Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search

S04.E09: A Slippery Slope

txhorns79

By txhorns79
in Hacks

Recommended Posts

Notabug

Notabug

53 minutes ago, EtheltoTillie said:

Someone on another forum pointed out that noncompetes are unenforceable in California and predicted a quick resolution of this issue. Surely they all would know this and it wouldn’t even be included in the contract in the first place.  I wonder how this will play out. 

There have been instances where a celeb jumped networks and they weren’t allowed to star on a similar format show in the past for a short periiod, but, you’re right, the no-compete Bob described would essentially prevent Deborah from working at all and would be unenforceable and illegal. Non-competes are also geographic usually, I don’t think that she could be prevented from starting a new talk show based on NYC or Vegas.

i’m in medicine and no-competes in my field would prevent me from opening up a practice within a certain distance of my current one (like 10 miles) for a brief period of time, like 6 months but there is no way a no-compete could prevent me from making a living entirely as Bob told Deborah hers did.

i think she returns to Vegas and is the hit of The Strip.

  • Like 3
  • Useful 3
Moose135

Moose135

While he may have called it a 'non-compete', and I don't really remember now his actual words, the thing is Deborah has a contract in place to work for the network that runs another 18 months. Yes, in most places, if you quit your job, you can walk away and a non-compete is mostly meaningless, but she signed a contract. They could decide to pay her under the contract for the next 18 months while she sits at the pool, but she wouldn't be able to work in the entertainment business during that time.

  • Like 4
  • Useful 2
slowpoked

slowpoked

(edited)

What a packed penultimate episode! Putting the legalities of the non-compete aside, this is the one time, or one of the very few times that Deborah made an emotional decision, given her reaction towards Bob at the end. Someone with her business acumen would look at all the pros and cons of such decision before doing it, I would think. She’s the type to cover all bases.

I love her reasoning of why she shut Ava out - because Ava would talk her out of it. I can totally see Ava “sacrificing” her position to save Deborah’s long-time dream. And Ava realized anyway, that the head writer job of a late night show isn’t what she thought it would be. She would gladly walk out of it, if it saves Deborah and the show.

When Ava was making a big fuss about that joke being cut out of the show, I was thinking “Ava’s gotta learn to pick her battles. Not everything is a war that she needs to win, and always get her way.” That’s the vast generational difference between her and Deborah. The latter has realized that a long time ago.

I can now see that the one-night stand thing would be in play at the finale. Only now, it would be Deborah’s card to play, no longer Ava’s.

Now I see why Winnie got fired. Bob operates at such extremes.

Edited by slowpoked
  • Like 4
EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

(edited)
3 hours ago, Moose135 said:

While he may have called it a 'non-compete', and I don't really remember now his actual words, the thing is Deborah has a contract in place to work for the network that runs another 18 months. Yes, in most places, if you quit your job, you can walk away and a non-compete is mostly meaningless, but she signed a contract. They could decide to pay her under the contract for the next 18 months while she sits at the pool, but she wouldn't be able to work in the entertainment business during that time.

This is a good point.  If she were fired, they would have to keep paying her unless there were some other contract issues that would mean they didn't have to pay her.  But then they probably couldn't keep her from working.  Here she quit, so they could say she breached the contract so they wouldn't have to pay her--then it could get messy in a number of ways.  It will be interesting how they play this out.  I feel that Deborah will have consulted her lawyer about all this before taking this action.

Edited by EtheltoTillie
  • Like 1
aghst

aghst

No late night show would go anywhere near a controversy, even as a joke, would they?

I haven't watched late night talk shows in years.  But they depend on having those star guests all the time so no way they would alienate them.

As far as next season, it could be 2 years from this season.  It wouldn't matter to Deborah since she's rich but Ava would have to find another job and she can't conveniently drop it to work for Ava again.

Or maybe Deborah goes on tour again.  Returning to Vegas seems like regressing creatively.   She only agreed to do the tour Ava recommended because the Vegas clubs were constraining her act.

Dance Mom is that big that she can move to LA indefinitely, just to be available to do the show on a short moment's notice?  She's spending a ton renting places but late night shows aren't paying that much.

So she keeps making social media content to make a ton of money?  Yet she's so out of it, it doesn't look like she'd be creating a lot of content or doing anything unless Jimmy and Kayla were wrangling her to get to work.

  • Like 1
txhorns79

txhorns79

  • Author
1 hour ago, aghst said:

Dance Mom is that big that she can move to LA indefinitely, just to be available to do the show on a short moment's notice?  She's spending a ton renting places but late night shows aren't paying that much.

My guess would be she is on some kind of retainer with the show.  She seems to be popular with Deborah's audience.  I did laugh at the way she insisted on Jimmy "boofing" her.  It's just so ridiculous.

  • Like 1
slowpoked

slowpoked

(edited)
1 hour ago, aghst said:

No late night show would go anywhere near a controversy, even as a joke, would they?

I haven't watched late night talk shows in years.  But they depend on having those star guests all the time so no way they would alienate them.

 

It’s all Cher’s fault. If only she had said yes, Bob Lipka wouldn’t have forced the creepy guy. 
 

25 minutes ago, aghst said:

One of the show runners said in the BTS for this episode that Deborah ending up with a long run hosting a late night show is not the end game for her character or the show.

 

I saw that, and that was interesting. Obviously late-night was supposed to be Deborah’s career pinnacle. But even she said “The dream has changed.”

Deborah’s motivation for work has long fascinated me since S1. She’s clearly not in need for money, doesn’t have crippling debts, doesn’t have children or relatives she’s supporting (DJ has turned down every assistance she’s extended). It seems like she’s just really doing this for love of the game, and to keep proving herself to people.

Edited by slowpoked
  • Like 3
Irlandesa

Irlandesa

5 hours ago, Moose135 said:

While he may have called it a 'non-compete', and I don't really remember now his actual words, the thing is Deborah has a contract in place to work for the network that runs another 18 months. Yes, in most places, if you quit your job, you can walk away and a non-compete is mostly meaningless, but she signed a contract. They could decide to pay her under the contract for the next 18 months while she sits at the pool, but she wouldn't be able to work in the entertainment business during that time.

I think it's called an exclusionary clause vs. non-compete.  As long as they pay her, she needs their permission to do anything the contract says they get first rights to monetize or approve of while she's under it.  The only thing I felt was unrealistic is that it prevented her from doing anything.   When Conan left The Tonight Show, a comedy tour was about all he was allowed to do but it was something. 

1 hour ago, aghst said:

Dance Mom is that big that she can move to LA indefinitely, just to be available to do the show on a short moment's notice?  She's spending a ton renting places but late night shows aren't paying that much.

When Jimmy and Kayla went to Dance Mom's house, they mentioned she had received a multimillion dollar advance to do advertisements for Old Navy (I think).  She lost the gig because of her behavior but she made a quip that she had already spent all of that money so she couldn't give it back.

Dance Mom is probably in debt but that is what has fueled her life in LA.

  • Like 4
EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

Paul Downs appeared on Jimmy Kimmel the other day.  Apparently they really have tried to get Cher on the show, but she keeps refusing.  So it becomes a meta joke in the episodes.

As for the fifth season, I hope that happens, because as someone said upthread, how would they conclude the show with just one more episode? 

Deborah's motivation to work mimics Joan Rivers's.  She was tireless to the end.  Always scheduling gigs and flying around all over. 

  • Like 2
  • Useful 2
snarktini

snarktini

(edited)
9 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

I feel that Deborah will have consulted her lawyer about all this before taking this action.

I would have thought so, and Jimmy would have advised her too. But the way her face falls when he's saying she can't work anywhere anyway indicated to me that she hadn't thought that through, or was worried she hadn't.

Edited by snarktini
  • Like 2
EtheltoTillie

EtheltoTillie

9 hours ago, snarktini said:

I would have thought so, and Jimmy would have advised her too. But the way her face falls when he's saying she can't work anywhere anyway indicated to me that she hadn't thought that through, or was worried she hadn't.

I caught that face fall too, but I’m taking it as a red herring. Can’t wait to see. 

iMonrey

iMonrey

(edited)

Can we just skip the ceremony and give Jean Smart the Emmy right now? Because I'm pretty sure she's got it all wrapped up with this episode. 

When they tried to make it look like Deborah was going to go ahead and fire Ava I strongly suspected it was a red herring. I was glad to be right about that. 

This hit all the right emotional beats but I'm not sure it was the right decision for Deborah. It feels like Ava has become a crutch for her. 

Edited by iMonrey
  • Like 2
endure

endure

11 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Can we just skip the ceremony and give Jean Smart the Emmy right now? Because I'm pretty sure she's got it all wrapped up with this episode. 

When they tried to make it look like Deborah was going to go ahead and fire Ava I strongly suspected it was a red herring. I was glad to be right about that. 

This hit all the right emotional beats but I'm not sure it was the right decision for Deborah. It feels like Ava has become a crutch for her. 

It was a great episode, I actually teared up.  I think Deborah did the right thing... finally, and next episode should be interesting.  They're a team.

  • Like 3
chaifan

chaifan

 

I was convinced this was the season finale.  I'm glad I'm wrong.  And I really hope they give this show a 5th season to wrap everything up.  

With the live post-Oscars show and the firing of Ava, I knew Deborah would do something on live tv.  But I couldn't figure out why she was keeping Ava off property, because that was so sad when she couldn't get in.  Then it made sense.  

We know Jimmy was clued in to what was going to happen, from when Deborah was at his house.  That ties back in with the "you didn't tell me you made up" bit from a few episodes ago.  While I can believe Deborah didn't think about the non-compete, Jimmy would have known that off the top of his head.  (Marcus would have, too.)  So it doesn't make sense that Bob's bit in the parking lot was a complete surprise to her.  

On 5/24/2025 at 4:16 PM, Sarahsmile416 said:

Maybe it's a silly notion, but I hope Winnie sees the show and sees that Deborah was not the one behind her firing and they all band together to bring down Bob Lipka 

I don't think this is silly.  There's a reason for that scene between Winnie and Ava at the red carpet.  I think this is very possible.  

On 5/23/2025 at 1:04 PM, slowpoked said:

I was thinking “Ava’s gotta learn to pick her battles. Not everything is a war that she needs to win, and always get her way.” That’s the vast generational difference between her and Deborah. The latter has realized that a long time ago.

I think censorship is one battle most professionals in that situation (in real life) would choose to fight, across all generations. 

On 5/23/2025 at 3:59 PM, EtheltoTillie said:

Apparently they really have tried to get Cher on the show, but she keeps refusing.  So it becomes a meta joke in the episodes.

 OMG.  I love this.  I really hope Cher thinks this is funny, and makes an appearance next season, if there is one.  

 

  • Like 5
heatherchandler

heatherchandler

14 hours ago, chaifan said:

I think censorship is one battle most professionals in that situation (in real life) would choose to fight, across all generations. 

Oh I don’t think so.  That’s a fight that can’t be won.  We see on this show, Debra was never going to win the battle, the company wins that every time.  She had to leave the show, she didn’t win.  

  • Like 2
Blakeston

Blakeston

This was riveting, but it also felt very abrupt. I think it would have worked better if Ava's indiscretion had happened last episode, instead of it all happening so quickly. (Also, the live post-Oscars special didn't feel like that big of a deal, because we'd heard so little about it.)

Also, speaking of Ava, it's mind-blowing that she still hasn't figured out that there will be bad consequences if she reveals confidential information to people in journalism. She's a huge liability to anyone she works for.

 

 

  • Like 1
ItCouldBeWorse

ItCouldBeWorse

I know it shouldn't bother me, and it's meant to be funny, but Jimmy got a rabies shot last episode, meaning "Lassie" would have been euthanized and tested, because rabies can't be diagnosed in a living animal.  So he shouldn't have been able to bite anyone this week.  Jimmy would have to be completely bonkers to go through a series of rabies shots without such test results; that only happens when the animal who bit/scratched the victim isn't available to be tested, like with a bat or wild dog.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
chaifan

chaifan

7 hours ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

I know it shouldn't bother me, and it's meant to be funny, but Jimmy got a rabies shot last episode, meaning "Lassie" would have been euthanized and tested, because rabies can't be diagnosed in a living animal. 

Yeah, sorry, you're just going to have to handwave that away.  Because even before Jimmy's bite, there was what?  One or two other bites?  So the dog would have should have been killed 3 times over already.  But even before that, there's not an insurance company in the world that would allow production to have a dog on set that's not vaccinated, let alone one that's already bitten someone.  The whole premise is ridiculous, and to be honest, rather unnecessary for plot reasons.  And it wasn't even funny.  Personally, I think this is too smart of a show (no pun intended) to have stupid things like that.  

  • Like 2

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...