Oh, Big Shots. How you frustrate me. Just when I thought certain plotlines were dead and buried, here you go resurrecting them like stupid, drunken frat guys in a cemetery on Halloween. Where's Ash and his boomstick when you need him? At any rate, a whole lot of crazy stuff went down in this week's episode. A whole lot. This is might take awhile...

Hail to the spoilers, baby.

Let's start with James, who has the least frustrating storyline out of everyone tonight. So sad.

At the office, a male stripper is performing for Katie and a whole slew of employees (male and female) as her new boyfriend walks in - his name is Oliver Davenport. See, one of Katie's old boyfriend's sent her this embarrassingly large balloon bouquet so, every year, James does something grandiose to try and mortify her. Oliver wasn't shocked or appalled and appeared to be cool with the reindeer games, thus getting James initial approval. It's unfortunately not mutual because Katie kind of hates Alex (Elizabeth Rohm returns). While on a date that night, James mentions to Alex how the new dude seems to be a big improvement for Katie who never dates anyone good enough for her. Alex drops the "that's because you guys are in love" thing, which James shrugs off. Then, he notices Oliver walking a woman to a cab...and he kisses her. In a way one wouldn't kiss a relative. When telling the guys at the club what happened, Brody offers to get a private investigator contact to figure out what's going on.

While James, Alex, Katie and Oliver go out on a double-date (which Katie only agreed to because Oliver said the same thing Alex said to James), James gets a phone call from the PI. Oliver is - drum roll please - married, and has been for seven years, and lives with his wife upstate. James cuts the night short, saying it was a work emergency, and breaks the news to Katie outside when they're alone. Except Katie already knows. For shame. The next morning Katie comes to James' office to talk to him, starting out by saying she already feels guilty without him saying anything. They get in a bit of an argument, him wondering why she has to date such losers and her stating that she's tired of being alone and unable to find anyone she likes being with as much as James. And then he kisses her. And then she leaves because her mind is pretty much blown. The fallout to this ought to be interesting. I didn't expect them to kiss this soon in the series, though there are clearly many more obstacles to overcome before they can get together (including his back-stabbing whore of a soon-to-be-ex-wife telling James that she's pregnant next week). I'm also disappointed that the writers decided to have Katie knowingly date a married man. I know it was a device, a catalyst to get the "we love each in a romantic way but can't admit it to each other yet" thing moving at a quicker pace but still...eh.

Now, on to Duncan's plot, which started out good and ended all kinds of wrong.

Zack and Cam are talking and she convinces him to tell Duncan that he might be his dad sooner rather than later. This comes at a fairly inopportune time as Reveal is trying to land a lucrative deal with a company who's President, named Nadia, is very conservative. The Board has voiced their concern about Duncan handling the account given his reputation. To ease their troubled minds, he tells them he's going to bring Cam to present a "Happy Family" front. Right after Duncan tells Cam she's coming with him to dinner with Nadia and the purpose of her coming, Zack comes in and they tell Duncan. Cam is skeptical, as is Duncan, until Zack jogs Duncan's memory about his mother. They set up a blood test (blood drawn at Duncan's thanks to a house call, which I'm pretty sure doesn't happen anymore) and Zack offers to write up a dossier about Nadia and her company. Duncan tells him to go ahead and do it, which totally doesn't sit well with Cam when she finds out the next morning since she offered to do the same thing and got turned down. At dinner with Nadia, Cam predictably retaliates by outing the reason Duncan invited her in an attempt to sink the deal. All seems lost until Nadia predictably leans over and tells Duncan he still has a shot at landing the account because she's curious if his reputation as "the best one night stand in New York" is true. The only problem is, as they're getting into their...show and tell session, she calls him a man-whore and that gives him pause. Turns out he's not much of a man-whore anymore and he tells her he can't go through with it.

Zack stops by with the dossier he worked up on Nadia shortly after and Duncan tells him that they lost the account and why, but thanks him for the work he did. After he leaves, Duncan calls Lizzie again (he called her after the blood test process started) and this time she picks up. She originally thinks he's trying to win her back again, but he just wants to talk as friends. She agrees to meet him and is on her way out as Terrance shows up with flowers for her. Like a rocket scientist, she lies and says she's going to show a house. Lizzie meets Duncan at a restaurant and they talk. She tells him that Cam is acting the way she is because she's afraid she's going to lose Duncan and he should reassure her that he's not going anywhere. They continue to converse in a strictly platonic nature but it doesn't look that way to Terrence, who followed Lizzie and is watching them from his car. Creepy much?  Back at the house, Lizzie lies to Terrence again and, after she leaves the room, he calls someone and tells them he's willing to sell the information if they're still interested. I don't like the sound of that at all.

At the office the next morning, everyone is celebrating landing the account with Nadia. And how did that happen exactly? Why, because Zack slept with Nadia - he tells Duncan he did it because that's what Duncan would do. Duncan didn't look too happy about that. Seeing Cam nearby, he walks over and tells her that Zack won't replace her and she says that's not what she's worried about, she's worried he'll like Zack more. He says that won't happen and he takes her out for food to cement they're new-found closeness. Later, at the golf club's bar, the guys (and Cam) gather and see a TV news report about Duncan. Except it's not about the account with Nadia, it's about the whole Dontrelle situation. Crap on a stick. The next morning at work, everyone looks at Duncan judgmentally as he walks out of the board room towards Cam. They fired him, effective immediately and dammit this stupid solicitation storyline just won't die. When Duncan comes back to Reveal (because I'm sure he will), all those people that looked at him funny are so fired.

Other Highlights & Tidbits:

• Karl breaks down and agrees to try and make a baby with Marla the old-fashioned way. Except he just can't go through with it. He tells Marla he's going to tell Wendy about the affair but before he can, Marla tells Wendy that he had "performance issues" and couldn't go through with it. Now Wendy wants to adopt. Why she didn't just want to adopt in the first place is beyond me. Not that I'd ever be in a situation even remotely similar to this, but I don't care how good a friend you are, my husband doesn't get to have sex with you. If you're friend enough to volunteer to give birth to my baby, you're friend enough to put up with the needles, phobia be damned.
• On the Brody front, he was in the episode a whole lot more this episode than he was in the last. He had to deal with his shrew of a father-in-law who, two minutes after arriving at the golf club, insulted all the guys and drove them away. During the round of golf, he asked Brody to make the introduction speech for this award he was getting (that's why he was in town). Brody was touched until BeelzeDad told him he was a last resort. This man is a truly heinous individual - kudos to the writers and the actor who played him. Brody manages to pull a glowing speech full of praise and sunshine out of his ass and it goes over great with everyone...except the father-in-law. He insults Brody more and, after BeelzeDad infers that Jenelle is Brody's beard, Brody lays into him something fierce. I really enjoyed the rant, actually. The only problem is that dad-in-law chooses that moment to collapse, possibly having a heart attack. In the ambulance Brody becomes all super-nice again and asks him not to tell Jenelle, which BeelzeDad agrees to and says that he owns Brody now. Boo. I know part of his character revolves around the hack marriage jokes and stereotypical in-law woes, but can that not be the case all the time? It's quite irritating that Brody's miserable pretty much all the time.

Favorite Quotes:

• "You have the strangest little life." Duncan to Karl after learning about the whole baby situation
• "Now I feel guilty about thinking your girlfriend's a bitch. Just kidding." - Katie after James tells her Oliver may not suck
• "The best way to diffuse the situation is for him to see you happy with your bitchy girlfriend." - Katie to James regarding the double date

Exchange of the Night:

• Cam - "Pretending to be my half-brother is quite an elaborate rejection. You could've just said you liked guys."
• Zack - "Eh, you would've tried to turn me."

How long until Duncan gets his job back? Will Katie break up with Married Guy? And how espectacular is the fallout going to be when Lizzie finds out Terrence leaked that story?

Comments

The kiss between James and Katie was great (I’d reach spoilers, so knew it was in this episode); what happens now?

I enjoyed Katie’s continued jabs at Alex Mason. No reason to pretend she likes her. I really liked the conversation between her and James leading up to the kiss. And I did not expect to hear that she was dating a married man.

How many episodes is the young actor playing Zach signed up for? I’m starting to like him a lot. Loved the exchange between him and Duncan on how the deal came about with the women and Reveal. I really didn’t expect him to be Duncan’s son.

I’m liking Brody more and more. The actor who played Brody’s father-in-law was funny – Brody finally had a chance to tell him off and then immediately had to suck up again.

SouthernGal | Nov 9, 2007 6:34:43 AM | #

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They are not resurrecting the Dontrelle story, simply showing its fallout... this seems fine to me, since it is hard to keep something buried.

Katie's unhappiness is of her own making. I realize James was married before, but since he's been single, she's been encouraging him to see other women. Does a man always have to make the first move, only to have her run away?

Cam is a petulant child- I simply can't stand her. Zack knows how to make the best of a situation, whereas she just acts out.

AC | Nov 9, 2007 8:13:09 AM | #

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Did anyone notice who the writer of this episode was? She use to work on Veronica Mars (one of my favorite shows).

David | Nov 9, 2007 8:36:27 AM | #

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I actually thought the Dontrelle storyline coming back was fine. It wasn't finished earlier, as that was an inappropriate ending for it. This actually makes some sense, the slighted Terrence coming back. I could see something like Terrence trying to steal Reveal, and Reveal turning to Duncan for help.

James and Katie - I might be in the minority on this (and maybe a minority of one), but i still somewhat hope for Wendy Moniz to get back together with James. Dunno ... I think it's more that the whole Katie thing seems shoved down our throats.

Liked seeing Chris Titus get more to do. They need to get him involved more. And Karl ... eh ... I guess for a sideshow storyline, it's fine.

My big issue with the show is that I still think it should be centered around James and not Duncan. Here's hoping that if they can put to rest the Dontrelle storyline (and it's fallout) for good, that might start happening.

Oh, I do like the angle they are taking with Duncan's kids.

Tony | Nov 9, 2007 11:30:52 AM | #

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Here, here, Tony!

You're not the only one. Given the previews and what I've seen of the casting sides for the future episodes, I'm betting that James is less than thrilled by Stacey's announcement.

If I had to fathom a guess, I would say that the writers are likely to "drag it out" with the paternity issues, in other words - they'll let James 'play' while Stacey is away. James will probably try to convince himself that there's no way that this baby can be his, and even if it was - it wouldn't change the way things are between he and Stacey because HE decided that he is ready to move on.

However, if a few months down the road, once things progress with he and Katie, and the truth is known - it might be a very different situation. Should he be the father, James might have a tough decision to make. Regardless of whether Nick is in Stacey's life still or not, I think it would be an extreme disservice to the character of James (as the writers have struggled to establish him as the 'moral' center of the group and someone who was supposedly so devoted and enamored with his wife and family) if he was willing to just let another man step into his position with his former wife and their kids, especially the baby. In other words, I'd like to see James torn about this - struggling with the possibility of a future with Katie or the possibility of once again having his 'family'.

Of course, the damage Stacey did with the affair can't be undone, but in all honesty I don't think his heart was in their attempts at reconciliation. Her cheating gave him reason to physically leave, but I think he mentally checked out of their marriage long before. The more I see of him and Katie, the more I think that Stacey experienced for years the same feeling of being in a "three-person" relationship that Alex voiced after only a few weeks(?) with James.

As you said Tony, the whole Katie thing has been kind of shoved down our throats.

MCGradGirl | Nov 9, 2007 12:41:37 PM | #

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This is still my favorite new show but I have to admit that the husband/wife/mistress/baby storyline started bugging me last week and this week it just go on my nerves. It is just a stupid storyline that needs to "go away."

Also, they need to give more storylines to the guy who is "scared" of his wife. He's barely on there!

Other than that, great show!

chile | Nov 9, 2007 4:48:51 PM | #

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Okay, I am watching BIG SHOTS (RightNow)via web (Thank GOD 4 episodes online- I hope Neilsen is reading so they know we exist- it is a way of life- COUNT US)and James and Katie just kissed, I literally screamed (my a-hole preppy neighbor is prbly gonna issue a complaint, but fukc'em!)I have been screaming from the Pilot for this to go down and I have to admit it was pretty brilliant yet somehow completely obvious what happened. And so, I bought in. See, the problem is not the same ole story- it's whther this time around is better than the last, and BIG SHOTS did it with that moment! OK, I have to finish the episode, just didn't wanna forget (White Merlot has that affect- you are warned)but b4 I go- WHY KATIE? WHY DID YA LEAVE, GURL? Kiss that cute whiteman!!!

THEY DID IT AGAIN! Did anyone else 4get about Terrance having the book? Damn you, White Merlot! brb...THEY FIRED HIM? Of course thay did- but, THEY FIRED HIM?!?!?! Isn't there some undersexed Board wife who he could have gotten out of it with? Oh, well, I guess that's why I am not on strike. (Best wishes!- Yes, I did qoute Gabby, Bonita ((any hardcore Desperate Housewives out there?)) and btw, best of luck 2 you my heroes- writers, that is, Heroes sucks this season)N NE case, I love this hsow and all things ABC- they are the new HBO!

III...in case you are stoned- Showtime is the new HBO, in fact, their slogan should be "It's not HBO, it's Showtime" or- BETTER! Just clips of Roy Schneider saying "It's Showtime folks" in All that Jazz!!!"

Melba Z. Toast | Nov 9, 2007 9:02:19 PM | #

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Okay, I am watching BIG SHOTS (RightNow)via web (Thank GOD 4 episodes online- I hope Neilsen is reading so they know we exist- it is a way of life- COUNT US)and James and Katie just kissed, I literally screamed (my a-hole preppy neighbor is prbly gonna issue a complaint, but fukc'em!)I have been screaming from the Pilot for this to go down and I have to admit it was pretty brilliant yet somehow completely obvious what happened. And so, I bought in. See, the problem is not the same ole story- it's whther this time around is better than the last, and BIG SHOTS did it with that moment! OK, I have to finish the episode, just didn't wanna forget (White Merlot has that affect- you are warned)but b4 I go- WHY KATIE? WHY DID YA LEAVE, GURL? Kiss that cute whiteman!!!

THEY DID IT AGAIN! Did anyone else 4get about Terrance having the book? Damn you, White Merlot! brb...THEY FIRED HIM? Of course thay did- but, THEY FIRED HIM?!?!?! Isn't there some undersexed Board wife who he could have gotten out of it with? Oh, well, I guess that's why I am not on strike. (Best wishes!- Yes, I did qoute Gabby, Bonita ((any hardcore Desperate Housewives out there?)) and btw, best of luck 2 you my heroes- writers, that is, Heroes sucks this season)N NE case, I love this hsow and all things ABC- they are the new HBO!

III...in case you are stoned- Showtime is the new HBO, in fact, their slogan should be "It's not HBO, it's Showtime" or- BETTER! Just clips of Roy Schneider saying "It's Showtime folks" in All that Jazz!!!"

Melba Z. Toast | Nov 9, 2007 9:02:26 PM | #

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I'm confused - I thought Brody's name was in that book not Duncan's? I'm also confused as to why Lizabeth didn't just tell Terrance that she was seeing Duncan about Cam especially as she was only gone for 20 mins like she said she was.
I wasn't impressed by any of them this week leaving poor Brody to deal with his sod of a father in law on his own I would at least have taken the opportunity to tell the SOG off and hopefully he would have had a heart attack sooner. If the old coot was getting an award why wasn't his darling daughter there to see him get it in the first place and thus ended up in the ambulance instead of poor Brody.
That Terrance is such a Beyatch it's like Callie and George all over again. You know Elizabeth doesn't love him as much as she should and yet he still wants to pretend she does. She's just a trophy to him and now he's sulking. He's got nothing else up his sleeve so he'll just have to ditch her next time - boo hoo!
Duncan's son is so like him and really, really hot - I feel sorry for Cam she got so close to the "dirty that doesn't wash clean"

Sirius | Nov 10, 2007 1:48:09 AM | #

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From the title, this show sounded completely uninteresting. Don't like "Sex in the Suburbs" i.e. Housewives and barely watch TV anyway, but my visiting cousin insisted on watching Big Shots and three shows later I'm joyously hooked.

The four main characters are a joy to watch as each week each goes through some major drama, trauma, or side splittingly dumb decision. The dialog is wickedly funny and I love how it pokes fun at or rather bulldozes the bastions of male privilege that shape our 21st century ideal of success in America.

While the pilot may not have been so hot, as per the critics fall reviews, I think this show is a hoot. This week's portrayal of Brody's handling his toxic father-in-law was one of the funniest setups I've seen in a long time, especially the sauna scene (love the cleverly placed jug with lemons.) Katie and James are sweet and can't wait to see the soon to be ex-wife bust a gut when their attraction becomes public. And I actually like all of the characters, which is rare for me and suggests the writers have infused each with enough empathy that you buy his/ner motives and actions.

I hope ABC is smart enough to give this show some serious breathing room. I think its just hitting its stride and could become a major hit.

mswainwright | Nov 13, 2007 1:04:46 PM | #

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I agree with Ms. wainwright. Some shows start off slow, but they really get down to better as the season progresses. Nip/Tuck was the same way, and since this is a show about middle age men going through things women go through but being men, makes it more fun. Besides it doesn't escape the devious minds of most men and that's fun to watch. Being a woman who thinks this show is hilarious and the follow up to desperate househusbands. Its's great. I hope ABC keeps it going. I hope they don't make another stupid mistake.

squeak | Nov 15, 2007 8:22:11 PM | #

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Love the show. I was disappointed when it wasn't it on last Thursday and it's not htis Thursday wither. I read on Wikipedia that ABC pulled it due to 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, and is suppose to return it on November 29th. Can't wait!

Patti | Nov 18, 2007 1:29:32 PM | #

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I am also fustrated with the James and Katie situation. I would like to see them hold out on this romance stuff for awhile. It is kind of interesting seeing this inter racial romance/foreplay thing going on. You know that in their hearts they care deeply for each other. Those are the best kinds of romance.

Kim J. | Nov 23, 2007 12:38:21 PM | #

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squeak, glad you made the nip/tuck parallel, hadn't thought about that one.

Yay, its back on this week, can't wait to catch up on what they boys are up to.

I just hope abc gets that you have to build an audience and keeps this show on for at least the season. This instant hit attitude (like everything must arrive in a flash these days) is decimating the film, music, and television industries--Seinfeld would have never had a chance.

mswainwright | Nov 27, 2007 6:37:10 AM | #

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