season.
And one of the best, IMHO. I love episodes which end up having nothing
to do with the initial crime.
"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one
behind me" - General George S. Patton.
meredith
Free...@juno.com (Walt Parker) wrote:
> To all (see below):
>
> <"review" snipped>
> A very bizarre episode to finish the 2002-'03 season.
>
> Walt
>
Um, what you wrote (and have been writing), other than the last tiny
bit, is a description of the entire show, not a review. I'm not
suggesting that you should stop, but perhaps you shouldn't put "Review"
in the subject line unless it actually is one?
Lucy Pfeffa
bit, is a description of the entire show, not a review. I'm not
suggesting that you should stop, but perhaps you shouldn't put "Review"
in the subject line unless it actually is one? <<
Literally, what Walt is doing *is* a review - he is re-viewing the episode.
The problem is our culture has come to equate the word review with critique.
-- Lucy, adding her two cents.
Walt
The reviews I do as Lucy noted in a subsequent post are actual reviews, with a
small opinion at the end. I do it that way because a lot of people like them,
though that wasn't my intention when I started doing them.
Walt
E-mail me at: Free...@juno.com
meredith
laword...@aol.com (Walt) wrote:
I hope you don't think I was objecting to your posts, because I
certainly wasn't, and am glad that people are enjoying them. They're
well written and accurate.
They're not, however, reviews by modern standards, whatever the origins
of the word may be, since the implication of the word is a critical
evaluation or a new appraisal or some such thing. A recap is probably a
more accurate term.
At any rate, it's not worth arguing about. I guess I posted mostly
because I read one expecting someone's opinion of an episode and so was
a bit disappointed.
Paucle
Really? Let's review ;-)
Main Entry: [1]re·view
Pronunciation: ri-'vyü
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French reveue, from revoir to look over,
from re- + voir to see —more at VIEW
Date: 15th century
1 a : a formal military inspection b : a military ceremony honoring a person or
an event
2 : REVISION 1a
3 : a general survey (as of the events of a period)
4 : an act or the process of reviewing
5 : judicial reexamination (as of the proceedings of a lower tribunal by a
higher)
6 a : a critical evaluation (as of a book or play) b : a magazine devoted
chiefly to reviews and essays
7 a : a retrospective view or survey (as of one's life) b (1) : renewed study
of material previously studied (2) : an exercise facilitating such study
Main Entry: [2]re·view
Pronunciation: ri-'vyü
Function: verb
Etymology: in sense 1 of transitive verb, from re- + view; in other senses,
from [1]review
Date: 1576
transitive senses
1 : also 'rE-"vyü : to view or see again
2 : to examine or study again; especially : to reexamine judicially
3 : to look back on : take a retrospective view of
4 a : to go over or examine critically or deliberately <reviewed the results of
the study> b : to give a critical evaluation of <review a novel>
5 : to hold a review of <review troops>
intransitive senses
1 : to study material again : make a review <review for a test>
2 : to write reviews
Looks like it's ambiguous in usage. The noun implies "critique" usage is
slightly more common than "recap," whereas the verb form has it overwhelmingly
in favor or "recap" over "criticize."
Perhaps it's a regional thing, which way the implication of the word leans.