Building on the madness of “Dolls,” Season Two, Episode Four’s “Coma” amps up the alienation, torment, and existential dread. With a little help from some unscrupulous products, Tim and Eric (along with a few innocent Pep Peps) have to confront greater peril than ever before.
Theme:
Consumerism has long been a fascination with Awesome Show, and nowhere is it more apparent than in this episode. While Cinco products have always been whimsical, useless, or outright arcane, in the earlier episodes of the show, they are not really a malevolent presence. However, this gradually changes until Season Cinco involves a plot by the Brothers Cinco that involves double-crossing, treachery, and the death of an innocent woman. Here, Cinco’s toy “My New Pep Pep” causes familial strife and feels of abandonment, while “Wait Mate,” a sleep aid hawked by Jeff Goldblum (and his seductive stare), actually causes brain damage. As the season continues, Awesome Show will continue to explore the cruelty, greed, and dishonesty that props up consumer culture.
Hi-Lights:
Cinco: My New Pep-Pep (Parts 1 and 2)
See Theme. Cinco’s back, and they want to sell you a new Pep-Pep. With self-dispensing hard candy and easy storage, who could resist? The real pay-off for this sketch is Part Two where exuberant grandkids frolic with their new Pep-Pep while a sad older man watches. After an uncomfortably long time, the children’s father appears, tries to console the old Pep-Pep and lures him away with a deliciously creepy line: “Let’s go back to the garage.”
James Quall: Beach Blast
James Quall makes his presence felt all through this episode, but here, with eyes cast to the heavens and cheeks aflame with hot pink rouge, the image of Quall gyrating to his own mouth-generated guitar sound effects is something you won’t be able to shake. But why would you want to?
Tim’s Party
The denouement to the episode involves Tim’s amazing party. While we don’t get to see the promised “mistletoe donkey,” the sketch is saved by James Quall’s wholehearted awkwardness and Tim as Zan, Eric’s spritely occupational therapist. Decked out in a red and blue unitard and curly wig, Zan is a kooky, unselfconscious wonder to behold. The scene’s already dizzying strangeness is pushed even further by Eric’s despair and continuous pleas for help.
Anatomy of an Episode:
Host Segment (1)
Tim’s going to have the best party ever and Eric can’t wait. They both really want you to know this.
Title Sequence
Unique in its use of the title sequence for an in-episode joke, here, for an extra bit of repetition, we’re treated to the information that this is Tim’s birthday episode, and yes, Eric can’t wait.
Cinco: My New Pep-Pep (Part 1)
See Hi-Lights. Cinco’s at it again--this time with even more familial discord and bone chilling alienation than before! Thanks, Cinco!
Karaoke Song Legends: Ruth Carr “Come Over”
Casey Tatum isn’t the only singing star on Awesome Show. Here, Ruth Carr performs a passionate appeal to her jort clad lover, ending with some truly strange vocalizing.
Wait Mate with Jeff Goldblum
I don’t care what you’re selling. Jeff Goldblum and those fuck-me eyes can talk me into anything.
Eric and Wait Mate
Eric agrees with me about Jeff Goldblum, whom he repeatedly refers to as “handsome for a man,” as he spirals into a whirlwind of Wait Mate induced nightmares.
James Quall: Beach Blast
See Hi-Lights. James Quall does it Quall folks--singing, dancing, mouth-generated guitar sounds, you name it.
Eric Wakes Up
Wait Mate has done a number on Eric’s psyche, but have no fear, a very helpful videotape from Zan, Wait Mate’s in house occupational therapist, will put things right.
My New Pep-Pep (Part 2)
See Hi-Lights. A real-life Pep-Pep watches in dismay as his grandchildren play with their Cinco branded Pep-Pep. Only a promise of a trip to the garage can lift his flagging spirit.
Stark on Stark
Ron Stark laboriously interviews himself about his acting career.
Reminder: Tim’s Birthday Dialogue Box
The tedium of Ron Stark’s self-interview is broken by a reminder that Tim’s amazing birthday party is approaching. I can’t wait.
Tim’s Party
See Hi-Lights. The party descends into James Quall inspired hilarity as Eric begs silently for help.
Winner :
For his performance as the Puckish, delightfully creepy Zan, Tim takes this one home. Wedding unfettered exuberance to a joyous disregard for body standards, Zan is a jewel of a character, and it’s just a tragedy we don’t get more of him later on (sorry, folks). So, bask in your moment of glory, sweet Zan... until we meet again.
Pennie Sublime