Murphy's Luck
Updated 2000-03-29 16:00:00
Magazine photography studio. An actual band -- Four Star Mary, who fronts for "Dingos Ate My Baby" on Buffy -- is being photographed holding a big (ahem) missile prop labeled "Four Star Mary." They probably agreed to be promoted on Charmed, on the condition that they not have to play a gig at P3 After Dark. Cut to the foreground, where a Photo Editor guy is going through the portfolio of Prue "Annie Liebowitch" Halliwell. Prue is leaning forward so far while he does this that her head is practically in the guy's lap. No comment. Photo Ed says, "Nice stuff." We see this nice stuff; it's pretty much B&W images of children playing. Huh. I would have figured that Prue's work would be more in the style of Cindy Sherman or Helmut Newton and not consist of the stills from which Walter Keane painted large-eyed urchins, but whatever. Photo Ed reminds her that "most of photography's digital now" and Prue concurs. (We heard this spiel last episode, too, so I guess the show's staff is waiting for a shout-out from me for finally doing some research about something. They can keep waiting.) Then Photo Ed quizzes her on the shuttle speed and lens she used on a particular shot, just to make sure Prue didn't cheat and order her portfolio from a small ad in the back of Rolling Stone. He calls the picture in question "the kicker." The hell? Then PE concludes that her work is "impressive." Prue asks if she has the job. PE says based on her pictures, yes, but based on her résumé, no. Photo Ed: "Took a detour from shutter-bugging, didn't you?" THE KICKER? SHUTTER-BUGGING? Did I mention that this guy has a cigar clamped between his teeth and a big card labeled "Press" sticking out of the band on his fedora? Prue explains that she changed careers; she's not hiding that. She reasons that "with all due respect, if he likes [her] work, that should be enough." PE gives her an assignment: get a "shot" of Maggie Murphy, who will be featured in his magazine's "St. Paddy's Day issue." Huh? A St. Patrick's Day issue? What rag is this -- Highlights for Children? He expositions that Ms. Murphy is "the unluckiest woman in San Francisco. And she's Irish. Down the hall where they do the writing, they call that irony." (That's funny; down the hall at MBTV, the writers call that contrivance.) He hands Prue a head-shot of Ms. Murphy and adds that her address is on the back. He then expositions some more about Ms. Murphy being a selfless volunteer for several charities who's life "started to go bad three months ago." He sends Prue off by reminding her that he "wants what's in that portfolio. Artistic. Soulful. Poignant. I want the inner Maggie, and I want it by five today. Or don't bother coming back." Prue thanks this poor man's Lou Grant and leaves.