Work and Holiday – Episode 13

“First prize is a Cadillac El Dorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third Prize is you’re fired!” These are the merciless admonishments of Blake, Alec Baldwin’s unforgettable character in the film “Glengarry Glen Ross,” as he delivers the bitter news to a lacking Real Estate sales team–all but two of them will be given the can. Unfortunately, job uncertainty is a reality for many Americans during the Coronavirus pandemic. It is certainly no laughing matter, but to bring a little bit of levity to a tough issue, we have focused this week’s episode on some pieces that examine the lighter side of work, or lack thereof. Humorists Jack Handey and Kurt Lucks give us some hilarious examples of “Letters of Recommendation” and “Job Rejections” geared toward less than desirable applicants. Phil Hartman appears as a character with an unusual job description, the “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer” from Saturday Night Live. And just like some folks can’t wait to take a holiday from their normal job, we will be taking a Billie Holiday throughout the episode, letting Lady Day’s wistful tunes whisk us away from the worries of the day.