'Kidding' Season 2 Episode 4: A tender moment on erectile dysfunction absurdly wrapped in 'The Sound of Music'
When one thinks of ‘The Sound of Music’, a lot of things come to mind. The lush green countryside of Salzburg, Austria. Iconic songs like ‘My Favorite Things’, ‘Do-Re-Mi’, and ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’. Julie Andrews’ captivating performance as Maria. Even the Second World War.
What doesn’t come to one’s mind is erectile dysfunction. Think about it: Would you have ever thought you would one day read or hear “erectile dysfunction” and “The von Trapp Family” in the same sentence, much less the same context? Yet, here we are thanks to the remarkable brains of Dave Holstein and Hilary Weisman Graham, who wrote (Holstein is also the show’s creator) episode 4 of ‘Kidding’ Season 2.
There are many things that happen in ‘I Wonder What Grass Tastes Like’ that is of far more consequence than the bit about erectile dysfunction and ‘The Sound of Music’, but for some reason, that bit stays with you long after the episode is over. Partly because it’s the trademark beautiful absurdity of Holstein’s writing, and partly because despite what it sounds like, the moment was rather sublime.
Jeff (Jim Carrey) on the advice of his doctor, attempts to try medical marijuana and because he doesn’t want to do it alone or doesn’t want to be seen buying it (he’s done too many anti-drug PSAs), he asks for Peter’s (Justin Kirk) help. Yes, the irony is already visible. Jeff had run over his wife's new boyfriend, Peter, with his car after the latter offered him a joint, and Jeff figured his son’s marijuana habit was because of Peter.
In any case, they buy some cannabis tea and have it back at Jeff’s place. While getting high, Jeff lets slip that he had lost his virginity to Julie Andrews, much to the surprise and delight of Peter. There was a Mary Poppins-Cherry Poppins joke that was just very well done there. Anyway, once sufficiently high, Jeff has an idea: “We find the tallest building in the city. We ride the elevator all the way to the top. And if the elevator is fast enough, it should push the blood from our brains to our penises, solving our erectile disorders.”
And because they were both high, they decided to test it, as any sane-but-high person would. The trick worked, but only for Peter. And at that point, Peter decided to help Jeff. In a seductive whisper, he tells him, “It’s the night of the von Trapps’ big party. Frauline Maria is out on the patio, teaching Friedrich the ländler… The captain appears on the doorway, taps his son on the shoulder, takes Maria’s hand in his crisp white glove… Together, at last, their bodies gliding in perfect synchronicity under the Austrian moonlight; so lost in each other’s eyes, they don’t even notice the…”
Jeff cuts in, “... the Baroness approach. He never loved her. Never. The captain’s heart melts for Maria. But she made a vow to god. Which is why she breaks away from him… breathless… blushing… beguiled.” And lo and behold, it worked. The aftermath of the scene is Jeff and Peter hugging, but with their pelvises as far away from each other as possible.
Even with the sheer absurdity of the scene, it’s a very tender moment. Two grown-up men acknowledging their temporary lack of masculinity and helping each other get back to normal. And it’s a moment one could never expect from anyone else other than Jim Carrey and Justin Kirk. And it’s a moment one can hardly expect to see, save a show like ‘Kidding’.
One should hope that Julie Andrews gets to see this extraordinary scene someday. After all, her captivating performance in 1965 helped write a very beautiful (and absurd scene) in 2020. One should hope that the legacy of ‘The Sound of Music’ be kept alive through such odd endeavors. And one should really hope that Dave Holstein continues to give us moments like these that make us laugh and then stay with us for a very, very long time.
'Kidding' Season 2 airs on Sundays at 10 pm EST on Showtime.