S1 • E5 Nov 11, 2010
8.3
Richard is practicing his lines. Karen comes over. They really have to start now. He just has to be himself, but lose the glasses first. They take their positions and start filming. Karen reminds Richard to smile while talking, but she cuts. They forgot the award cart. Someone rolls over the cart with all the awards, which turn out to be not even Richard's own awards. Karen decides to just skip to the family part. They bring over a family that supposedly was just told that the dad is now officially cancer-free. To sell this, Karen wants them all to hug. Richard objects that in a situation like this, the patient would be in recovery and not going home, so no hugs. Karen then wants to settle for a really big smile, but even that's difficult for Richard. She agrees to let go of the awards, but since this is a message of hope, she needs him to show a little compassion and emotion. It's for the sizzle reel. Richard blurts out that the sizzle reel is not working. The man that supposedly just got cured from cancer doesn't look sick at all. The large issue is that Richard would never do any of these things, nor say the things that are written on his text cards. Karen says they're losing them; the board is expecting to see something tomorrow morning. Richard says this is not how things work around here. In that case, Karen says, he should pitch instead of bitch. What do they do around here then? Richard starts thinking.
