This week on Big Shots, we learn that sex complicates things -- and destroys your golf swing. Who knew? Among the complications: Duncan chokes out the word "monogamy," then tries to embrace the concept, not other women; Karl's wife ropes him into setting up his ex-mistress on a date; James dives back into the old bouncy-bouncy and almost loses his work wife; and Brody -- okay, Brody's just dealing with other people's complicated sex lives. On the upside, no tired marriage jokes from him this week!

You had to be a spoiler, dincha, you had to prove it to the crowd...

Duncan continues to romance Lisbeth, and when Cameron catches them canoodling on the counter, they swear they're in a monogamous relationship. Granted, Duncan kind of looks like he's going to swallow his own tongue, but he does say it. Tragically, he says it during fashion week, when he'll be surrounded by a bevy of underfed, underclothed, potentially under-the-influence models. Oh, the agony!

But surprisingly, he actually sticks to his guns -- or keeps his gun in its holster -- the whole time. The rest of the Shots run interference for him at a fashion-week party (and Cam glowers and huffs on the sidelines), but he later encounters a comely lass who decides to strip down in his apartment. Despite having a body to die for -- "My compliments to your trainer" -- he asks her to go. Dylan McDermott does a great job of looking like his id is attempting to throttle his superego as he swallows and stammers and finally, hating himself, asks her to leave. You get the impression that his testicles will never forgive him.

Tragically, Lisbeth is not so clear on the whole "monogamy" concept -- she's dating Duncan's arch-nemesis, the delectable Terrence Hill, and who can blame her. Well, Cam, of course, who surprises them, then storms off in a huff, pulled by a tizzy and followed by a herd of snits. I mock Cam, but she's not wrong. What happened to the Jailbait-for-Lisbeth deal the two men struck? Well, Terrence is vexed that said company turned out to be a dud, so he's calling take-backs. Oh, and he's doing his damnedest to find Dontrelle's little black book so he can smear Duncan's name all over his new tabloid. I will resist the urge to say Terrence can smear my name any time. Oh, wait. Sorry.

Karl wishes his damage could be controlled, but that ain't gonna happen. See, Wendy has invited Marla to move in with them, and now she wants Karl to set her up with a nice man -- "Someone like you... but taller. And who works out." With the encouragement of the Shots,  he decides to set her up with someone completely unsuitable -- Phil, a geeky, showtunes-loving, fastidious research chemist who he assumes to be gay. Alas, he's wrong -- Phil and Marla hit it off, then hit the sheets, yodeling their passion at the top of their lungs as Karl and Wendy listen from next room. Um, ew.

But what's this? All is not well in Phil-and-Marla-ville, because Phil quickly realizes Marla is utterly insane -- "a stage-four clinger" -- and he wants out. But, for reasons that make sense to absolutely no one but the people who write TV shows, he insists that he can't break it off, and Karl has to do it for him. For those same nonsensical reasons, Karl agrees. He lies to Marla, tells her Phil had to leave town to take care of his mother, and urges her to get out there and find a great guy herself. Marla takes this advice -- and Wendy, when she decides to go out on the town. Nice try, Karl.

Finally, there's James. Katie recommends a consultant to help him sell his new plans to the board, but is nonplussed when said consultant turns out to be a hot chick with designs on James. Rebecca charms James into bed, but he's surprisingly reticent about it with his fellow Shots -- he describes it as "great -- sex between consenting adults."  That's hardly a ringing endorsement. But hey, it's casual, she's cute, and he's happy to meet her in her hotel room a few more times.

Rebecca recommends quite a few changes -- including job cuts in Katie's department, which would necessitate her move to Seattle. Is she trying to get Katie out of the way so she can have James for herself? Katie thinks so, and thinks James is making decisions with his downstairs brain, and will therefore throw her to the wolves. James begs her to trust him, but she's in full woman-scorned mode, so she almost misses James' announcement that he's promoting her to President of Business Development for the company. Katie apologizes for blowing up at him -- nothing personal. Yeah, me neither, he says -- although Rebecca thinks we've got feelings for each other. They both pshaw and harrumph and poo-poo the notion, while the audience screams "No duh! Now kiss each other!" Alas, they don't hear us, and Katie goes off on a date. Wrong answer, Katie.

So apparently all of the Shots are sleeping alone (for once), but that sleep isn't restful -- Duncan gets a late-night text message saying that an unknown caller has something he wants. Dun dun DUN!

All in all, not bad. It was frothy, the scenes between James and Katie were sweet, Duncan and Terrence had a nice glower-off that made me think they should settle their differences through the ancient sport of Jell-O wrestling, and Brody got to be reasonably effective. Alas, the "comic" Karl storyline is the weakest, and I could do without both his character and his problems. They're trying to hard to make hilarity ensue, and it's just not happening.

Oh, and Tamara? You promised me man-meat. You talked about a propensity for shirtlessness. You lied. We're going to have to talk.

Comments

It's amazing how much this show has improved from the pilot. Karl's storyline is lame (and the character is expendable), but I guess they wanted four friends like SATC.

AC | Oct 18, 2007 10:25:04 PM | #

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Yeah Karl can go or have it come to head and have to deal with the fact that his wife's best friend is his former mistress.

I'm glad James got some action. And next time a bit more of Michael Vartan's chest and arms please!!

Duncan is becoming my favorite character by far. The room for growth in his character is great. I love how it was Lisbeth who wasn't being true.

Julie | Oct 19, 2007 6:47:58 AM | #

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This show lost me last night. Yawn! The pilot had me laughing and since then, nothing. And they just aren't using Michael Vartan enough. He should never, ever be a supporting character. Give him his own show.

Sarah | Oct 19, 2007 8:38:43 AM | #

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Oh, boy! Did Duncan squirm!! Loved it. I like how it's like Sex in the City with men, but they play golf. "Men are the new Women"!
They keep saying that Duncan's name will be in the Tabloids when the black book is found, but didn't he give her/him Brody's name instead of his own?
( I agree on Michael Vartan)

Joan | Oct 19, 2007 12:20:03 PM | #

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While the episodes are improving, I agree, they aren't using Vartan enough. The relationship between Katie and James is so much more interesting than the tranny/black book mess, which has gone on way too long.

SouthernGal | Oct 20, 2007 5:30:02 AM | #

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This episode was the best so far. It just keeps getting better. I also love that Duncan was the one that stayed true but Lisbeth didn't. I love where this storyline is going.

Karl's storyline is funny. He can't get rid of his ex-mistress and had to break up with her again this time for an employee.

I may be one of the only one's not really rooting for James and Katie to get together but it looks like they will.

I hope ABC realizes how much better this show is getting each week and sticks it out.

Dawn | Oct 20, 2007 6:28:02 AM | #

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I love this show! I found it by accident, letting TIVO run long so I didn't miss the end of GREY's. I think it is very very funny. I think the show is more like Desperate Housewives with men instead of SITC in a jock.

Don | Oct 20, 2007 9:52:02 AM | #

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I agree, the show (even though it's four best friends) does feel more like Desperate Housewives in tone. With Rob Thomas coming in, that's really going to add to the quality of the show!

SouthernGal | Oct 20, 2007 10:40:56 AM | #

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i can't believe i missed it. is there anywhere online that i can watch episode 4?

rita | Oct 20, 2007 5:58:59 PM | #

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Am I wrong but is Duncan's name actually in Dontrelle's Little Black Book? I thought he'd given her Brody's name instead, and Brody's already told his wife about Duncan's "indiscretion" so what's the problem there? Let the book fall where it may - Brody will be able to spin it.
Incidentally, I just love the term "Work-Wife" even though in my career I may have been divorced too many times!!

I love Duncan's apology to Lisbeth - Talk about taking responsibility for his actions! It was clearly obvious it could only have been written by a woman though!

Sirius | Oct 20, 2007 7:46:35 PM | #

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Rita, you can watch the episodes at ABC.com

SouthernGal | Oct 21, 2007 5:45:42 AM | #

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