Episode Report Card Niki: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Mediation
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 13 | Aired on 01.23.2000
Meanwhile, Rick and David are about to have an unpleasant encounter of their own. They're being shown to the client's office, an impressive, cavernous space decorated with tasteful minimalism. A sword is proudly displayed in the entrance. As Rick is about to place a finger on it, a voice from the back of the office proclaims "Twelfth century." We see a super-neat, tightly wound guy stepping toward them. It's Miles, formerly of Thirtysomething, resurrected to irritate characters on this show. He speaks of the sword's impressive qualities, including the fact that it was closely guarded and passed through thirty-two generations. He arrogantly uses the artifact as a symbol for his own contribution to the world -- corporate imaging. I bet the guy who spent five years of his life lovingly crafting the sword is just thrilled. Apparently having heard the sword spiel before, David recites for Rick the connection between Miles and the weapon, explaining that "Miles prides himself on being the cutting edge." Miles agrees, adding "But never rigid, mmm?" Rick, appropriately, looks like he smells rotten cheese.
After a brief exchange that sets the tone of this encounter -- that of a smug, iron-fisted teacher who suspects his students haven't done their homework -- Rick says he "gets the feeling that [Miles] is just looking for a more imposing design." Miles mockingly repeats the statement, adding a sarcastic "Aw shucks" at the end. He then questions why Rick thinks he wants an imposing design. Rick employs the tactic of the hopelessly unprepared -- flattery (also known as bullshitting). He clumsily tries stroking Miles' ego, but Miles sees through him like a cheap t-shirt and proceeds to give the architects a lesson in the psychology behind advertising. It works on shame, he claims, causing buyers to want a life better than the one they have. He wants his building to have the same effect on the executives who enter it. Rick suggests something modeled after the Reichstag and David looks mortified. Miles, however, rises to the challenge and agrees he wants "something like the Reichstag, but more user-friendly." "Third Reich with a little shabby chic" Rick quips. Miles' playfulness has run its very short course, however, and he suggests that maybe they feel "another firm would be better suited to the task." Rick claims that since they now understand the terms (translation: that they're dealing with a pompous ass), they can come up with something. Miles ends the meeting by letting them know that anything less than "astonishing" will not do. If only they could translate his ego to steel and glass, they'd have "awe," "dread," and "astonishing" covered.