DIFFICULT PEOPLE: BERNIE AND BLYTHE (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's version of "bubbly and perky" chat proves too dark and weird at their latest audition, and Arthur, recently returned from a work trip to Florida, deems their new dog-walker to be "shady." Billy is uncertain when Todd invites him to "a work thing," a retirement party for a colleague, and Nate, heading out of town with Denise, begs temporary manager Matthew not to pull an "Undercover Boss" — but elderly lady "Marionette" soon hobbles into the cafe, prompting Billy to immediately take time off. Marilyn's editor Veronica is amazed to learn that Marilyn is actually featured in the famous book "The Joy of Sex," and Julie is horrified to learn that the dog-walker has "rebranded" her two hounds, whom he has christened Football and Touchdown, as sports-themed Instagram pet stars.
At the retirement party, an uncomfortable Billy is forced to hang out with the other "wives," all of whom are obsessively supportive of their husbands' advertising careers. Explaining that her pets too have been "miscast," Billy and Julie decide to move to "Easy Street" and use the dogs'
newfound fame in some sort of TV campaign, while elsewhere Marilyn decides to recapture her free-spirited youth, as graphically depicted in the book. Julie and Arthur find a strangely erotic new role-playing game as Blythe Danner and Bernie Sanders, and Nate returns to find "Marionette" alone in the ransacked cafe. Billy finally loses patience while attending the funeral reception for the recent retiree and declares that he can't be a soulless "wifey," but Todd assures him that he genuinely loves his abrasive, snarky nature. Marilyn reunites with former lover Dusty, who is "unburdened" by a steady job or home, and Billy and Julie's appearance on ESPN alongside Football and Touchdown is ruined when Julie "Jinxes" herself by accidentally making outrageous comments on a hot mic.
Details
- NETWORK: Hulu
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 0:23:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 136482
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection - Comedy; Comedy; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: Hulu - Internet series, 2015-2017
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Brooke Posch … Executive Producer
- Amy Poehler … 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
- Lilly Burns … Producer
- John Skidmore … Producer
- Steve Marcarelli … Associate Producer
- Shannon de Zeeuw … Associate Producer
- Jake Fogelnest … Consulting Producer
- Sean Clements … Consulting Producer
- Tom Scharpling … Consulting Producer
- Halsted Sullivan … 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
- Derrick Baskin … Cast, Nate
- John Cho … Cast, Todd Ross
- Jami Gertz … Cast, David's Wife
- John Turturro … Cast, Dusty
- Christina Gausas … Cast, Tracy Wass
- Dan Soder … Cast, Bruce
- Leslie Kritzer … Cast, Lance's Wife
- Wesley Taylor … Cast, Lyle
- Lucy Liu … Cast, Veronica Ford
- Clifton Dunn … Cast, Dude
- Katy Grenfell … Cast, Gennifer
- Dan Puck … Cast, Dave
- Maceo Oliver … Cast, ESPN Host
- Brit Whittle … Cast, ESPN Host