What I’m Watching: Hello Ladies

Hello Ladies: Season 1, Episode 4 “The Dinner” (B+)

This show continues to be fun as it gets ever more awkward with each episode. Stuart accompanying Jessica to a gay club – trading her the wi-fi password as an incentive – because there’s no competition was a terrible idea, and I’m amazed at how long it took for things to implode. He actually held up well for a while, and went from doing fine to doing so miserably in a moment in the hot tub. I recognized the two actors who played the token gay couple in this episode from their past TV roles: David Hornsby from “How to Be a Gentleman” and Alimi Ballard from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” I was very pleased to see Jenny Slate back again as Amelia, so skilled at delivering insults to Jessica as if they’re compliments. Their competition for who could diminish the other’s accomplishments more at the party was fantastic, and I for one don’t think that Jessica’s extended tap dance routine with makeshift tap shoes and no music was all that bad. At least she didn’t fall and break something – of her own or of Margo’s property – and that did seem imminently possible throughout. I’m glad that Wade made the most of his movie night alone by inviting Kives over, and this finally gave him something to do other than try to pick up women. Putting mayonnaise in the soap dispenser was a mean and disgusting trick, but the best part of their attempt to teach Stuart a lesson was happening upon his list of hopes and dreams. At first, it was truly funny, but ending with “Happiness?” was a sad but fitting conclusion for this offbeat show.