S02E03 - Bad Money

No: 11  |  Season: 2   Episode: 3  |  Air Date: 26-Apr-15  |  Ratings: 1.94

Summary

Despite everyone's disapproval, Richard decides to let Hooli acquire Pied Piper. However, on the way to meeting Russ Hanneman, a flashy and eccentric billionaire who made his money by putting radio on the internet, sidetracks Richard and makes a funding offer. Richard accepts the offer, especially to the surprise of Laurie Bream, and Gavin Belson, who quickly has his lawyers begin work on a fool-proof plan to win the Pied Piper lawsuit. Now funded, the Pied Piper team begins work on calculating a budget for the next 18 months, however they quickly discover that Hanneman's personality leaves a lot to be desired. Meanwhile, during an interview, Gavin Belson compares the treatment of billionaires to the suffering of Jews in the Holocaust, and he has to manage the backlash.

Director and Writers

Director: Alec Berg
Written by: Alec Berg

Quotes

Jared: But Hooli was like an abusive spouse to me. You know, like that guy who married Julia Roberts in "Sleeping With The Enemy"? It was dehumanizing. But then, you, Richard, you pulled me out of the life and you gave me hope and you gave me a sense of self-worth. Like Richard Gere did to Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman.
Dinesh: This is weird.
Jared: Every day here has been like that shopping-spree scene. I'm putting on hats.
(Later)
Jared: Richard, I'd understand if you took it, but watching you end up over there would break my heart.
Richard: What, like Julia Roberts from "My Best Friend's Wedding"?
Jared: I never saw it.

Russ: But I watched your whole TechCrunch thing online, twice. That whole spazz thing you did (moaning, sputtering) That was fucking priceless.

Russ: Anyway, next thing you know, we IPO, stock triples in a day and AOL gobbles us up. All of a sudden, I'm 22 years young and I'm worth 1.2 billion. Now a couple decades later, I'm worth 1.4. You do the math.
Richard: Okay. Well, that's a gain of $200 million over 20 years. Um, 16.66 repeating. Uh, that's less than 1% return. Inflation is, like, 1.7. I think CDs are 2%. So that's less than a CD.

Gilfoyle: Does he actually smile like that with his upper and lower teeth at the same time?
Dinesh: How does he even do that?

Gavin Belson: I'm getting a little tired of this bias against the leaders of our industry. I'm continually creating jobs and helping people, and I'm tired of getting slapped for it. I didn't steal the money I have, and I resent being treated like I did. You know, there is a climate in this country that is very dangerous.
Kara Swisher: It's dangerous out there for billionaires?
Gavin Belson: There's that attitude again, Kara. Billionaires are people, too. We are leaders in technology, in industry, in finance. Look at history. Do you know who else vilified a tiny minority of financiers and progressive thinkers called the Jews?
Walter Mossberg: Wait a minute. Did you just compare the treatment of billionaires in America today to the plight of the Jews in Nazi Germany?
Gavin Belson: Absolutely. One could argue that billionaires are actually treated worse. (audience groans) And we didn't even do anything wrong. (more groans) We're an even smaller minority. (groans) There's a lot more of them. (groans) These are facts.

Richard: You're not worried about the lawsuit?
Russ: Shit, no. I got three nannies suing me right now, one of them for no reason.

Monica: The guy is a joke. He's a boorish, pompous, womanizing douchebag who got lucky, like, 20 years ago. And hasn't done anything since then.
Gilfoyle: Sounds like Erlich.

Russ: (Referring to Jared) I'm just gonna say it. This guy fucks. Am I right? 'Cause I'm looking at the rest of you guys, and this is the guy in the house doing all the fucking. Am I right? You know I'm right. This guy fucks.

Russ: (Referring to Dinesh) Hey, what's up, al-Qaeda? No, I'm totally kidding. I'm diffusing the tension with humor.
Dinesh: What tension? There's tension?
Russ: No, of course not. Seriously, though, no beheadings, all right?

Russ: (Referring to Gilfoyle) I want to know what kind of fucked-up childhood this guy had.

Monica: The guy has calf implants, Richard.
Erlich: How do they look?

Jared: They just kept saying if I didn't waste so much money at the butthole doctor, then we'd have enough money, but I pay for all my medical out of pocket.

Russ: ROI. ROI. You know what that stands for?
Jared: Uh, return on inv...
Erlich: (interrupting) Return on investment!
Russ: No. Radio on Internet.

Russ: (points at Jared) This guy fucks.
Erlich: You know, Russ, I've been known to fuck myself.

Russ: Synergy, bitches. Know what that means?
Gilfoyle: Does it mean taking a stack of cash and lighting it on fire?

Music

"Stretch Your Face" by Tobacco (Opening title music)

"Phantom (Redux)" by Shirt (End-credits music.)

Notes and Trivia

When Thomas Middleditch (Richard) is shown approaching the Hooli building and looking up at the Hooli sign, he is looking at nothing. The Hooli sign was actually added digitally in post-production.

At the Gavin Belson interview. The actual audience was much smaller, but digitally enhanced to be larger in post-production.

When Chris Diamantopoulos (Russ Hanneman) jumps into the orange McLaren he smashes his ankle and almost breaks it. Also, when the McLaren wouldn't go, this was because Chris was not familiar with the transmission. The difficulty was left in the final cut.

The Pied Piper billboards that appear in the episode were all added digitally in post-production. However, the week that the episode aired HBO actually put up real versions of the billboards.

The (fake) address of Erlich's house is 5230 Newell Road.

Goofs

None

Locations

The basketball court near where Richard originally met Russ Hanneman in front of "Hooli" headquarters are located in the "Silicon Beach" area of Los Angeles at 12025 Waterfront Drive, Los Angeles, CA. (Google Street View)

The establishing shot of the outside of the hotel where Gavin Belson gave the bad interview with Walter Mossberg and Kara Swisher was taken at the Omni San Francisco, 500 California St, San Francisco, CA.

Cast

StarringThomas MiddleditchRichard Hendricks
StarringT.J. MillerErlich Bachman
StarringJosh BrenerNelson 'Big Head' Bighetti
StarringMartin StarrBertram Gilfoyle
StarringKumail NanjianiDinesh Chugtai
StarringAmanda CrewMonica Hall
StarringZach WoodsDonald 'Jared' Dunn
StarringMatt RossGavin Belson
StarringSuzanne CryerLaurie Bream
StarringJimmy O. YangJian Yang
Guest StarringChris DiamantopoulosRuss Hanneman
Guest StarringBernard WhiteDenpok (Spiritual Advisor)
Co-StarringWalter MossbergHimself
Co-StarringScott PrendergastScott
Co-StarringDiallo RiddlePaul
Co-StarringKara SwisherHerself