New station manager Ginger Ko (Suzy Nakamura) has been brought in to insure the news division goes from No. 3 to No. 1. She's already made some noticeable changes like no complimentary bottled water in the building. Chuck and Kelly quickly confront her in her office to reverse this dictum which Ginger gladly complies with as she treats them with hugs and friendly greetings. She then asks about their news team. Gary and Marsh get compliments while Montana gets a pause before the anchors say how pretty she is. Back at their office, Ryan is crying with news he's going to have to fire Montana. After Chuck and Kelly go back to Ko's office and Ginger-in a businesslike manner opposite her previous persona to them-tells them they're next if they keep trying to save the weather girl's job, Ryan reluctantly does his duty. Montana then embraces Chuck and Kelly and mentions how they've always supported her. Chuck then remembers a powerful Hispanic lawyer named La Razza and goes back to the station manager's office to confront her once again. When Kelly tells Montana about this, Montana suddenly loses her accent as she reveals that she's actually Sally Lerner (though I could've sworn she pronounced her last name as "Burner") from Hooper, Nebraska, who made up Montana (which is where she went for ice skating camp) Diaz Herrera (which she thinks means "happy days") because for a year sending audition tapes, only minorities were hired. As Kelly goes to prevent Chuck from making a costly mistake, Marsh mentions knowing a Louise Lerner from Sally's home town. After confirming Louise as her mother's name, Marsh tells Sally, "I wish you luck, kid." With that, Montana's gone for good. Oh, and during much of this episode, Marsh-having accidentally taken his wife's estrogen pills-uncharacteristically tells Gary to take that cruise ship vacation with his wife despite the station not paying for it...Some amusing stuff involving Ginger's touchy-feely attitude toward Chuck and Kelly in their first meeting and Marsh's sensitive vibe around Gary brought chuckles while the second act with Ryan's sweating and Montana's, uh, I mean Sally's, revelation brought some scattered laughs from me. I guess this was the producers' way of addressing the fact that Ayda Field was possibly offending many real Hispanics with her portrayal with her normal voice coming out at the end as a way for future producers to seek her out for non-stereotypical parts. She was actually fun while it lasted. Oh well. I'm on the fence about this new character played by Suzy Nakamura. Perhaps during the summer, if "Back to You" is renewed, they will find some shades in Ginger Ko for us to empathize with. I previously said that Field's character was in the season finale but according to the IMDb listing there seems to be one more episode to air. Hope it provides something to remember the series by. Until next time...
2 Reviews
Farewell Montana
studioAT8 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Although in terms of continuity it should fall somewhere between episodes 9 and 10 this is the one where we say a farewell to Ayda Field's Montana, in another sign that the show was changing direction, and in my opinion losing its way.
Although the character was never properly developed, Montana was good fun, and well played by Field, so it's sad to see her go.The new boss character, played by Suzy Nakamura seems a bit two dimensional in comparison.
A decent episode, though I go question the changes.
Although the character was never properly developed, Montana was good fun, and well played by Field, so it's sad to see her go.The new boss character, played by Suzy Nakamura seems a bit two dimensional in comparison.
A decent episode, though I go question the changes.
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