Mardi Gras, Politics & Problems

Mayor Ray Nagin made quite the name for himself in the days after Hurricane Katrina. Many may agree, Nagin's words of comfort and encouragement often ended up doing more harm than good to his administration and reputation. To show the mayor just how disappointed and disgusted returning residents are with his administration, Creighton, his wife and the couple’s 15-year-old daughter dress up as sperm cells and parade through the streets of New Orleans with a Mardi Gras Krewe. The float behind Creighton’s family is an oversized Ray Nagin with an erection.

The sperm cell costumes give Creighton the attention and satisfaction he wants but the national attention that’s blanketed New Orleans in wake of Katrina changes what Random House wants from Creighton. A representative of the book publishing powerhouse visits Creighton and informs him that the company is willing to forgive his six year blown deadline, if he agrees to spin the novel, initially created to highlight the 1927 flood in New Orleans and give it a post-Katrina twist. Creighton is livid and stuck because he spent the publisher’s advance and does not want to comply with the new guidelines set by Random House.

Davis springboards his campaign for city council by enlisting the help of scantily clad women, struggling artists and a relative who’s a borderline alcoholic. Local newspaper headlines call into question Davis’ campaign slogan: “Davis Can Save Us.” During a campaign forum on a local television network, his inability to seriously answer questions emphasizes his inexperience at politics but does not diminish his drive to stick with his one-man-band commitment to make New Orleans better.

Chief Lambreaux gets an offer he vehemently refuses because he sees it as an insult. When a city housing representative tells Lambreaux a councilman pulled strings to get Lambreaux a FEMA-issued trailer, he wastes no time rejecting the trailer and gives the representative a piercing stare. The trailer was supposed to be the answer to Lambreaux’s request for temporary housing to help displaced members of his Indian tribe come home. As annoyed as Lambreaux is with the city’s refusal to reopen the Calliope Housing Projects, his son, a well-respected jazz musician is equally perturbed with his father. Lambreaux is so wrapped into ensuring his tribe comes home, he disregards the father-son bond his son aches to build.

Life continues to play a long, loud and sour note in Antoine’s life. After he finds out he got stiffed by a loose-knit group of band members on an impromptu tour, he gets a tip about a local event. Kermit Ruffins tells Antoine about a debutante ball, where he can fill-in as a trombone player. The problem with the act of kindness from Ruffins is Antoine needs a tuxedo for the event. His live-in girlfriend, ignorant to the care a tuxedo requires, washes the tuxedo. Let’s just say Antoine looks young in the too short tuxedo.

What did you think of the plot and characters in this episode? Send your comments to Maniko Barthelemy at newsheels@gmail.com.