DIFFICULT PEOPLE: CARTER (TV)
Summary
One in this dark comedy series about two self-centered best friends/would-be comedians living in New York City. In this episode, Billy and Julie attempt to drum up interest for their new Taylor Swift-themed Fringe Festival show, even inventing a pull quote from Tony-winning Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda, though Nate complains that Miranda in fact stole the idea for his smash hit musical "Hamilton" from him during their time in elementary school. Denise obsesses over Restaurant Week, and Julie and Billy are shocked to learn that Marilyn has landed a job at their beloved Bravo, psychologically evaluating potential cast members for the "Real Housewives" franchise. "Swiftical the Musical" comes to an abrupt halt when Billy and Julie are slapped with a cease-and-desist from the infamously litigious Swift and Denise and Nate panic about a vegetable-truck crash, though Marilyn is thrilled when she is asked to be ex-Countess Luann de Lesseps' onscreen psychologist.
Forced to cancel "Swiftical," Billy and Julie then run into smugly successful comedian Andrea Mumford, whose Fringe show keeps selling out, and they quickly claim to have created an equally popular "Hamilton"-inspired musical about President Jimmy Carter. They quickly decide to "Weird Al their own musical" and hastily rewrite the Swift-related lyrics to apply to Carter, though Arthur is frustrated by their gaping historical inaccuracies. Marilyn, naturally, spends Luann's first session talking about her own conflict with Julie and how she "one-upped her in her realm" with the Bravo gig, and she whisks Luann and the film crew off to see "Carter." Andrea joins the full house at "Carter," while elsewhere Nate and Denise, left alone to handle Restaurant Week, reassess their priorities and decide to adopt a baby. The audience begins fleeing the ridiculous "Carter" in droves, and Matthew reacts badly to learning that he is to become a "big brother," and though Marilyn praises Julie's work, she is fired by Bravo for unintentionally ruining the "Real Housewives" season by resolving Luann and Sonja's fight. Lin-Manuel himself bursts into the theatre to confront Billy about the fake quote, but he ends up apologizing to Nate for his underhanded theft. Outside, Andrea openly hits on Arthur as a distraught Matthew stumbles through Times Square.
Details
- NETWORK: Hulu
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:29
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 136476
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection - Comedy; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: Hulu - Internet series, 2015-2017
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Amy Poehler … Executive Producer
- Brooke Posch … Executive Producer
- Dave Becky … Executive Producer
- Tony Hernandez … Executive Producer
- Jeffrey Walker … Executive Producer, Director
- Julie Klausner … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Scott King … Executive Producer, Writer
- Ryan McCormick … Producer
- John Skidmore … Producer
- Lilly Burns … Producer
- Steve Marcarelli … Associate Producer
- Jake Fogelnest … Consulting Producer
- Christine Zander … Consulting Producer
- Michael Amodio … Post Producer
- Julie Klausner … Cast, Julie Kessler
- Billy Eichner … Cast, Billy Epstein
- James Urbaniak … Cast, Arthur Tack
- Cole Escola … Cast, Matthew Ellis Ross
- Andrea Martin … Cast, Marilyn Kessler
- Gabourey Sidibe … Cast, Denise
- Derrick Baskin … Cast, Nate
- Tara Summers … Cast, Cheryl
- Rebecca Naomi Jones … Cast, Alison
- Shakina Nayfack … Cast, Lola
- Lin-Manuel Miranda … Cast, Himself
- Chris Burns … Cast, Process Server
- Greg Crowe … Cast, Tourist
- LuAnn de Lesseps … Cast, Herself
- Shannon DeVido … Cast, Andrea Mumford
- Jason Gore … Cast, Comedy Guy
- Sonja Morgan … Cast, Herself
- Duvall O'Steen … Cast, Tourist
- Renoly Santiago … Cast, Fringe Festival Man