"With Time Off for Bad Behavior," Chapter Four

At this point in the story, Barry and his cokehead partner (OK, the name is Tommy) are still waiting to officially be made producers.  There's some stuff about the warm-up, but let's cut right to the goods:

Needless to say, this is the highlight of the chapter.  Bobby doesn't show up, allegedly because of colon trouble but Barry assumes it's because Bobby doesn't want to admit that he hasn't made a decision about the producer credits.  And then there's some stuff about Tommy and his mother and I doubt you care, because I don't.

The writing partners have to tell The Ladies that Bobby won't be there that night.  Lorraine is cool about it but she does expose her "lovely left breast" to them in her dressing room.  Mimi on the other hand throws things and yells, until it all ends in a sing-along?

Ben goes into a rage but they don't stick around to deal with it.  They pass Larry Brogan hitting on an uncomfortable Donna Morris, so Barry rescues her by claiming Lorraine wants to talk to her.

Willy and Billy are stoned.  They hate Bobby because they were promised equal billing and now they're "very funny second bananas."

Barry does the warm-up.  W & B recite the poem "Baby Land."  "The Ladies are their usual dull selves" when introduced to the audience, who love them anyway.

The show goes very smoothly, but Barry has to praise Mimi afterwards.  "When you guys got on the roof and did that thing like you were skiing...I peed."

The rest of the chapter is about Barry's love life.  And the next chapter is about going to see his wife's guru.

So it turns out Sotkin hates the audience as well as the cast?  Good to know.  But I'd rather be an abnormal female fan I guess.  And I'm sure the late Penny Marshall would appreciate the shoutout to her chest.