Nick and Bradford discuss the idea of developing a U.S. Male line, but Bradford claims that it would be crazy. He should do Chippendales; people have already heard of it. Not to mention that, as a rich investor himself, Bradford would back the venture.
Chippendales has released a new calendar that excludes Otis. When Otis confronts Steve, he’s told his image in the calendar would have been bad for sales. ..
Sales are good. When they sell out all their copies, Steve can’t print more due to the printing press’ other orders. His solution? To buy the press. ..
When Steve shares the news with Irene, she is angry that he didn’t run the decision past her. He tries to assuage her feelings with dinner at a fancy restaurant- but they are denied seating due to color of Steve’s skin.
Nick returns to Chippendales to be greeted by both a slap and a hug from Denise. He then tells Steve he’s going to run a Chippendales in New York. If he doesn’t like it, he’ll open up his own competing place. Steve, able to see the financial possibilities, decides to transfer him to New York.
Steve’s excitement is cut short when he finds Otis making his own calendar with Ray. Steve is upset he would try to compete with him, but Otis says he’s only following in his footsteps. He confronts Steve about not hiring any other Black dancers. But Steve only tells him not to take it personally. After all, it’s “just business.”
Otis has decided to leave the group and go on his own. When he is asked to go to New York with Nick and Denise, he politely declines. It’s time for him to focus on his own goals. ..
Tonight, Chippendales is a popular night out for men of color. They line up at the door to get in, and the two men of color who keep getting denied are the front-runners. They have a membership card that nobody else seems to have, and they’re able to get into the club without any trouble.
Steve is relieved to hear that Ray is here to help him. He thanks Ray for his loyalty and promises to always have it.
The Episode Review
Otis’s experiences at Chippendales are revealing. He is objectified from the beginning of the show, and only allowed to be there as a business decision. This is a clear example of how racism affects our society and how it can be used to benefit White people.
Steve is aware of the racism Otis experiences on a daily basis, but it becomes more and more apparent that he only cares about himself. This exploration is compelling, but it can be bogged down by lazy comparisons. ..
We needed to see how the two businesses operated differently in order to understand systemic racism.
Overall, “Just Business” delivers big ideas with trite execution–still made enjoyable by Quentin Plair and Murray Bartletts’ on-screen presence. ..
