ARLI$$ {ARLISS}: ARLISS MICHAELS, AMERICAN (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about sports agent Arliss Michaels and his associates. Arliss is called in when one of his clients, a flamboyant and combative professional bowler named Turkey Reeves, is suspended for assaulting a photographer. This is the latest in a series of incidents involving physical violence against paparazzi. Arliss manages to convince the higher-ups not to suspend Turkey by pointing out that his presence has greatly increased the audience for the sport. Later, Arliss receives an invitation to dinner at the White House to honor an organization dedicated to youth sports. He is excited at the prospect and consults political advisor James Carville for advice as to transportation and on what guests he can bring. His staff squabbles amongst themselves as to who gets to go with Arliss to the White House. Meanwhile, Kirby is secretly supplying stories to the National Inquirer about Turkey and receiving payoffs for them. Unaware of this, Arliss assigns Kirby to accompany Turkey to keep him out of trouble. Secretly, Arliss asks professional figure skater Katarina Witt to be his guest to the White House. While at a nightclub, Kirby leaks a story to the Inquirer about Turkey using drugs, only to be arrested by undercover policemen, who discover that Turkey is hiding cocaine in his bowling bag. Rita believes she is going with Arliss to the White House but is furious when she discovers he asked Witt instead. However, Witt calls and explains that she's come down with the flue and can't go. Arliss desperately scrambles to find someone else to go with him, as time is short. Rita berates Arliss for his behavior and he finally asks her to go with him. However, Arliss is called away to deal with Turkey's arrest. His lawyer manages to get Turkey a probation period instead of jail time, but Carville calls and notes that Arliss won't be invited to the White House if he represents a known drug addict. Arliss also figures out from a comment by Carville that Kirby is the one responsible for giving stories to the Inquirer. Arliss confronts Kirby in his cell and gets him to admit the truth. He proposes that Kirby take the blame for Turkey's drug possession. At first Kirby refuses, going on a rampage in his cell and destroying the toilet lid. However, Arliss manages to convince him and he confesses. However, the opposing lawyer brings up Kirby's arrest in 1976 for a college prank gone wrong, as well as pointing out that breaking his cell's toilet is also an offense for destroying state property. Under California law, this means Kirby could be sentenced to life imprisonment. Arliss attempts to bribe the opposing lawyer, but to no avail. The episode ends as Arliss arranges a reduced sentence for Kirby in exchange for bringing the opposing lawyer with him as his guest to the White House.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: July 1, 1997 11:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:45
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:74976
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Sports; Athletes; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 1996-2002
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Mike Tollin … Executive Producer
- Brian Robbins … Executive Producer
- Robert Wuhl … Executive Producer, Created by
- Robert Wuhl … Executive Producer, Created by
- Scott Kaufer … Supervising Producer
- Timothy Marx … Supervising Producer
- Kevin Falls … Producer
- Jonathan Fink … Co-Producer
- Billy Crawford … Co-Producer
- Brad Uecker … Associate Producer
- John Payson … Director
- Norman Chad … Writer
- Ed Smart … Music by
- Jim Turner … Cast, Kirby Carlisle
- Sandra Oh … Cast, Rita Wu
- Michael Boatman … Cast, Stanley Babson
- James Carville … Cast, Himself
- Jim Leyritz … Cast, Himself
- Katarina Witt … Cast, Herself
- Richard Minchenberg … Cast, Bernie Orenstein
- Gregg Curtis … Cast, Turkey Reeves
- Lou Felder … Cast, Judge Postelwait
- Lois Foraker … Cast, Monica Clearwater
- Tony Lawrence … Cast, J.P.
- Ken Magee … Cast, Clarence
- Greg Wrangler … Cast, Blonde Cop