[1-10] The Competitors

Writer: Sarah Dunn
Producers: Walter Barnett & Jeff Lowell
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel

Episode Length: 22:03
Guest Stars:

Ed Koch: Speaker Rosen

Victoria Dillard: Janelle

J. Smith-Cameron: Lisa

Stephen Colbert: Frank

Jennifer Garrner: Becky

Brian Tarantino: 1st Homeless Man

Soby: 2nd Homeless Man

William Preston: Older Homeless Man

James E. Tripp: Reporter

Rating:#10 20.4 million viewers 12.7 rating 19 share

First Broadcast: November 26, 1996

Opening sound: Turkeys

Storyline #1: Feeding the Masses
Mike gets sucked into a contest between the Speaker's office and his city council. The contest is who can feed the most homeless people on Thanksgiving. Since it's an even numbered year, Mike, after much indecisciveness, takes the lower West Side church St. Stevens, which ends up having a kitchen that hasn't seen edible food in many a year. Fortunately, Mike cleans it up by Thursday and the Staff begins to cook. And even though Mike's crew comes out one person ahead, the final 3 customers end up with food poisoning. The final shot of the show is Mike and the crew doing their rendition of "So Long, Farewell" from "The Sound of Music".

Storyline #2: Lost Love
James is having a hard time breaking up with a longtime girlfriend from back home. While trying to write a letter to Becky, Nikki interrupts him and tells him to call. While calling, James turns and finds Becky in town behind him. After spending a few days in New York, James and Becky ride home on a bus together. And right before the bus pulls out, James ends it.

Review: The Competitors

Overall, a turkey filled episode. I warned this might happen in the Halloween episode. However, my warnings were not heeded. It was a okay episode but it could have been a lot better. Once again, Ashley is only given enough lines to be considered a major character. The press guy for the speaker, Frank, was pretty good. Maybe they can find a couple more ways to utilize him. I do have one major problem with the continuity though. If this is Mayor Winston's first term, how can Mike have lost to Lisa all these times. Stuart was involved too. (He has to buy beer forever.) I don't get it. Maybe they'll expain it next year.

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 3.0

Did you notice ...

James hasn't said "I love you" to Becky even though they've been dating 7 years?

Nicki was jaded after getting dumped the night before, possibly by Tommy?

the prize for the contest was a snow-bubble dome of the NY skyline?

Nikki's sister has 3 kids, presumably including the one from "The Rivals"?

Carter came out on a Thanksgiving?

Mike has to call Paul "Big Daddy"?

James has trouble breaking up with Becky, but he is supposed to be the speech writer?

Mike rails against the typical media bias? (Does that mean The Mayor is a Republican?)

Becky's first cat was named Mr. Tuggles?

Janet moved to Boston? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Top 10 Lines

10. Mike: "Paul, don't make me come over there."
9. Mike: "Did she just question my stones?"
8. Mike: "This is about doing good. This is about helping people."
Lisa: "You just keep telling yourself that, Flaherty."
7. Mike: "Paul, are you eating?" (at Speaker Rosen's Site)
6. Carter: (on their bet) "I swear to God I'll kill myself where I stand if it's from 'Cats'."
5. Mike: "I'm a little uncomfortable on betting to see how who can feed the most homeless people. Why don't we just line and up and race them?"
4. Mike: (on the homeless) "Maybe they'll just drop by after the opera."
3. Mike: (about a schizophrenic) "That's two."
2. James: "I've got to be honest with you Becky. There's really not that much to see in New York."
1. Stuart: "Forever! We have to buy them beer forever!"

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