S02.E09: Inside the Pretend

[Drogo]

As Red Hot premieres, Candy, Harvey and Frankie get caught between competing investors; Vincent and Abby must deal with an unexpected loss; Paul turns to a familiar source to help finance Tod's dream; Darlene comes clean.

[txhorns79]

Poor Eileen.  Even when she is winning (the critical reaction to "Red Hot,"), she still loses (being cut off from her son). 

[Traveller519]

Give me one more episode, Deuce! For a full 10 episode season! Curse you, David Simon, and your ability to tie a season up so well and still leave us wanting more. 

All-in-all this felt like a much more cohesive season than the first. Most of our characters want more than the Deuce, but find an odd comfort in the "security" it provides. And truly nobody sees themselves as the asshole, when in reality it's hard to find someone who isn't.

I'm impressed the show was confident enough to handle Dorothy's death off-screen. Early in the episode I was running through scenarios. "Did CC have her wallet with him? Did he pick it up? Are they going to investigate her?" Or "Did she ditch her stuff and flee town?" All the mystery drama I've watched over the years says, if you don't see them buried, they're not really dead. But I think we can take this one at face value. We know the rest of the pimps were pissed at her and CC was the only one preventing something happening until he "skipped town."

Candy's made her name, but poor Eileen is learning she may not ever be able to divorce herself of Candy like an Ashley or Darlene. I feel like Eileen perpetually has he fingers on the outside of the tunnel, in the light, but she can't pull her head out.

I loved Irene's "If you love something, set it free, and it shall return, all fucked up" as she eyes Shay lying on her couch. I hope those two find some happiness in the 80s.

Edited November 5, 2018 by Traveller519

[DangerousMinds]

Mystery Achievement! That was everything.

[BingeyKohan]

This season bored me at times but it stuck the landing. Darlene’s little speech in the hallway got me. 

[PamelaMaeSnap]

9 hours ago, yellowjacket said:

I dunno. I want a spinoff with Black Frankie and his t***** girlfriend who cooed "stud" at him.

I thought that was Big Mike!

Other quick thoughts ... for some reason I had misremembered the scene from the "upcomings" trailer from last week and thought it actually showed Vince graveside seeing a casket being lowered into the ground and therefore assumed the death was someone much closer to him than Dorothy. 

I read Alan Sepinwall's (always excellent) recap and while he posited this as uncertain, I definitely 110% thought that Larry's audition in the closing montage was for "legit" film and he'll be trying to make his way not only out of pimping but out of porn as well. 

I can't remember ... maybe someone here knows? ... if this final episode was written/filmed before it was 100% confirmed that the show was indeed coming back for S3, but I got a feeling that it COULD have been a series finale, not just a season finale. 

I miss the show already and am counting the months until ... what would it be, September? Good thing I've got a lot of stuff on my hands to keep me occupied (and will probably rewatch all of Treme AND Show Me A Hero again to see more Dominique Fishback). 

[ChicksDigScars]

Nine episode seasons are just NOT. LONG. ENOUGH.

The last two eppys tied everything up so nicely, that I also wonder if they were penned without knowing that a Season Three was a go. I don't recall being disappointed that the next season was a year away before (at the end of Season One), but I sure as shit am right now, having to wait a year for Season Three! I don't know if it's Sopranos levels of disappointed anticipation, but I am feeling it right now. 

CC's leftover girl (can't recall her name) who was seen trying to hustle her way to a new pimp, or a new job at the parlor, is shown carrying a suitcase, so the question remains....WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PUPPY?!

[AgentRXS]

I'm surprised Vincent was the only one at Ashley's funeral. I thought Abby and the Puerto Rican ex-hooker would at least be there to pay their respects.

Poor Ashley. In the end, the only thing that stood between life and death for her was CC. I felt like the right characters died at the right time though. I couldn't see CC, Rodney, or Ashley making it to the '80s anyway.

There is just something about Larry that I want to root for him even after watching him strangle a woman. His goodbye to Darlene was strangely sweet. I look forward to seeing where they end up in the future.

Paul and his lover were so sweet--I felt the huge AIDS anvil hanging just over their heads. I'm predicting that Paul ends up being the carrier but  survives the crisis while his lover doesn't.

I can't wait for season 3!

[MCMLXXVII]

54 minutes ago, AgentRXS said:

I'm surprised Vincent was the only one at Ashley's funeral. I thought Abby and the Puerto Rican ex-hooker would at least be there to pay their respects.

Also, at the end of season one Ashley got on the bus to go live with her sister in upstate NY, so I thought it was weird that Vincent and Abby didn’t try to track down her family like they did for the girl that died in the fire. Of course it had been years, so there could have been a falling out offscreen. 

I chuckled at Lori emerging from the airport in a bikini top (especially with the old-school stewardesses right next to her). Even now every once in a while a person is challenged for wearing daisy dukes or other “inappropriate” attire on flights (though some airlines had that as a uniform look in the ‘70s).

Glad to see Lori and Darlene getting happy endings. I was afraid that Lori would OD on coke after everything pretty much going well for her.

I was surprised they introduced VHS/Beta so soon since $1000 in 1979 is still about $3400 in today’s money, but it’s good tease for season 3. I’ll be curious to see how the movies went from mob funded to more corporate endeavors.

[sugarbaker design]

Wow, satisfying last episode to a strong season.  I was surprised not only by Ashley/Dorothy's death, but also that it was off-screen and unresolved.  One of CC"s girls got LA, the other Potter's Field.

And any montage set to Mystery Achievement is a thing of joy!

[Joimiaroxeu]

Poor Darlene. Apparently New York might not be big enough for her to escape her past whenever she does leave the life.

Heh, Betamax. Sony blew it big with that one.

The Gambino and the Genovese guys didn't even like each other. They really didn't.

Surprised Larry just let Darlene leave. She was right, his heart wasn't in it anymore.

Wow, I didn't expect Rodney to go out like that. What a drug-addled fool.

It must have been overwhelming for Lori to realize she was finally free. Pimps seriously screw up those girls' heads. The parts that likely weren't already screwed up anyway.

OMG, I love that Larry was auditing for the role of a cop! Do your thing, Larry.

Are there any known mainstream actors who began in porn? I know of some who went on to R-rated schlock but have any actually gone on to do regular drama (or comedy) and weren't relegated to supporting roles?

Edited November 5, 2018 by Joimiaroxeu

[sistermagpie]

3 hours ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

I read Alan Sepinwall's (always excellent) recap and while he posited this as uncertain, I definitely 110% thought that Larry's audition in the closing montage was for "legit" film and he'll be trying to make his way not only out of pimping but out of porn as well. 

I thought that was the idea. Would those three guys really be sitting in on auditions for the lead in a porn film? I have no idea, but from the dialogue etc. it seemed definitely like he was auditioning for a legit film. It's really the only thing that makes sense--acting was the thing that Larry was in porn for. He wanted to act and was already frustrated with the bad scripts and characters in porn. 

1 hour ago, MCMLXXVII said:

Also, at the end of season one Ashley got on the bus to go live with her sister in upstate NY, so I thought it was weird that Vincent and Abby didn’t try to track down her family like they did for the girl that died in the fire. Of course it had been years, so there could have been a falling out offscreen. 

 

Or maybe they would do that later? Seems like the main thing is that Dorothy had turned her life around so she wouldn't be lost to her family and need as much tracking down. The police could do it with an ID.

26 minutes ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Are there any known mainstream actors who began in porn? I know of some who went on to R-rated schlock but have any actually gone on to do regular drama (or comedy) and weren't relegated to supporting roles?

In Larry's case it might be hard to base it on anyone because he's a genuinely good actor who's really passionate about the work. Being in porn wouldn't be good for his legit career but maybe he could just get cast on his abilities and struggle with that later.

[langford peel]

When Gandofini's son played the jukebox I wonder if it was a callback to the end of the Soprano's when his father played Journey on the jukebox at the diner in the last episode?

If Simon thought this was going to be the series ended than that would be a sly homage and callback that did not go unnoticed. 

[txhorns79]

Quote

Are there any known mainstream actors who began in porn? I know of some who went on to R-rated schlock but have any actually gone on to do regular drama (or comedy) and weren't relegated to supporting roles?

The only one I could think of would be Traci Lords.  She hasn't become some huge mainstream star, but I recall her doing guest work on a few different tv shows, so she certainly was accepted as a mainstream actress.  I can't think of any actor who had a career in porn, but went mainstream and became a big star.    

[langford peel]

Traci Lords had some decent credits after her porn career.

Of course there were all those rumors about Chuck Conners who supposedly did some gay porn in the 1950's before he became a star.

Stallone starred in "The Italian Stallion" which was a porn flick before he made "Rocky."

The same with Joan Crawford who made some skin flicks. If you saw "Feud" it was alluded to in the blackmail scheme. 

There are many so called stars who are rumored to have worked in skin flicks before they hit it big.

Edited November 5, 2018 by langford peel

[DangerousMinds]

2 hours ago, sugarbaker design said:

Wow, satisfying last episode to a strong season.  I was surprised not only by Ashley/Dorothy's death, but also that it was off-screen and unresolved.  One of CC"s girls got LA, the other Potter's Field.

And any montage set to Mystery Achievement is a thing of joy!

I want to go back and watch that montage again, it made me so happy.

[Dminches]

I definitely think the ending was done the way it was in case it was also the series finale.  

I enjoyed Lori vacillating between sadness and happiness after hearing of CC's death.  Looks like she got over it quickly.

Excellent season.  Looking forward to what they do in the next one.

[langford peel]

I worked in Times Square in those years and I have to tell you it really rings true. You would run into people in the life in the coffee shops and bars all the time.

My local gin mill had a rule that kept out the pimps. No hats allowed.

Worked like a charm.

[PamelaMaeSnap]

3 hours ago, sistermagpie said:

In Larry's case it might be hard to base it on anyone because he's a genuinely good actor who's really passionate about the work.

Exactly. I love that they've shown his arc of both having natural talent and working hard to refine it. Plus, for him, the journey seemed like getting into porn as an actor was already kind of a step away ... and a step up ... from pimping. 

[Surrealist]

3 hours ago, langford peel said:

Traci Lords had some decent credits after her porn career.

Of course there were all those rumors about Chuck Conners who supposedly did some gay porn in the 1950's before he became a star.

Stallone starred in "The Italian Stallion" which was a porn flick before he made "Rocky."

The same with Joan Crawford who made some skin flicks. If you saw "Feud" it was alluded to in the blackmail scheme. 

There are many so called stars who are rumored to have worked in skin flicks before they hit it big.

Exactly. Not only that, but Red Hot was Larry's only adult film, right? 

Unless I missed something. 

I'm thinking if he had been starring in several of those films, he'd have a more difficult time trying to segue into mainstream films. 

[sugarbaker design]

4 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Are there any known mainstream actors who began in porn? I know of some who went on to R-rated schlock but have any actually gone on to do regular drama (or comedy) and weren't relegated to supporting roles?

There was a gay porn actor in the 70s called Wade Nichols who later worked on the ABC soap opera under the name Dennis Parker.  He played Derek Mallory for several years before leaving the show due to illness.

[Joimiaroxeu]

Quote

The same with Joan Crawford who made some skin flicks. If you saw "Feud" it was alluded to in the blackmail scheme. 

Heh, Joan Crawford's were before the advent of talkies weren't they? Whatever, her "skills" in that area allegedly helped her get a leg up in Hollywood. No one can say she didn't earn her fame...the hard way. At least she had real acting ability.

Quote

There are many so called stars who are rumored to have worked in skin flicks before they hit it big.

In the age of social media and places like reddit and 4chan, I should think it'd be pretty hard to keep that quiet, especially since it would be trivial to digitize the movies and put them on the web.

Quote

There was a gay porn actor in the 70s called Wade Nichols who later worked on the ABC soap opera under the name Dennis Parker.  He played Derek Mallory for several years before leaving the show due to illness.

Bet that was an east coast soap. They were known to cast from local theater actors and probably some film extras too. I imagine more than one porn actor slipped in but it likely would've been been before viewers generally had access to the internet.

Edited November 5, 2018 by Joimiaroxeu

[sistermagpie]

35 minutes ago, Surrealist said:

I'm thinking if he had been starring in several of those films, he'd have a more difficult time trying to segue into mainstream films. 

He was doing that terrible one where he was a slave and another where he was a prisoner.

[slippity slack]

3 hours ago, DangerousMinds said:

I want to go back and watch that montage again, it made me so happy.

Me too--it was a wonderful montage with a great song.

Sad that the season is over so soon but really enjoyed the episode.

Afraid to see where these characters might end up five years from now or wherever they flash forward to. Hope Darlene makes it into the straight life. Loved Lori and her outfit at end but wonder if she will get over the coke habit.

Dorothy's demise was heartbreaking. We don't see how it happens and just get a scene of her body (many days?) later with detectives making jokes. She seemed so happy in her first scenes back working with the activist group.

I'm still rooting for Larry and think that had to be a non-porn audition--too much dialogue for a porn audition it would seem.  

[sadie]

This is IMO what good storytelling looks like. No stupid time jumps or fast hand gotcha fake outs. Good characters that are three dimensional, linear storytelling that keeps me engaged and good writing. Darlene telling Larry once she saw he was acting it was over. Damn Darlene! That’s some insightful shit, you’re gonna do just fine girl. Candie is a warrior, watching her deal with the heartbreak of her family life but focusing on her work is a thing of beauty. Lori going from tears of grief to tears of relief was amazing. The sets, the clothes, the music - gah perfection. I don’t know how I’m going to wait a year to spend more time with these people.

[DangerousMinds]

Why only 9 episodes instead of 10?

[Rinaldo]

9 hours ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

I read Alan Sepinwall's (always excellent) recap and while he posited this as uncertain, I definitely 110% thought that Larry's audition in the closing montage was for "legit" film and he'll be trying to make his way not only out of pimping but out of porn as well. 

I agree. The whole atmosphere of that audition was totally that of a legit situation, and the dialogue (clearly for a one-line character, which is all Larry can aspire to at this point) was that of any typical cop show, of which there were so many in the late 70s, some even shot in NYC. I do wish we could have seen more about the mechanics of the transition, though -- at the launch of Red Hot, did some agent schmooze him and offer to represent him and put him up for legit stuff? (You don't get in the door for TV work without representation.)

5 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Are there any known mainstream actors who began in porn? I know of some who went on to R-rated schlock but have any actually gone on to do regular drama (or comedy) and weren't relegated to supporting roles?

Several of the best examples have already been named -- there aren't many, all in all. In the case of Larry, he might have a hard time getting out of supporting or walk-on roles (if he even gets them... there are so many applicants for every single role), as he was the high-profile star of a flick that actually had a wide release and was seen by many, not some back-alley unknown item. There are more examples of actors whose career went in the other direction, if not as many as gossip would have it. Stephen Geoffreys is an especially startling example, as he had a Tony nomination and good movies to his credit, and then transitioned rather quickly into gay porn.

I would love it if we saw Larry well advanced on a respectable TV career next season.

[tennisgurl]

That last montage was everything! I loved that finale, and if the show didnt already have another season already lined up, I would say its a great series finale as well. So a lot of the characters are moving on, some of them didnt make it, and life goes on for the denizens (former and current) of New York City. This season started off rather rocky, but it pulled it together really well. The whole second half of the season was excellent. 

I especially loved seeing how Darleen and Larry ended up, and how when they started acting together, it was the beginning of the end of their pimp/ho relationship. They just became too real to each other. I think my favorite, and most surprising, plot of the season were the adventures of Larry the pimp turned aspiring actor. It looks like at the end, he had even moved into non porn acting (it sounded like he was trying out for a cop role!) and had really found something he loved. Its an interesting look, also, at the pimp crew, who are either gone or downed in power now. They've either transitioned into other things (Larry) or died (CC, Rodney), which was somewhat consistent with a lot of the characters. The season ended with quite a few characters moving on from the skin game (Darleen is a student/shop girl, the Puerto Rican hooker was working at the bar, Candy has become Eileen, etc) or being pulled back in, like poor, poor Dorothy. 

I was so sad about Dorothy, even if I pretty much saw all of it coming. I wish they had at least called her sister, or her friends from the women's group, I would think they would want to chip in for a decent grave for her, and be there for her funeral. She was so happy at first. Maybe she, Rodney, and CC were all just WAY too 70s to make it to the 80s. If only she could have made it though!

So the movie is a hit (even if people are still making cracks) but now Eileen is estranged from her family, and they've lost most of their money. But, Eileen is a tough chick, and Lori is still up and active in her fabulous Lovelace heart-eye sunglasses, now in sunny LA at last. 

Paul and his boyfriend are cute, and they seem like a good match. However, they basically have "AIDS is coming" hovering over heir heads, so the good times are not too last I am sure. 

Come on, just one more episode! Give us an even ten!

[AgentRXS]

4 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

Maybe she, Rodney, and CC were all just WAY too 70s to make it to the 80s. If only she could have made it though!

I think that David Simon realized that those 3 would be the least likely to live to see 1985 if they existed in real life. Rodney was on his way to dying of a heroin overdose, CC had too much of a violent temper to have survived the changing times.  There was no getting Ashley to back down and she was almost bound to getting herself killed. She and CC were the same in that neither would back down for their own good.  CC could have took the mob money and started over elsewhere. Ashley could have stayed gone or left again once her friend abandoned her. Both deaths were sort of "suicide by cop" in a way---clearly and deliberately pushing buttons until they got what they were looking for.

ETA: When I first saw Lori throwing up in the bathroom, I was so nervous for her that CC left a little gift behind  during their last tryst. I am glad that it was just nerves!

Edited November 6, 2018 by AgentRXS

[Surrealist]

2 hours ago, sistermagpie said:

He was doing that terrible one where he was a slave and another where he was a prisoner.

Ah, yeah. Thanks. 

I couldn't remember if it was one or two films. 

[MCMLXXVII]

15 hours ago, langford peel said:

When Gandofini's son played the jukebox I wonder if it was a callback to the end of the Soprano's when his father played Journey on the jukebox at the diner in the last episode?

If Simon thought this was going to be the series ended than that would be a sly homage and callback that did not go unnoticed. 

Funny enough, I’ve been rewatching The Wire after many years, and left season 2 wondering if Chris Bauer had previously auditioned for Tony Soprano, since HBO likes to reuse actors. 

[mytmo]

What was with all the money envelopes Vincent had at the bar?  I remember he had one for Abby that she never took but it seemed liked they multiplied.

I never thought I would say this but I will miss this series.  My first opinion only after seeing an advertisement was that it was another series with the obligatory scenes of females being shown topless.  So glad I was wrong.  The stories and characters were great.

[Surrealist]

20 minutes ago, mytmo said:

What was with all the money envelopes Vincent had at the bar?  I remember he had one for Abby that she never took but it seemed liked they multiplied.

IIRC, the money is Vince's cut from the parlor. He felt guilty after the teenage prostitute died in the parlor fire and told Abby to take that money and do some good with it. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. 

Abby was giving the money to Dorothy (fka Ashley) to give to prostitutes to get them off the streets and send them on a bus trip back home. 

Once Dorothy "disappeared" (and was later found murdered), the envelopes started piling up.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Surrealist

[mytmo]

3 hours ago, Surrealist said:

IIRC, the money is Vince's cut from the parlor. He felt guilty after the teenage prostitute died in the parlor fire and told Abby to take that money and do some good with it. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. 

Abby was giving the money to Dorothy (fka Ashley) to give to prostitutes to get them off the streets and send them on a bus trip back home. 

Once Dorothy "disappeared" (and was later found murdered), the envelopes started piling up.

Thank you!  How sad.

[txhorns79]

Quote

Paul and his boyfriend are cute, and they seem like a good match. However, they basically have "AIDS is coming" hovering over heir heads, so the good times are not too last I am sure. 

I'm very curious what they do with Paul.  I felt like he's been mostly isolated from the rest of the characters this season with the opening of his club.  I couldn't tell you the name of his boyfriend or why he feels it's a good idea to sink mob money into setting up a theater for the boyfriend.  Even Paul seemed to recognize it wasn't a particularly well thought out endeavor. 

I was very happy that Darlene wasn't punished for being honest about her past with her boyfriend.  She seems to be doing the best of all the characters.  She's moving out of prostitution/porn and there's no reason for her to ever look back. 

[Drogo]

3 hours ago, Surrealist said:

IIRC, the money is Vince's cut from the parlor. He felt guilty after the teenage prostitute died in the parlor fire and told Abby to take that money and do some good with it. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. 

Abby was giving the money to Dorothy (fka Ashley) to give to prostitutes to get them off the streets and send them on a bus trip back home. 

Once Dorothy "disappeared" (and was later found murdered), the envelopes started piling up.

You're right.  And he wanted out of the parlor business entirely, but Rudy and Crew wouldn't let him give up what he already had agreed to handle for them. So he became hands off and passed on the cash to Abby/Dorothy, because guilty conscience.

Abby was certainly thinking about that money in our closing montage- trying to figure out the best way to use it to continue Dorothy's mission.

[Dminches]

54 minutes ago, txhorns79 said:

I'm very curious what they do with Paul.  I felt like he's been mostly isolated from the rest of the characters this season with the opening of his club.  I couldn't tell you the name of his boyfriend or why he feels it's a good idea to sink mob money into setting up a theater for the boyfriend.  Even Paul seemed to recognize it wasn't a particularly well thought out endeavor. 

I was very happy that Darlene wasn't punished for being honest about her past with her boyfriend.  She seems to be doing the best of all the characters.  She's moving out of prostitution/porn and there's no reason for her to ever look back. 

I am nervous that Paul or his current boyfriend are going to be victims of AIDS once they jump forward to the mid-80s.

[DangerousMinds]

I'm sure quite a few will be victims, both men and women.

[Surrealist]

4 hours ago, Drogo said:

You're right.  And he wanted out of the parlor business entirely, but Rudy and Crew wouldn't let him give up what he already had agreed to handle for them. So he became hands off and passed on the cash to Abby/Dorothy, because guilty conscience.

Abby was certainly thinking about that money in our closing montage- trying to figure out the best way to use it to continue Dorothy's mission.

Abby has to wrestle with using "dirty money" that keeps places for sex work running to help the women who want to leave the life. 

I think that's been her biggest struggle this season. Using dirty money to further her cause, and how that implicates her in some way. 

 

Maybe "implicates" is the wrong word here? 

Edited November 6, 2018 by Surrealist

[tennisgurl]

The only thing that makes me feel a little better about Dorothy dying is that her death did at least end up being seemingly the last straw that got her hooker friend and Darleen out of hooking, and into legit work. Hell, even Larry was shaken by her death, and left the pimp game soon after. So, thats a little something at least. 

[nilyank]

4 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

The only thing that makes me feel a little better about Dorothy dying is that her death did at least end up being seemingly the last straw that got her hooker friend and Darleen out of hooking, and into legit work. Hell, even Larry was shaken by her death, and left the pimp game soon after. So, thats a little something at least. 

Darlene was already had plans in place to leave that life before Dorothy's murder. She has been going to school and found herself a real job. Back in season, she was the first of the girls that Abby tried to help and she is the one that isn't going to let the past drag her back.

[Brooklynista]

I thought Darlene could have given Larry a hug before she left but then I don't hug my bosses when I leave a job.

Now I really need to know whose baby that is hanging out at Larry's.  Did he/she come with the apartment? The women are leaving the life in droves there's no way Larry can chase auditions and manage a toddler.

Edited November 8, 2018 by Brooklynista

[ChicksDigScars]

I'm wondering if the actor that plays Paul is going to show up for Season Three about 40 pounds lighter, like Matt Bomer did for HBO's The Normal Heart.  They took a break from filming so that Bomer could go on a crash diet to get the authentic look of a man in the finals stages of AIDS.  I read an article that said that when he came back to set after the weight loss, people started crying when they saw him. 

[sugarbaker design]

On 11/7/2018 at 5:36 PM, ChicksDigScars said:

I read an article that said that when he came back to set after the weight loss, people started crying when they saw him. 

That is hysterical, what would they do if a co-worker actually got sick?

[txhorns79]

Quote

I'm sure quite a few will be victims, both men and women.

I agree.  Anyone who is having unprotected sex with multiple unknown partners is going to be at high risk.  I don't know what the actual effect was, but I would guess that AIDS will devastate the ranks of the prostitutes and porn actors, and lead to big changes in both those industries.  

[laprin]

On 10/29/2018 at 11:00 AM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Was CC trying to get killed? You don't negotiate with the mob. Whatever, ditto comments upthread, I half expected him either to kill Lorie or do permanent damage to her face. He turned out to be sort of a stand-up guy until greed and envy got the best of him.

I did not find anything redeemimg about CC. Is it a certainty that he did not kill Dorothy/Ashley? I think he was her likely killer. The loss of Lorie was a loss of not just money but power for CC. As she became more independent, he needed to exert more physical control in order to keep power. I think being forced to take the mob offer sent him over the edge and I don’t doubt it could have led him to murder Dorothy - another symbol of lost control who was now actively working against his interest and making him look bad in the eyes of fellow pimps. I think the only reason he insisted the other pimps leave her alone is because he wanted to deal with her on his own terms.  Maybe he killed her prior to his meeting with Frankie because he clearly seemed agitated, maybe even on an adrenalin rush. In any event, good riddance! 

Edited November 11, 2018 by laprin

[DangerousMinds]

2 hours ago, txhorns79 said:

I agree.  Anyone who is having unprotected sex with multiple unknown partners is going to be at high risk.  I don't know what the actual effect was, but I would guess that AIDS will devastate the ranks of the prostitutes and porn actors, and lead to big changes in both those industries.  

Or using drugs, or even just getting s hospital blood transfusion in the early days.

[Joimiaroxeu]

I thought it was commendable--for him, anyway--that he didn't kill or maim Lori. He seems to have accepted that she was leaving. But yeah, in all other ways he was a your basic horrible pimp who may or may not have killed Ashley. (Seems to me that if he did the show wouldn't have had any reason to leave the audience in the dark though.)

[TV Anonymous]

On 11/5/2018 at 1:12 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Are there any known mainstream actors who began in porn? I know of some who went on to R-rated schlock but have any actually gone on to do regular drama (or comedy) and weren't relegated to supporting roles?

Their number is bigger than what you might think, but IMHO none of them make it big both in porn and mainstream. Those are two list, this and that, depending on your point of view.

[Gobi]

This was like watching a season finale of The Wire. In both shows, the only music heard is music the characters can hear (diegetic is the term). The exception would be the finale, when a song would be played over a montage showing the characters' fates. Loved it. Someone should figure out a way to digitally insert Lori into some of the scenes in Boogie Nights. I agree that AIDS will decimate the cast in the third season.

Who killed Dorothy? I think Larry and Rodney can be excluded; Larry because he wasn't interested in pimping anymore, and Rodney because he was more interested in getting high. I didn't think CC did it either, although it might explain why he was trying to get more money out of Bobby and Frankie: he wanted to get out of Dodge. I doubt we'll find out, as I don't imagine the police will spend any time investigating her death. And if CC did kill her, there would be no way to establish it.

Edited November 25, 2018 by Gobi
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