SCANDAL! The Bare is back for a second course! Our SCANDAL! reporter connect Erich Mees and videographer Brenden Davis are back to dish up the freshest, hottest twists and turns for you every week to keep you up-to-date on the drama.
The Food Service struggle saga continues…
Stevia’s baby is here. Shermie is taking his relationship with Molly to the next level. The restaurant is undergoing an extreme renovation and hiring new staff to transition into the fine dining sphere for real, but nobody knows what the end goal for the reinvented W.T.Fridays even is.
The pressure is on, and the heat is only getting more intense in the kitchen as Shermie, his staff, and his family desperately try and keep their ever-changing business afloat!
Photography by Chelsea Patricia and Casey Gardner Ford
Poster design by Lily Stancill
S2E1: Back to The Bare
One morning at W.T.Fridays, Adelaide receives a voicemail from her father, Bill, stating that he was coming to the restaurant to visit her.
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He apologized for her last visit, acknowledging that the naked women (and the cameraman) must have been a surprise, but she should have called first. He explained that was why he was calling first, to make sure there’d be no surprise when he comes by to support her.
Adelaide wasn’t sure if she could deal with her dad’s visit, telling ABC that the last time she visited him “I saw my dad in an official banana hammock.” ABC doubted that there was any such thing as an “official” banana hammock, but let her continue. She explained that her father always wanted her to follow him in the family cross-country transit business, but she had to follow her own dream of cooking.
At Donna’s home, Donna suggested to Stevia that, when the time comes to reopen the restaurant, she should just follow her brother Shermie’s directions. When Stevia pointed out that she had a degree in restaurant management from Valdosta University, Donna offhandedly mentioned that she’d shredded that document along with other old junk.
Over at W.T.Friday’s, Lenny walked into the dining room carrying his new “ward,” a bag of flour that he was carrying as a “practice cat” to prove he could handle the responsibility of adopting a cat. He met Junior and Alex, the restaurant’s new expo, who explained to Lenny just what an expo does. Seeing Lenny taking care of the “practice cat,” Junior confessed his jealousy that Lenny had more in his life than just the restaurant. Alex told Junior that her expo duties included being a life coach, and offered to boost Junior’s confidence. She took the bag of flour from Lenny, opened it up, and told Junior to make something great from it. Lenny was heartbroken by this abuse of his cat “Beatrix Kitto” (“It’s a Kill Bill reference!”)
Over in the dining area of the Pitt, Molly and Shermie met for lunch. Molly told Shermie that it had been an eventful day, as she’d treated people from three different helicopter crashes. (“Have you ever seen a man with a helicopter wing embedded in his neck?”) Shermie got hung up on the terminology, pointing out that helicopters don’t have wings. A call for Molly came over the intercom, but Shermie assured her that the rest of the hospital could handle it, and that she needed to take some time to look after herself.
Waiting outside the mayor’s office, Stevia was on the phone with Alex, who asked if the restaurant had had any HR issues. Stevia replied “We’ve been accused of a lot of things, but I haven’t filed anything, so we should be fine.” Just then, Stevia got a call from Lenny, who wanted to file an HR complaint because “someone stole my son.” Switching lines, Stevia asked Alex about Lenny’s allegations; Alex explained that Lenny’s “son” was a bag of flour, but Stevia pointed out “ALL children matter!” Stevia promised to resolve the situation before Shermie found out about it, then ended both calls and entered the mayor’s office.
Bill entered the restaurant, despite its being closed, and introduced himself to Lenny. Lenny asked for some fatherly advice:
LENNY: “What would you do if somebody opened up your daughter?”
BILL: “Somebody gotta die.”
Lenny thanked him for the advice, and left. Shortly afterwards, ABC entered, and recognized Bill from the “banana hammock” video (while still insisting that there’s no such thing as an “official banana hammock,” any thong can be one). In quick succession, Bill also met Junior, Stevia, Shermie (who was the first to point out that the restaurant was closed and that Bill shouldn’t be there), Alex, and Adelaide. Everyone started arguing and talking over each other, until everyone but Bill and Adelaide left. Adelaide told her dad that he couldn’t just drop in at her work. Discussing their family issues, Adelaide pointed out that she had been there when her mom was dying, and he wasn’t there. Bill admitted that it had been too hard for him to deal with, but he wanted to be there for Adelaide now.
ABC consoled Lenny over losing “Beatrix Kitto,” as Lenny lamented that he’d just let Alex take the bag. ABC assured Lenny that if it had been a real cat, Lenny WOULD have stopped at nothing to protect it. To demonstrate, ABC took his apron and told Lenny to pretend that it was his cat. They fought for it. Lenny declared that nothing would stop him from protecting his “cat son” Beatrix.
Fixing up the restaurant, Stevia was putting up a curtain rod; as she started to lose her balance, Junior rushed in and steadied her. She explained that she needed to get ready for the mayor’s visit, and asked Junior if he could help, as a favor for a friend. Junior noted that she’d been using the word “friend” a lot, and he thought they were more than that.
In the dining room, Alex and Adelaide were serving Bill as a “practice customer.” Bill and Adelaide reminisced about Adelaide’s childhood, when she would join Bill on his trucking jobs. He replied that he’d always hoped she would join the business. He also clarified that those sex videos of him were not for public consumption, but just for his own benefit as “highlight reels” to refine and improve his performance, like athletes use. Alex asked whether she should leave them alone.
Donna visited Molly and Stevia in the kitchen, to see how the wedding cake for Molly & Shermie was coming along. Donna explained that she wanted the wedding to be perfect, so she would begin the ceremony by singing “The Rose.” Molly took Stevia aside and told her that Donna’s micro-managing was overwhelming her, comparing the situation to the PTSD she got from treating the helicopter crash patients. Donna yelled that she could hear everything they were saying.
The scenes began cross-cutting, with each argument escalating until Donna threw a cake at Molly.
In the kitchen, Junior was trying to figure out where he stood with Stevia, when Bill entered. Junior asked, “You ever felt like something was within your grasp and you let it get away?” He tried using a metaphor of a perfect recipe that couldn’t quite come together, but Bill didn’t understand the reference until Junior demonstrated by letting Bill taste the cake-frosting. Bill advised Junior to let Stevia know how he felt, to be direct, and make sure there’s no misunderstanding.
Adelaide and Molly went for a walk to vent about their problems. Adelaide was upset by the video she’d seen on her dad’s phone; she acknowledged that she shouldn’t be upset that her dad has a sex life, but she didn’t need to know about it. She was also concerned that it might mean that Bill was forgetting her mom. Adelaide said that her parents had known each other since third grade; Molly related, since Shermie had been HER third-grade crush…but she was worried that might be ruined, since Donna had thrown the wedding cake at her face. Shocked, Adelaide exclaimed “You NEVER waste a cardamom Bundt cake!” Adelaide advised Molly to follow her heart and not let Donna spoil it. Molly asked Adelaide to be her maid of honor.
Alex entered the freezer and heard Donna sobbing inside. (“Is there a cougar in here? I’ve fought cougars before!”) Donna explained that she’d been sleeping in the freezer all night since her argument with Molly. Donna admitted that she was a mess; her son meant the world to her (she even had his face as a birthmark on her butt), but now he was going against the family tradition.
Shermie was sitting at a table, smoking (“After the restaurant opens, we won’t be able to do this anymore”). ABC entered, and Shermie compared his situation to having an old bruise and being compelled to touch it and remember the pain. He asked if ABC understood that feeling.
ABC: “I’m an Arab-American, and today’s 9-11.”
SHERMIE: “Point taken.”
As they spoke, Lenny rappelled in from the roof, beginning a very loud, clumsy, and destructive “stealth” mission to recover his flour “cat.” ABC and Shermie continued their conversation without noticing the ruckus. Lenny made his way to the office and “rescued” Beatrix. Before he could straighten up the overturned furniture, Stevia entered, barely noticing the chaos. She told Lenny that, as a mother herself, she understood the lengths a parent would go to for their child. She informed Lenny that she’d put his name down as a trusted contact for her son Matildo, because she knew Lenny would do anything for his kid. Stevia then confessed that she’d tried to convince Molly not to trust Donna; Lenny was shocked, considering this a betrayal of parenthood. Suddenly, Stevia accidentally dropped the “Beatrix” bag, and flour filled the air.
Molly invited Shermie to sit beside her on the couch (broken during Lenny’s mission); Shermie did so VERY carefully. Shermie confessed that his mother had fucked up the majority of his life, and he didn’t want that to continue. Molly informed Shermie that she didn’t want Donna at their wedding. With great relief, Shermie agreed; he’d just been too weak to refuse Donna himself. They began making out on the unstable couch.
At the end of the day, Stevia began setting out tables for the family dinner. Junior arrived and apologized for his behavior. ABC and Bill arrived; ABC was surprised when Bill informed him that there IS an Official Banana Hammock. Lenny arrived cradling Beatrix Kitto, and Junior apologized for not considering Lenny’s feelings about his practice cat. Everyone began dining together.
Across town, Donna came home to her empty apartment and (also broken) couch.
TO BE CONTINUED…
S2E2: The Rats are here! The Arm Wrestlers are Coming!
Shermie called the staff to the kitchen for a meeting regarding the restaurant’s reopening: it still isn’t ready, and the restoration process displaced a bunch of rats now running rampant in the restaurant.
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Lenny worried that if they got a rat king, they’d be fucked.
Shermie also reported that Cousin had just gotten out of the hospital, though he didn’t have any details. Stevia realized that the restaurant had a lapse in health insurance while they were shut down, so she suggested that maybe Cousin could hold off on reporting it until they reopened. Cousin arrived with his right arm in a sling; he explained that he got hit by a scooter on the Beltline. Stevia asked if he’d gotten the scooter driver’s info, and Cousin assured her that he’d filed a complaint with Beltline Incorporated. As they discussed Cousin’s situation, a rat scurried in, causing chaos until Junior managed to grab the rat. ABC warned Junior that if he becomes a killer, he couldn’t go back. Lenny told Junior “You know what you have to do,” and Cousin urged Junior to make an example to the rest of the rats. Adelaide protested, pointing out that they were still short a chef, so maybe this rat could Ratatouille someone into a master chef. As they argued, the rat escaped.
Cousin’s ex-wife Tatum was sitting in her car when Stevia came out and informed her that Cousin had been asking for his medication. Tatum replied that she’d been withholding the meds, in keeping with her philosophy of “Let Them”—let Cousin ask, and let herself refuse. Stevia wanted to talk to Tatum mother-to-mother; Stevia explained that she was trying to look out for baby Matildo’s future, so she’s been taking a little bit out of everyone’s paycheck and putting it back into the restaurant, as an investment. Tatum supported the decision, urging Stevia to “Let Them.”
Shermie and Adelaide were in the kitchen when they heard a rat scurry by. Adelaide asked “Was that Honeybun?” Shermie was stunned that Adelaide was naming the rats. Adelaide explained that she’d been catching the rats and releasing them in a nearby field, but Shermie protested that they’d only come back. Changing the subject, Shermie assigned Adelaide to help Alex with the books, though he was concerned he might be giving her more than she could handle. She assured him that she could do the job, as long as she’d be working with Salesforce. In return for her assurance, Shermie promised that he wouldn’t harm the rats.
Junior and ABC went to the hardware store for solutions to the rat problem. Junior said that he should have killed the rat when he had the chance, but ABC countered “No, that’s not who you are.” When Junior brought up his time in juvie, ABC pointed out that that’s not as big a deal as Junior made it out to be. ABC also suggested that maybe the rats were in the right: “We moved into where they already were. This is rat land.” Junior protested that the encroachment was worth it for fine dining. They began arguing, with ABC shouting “You think you’re hard because you went to juvie for a year? You’re a bitch!” Junior attempted to keep calm by saying an affirmation.
In the alley behind the restaurant, Lenny asked Tammy for advice on parenting, since he was going to adopt a cat. He told her he’d asked advice from Stevia, but she’s a shitty mom. Lenny worried about the infestation, noting that he wouldn’t bring his child into an environment with rats…even though that child is a predator of rats. Tammy started telling Lenny a story about when her daughter, Dua Lipa (not that one) was 6 years old and they were watching TV together. The story got sidetracked when Lenny asked if they’d been watching “What’s Happening,” and Tammy asked if that was some kind of racial assumption. Lenny tried to explain that he only asked because he was a huge fan of the show, then proceeded to demonstrate his knowledge of the show, finishing up by showing his “Rerun” dance moves.
In the office, Cousin struggled to operate the copy machine with only one arm. Alex entered and intimidated the copy machine into obedience. Alex complained that the staff wasn’t committed to Shermie’s new fine-dining ideas, including giving tours of the kitchen. Cousin disagreed with the tour idea, pointing out “Showing people that we don’t know what we’re doing isn’t a good idea.” Alex asked Cousin for the truth about his injury, and Cousin admitted that he was part of an underground arm-wrestling ring, and things got really crazy during his match against Big Bertha (“I think somebody died”). Cousin DID get hit by a scooter on the way home, so that part was true. Alex also mentioned that she’d noticed everyone’s paychecks were short (“The math ain’t mathing”). Getting back to the staff’s lack of commitment, Alex agreed to give them some time to get settled in and adjust to Shermie’s plans. Cousin asked for four months; Alex gave them four days.
Junior, ABC, and Tammy were in the kitchen, looking over the various pest-control methods Junior & ABC had purchased. ABC showed some humane rat traps, but Tammy insisted they needed inhumane ones. A rat scurried by, and Tammy immediately left, proclaiming that she “doesn’t do rats.” Junior suggested that he’d let the rats come to him.
Cousin asked Tatum if she’d brought his pain pills, but Tatum was reluctant.
TATUM: “You’re a different person when you take them.”
COUSIN: “Yeah, because I’m not in pain!”
Tatum berated Cousin for not picking up their kid from school, but he pointed out that he couldn’t drive a stick-shift with one arm. Tatum proposed a deal; she’d give Cousin one pain pill every time he told her his feelings. Cousin apologized for not picking up their kid, and she gave him a pill.
In the office, Adelaide and Alex had some news for Shermie; Adelaide had tried checking the books with Salesforce, but their system wasn’t compatible. She’d had to purchase a new $5,000 computer; Shermie furiously pointed out that they didn’t have the money for that.
Lenny met Stevia at the animal shelter. He was still upset by her disregard for his “practice cat.” (“You murdered my flour-bag son!”) Stevia apologized, They commiserated over the difficulty of parenthood, describing parents as the bottom of a pyramid, holding everything up. Lenny reassured Stevia that she was doing well, telling her that Matildo was a smart, beautiful baby. Stevia admitted that she was more concerned with being complimented as a mother than with the actual work of parenthood.
The scenes began cross-cutting: ABC, Junior, and Tammy fought the rats (and each other). Tatum walked out on Cousin, then came back, and they kissed. Shermie, Alex and Adelaide went over the books. Lenny struggled to choose between two kittens and finally picked them both. Adelaide resigned by taking off her blue apron, though the dramatic gesture was spoiled when the apron got caught in her hair and earrings.
Later, Adelaide tried calling Shermie, not to ask for her job back but just to make sure things were okay between them. She deleted the message and tried again, assuring him that she now had her best work-life balance by not having a job; she told him she was going to apply back at Chuck E. Cheese. She also let him know that she’d taken Honeybun the rat home, and hoped that the other rats would follow Honeybun, so she asked Shermie not to hurt the rats. Shermie’s voicemail was full.
Shermie told Cousin that Big Bertha had stopped by demanding a rematch. Shermie had thought that Cousin was out of the arm-wrestling racket, but Cousin pointed out that he had to bring in money somehow while the restaurant was closed. Cousin noted that Alex had no faith in the restaurant’s staff because “we’re a bunch of fucks.” Shermie replied that that was why Shermie DID believe in them. Cousin suggested that they could raise money by enlisting the rest of the staff in an arm-wrestling tournament. They could invite opponents to buy in, and if the challengers won, ABC could jump them in the alley and get the money back.
ABC and Alex discussed the rat problem; ABC revealed that his heart wasn’t in fighting them, since the rats were there first. He had even fought Junior instead when Junior tried to defend the rats, and now “I feel like I’m the rat.” Changing the subject, ABC told Alex that he didn’t feel that the restaurant had to change at all; the old way was like family. Alex recalled her own childhood memories of eating at Pizza Hut.
Junior was in his apartment, holding an icebag to his injured groin after his fight with ABC. Stevia came in carrying baby Matildo and a check for $5,000. (“Everyone chipped in.”) Junior was feeling humiliated by losing the fight, noting “I think I’m a bitch.” Stevia told him to consider “bitch” a mark of honor and strength. Junior asked “If I’m that strong, then why don’t you want to be with me?” Stevia explained that she’d only recently separated from her husband Dr. Chad, and she was confused by her feelings for Junior. She was afraid that he wouldn’t want her. Junior assured her “You are the baddest bitch I know.”
Tammy was in the kitchen when Tatum came in. Tammy was on the alert for rats, and explained why she was so afraid of them: She recounted how her husband Al Green (not that one) used to go around decked out in fur outfits, and her daughter Dua walked in one day trying to imitate her dad by wearing “fur gloves”—but she was actually wearing two rats by sticking her hands up their butts. Tammy was understandably traumatized.
Lenny brought his new kittens, Fezzik and Inigo Montoya, to the restaurant and showed them around. He told the kittens that there were a lot of rats around, and that he was going to train his “sons” for their future responsibilities in catching them.
Scenes began cross-cutting:
Adelaide came back to the restaurant, playing a flute to lead the rats away Pied Piper-style (to the tune of Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop”).
Cousin began training Junior, Lenny, and Tammy in arm-wrestling.
Stevia was in the office with baby Matildo, taking money out of everyone’s paychecks. She pondered the possibility of her future with Junior, noting the size of that icebag.
Tatum was at home, snorting some of Cousin’s pain medication. She complained that she always felt so nauseous in the morning, then realized what that might mean.
In the arm-wrestling match, Tammy yawned as Junior strained.
Tatum peed on a pregnancy test and read the results.
Junior finally won the match.
Shermie found Adelaide leading the rats away, and gave her her apron (and her job) back. They gratefully hugged each other.
TO BE CONTINUED…
S2E3: Built Different
In the dining room of rival restaurant The Kingdom, Unc asked the owner and head chef, Tom “King” Meadows, for some advice about how to better manager The Bare. King suggested a more hands-on solution: he offered to buy the restaurant and run it himself.
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Unc pointed out that the place was a money pit; King boasted that he could change it from a money pit to a pit full of money. Unc and King argued over the metaphor.
Shermie called a meeting with Stevia and Junior to lay down the law on workplace relationships. Stevia and Junior tried to deflect from their own secret by suggesting that Tammy and ABC were having an affair, but Shermie told them to cut the bullshit. Tammy heard her name and entered the office. The discussion/argument escalated until Shermie shouted, “No dating among the staff!”
Tammy sensed the sexual tension between Stevia and Junior…also the just plain tension inside Shermie.
Later, in the kitchen, Tammy and ABC were discussing the possible buyout. Tammy thought that a new owner might be good for her, since she’d noticed that her paychecks had been short lately. When ABC said that he hadn’t noticed the difference, she pointed out that was because he didn’t have a family. Changing the subject, Tammy said that Stevia had been starting rumors of an affair between the two of them. ABC dismissed the rumors, saying, “You couldn’t handle me.”
Tammy pointed out that she has six kids, so she could handle anything. ABC acknowledged her point, but explained, “I’m built different.” Her curiosity sparked, Tammy needed to know what he meant by that. ABC said it seemed like she was trying to make those rumors come true.
Flashback to five years ago, when ABC worked at The Kingdom. Ever the taskmaster, King ordered ABC (whom he kept calling “Alphabet”) to recreate a dish by smell alone, then shoved ABC’s face into the scallops to get a better smell.
ABC: “Get your hands off me, chef!”
King: “That’s ‘Get your hands off me, chef, CHEF!’”
When ABC declared that he couldn’t do it, King quipped, “I thought your resume said you were built different.”
Back in the present, Unc tried to break the news of the sale to Stevia, but when he said he had something important to tell her, she assumed he was dying. He eventually cleared up the confusion and explained that he’d found a buyer. Stunned, Stevia protested how much she loved the restaurant. She pointed out the office’s view of the dining room, telling Unc that she saw potential greatness; looking out at the same view, Unc said that he saw money disappearing. Unc recalled how, when Shermie and Stevia were kids, they would visit him and play “restaurant”…but now they’re grown up and still just playing at it.
Unc pointed out another upside of selling: Everyone knows about Stevia’s relationship with Junior, and if they sold, she could continue that relationship without the inappropriate employer/employee conflict of interest. Stevia replied, “Well, that’s kind of what makes it fun.”
In the kitchen, Shermie informed Tammy and Junior that this was the five-year anniversary of ABC losing his job at the Kingdom. Junior was glad to hear about ABC’s past misfortune, as he was still angry over getting kicked in the balls (“sackmaxxing”) during his fight with ABC. Tammy asked why they were all turning on each other, declaring that they might as well call it quits.
Shermie visited Unc’s house, where Unc tried to break the news about the sale:
UNC: “What is the biggest source of stress in all our lives right now?”
SHERMIE: “Donald Trump.”
UNC: “That’s fair.”
Unc clarified by asking the SECOND worst cause of stress in Shermie’s life, and Shermie said it was his porn addiction. Unc could understand, since he’d seen ABC in the locker room (“He’s built different”). Unc finally got to the point and said he was going to relieve Shermie’s third biggest stress, running the restaurant, by selling it. He assured Shermie that he would be happier that way, explaining that Shermie was a good chef, but not a good leader. Stunned, Shermie just lay down on the floor.
In the kitchen, Junior and Stevia discussed how the possible sale might affect their relationship. Stevia noted that they lived on different sides of town, and if they didn’t meet in the middle at work, they might not see each other. Junior demonstrated his devotion by showing her some little cakes he’d made, using Stevia artificial sweetener as a tribute to her. She tasted them, and they started making out on the counter, knocking over pans. Tammy came in, and they quickly tried to cover up, claiming that they were just testing a new dish. Looking at the impression on the counter, Tammy asked, “A new dish? Is it an ass éclair?”
In the dining room, ABC met his old nemesis King after five years. King revealed the reason for their animosity, accusing ABC of sleeping with his fiancée. ABC retorted, “She needed someone who was built different!”
The scenes began cross-cutting between each other: Unc tried to console Shermie, rocking him in his lap, before deciding he couldn’t deal with it anymore and walking out. ABC and King fought viciously; King stabbed ABC, and ABC hoisted King over his head and slammed him down onto a table. Junior and Stevia tasted Junior’s new cakes and continued making out until Tammy left in disgust.
Later on, Junior and Tammy were cleaning up in the kitchen; he apologized for his display of passion. Tammy said that she understood passion perfectly; over the course of her marriage, her clitoris has grown to three inches. Junior commented, “That got too real.” She suggested, “You do your business. It could turn out to be something real”…but warned him that if things get sticky, it’ll be him and not Stevia who gets stuck. He thanked her for the advice, and they hugged…but he asked her never to say “clitoris” around him again.
In the office, Shermie and Stevia asked each other for advice. Stevia hadn’t felt any fulfillment from her marriage or even her baby, but now she saw a chance with Junior. Shermie was happy for her, but all he could concentrate on was the restaurant. He pointed out that throughout their conversation, he’d been fiddling with a stapler in hopes of hurting himself just to feel something.
Stevia confessed that she’d taken out a second mortgage on their mother’s home, since she was technically a resident there, and they could use that to save the restaurant. Shermie pointed out that she might be better off with someone else buying the restaurant, so she could pursue her relationship with Junior without an HR violation.
STEVIA: “There’s no HR violation, because I’m HR!”
In the dining room, Unc saw ABC bandaging up his knife wound. (“Bleeding in a restaurant, we gotta report this!”) ABC informed Unc that King had stabbed him…just one more of King’s many evil acts. ABC told Unc that King was all surface and no substance; his “Michelin restaurant” doesn’t even have a star, it’s just listed! ABC explained that King charges people exorbitant prices for bullshit things, but W.T.Fridays is a family, and that’s not just a slogan.
ABC: “I’m losing a lot of blood, so I may not be making sense.”
In Unc’s home office, Shermie was on the phone with King, who explained his plans for W.T.Fridays. Tom planned to rename the restaurant “Come,” as in “Kingdom Come” or “If you build it.” Shermie was aghast at the suggestion, and said he’d do anything to keep the restaurant out of King’s hands. King suggested a deal:
King: “I won’t buy W.T.Fridays, IF…you fire ABC.”
SHERMIE: “Done.”
Stevia was doing some work in the office when Junior entered, telling her they need to talk. He told her that he knew that she and baby Matildo were a package deal, and he was prepared to be there for both of them and make any sacrifice. (“I will go through Atlanta traffic for you.”) He gave her a Gameboy and Pokemon Go as a present for Matildo, telling her he wanted to be part of her family. He even addressed her by her real name, Rebecca.
Tammy was still cleaning the kitchen when ABC entered. Seeing his wound, Tammy asked what happened; ABC explained about his fight with Tom.
ABC: “I got him back. I lifted him over my head and hit his face on a table. It was fucking awesome.”
He assured her that he was okay, because he was built different. Tammy declared that he couldn’t just keep saying that without explaining what it means. ABC explained that, yes, it IS partly about his genitals (“I’m both a grower AND a shower”), but more importantly, it’s about how he connects with people. He can only be satisfied by truly satisfying his partner. He informed her that if they started a relationship, “we could never come back, because I would not stop until you were utterly satisfied.” Before Tammy could respond, Shermie walked in.
SHERMIE: “Yo, ABC, you’re fired.”
Unc met with King and informed him that the deal was off, but still asked Tom to help out at the restaurant.
King: “So you’re saying I don’t BUY the restaurant, but I work there?”
Unc explained that King could act as a mentor, coming and going as he pleased. King thought that idea had possibilities, so they shook hands. From their expressions as they locked eyes, it seemed as though something more was about to happen.
In the dining room, Shermie set the table for a staff family dinner. (Meanwhile, ABC returned to his apartment, alone.) Stevia and Junior arrived and informed Shermie that they’d decided to stay together, and that Stevia wanted to be addressed as Rebecca now. Shermie congratulated them. Tammy arrived and joined them. Unc arrived with King; Tammy angrily demanded to know why Unc would bring King to a family dinner, but Unc declared, “He’s family now.” Junior was upset by this, but said, “if he’s family, so be it.” Shermie reassured everyone with the restaurant’s slogan:
SHERMIE: “We’re family here, because when you’re here, we’re family here.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
S2E4: If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit!
This episode featured special celebrity guest Tim Andrews from WSB!
The W.T.Fridays staff and extended family spread their chaos on multiple fronts: Adelaide learns that her father is in the hospital, Tammy gets word that her son Kendrick is on trial with no defense, and Lenny and Alex must prove to Unc that the restaurant is ready to open with no support from any other staff.
S2E5: Grand Re-Opening
While Tammy was preoccupied hearing out Molly’s pre-wedding jitters, Shermie made an announcement to the rest of the staff: not only was tonight their grand re-opening, it was also Tammy’s birthday.
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While the staff discussed what to do for Tammy’s birthday, Shermie told them it would have to be something simple, since they open in four hours. He also announced that the restaurant would be rebranding for a new upscale image; they would now be French, and “WT Fridays” will be renamed “WT Vendredis” (pronounced “Doo-ble-vay Tay Von-dre-dees”).
Before she came into work, Tammy ran into Molly behind the restaurant and lent her a listening ear. Molly explained that she was preparing for her upcoming wedding to Shermie, and she needed some motherly advice from Tammy (since Tammy’s a better parent than her own mom). Molly explained that she was handling the wedding plans by herself, since Shermie was too preoccupied with the restaurant. Tammy advised her to get Shermie past his distraction with some home cooking. Molly admitted that she was a terrible cook, but they agreed that the personal touch would make up for that.
In a flashback, we saw a scene from earlier in the relationship of Stevia and her husband Dr. Chad Peanis, when she was working at Fuddrucker’s and he was a resident. He felt like a burden since she was working to put him through med school. He asked if she’d love him if he wasn’t a doctor, but something different, like a power line worker (her answer was yes) or a stripper (no). They reflected on their past dreams and ambitions, remembering how she once wanted to audition for a community-theater production of Chicago and he wanted to perform with Dave Matthews. Chad serenaded her by singing “Satellite.”
In the office, Cousin and Alex went over the opening-night checklist. The wine shipment was scheduled to arrive an hour and 15 minutes before opening; until then, they had canned Woodbridge as a back-up. Another problem: they had no T-bone steaks due to a cow shortage. Alex suggested serving Chicken a la King instead (“It’ll be royal!”). And they had to make sure they had enough seats for the Gruenbergs’ 50th anniversary party.
In the kitchen, Shermie was cooking while Adelaide looked after Stevia’s baby Matildo. They discussed how it seemed like they were the only two actually doing any work for the big re-opening. Adelaide handed the baby over to Shermie; the baby immediately started crying, only to calm down once Adelaide took him back.
SHERMIE: “That baby is upholding the patriarchy so badly!”
Meanwhile, Chad called Stevia and left a voicemail, telling her that he’d won a big cornhole competition, but it still left him feeling hollow. (“If I’m not impressing you, then what’s the point?”) He told her that he was tired of being a fuddy-duddy doctor, and he’d found something new that made him feel alive…and he couldn’t wait to show it to her.
In the dining room, Stevia gave Tammy her birthday bonus; she explained that she’d taken some petty cash and deposited it into Tammy’s account. Tammy remarked that the gift balanced out the shortage she’d been noticing in her paychecks. Fearing she’d been caught, Stevia lied that Shermie had made her siphon part of the employees’ pay back into the restaurant.
Molly invited Shermie to her apartment, surprising him with a special meal. Rather than being pleased, Shermie was upset that she had called him away from the restaurant on such an important night. In turn, Molly pointed out that he’d been neglecting something even more important: their upcoming wedding. Apologizing, Shermie thanked her for the dinner (“A chicken burger on a bed of frankfurters! That is my favorite dish!”) and assured her that he would pay her more attention…but he still REALLY needed to be at the restaurant.
MOLLY: “You can leave if you want to….just like you always do.”
20 minutes before opening, Cousin called everyone into the dining room for Tammy’s birthday celebration. Cousin announced that he had a surprise, explaining that he used to work at the Sausage Factory Stripper Academy, and he’d arranged a number from one of their newest students. Much to Stevia’s shock, Chad entered in a firefighter costume, and began stripping to ABBA’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme.”
After receiving a panicked text, Adelaide met Molly in a nearby coffee shop. Molly held out her hand and pointed out that her engagement ring was absent, then proceeded to explain about her argument with Shermie. Adelaide sympathized, but pointed out that opening night was not the right time for her to do anything with Shermie. For that matter, Adelaide pointed out that she herself should be at the restaurant right now. Adelaide suggested that Molly should focus on the fact that Shermie left the restaurant to be with her in the first place.
As they prepared to open, Tammy and Cousin realized that Chad had danced all over the pots and pans. Cousin suggested that they just consider that as “seasoning.” When Tammy pointed out that nobody wants “ass seasoning,” Cousin replied that the Gruenbergs were so old, they wouldn’t remember what ass tastes like. Tammy countered that nobody ever forgets that.
Chad, now dressed, decided to stay for dinner. He apologized to Alex for having made a mess, explaining that he’d gotten carried away with his new career and declaring himself a proud sex worker. This led them into a debate as to whether stripping technically constituted sex work. During the discussion, Chad told Alex to “check her privilege”; she responded by pulling out a knife she named “Privilege.” Chad immediately apologized. Alex asked if Chad was trying to win Stevia back, and he replied that he was. She observed that doing a strip routine at his ex’s place of business was certainly a unique move.
Shermie entered the office and showed Stevia the ring that Molly had returned. He told his sister that he was so upset, he tried to buy a gun, but he couldn’t because all the petty cash was gone. Stevia pointed out that the cash was scattered around the dining room floor (“I put it back into the restaurant”). They argued quietly because baby Matildo was sleeping in the desk. Stevia suggested that Shermie should ask himself what he really wants. (“What’s a family restaurant if you don’t have a family?”) They reminisced about Stevia’s missed opportunity on that regional production of Chicago, and Stevia warned Shermie that Molly “could be his Chicago.” Stevia explained to Shermie that he needs Molly to tell him, “You had it coming.”
The restaurant finally opened; Chad was still dining as the Gruenberg anniversary party was seated. Alex realized that they’d overbooked and needed Chad to free up his table; when he refused, they seated guests at Chad’s table. Alex served the canned Woodbridge, as Cousin demonstrated the VIP treatment option by baby-birding a mouthful of wine into Chad’s mouth.
In the office, Stevia had just gotten baby Matildo back to sleep when Chad came in to settle his tab. They discussed how things had been going since their separation.
STEVIA: “How’s the house, by the way?”
CHAD: “I burned it down.”
He explained that he’d accidentally started a fire cooking a toaster strudel. Stevia saw through his story (“Are you doing that thing where you tell lies to get attention?”), then asked if he’d been drinking Woodbridge again. Chad admitted that he was indeed “back on the ‘Bridge.”
Tammy and Adelaide were in the kitchen, cooking frantically but skillfully. Tammy started to get carried away, until Adelaide told her to snap out of it, take a breather, and focus on one thing at a time. Adelaide asked how her birthday had been, and Tammy confessed that Chad’s striptease had gotten her “thinking about thangs.” Adelaide revealed that she’d prepared a special dessert for Shermie to celebrate the re-opening. Tammy tasted it, and declared that they should add it to the menu.
Molly was sitting miserably on the couch in her apartment when a knock came at the door. Expecting a pizza delivery, she was surprised when she opened the door to see Shermie. He told her that he’d ditched the restaurant (“I’m sure they can handle it”) because he realized how important she was to him. She was glad that he’d come back, but explained that she didn’t want to be the one in the relationship to keep fixing things all the time. Shermie reassured her that he’d start fixing things as well…starting by proposing again, properly this time. He got down on one knee, and she happily accepted.
Back at the restaurant, the patrons were enjoying their desserts as Chad gave them all a complimentary dance.
TO BE CONTINUED…
S2E6: Murder and Moleskin
Over the phone with her daughter Stevia, Donna insisted she was having another nervous breakdown over Shermie's lack of contact after uninviting her to his wedding, and then confessed that she was having an affair with Unc.
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Throughout their discussion, the signal broke up and they kept missing parts of the conversation. Donna asked if Shermie had been talking about her, and Stevia replied that Shermie had indeed been saying how glad he was that Donna wasn’t coming to his upcoming wedding. Before Donna could react, Stevia added a confession of her own: she had slept with Chad during his last visit, and it felt like she was cheating on her boyfriend Junior with her husband Chad. Donna advised her to hold on to both of them. Donna then mentioned that she hadn’t heard from Unc since they had sex last night. Stevia reacted with a shocked, “What?”
Adelaide was cooking in the kitchen when a ragged-looking ABC walked in. Adelaide told him that he didn’t need to return to the restaurant to collect his stuff; they’d set it out in the alley for him. He informed her that someone else had gotten to it first. Adelaide expressed concern, telling ABC he was looking bad; he took that as a compliment, in the ‘80s-slang sense. ABC started cooking along with Adelaide, saying he was glad to be back. Adelaide asked “Shermie re-hired you?” He avoided answering the question.
Unc was in the office, interviewing the Bailiff (from Kendrick’s court case a couple of weeks ago) for a security job. Unc informed him “While you’re here, you work for me,” and told him that in the restaurant business, laws are different. Stevia’s baby Matildo, asleep in the desk drawer, woke up and started crying. As Unc rocked Matildo in his arms, Unc got back to the job interview, telling the Bailiff that if he sees anyone double-parking, he’d have full authority to deal with it by any means necessary. (“Mission accepted.”)
Lenny greeted Tom “King”Meadows, unaware that King was a rival restauranteur (and newly-hired “consultant”) and treating him as a regular customer. Lenny offered the best service he could; since they were completely out of beverages, he made up for it with a complimentary basket of bread, and informed him of the specials (lobster, shrimp, and a cracker platter with sausages and a burger). King asked “You don’t know who I am, do you?” Lenny replied that he was “customer #1.” Pulling out his moleskin notebook, Tim explained that he was there to consult, supervise, and (most ominously) make some changes.
Unc and Donna met at a nearby coffee shop to discuss last night. Unc informed Donna that he’d accidentally slipped up and let Shermie find out about their affair, and he didn’t take it well…so it was vitally important that Stevia can’t know. Donna confessed that she’d told Stevia already, as if she didn’t have enough to worry about with finding out that her “dead” husband is still out there somewhere. Unc was taken aback by this news (and Donna’s casual attitude towards it). Donna explained that her husband (Unc’s brother) wasn’t dead after all; he’d called her up and was now at their time-share in Aruba. Unc asked, “How would you feel if he WAS dead?” She replied that she’d be relieved. Unc explained that sometimes death can be liberating and open the door for change, like the time he put down his parakeet so he could get a cockatiel.
In the office, Stevia met the Bailiff and was surprised to recognize him as Marty from high school. He hadn’t recognized her because she’d gotten breast reduction surgery since he last saw her. Stevia asked how things were between him and his wife Sheila; he replied that Sheila had joined the army so she could cheat on him overseas. Thinking of her own situation, Stevia suggested that it’s not really infidelity if they’re separated, but he believe it was still cheating. Guilt-ridden, Stevia spontaneously confessed, “Fine, I cheated!”
Adelaide and ABC were in the kitchen when Lenny burst in to warn Adelaide that there’s a guy taking notes in a moleskin notebook. Not initially recognizing ABC due to his shabby clothes, Lenny told him he had to leave. When he finally realized who he was speaking to, Lenny was overjoyed to see his old friend. Panicking over Tom’s presence, Lenny knocked the fish special to the floor. ABC calmed him down and said they could still salvage the dish. Adelaide explained that Tom was taking notes because he’s a consultant working for the restaurant; Lenny declared “That’s even worse!” ABC again calmed Lenny down, assuring him, “If he dies, he dies…now put that special in the oven.” (Much to Adelaide’s horror.) Just as Lenny put the fish in the oven, there was an explosion.
Tom was waiting in the dining room when Stevia arrived. Tom recognized her from when his father performed her breast-reduction surgery, and was glad to see her again. She asked how things had been going, and he told her that he and his girlfriend Jasmine had broken up because she slept with ABC. Stevia said she had her own sorrows, noting that it was the anniversary of her father’s death, and she’d found out that her mother was sleeping with Unc. Tom informed her that he’d been considering closing the restaurant down, pointing out that there were no beverages and he’d been drinking candle wax as a cocktail. Stevia suggested that Tom could help them out (“Let your dad do reductions; you can build things up instead!”) Tom agreed, but suggested that first they needed to find out why the room had suddenly gotten so hot.
In the alley, Donna and Unc were discussing their situation when the Bailiff arrived and informed them that they were double-parked. Before Unc could say anything, the Bailiff yelled, “Stop resisting,” and pulled out his gun—which he promptly dropped, accidentally shooting himself in the leg.
The scenes began cross-cutting: Lenny, ABC, and Adelaide attempted to put out the fire. Donna picked up the Bailiff’s gun, then burned him with her cigarette when he tried to take it back. Stevia and Tom, overcome by the heat, began stripping off their clothes and making out.
Later, Adelaide, Lenny, and the Bailiff were all cramped into a single room in the hospital. Adelaide wanted to get back to work, but Lenny pointed out that her butt had been severely burned. Adelaide pointed out, “I don’t cook with my butt!” Lenny declared that they needed to get rid of the guy with the moleskin, and the Bailiff could help them. The Bailiff explained that his gun had been taken away (“If you shoot yourself twice in the leg, they do that”). Lenny asked the Bailiff his name; when he replied “Marty,” Lenny insisted on his REAL name. Embarrassed, the Bailiff introduced himself as “Detective Schitberger.” Lenny told him, “Well, tonight, you’re being promoted to Lieutenant.” Schitberger explained that “Detective” was his first name, not his rank.
Tom entered the kitchen and found ABC cleaning up after the fire. Tom noted that ABC had been fired, and found it suspicious that a fire just happened to occur after ABC came back. ABC pointed out that Tom was also there when it broke out. ABC told Tom that he had a surprise for him…he had prepared Tom’s signature dish. Tom worried that it was poisoned, but ABC assured him “I don’t do poison, that’s more Jasmine’s thing.” Tom took a bite…and promptly spit it in ABC’s face. They began fighting, until Tom accidentally fell on a knife (after the lights went down, but it still counts).
Stevia met Unc in the dining room, informing him that she knew about his affair with Donna. She confessed that she was having problems of her own:
STEVIA: “Whenever I have a problem, I throw sexual tension at it.”
UNC: “You’re your mother’s daughter.”
Unc tried to console her with a food metaphor, explaining that sometimes people need variety, not just a basket of bread. Stevia had another confession: She’d taken out a second mortgage on Donna’s home to save the restaurant. Unc was horrified, realizing how disastrous this could be for everyone. Donna pleaded, “This can’t be my fault!” Finding Tom’s moleskin, Unc read from it: “It says it’s your fault.”
Released from the hospital, Lenny was recuperating in the office, with Donna bringing him her homemade chicken & dump (“half a dumpling”) soup. Lenny remembered that when he was young, Donna was the first person ever to give him a home cooked meal. He cried that he wasn’t worthy of her soup, because he was going to kill the moleskin guy to save the restaurant. Even worse, they’ll also have to deal with the one who hired Tom.
LENNY: “The moleskin guy is just the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the iceberg is Unc-shaped.”
Adelaide was still in the hospital when Tom entered, with the knife still stuck in his body (doctor’s orders). She recognized the legendary restauranteur and told her what an inspiration he’d been; flattered, he told her “I’d give you an autograph, but I’ve lost my moleskin.” Recognizing her from the restaurant, Tom informed her that, “ABC stabbed me by proxy.” When Adelaide protested that ABC had saved her life, Tom warned her that sticking with ABC would make her his enemy. He boasted of his plans to turn WT Vendredis into an offshoot of his own restaurant, The Kingdom, and renaming it “Come.” Adelaide snapped that he couldn’t make anyone come.
Detective Schitberger held a press conference to present the key to the city to ABC as a reward for saving his co-workers. Accepting the award, ABC began his speech by declaring, “Fuck the police” and “ACAB.” Schitberger protested, “Just because most of us are pieces of shit, that doesn’t mean we all are.” ABC asked Schitberger if he considered himself “one of the good ones.” As ABC grew more and more outraged, Schitberger asked, “Do you need a hug?” ABC declared, “Fuck no!” He then knocked Schitberger to the ground.
Stevia visited Donna at home; Donna was concerned because she knew she’d paid off her home but she was getting calls from the mortgage company. Stevia was having issues of her own, but as she tried to explain them, they kept getting interrupted by the phone ringing until Donna tore the phone out of the wall. Stevia revealed that she needed to pull herself together, so she was putting herself in an institution until she could straighten herself out. Since she wouldn’t be going to Shermie’s wedding, she gave her invitation to Donna. Mother and daughter shared an awkward hug.
Unc, Adelaide, ABC, and the Bailiff gathered for a staff/family dinner in the dining room. ABC presented his signature dish, and announced that he was sticking around. The Bailiff congratulated him, to which ABC replied, “Hey, fuck you.”
Stevia told baby Matildo that she was taking some time off for mental health and self-care.
Still in the hospital, Tom Meadows was visited by Lenny and Donna, who brought him a pot of chicken & dump. Just as Tom was about to taste the soup, Lenny started smothering him while Donna beat him with her purse.
TO BE CONTINUED…
S2E7: The Wedding
Despite not being invited to the wedding, Donna, dressed for the wedding with the intent to attend, revealed that her late husband, Shermie and Stevia’s father, wasn’t actually dead while crying hysterically and insisting that she wasn’t going to make the day about her or their family drama.
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Donna wanted Shermie’s marriage to be better than hers; she pointed out that her husband left her, and if Shermie did that to Molly, she’d pluck his eyes out. Shermie latched on to the first part of her threat: “Wait, Dad LEFT? You said he died!” Donna backtracked and said she meant when he left this world. Shermie observed that this made her threat even weirder.
Molly and Adelaide were preparing for the wedding. Molly was freaking out, but Adelaide promised to be the best maid of honor she’ll ever have, and hopefully the only one. Adelaide expressed concerns over whether Shermie was ready for responsibility, noting that he hadn’t been showing up to work lately. Molly explained that Shermie had promised to put her first over the restaurant. Adelaide was surprised that Shermie would abandon WT Fridays, but Molly pointed out that Adelaide herself was considering an offer from rival restauranteur Tom Meadows. Adelaide started to protest, then decided that this was Molly’s day and she shouldn’t make it about her.
Unc was getting the dining room ready for the wedding when his brother, Sherman Friday Sr., entered. Unc declared that everyone thought Sherman was dead. Sherman explained that he had to cut out and fake his death years ago, but he was confident he’d left the restaurant in good hands. Now that he was back, he was disappointed by the state of the restaurant (“There’s no flair!”). Unc felt betrayed by the deception, saying “You’d understand if you had an ounce of humanity.” Sherman replied that there’s no place for humanity in the restaurant business. They remembered the terrible things they had to do to get where they were, including a vague reference to “the horse incident.” The confrontation escalated when Sherman brought up Unc’s affair with Donna; Unc defended himself by pointing out that they thought Sherman was dead. Unc declared that there was one thing he was better at than Sherman: making Donna happy.
In the kitchen, Alex, Adelaide, and ABC were preparing for the wedding. Adelaide wondered who had told Molly about her job offer from Meadows, and ABC and Alex admitted that they both had (separately). Changing the subject, ABC asked Alex “What’s with the fedora?”, explaining that he didn’t want her to embarrass herself at the wedding. Changing the subject again, Alex told ABC that she’d noticed he hadn’t been getting his paychecks. He explained that he hadn’t actually been re-hired; he was working for free because he knew the restaurant was in trouble and because “when you’re here, it’s Friday.”
In the dressing room, Molly was surprised when Donna entered. Molly pointed out that she’d uninvited Donna after Donna threw a wedding cake at her face. During their argument, Molly’s veil fell off, which Molly pointed out as yet another example of Donna spoiling everything.
DONNA: “Well, maybe if you didn’t get it at Claire’s.”
MOLLY: “Claire’s is a perfectly good place for accessories!”
Molly declared that she knew this was a fucked-up family, but she truly wanted to be part of it. They started to reconcile, but then began arguing again, grabbing each other’s hair.
In the office, Cousin told Shermie that he was there to offer Shermie a final way out. (“You want me to kill myself?”) Cousin explained that there were a number of wedding traditions in the Friday family (including “a chicken in the tailpipe” and “a fist up the butthole”) and the most important tradition: the best man can let the groom escape marriage by switching clothes with him and marrying the bride in his place.
Self-conscious over ABC’s criticism, Alex asked Unc for his opinion on her fedora. He replied “It looks like you’re starting a dinosaur theme park.” Unc asked her for some advice of his own, explaining that he’d always felt overshadowed by his brother Sherman. Alex remarked that she’d never really thought of Sherman Friday as a real person, but more of a mythical figure, like Colonel Sanders. Alex pointed out that Sherman may have started the restaurant, but Unc was really the one behind it now.
ABC was getting the dining room ready for the wedding when he saw Sherman Sr. ABC was shocked yet overjoyed to see him.
ABC: “I was at your memorial!”
SHERMAN: “Yeah, I watched the livestream from my place in Aruba.”
ABC felt obligated to inform Sherman that, in his absence, Donna had been sleeping with Unc…and also occasionally with Cousin. Sherman was unconcerned, since he’d been fucking countless people in Aruba. Sherman asked if the restaurant was still making the staff come out to sing “Happy Birthday” to the customers. ABC said that was old-fashioned; now they had pastries that sing automatically when you pour water on them. Sherman was appalled (“What have we become?”). He lamented how the restaurant had changed since he built it. ABC pointed out that HE built the restaurant, while Sherman took the credit. ABC declared that Sherman should have stayed dead, or at least stayed in Aruba.
With the wedding about to begin, Donna tried to stand beside Shermie, until the clergyman led her to her proper place. Suddenly, Sherman Sr. burst in, clapping his hands and singing “Happy, Happy Wedding!” Donna confronted him, warning him that this was Shermie & Molly’s day. Just then, Molly entered, and assumed it was Donna making the big scene. Donna stubbed out her cigarette to confront Molly.
CLERGYMAN: “You just put your cigarette out on my Bible!”
DONNA: “It’s only Ecclesiastes.”
As Donna and Molly tried to get the wedding back on track, Cousin tried to take Shermie’s place, but Shermie refused to let him. Shermie announced to Molly: “I love you, and I’ll give up the restaurant!” As everyone reacted in shock, the clergyman pronounced them married.
Afterwards, Shermie and his dad shared a cigarette in the alley behind the restaurant.
SHERMAN: “You know I wouldn’t have missed this.”
SHERMIE: “I thought you were dead, so I DID think you would miss it.”
Sherman Sr. explained that he’d been lounging around 12 different time-shares in Aruba. Shermie pointed out that Sherman had ruined the wedding, but Sherman said he just wanted to make an old-fashioned happy entrance, like they always do for birthdays at the restaurant. They reminisced about Shermie’s childhood, and the time when Shermie missed a catch during a Little League game because he was rolling a mini-burrito on the field. That’s when Sherman knew his son was destined to be a chef.
Shermie left and made his way to the office; on the way, he passed ABC and warned him not to let Alex know how her fedora looks. In the office, he found Unc and the drunken Adelaide, who felt betrayed that Shermie was leaving the restaurant. Shermie explained that his departure was actually a show of confidence for her, since he trusted her to be the head chef. She asked “What makes you think I’d stay?” Unc observed that her drunk voice sounded like a Muppet, so he put on his own Muppet voice to ask her to stay for the restaurant’s sake.
Leaving the office, Unc ran into Cousin and Donna on the stairs. Unc asked Donna to choose between Sherman Sr. and him; Donna told him “I fell in love with his looks, but I fell in love with your heart.” (Cousin asked “What am I, chopped liver?”) Unc told Donna to divorce Sherman, or he’d make sure he never comes back from Aruba.
DONNA: “You mean kill him?”
UNC: “Why would you say that out loud?”
Cousin left to warn Sherman; on the way, he ran into the drunken Molly and informed her about the threat.
MOLLY: “It’s a Friday fucking wedding! It’s not a Friday wedding without death threats!”
COUSIN: “Tell that to my horses!”
As Cousin continued on his way, Molly ran into Donna and apologized for being an asshole. Molly had wanted the wedding to be all about her, but now she realized the importance of family. Donna told Molly she was proud to have her as a daughter.
ABC served a special traditional wedding feast: tailpipe-cooked chicken.
Alex told Unc that she’d read Sherman’s will and found that he left the restaurant to Unc, along with a confusing reference to horses. Unc explained that he and his brother had once tried to raise money with three racehorses, but they all died in the garage, a disaster that had haunted them for years. Sherman arrived and explained that he was indeed leaving the restaurant to him, to make up for all the years Unc spent in his shadow. Unc said that shadow was a good place to be.
Molly arrived at the dining room, where Unc said he’d felt like an uncle to her long before he really was one. She asked him for some advice on her situation with Shermie. Unc felt that Shermie leaving the restaurant would be a mistake, since he needed to work. (“What are you going to do, be homeless?”) Donna pointed out that she was a doctor and financially secure. Unc replied that it wasn’t just about money; Shermie had people depending on him just like her patients depend on her.
Alex went to see Shermie and Adelaide in the office. Alex warned Shermie that Unc was giving Molly advice, which was bound to be bad. (“He can’t give fatherly advice! He doesn’t have any kids!”) Alex also admitted that she knew the fedora looked terrible.
Shermie went to talk to Molly, who apologized for her behavior during the wedding.
MOLLY: “I shouldn’t have been an asshole to your mom.”
SHERMIE: “Yes, you should! You absolutely should! She’ll never learn otherwise!”
They decided to consider this quiet moment together to be their REAL wedding. Molly promised to let Shermie be himself. In turn, Shermie promised to run interference if Donna ever gave her any trouble, and promised she’d never have another lonely holiday. They declared these promises to be their actual wedding vows.
Molly went to give Alex and Adelaide the good news that she and Shermie had “remarried,” and that Shermie wasn’t quitting the restaurant after all. When Adelaide protested that she’d been studying to take over, Molly snapped “Not everything’s about you, Adelaide!” Adelaide agreed that this was Molly & Shermie’s day.
TO BE CONTINUED…
S2E8
Join us on November 6 for the finale!
Character Guide
The Main Cast
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Shermie is the heir apparent and head chef of the family-owned chain restaurant franchise W.T.Fridays. He is hell-bent on transforming the restaurant into a high concept fine dining establishment in the Old Fourth Ward, but nobody else in his family nor on his staff can quite see his vision—whenever they begin to understand, some new and crazy business-ending curveball gets thrown at them.
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Stevia is Shermie’s sister and the mother of baby Matildo. She is also the general manager, entire HR department, and perhaps the biggest walking HR violation actively happening on the premises. She and Junior have a thing goin’ on despite the fact that she is married to Chad Peanis, an oft-absent doctor.
It is her goal to not raise her child the same way her mother raised her and her brother—and because she’s been told it’s so, so rewarding and she thinks it’ll boost her ego.
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Adelaide is the newest staff member at W.T.Fridays, which she frequented as a child and during her prior career as the general manager of the Chuck E. Cheese located next door to the restaurant.
She’s a natural in the kitchen, and she admires Shermie greatly. She can also talk to rats and mice.
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Prior to joining W.T.Fridays as a line cook, ABC was an Egyptian diplomat who brokered peace in the Middle East prior to coming to the USA and working at rival restaurant The Kingdom before ultimately joining the W.T.Fridays staff.
ABC heads the wings station in the kitchen, but the transition of W.T.Fridays to a fine dining establishment has put his position in jeopardy.
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Nobody really knows what the heck is going on with Cousin.
She’s not related by blood to the Fridays family, but ol’ Cuz has been at W.T.Fridays for decades. Lewd, crude, lazy, and argumentative, Cousin is the perfect employee for the establishment—spiritually, anyway. Cousin is a terrible employee.
After an underground arm-wrestling incident tore up her arm, Cousin has transitioned to an administrative and leadership role at W.T.Fridays.
Tatum, Cousin’s girlfriend, is the only one who can dredge up a sincere and sweet side out of them.
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Junior spent most of his life in Juvie, but nobody—not even him—knows exactly what for. He’s rough around the edges, but he has a huge heart and a deeply skewed frame of reference for what is and is not standard for life on the outside.
He’s in love with Stevia even though she’s married to someone else—and also his boss.
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Chef. Mother. Mentor. Tammy is the realest chef on the line at W.T.Fridays. She loves to have a good time, she loves to spit bars, and she loves her six children. Whether you need clear-eyed advice or to get told a hard truth, Tammy has your back.
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Lenny is the semi-useless facilities manager and handyman at W.T.Fridays. He’s a sensitive dreamer with a knack for getting other people into trouble with his half-baked, high-risk schemes—and blowing things wildly out of proportion.
Deep down, Lenny is sensitive and craves connection. He and his closest friend, ABC, have a history of friendship-breakups and reconciliations. This season, he’s pursuing his dreams of cat-fatherhood!
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Molly is Shermie’s childhood sweetheart-turned-fiancé-turned wife. She’s a nurse who completed her residency at The Pitt and later transferred to St. Gary’s Medical Hospital (from Ed, Tom, and Rueben’s Bedside Manor. Talk about a cross-IP show!)
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Unc is Shermie and Stevia’s uncle and godfather, as well as the primary investor of W.T.Fridays. He tries to help the business however he can, but most of his ideas go sideways or turn the business upside-down.
He is insecure about always being in his deceased brother’s shadow, and, despite being married (and divorced) three times, he has always been in love with Donna, his brother’s wife.
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Donna is Shermie and Stevia’s overbearing, unstable, and controlling mother. She puts the “fun” in dysfunctional. She loves her son more than life itself and disregards her daughter at every possible opportunity.
Also, according to Cousin and ABC, she’s smokin’ hot.
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Alex is the new expo at W.T.Fridays. She is scrappy and determined to make this job work, but she doesn’t have a lot of confidence in the staff or its leadership.
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Billy is Adelaide’s impulsive, party-hard, pornstar father. His day job is cross-country transit, and he has always felt slighted that his daughter did not join the family business. Despite his dysfunctional way of expressing himself, he cares for her deeply.
He also owns and advertised (with himself as the model) the official Banana Hammock.
Guest Characters
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Tatum is Cousin’s girlfriend. She loves being needed, and so while she hates how much of an asshole Cousin can be, she also kinda loves how much of a fuckup Cuz is.
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King is the owner and general manager of rival fine dining establishment The Kingdom, which is a no-star Michelin restaurant. He’s a greedy man and an abusive employer—which ABC knows all too well.
King holds a grudge against ABC for sleeping with his fiancée.
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Kendrick Lamar is Tammy’s son, not the Kendrick Lamar you’re thinking of.
He’s foolish enough to get himself into tough scrapes, but luckily, he’s also clever enough that he usually finds his way out of them through his own wits.
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(Wow! Tim Andrews of WSB cameoed in SCANDAL! The Bare.)
First name: Detective. Last name: Schitberger.
Bailiff Detective Schitberger is the kind of cop who escalates every situation beyond a reasonable threshold at every possible opportunity.
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The freshly-divorced Dr. Peanis, father of baby Matildo, is even more of a disaster than before - and not just medically. He’s got a penchant for Woodbridge wine, lying for attention, and flirting with his dream of being a stripper.
He is still in love with his ex-wife, Stevia.
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Sherman Fridays is Donna’s husband and the father of Shermie and Stevia—and everyone previously assumed he was dead.
He isn’t. He’s lived in Aruba at one of twelve different timeshares for two years straight.
