Aliens in America: My Musky, Myself (Episode 8)

This week, we see our two favorite Tolchuck men struggle to find their place in the world. The elder, searching for meaning beyond a career that no longer exists, and the younger, exploring new ways to expand his horizons. While wearing a fish suit. Yup, that seems about right.

Let's face it, Gary Tolchuck is at a loss. If he's not some middle-manager at a company of undefined origins and purpose, then what is he? Unemployed, that's what. But, depending on which member of the Tolchuck clan you ask, you might find that he is an annoying wake-up call (Justin), a terrible cook (Claire) or someone with the best of intentions who is getting in the way of a perfectly run household operation (Franny.) I guess we're not going to ask Raja since he usually has only nice things to say. Or so we thought.

We find ourselves thrown into some drama with Claire's cheer leading squad, who is getting the big thumbs down from Mr. Matthews on their new cheer leading costumes. I guess Mr. M has some problems with the cheerleaders looking like street tramps. To be more specific, like street tramps crossed with the Morton's Salt Guy, complete with fishnets, hooker boots and a fishing hat. While the cheerleaders press their case convincingly, by asking the age old question, "How are we supposed to do street dance without street style," the big guy remains unconvinced. As a concession, he forces them to bring back the school mascot (The Musky) to give just a hint of family entertainment. See, people, it's all about negotiation: Yes to a big fish dancing, No to super slutty costumes with lucite heels and fishnets. That's right, he drove a hard bargain – NO lucite heels, but they can keep the fishnets.

So, when it's put to Claire that they have to find a sucker who's willing to dress up like a stupid fish, inspiration strikes as Justin pounds on the bathroom door.

We find a Musky-fied Justin musing on the history of the Medora Mascot, who both inspires cheer in the students and hatred and sometimes sustains injuries as a result. But, Justin Tolchuck is up to the gig and beyond envisioning himself somewhat of an entertainer (as a flashback to a particularly manly and shirtless version of a Natasha Beddingfield song will attest.) But, most of all, he sees the perks – hanging out with the cheerleaders. The same cheerleaders who are using him to get what they want. Not that it matters.

Meanwhile, Franny comes up with an ingenious way of getting Mr. Unemployment, Gary, out of the house, after a particularly disastrous effort at the laundry. Light bulbs were needed, so Gary heads down to the Triple H (Home, House and Hardware store) and finds his niche. There are drills, and Gary spends some time playing with them, until he's mistaken for an employee of the store. Apparently, people just need to see an orange shirt in these sorts of places and they start asking questions. Gary gets on board and spends the rest of the day answering questions about water heaters and paint samples at a job he doesn't have. Upon return home, he finds a treasure trove of light bulbs and realizes that Franny just needed him out of the house. So, the next morning Gary set his alarm for 6 AM, put on his orange shirt and went off to his pretend job at The Triple H. The store wasn't hiring, but that didn't stop him from imitating a Home Depot worker and cutting wood, moving palettes of things and generally just...volunteering...at the Triple H. The funny thing is that no one seemed to notice that Gary really didn't work there, and after an bit of praise from his non-boss after a coffee break with his non-coworkers, Gary feels satisfied in a way that he hasn't in awhile. Gary even goes so far to helps an old lady load up gutters into her car, and then follows her home to install them.

Meanwhile, Justin in the musky suit is not going as well as one might hope. After a particularly disastrous practice, Justin finds himself battling some nerves at the school pep rally. Raja, the ultimate cheer leader, is helping Justin to find his inspiration - how would a giant pike move? How would a giant pike cheer? How would a giant pike get this pep rally started? All good questions. Justin responds by throwing up in Raja's backpack. After Raja points out that there were so many other options nearby - a bin, an empty trashcan, a boy's bathroom - Justin throws up again in Raja's bag. Dang -those are some nerves. Mr. Matthews, who has been keeping the crowd pumped, tells them it's musky time and if they don't have the fish soon, there might be a riot. Justin is clearly screwed and asks Raja to step in for him. Raja accepts the mantle...er...head...and goes out as the Musky Mascot and kills. He rocks. He rolls. He slam dunks. Raja is reborn in that giant fish costume.

Across town, Gary continues to install old Lady Helen's gutters. Her grandson comes home and Gary finds out he is a basketball player, so Gary challenges him to a game. We see the beginnings of a beautiful father-son relationship as Gary helps Toby practice to make the starting team. Dinner at the Tolchuck's finds Gary still musing about his great (secret) day with Helen and Toby, as Claire recounts Raja's show at the pep rally. Raja chalks it up to the anonymity of the fish head unleashing something in side him and decides to sleep with the head on to see what kind of dreams he might have. This is a little freaky of Raja, but something tells me he'll snap out of it. Franny tries to convince Justin that he should give the Mascot thing again, and after pointing out the perks ( varsity jackets, college scholarships, long trips with cheerleaders) to a unconvinced Justin, Franny suggests that maybe the musky needs a dancing worm friend and highlights her suggestion with a stirring rendition of "The Worm" with her arms.

The next night, at the big game, the slutty cheerleaders doing their moves, and Raja is right there with them, busting a grove. He was amazing, and inside the costume, we see that Raja feels free and alive, which brings out a side of him no one could have expected when a student threw a soda can at him. Raja...peaceful, patient Raja...responds by charging the fan and head butting him off the bleachers.

Following the game, Raja explains to a slightly sympathetic Mr. Matthews that the fish suit tapped into a deep part of his soul, blurring the boundaries between right and wrong. One would think that all that latex would blur something, but Raja feels like it made him coldblooded, and a little salty inside, and won't step into the costume again. After Mr. Matthew's says that Justin was too scared to do the deed himself, Justin steps up and says that he'll be the Mascot. Raja supports him, but tells him to remember who he is, "because there is evil in that fish." True, Raja.

At the next "Away" game, Franny takes Justin, Raja and cheer leader Claire to the opposing team's school, only to see Gary roll up with Helen and Toby, laughing and enjoying himself. Franny tracks Gary down and after a slightly-predictably misunderstanding about Helen and Gary having an affair, Gary tells her what he's been going through since losing his job and how he's been without purpose. Helen comes up and asks Gary to talk Toby out of the locker room, and off he heads to find Mr. Nervous Nelly, Justin, sitting in the locker room. What follows is a touching father and son moment where Gary overcome his fear of parenting and tells Justin to suck it up. Actually, he tells him that it's ok to suck, but not ok to quit because people are counting on him. Pretty good advise, actually.

So, Justin heads on out to center court and gets his dance going, surrounded by trampy fisher women. Raja shows his support by getting his freak on on the sidelines as Gary and Franny clap from the stands. Who wouldn't be proud when their kid is a 6' giant dancing fish?