Amac Productions

She’s bombed.

Ouch.

My goodness, all of that was just supremely painful to watch. Was anyone else getting second-hand embarrassment from her terrible performances on stage?

Although, here’s the interesting thing about her bombing on stage – she needed it.

No one ever goes through anything in life perfectly. You’re never perfect at anything without practice and failure. We need to fail. From failure comes change and understanding and learning. Every failure should teach you something new. Something useful.

Even if it’s just what not to do.

All information is valuable information. No matter how small.

Here, Midge learns for the first time that not everything she does is going to be perfect right out of the gate. Things take practice and honing. Being naturally funny is very different than being able to get up every night and entertain people. Make them laugh.

You’ve got to know how to work an audience.

Honestly, this show is a good life lesson for everyone. Being able to fail and understand that it’s part of life. It doesn’t mean you’re bad at something. It means you need to work on something. Learn a new skill. Hone one you already have.

Also, if you want to be a comedian, this is a wonderful lesson in knowing that one day – you will stand in front of people and bomb.

It will not be fun.

It will suck.

Six ways from Sunday.

I promise.

However, it’s an important skill to understand and accept failure. It doesn’t make you less than or wrong or anything of the sort.

Failure is part of life.

Being human.

Take it from the latest Superman. He gets up every day and despite not knowing what to do, he tries anyway. He might mistakes all the time, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to do the right thing. From getting up every day and keep trying.

We have this fear as a society that failure means we’re bad.

We’re not.

You’re not.

Failure is part of life.

It happens. Learn to accept it.

Learn to learn from it. It’s important.

In high, there was a poster on the wall of my English classroom that said, ‘The expert in anything was once a beginner.’

Every expert starts in failure and learning.

Don’t ever forget that.

For this episode, Miriam or Midge, not sure how that works. Very weird and confusing. Could someone who lived through or is an expert in the 50s explain how we get to Midge from Miriam? Thank you.

As soon as Susie asked if she wanted to run it by her and Miriam/Midge said no. I was like, nope. She’s going to bomb.

I was right.

There’s a part of me that thinks Susie should have stopped her, but at the same time… Err, she needed to learn that lesson.

The hard way.

She’s pretty freaking stubborn.

Probably wouldn’t have listened to Susie if she tried to stop her from bombing.

Miriam may have bombed on stage, but she’s killing it otherwise. She managed to wrangle herself into a job. Though not the one she initially went for.

Elevator operator?

Really?

Also, now there’s an elevator guy in Mad About You, but there are no buttons that I’ve ever seen in the elevator. Just a weird looking handle thing used to operate the elevator. Which makes sense. You’d think there’s a reason for the guy in the elevator beyond just making the store look posh.

He can work the little handle thing.

Nope. Here, all the elevators just have freaking buttons to push for the floor.

Meaning, this gentleman is being paid to push buttons and ride the elevator all day. Where can I get a job like that? Damn.

Also, you should never have done away with that job. I want a nicely dressed man in the elevator to push the button for me, so I don’t have to push the button for the next person or speak to anyone in a crammed little box. Elevators are too much forced interaction.

Have to shift, may need to talk, or smile politely. Never know what mood the other people are in.

But a well-dressed dude manning the elevator? Come on.

He can set the tone. You only have to interact with the professional you know will be in the elevator. It’s his job. He’s going to be nice and knowledgeable.

There will never be that moment when you’re freaking excited because you pushed the button and it’s empty. You get on and you hope that no one else will need the elevator at this moment interrupting your 30 seconds of quiet.

Except someone does. And you’re disappointed every time.

We didn’t have those disappointments before.

There was a dude who you gave the floor number to, and he pushed the button for you. You stood behind him, so no one was ever crowding the entrance when someone was getting on or off. He could hold the elevator for you. Giving you plenty of time.

So many good reason to keep that job around.

One less awkward social interaction.

Less button pushing where I have to worry about germs. Like, what small sticky children have been touching this? Especially around the start of school. Every kid in the world gets sick and spreads it around like the plague. Terrible.

The elevator man is wearing gloves. He knows what’s up.

Now, on from my elevator man rant.

In order to not bomb again, Miriam hires a professional who charges like 15 bucks for a stack of index card jokes. Which all of those things should have been a tip-off that he was in no way helpful. He would not be that cheap otherwise.

The fact that Susie recognized his terrible jokes was all the more funny.

Does he really just sell everyone the same set of jokes?

No wonder he wrote them so fast.

Do love the actor who played Herb Smith though. Loved him since The Princess Bride.

Susie is well on her way to being a professional manager of some sort. She’s got business cards she’s printing up. Literally, with a typewriter.

I wonder if there are services for that. I’m sure there are, but I wonder if they’re more expensive than they are today or if inflation would factor it to be the same.

This is a look inside my head people. The weird things I think about while watching a TV show.

She also gets a phone line and has very little understanding of what to do with Midge after she bombed. Since they have a little shouting match in the middle of the Gaslight.

These two fight so much.

But I love it.

They’re sort of perfectly helpful for each other in a very weird way that works. If they could get their shit together, I imagine they’ll be a great team. A force to be reckoned with.

In the meantime, they’re just annoying each other.

Which – you know – is also fun.

Now, meanwhile!

All of that is happening and Joel who is not divorced yet, nor has he seemingly begun the divorce process while still wearing his wedding ring – introduces his girlfriend to his parents at a lovely dinner.

During the first part of which – I’m offended on behalf of Miriam.

Like I didn’t expect his parents to never get over the marriage coming to an end, but I did think it would take longer to warm to the woman who helped end it.

Yet there they were, laughing and smiling at dinner. And I thought – jerks.

Except they’re just being polite. Because that’s what you did in that day and age. You couldn’t tell someone to their face that they’re an asshole or that they don’t like you. They tell you in other ways. They don’t want you around. Don’t invite you places or talk shit behind your back.

We got a few in this episode as Joel started to realize the bigger consequences of his actions.

Yep. They’re coming for you Joel.

His parents both separately say no to Penny. She’s not right for him. He made a mistake, and this is not the girl you spend your life with.

Also, this dinner explains to me that she is as interesting as cardboard.

Did she do more than look good or smile and nod at dinner?

I loved that parents were offended that she didn’t eat. I’d be offended too. Like you need that to survive. Eat it. Thank you.

I also had a moment of annoyance with his friend when he said he and his wife would go out with him and Penny. Dude, read the room. Not cool.

On the other hand, he is Joel’s friend not Miriam’s, so I let it slide.

Until his wonderful bullshit excuses came pouring out of his lying mouth to get out of going to the theater. Wow. Those were absolutely terrible excuses, sir.

You may as well have just told Joel that my wife is friends with your wife and she’s not betraying her by going out with the woman you cheated on her with. Doesn’t matter where you’re taking us or why. Loyalty to Miriam is paramount here and I’m an idiot for even thinking or suggesting otherwise.

I will be henceforth sleeping on the couch and writing ‘I will never make this mistake again’ until my wife deems me forgiven.

That’s essentially how that scene went.

Joel came to this stunning realization that none of his friends would or could choose him.

He screwed up.

Miriam is the victim.

He’s the bad guy.

A piece of him realized that in this episode.

His parents would always like Miriam more than anyone else he brings home. She fits in. She charms her way through everything easily and effortlessly. Unlike you. Or Penny.

Your friends have wives who have met her. They’re not going to turn their backs on Miriam. On you? Sure. In a heartbeat.

And they’re husbands will be on thin ice because they’ll be watching for any sign, they might pull the same stupid stunt you did.

You effed up Joel.

Welcome to the consequences of your actions, Joel.

Thus, we’re brought to the end of the episode and Midge gets her groove back with her friends. The party becomes a comedy show as all the women are entertained by her impromptu comedy routine.

Hopefully, this means Susie’s phone won’t go to waste and Miriam will be back up on stage next episode.

Well, I’ll find out!

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