Writer: Hans Beimler
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Cast: Matt Keeslar (The Middleman), Natalie Morales (Wendy Watson), Jake Smollett (Noser), Mary Pat Gleason (Ida), Brit Morgan (Lacey Thornfield), Lance Barber (Johnny John), Mario Quinonez Jr. (Arturo Arroyo), Elaine Hendrix (Roxy Wasserman), Jim Paddock (Arthur Mendelson), Joey Kern (Cecil Rogers) & Michael Gier (Bearded Petersen Guy)
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Cast: Matt Keeslar (The Middleman), Natalie Morales (Wendy Watson), Jake Smollett (Noser), Mary Pat Gleason (Ida), Brit Morgan (Lacey Thornfield), Lance Barber (Johnny John), Mario Quinonez Jr. (Arturo Arroyo), Elaine Hendrix (Roxy Wasserman), Jim Paddock (Arthur Mendelson), Joey Kern (Cecil Rogers) & Michael Gier (Bearded Petersen Guy)
"Let this be a lesson to you. The next time we trapa rampaging pig-insect hybrid from another galaxy
that accidentally gets loose in custody, you should
shoot after it gets out of the car."
-- The Middleman (Matt Keeslar)
Former Star Trek scribe Hans Beimler pens this seventh episode, and I doubt it's coincidence the quality is raised several notches. While most Middleman episodes have a ragged feel to the plot (leaning heavily on zaniness and pop-culture allusions), "The Curse Tuba Contingency" actually balances its bonkers narrative with worthwhile character development...
The story concerns a tuba, the only surviving musical instrument of the Titanic disaster, which is now supposedly cursed. Consequently, whenever the tuba's played anyone who hears it immediately die of drowning. The Middleman (Matt Keeslar) and Wendy (Natalie Morales) are soon on its trail, although a rival called Cecil (Joey Kern) is also eager to get his hands on the instrument, for far stranger reasons...
Integrated into the story is a welcome sub-plot for The Middleman, who takes time-off to visit a cinema showing his favourite western: Ride Lonesome. His extracurricular trip is interrupted by Lacey (Brit Morgan), who's fast becoming smitten with her best-friend's boss, and they form an agreeably tender bond over the film.
In fact, it's Morgan who really stands out in this episode. She's been quietly doing excellent work as Morales' cheerful friend, but it's here she's finally given meat to sink her teeth into. Likewise, Keeslar gets to flesh-out his intentionally two-dimensional do-gooder a little, and both characters benefit enormously from their liaison. It's just a shame the status quo is returned to so quickly, but I have hope the emphasis on character will continue on The Middleman thanks to its success here.
Morales has become a little stuck in her platonic partnership with Middleman -- still spewing quips to fine effect, but otherwise going through the motions. They wisely avoided the cliché of Wendy fancying Middleman from the start (even if the last shot hints Wendy's jealous of her friend snuggling up to her boss), but they need to give her character another facet. What about bringing in her parents? Or maybe just drop the pretence and let Wendy's friends in on her secret soon?
For a low-budget TV show, this episode is the first to really capture a sense of budget and scale. It may include stock footage of a black-and-white Titanic movie and bad greenscreen for a villain's splashy fall into water, but it's otherwise less reliant on cartoon-y CGI.
Overall, writer Hans Beimler's script provides ample evidence that The Middleman should tone down some of its freewheeling craziness and remember to service the characters and their relationships. The cast are enjoyable to watch and, while amusing to have them guide us through oddball stories about cursed musical instruments and suchlike, audiences primarily have to feel there's something going on with these people. "The Cursed Tuba Contingency" is a strong indicator The Middleman's about to start combining heart and emotion with its nutty ideas -- and that can only be a good thing.
28 July 2008
ABC Family, 10/9c pm
