S04E01 - Success Failure

No: 29 | Season: 4 Episode: 1 | Air Date: 23-Apr-17 | Ratings: 0.867

Jared go... go on man... get out of here.

Thanks for meeting me here. My fucking nanny got another DUI and lost her license, and I'm stuck picking up my own kid like an asshole.

Oh, wow, you can see right into the...

What about headwinds or storm activity? I don't want to give him any room to wriggle out of this. Here's what I'm gonna need you to do. Fly each leg five more times and average them. It's the only way to be sure.

There is someone else. Someone who has zero strikes against him. Someone who has held high-level positions at one of the biggest tech companies in the Valley. Someone who's been on the cover of one of the most prestigious tech publications in the world.

How do you know so many gay things?

I've always been very adept at taking the shape of whatever shoe was pressed down upon me, so I can try to make it work.

Here it is. This is your desk.

Spoken like a true leader. But since your failure as a leader is a virtual certainty, tolerating your short reign as CEO in exchange for a front-row seat to the disaster seems fair.

It could be any dude, as long as you really want to f**k him. It could be a a twink, a bear, an otter, a circuit queen, a chub, a pup, a gipster, a daddy chaser, a leather man, a ladyboy, a Donald Duck.

(TOILET FLUSHES)

Summary

In the wake of Pied Piper's clickfarm scandal, the guys struggle to find funding for Pied Piper's video-chat app to keep up with their rapidly growing user base. Erlich faces resistance from Big Head's dad, while Gavin balks after Jack Barker steps on his toes at Hooli. Having a hard time adjusting to his company's pivot, Richard gets sage advice from an unexpected source, leading him to a big idea that could change his future.

Director and Writers

Director: Mike Judge
Written by: Alec Berg

Quotes

Richard: I extended my compression algorithm to support... get this... 12-bit color. Okay, so our users will be able to experience a 10 percent increase in image quality with absolutely no increase in server load whatsoever. Just-Just-Just... Just watch this. Before. After. Before. After.

Flight Attendant: All right, gentlemen our flight today from Shanghai to Moffett Field in Mountain View will be just over 11 hours, so if you'll just...
Jack: Oh, actually, I was headed up to Jackson Hole to see the wife and kids. I was gonna charter up tomorrow, but maybe you could ask the boys just to drop me off on the way? Save me the trouble?
Flight Attendant: Of course.
Gavin: Well, and I mean, it's really not a big deal, but since we are headed east, I think Jackson is further. Maybe we'll head to Moffett first, then have the guys hop you onto Jackson, okay?
Jack: Well, actually, on flights like this, the boys like to go over the Pole, so that, technically, is a little more north to south, and Jackson is quite a bit further north. So I think, maybe, just go to Jackson first, then head on off to Moffett. That sound good?
Flight Attendant: Of course.
Jack: Great. I'm gonna get a pillow.

Mr. Bighetti: Good night, Brown Bear.
Bighead: Love you, Papa Bear.

(Jared is doing Richard's nails)
Richard: Where did you learn how to do this anyway?
Jared: Oh ah... when I was on the street it was a means of survival.

Gilfoyle: I'm quite certain I've never said this before. I agree with Dinesh.

Russ: Richard. I can tell, and as much as you want to be, you're not. It's like this. You're trying to date a woman, - but deep down in your heart you know you're gay. Deep in your soul, you know you would rather be plowing a dude!
Richard: I don't... I do... Okay, what dude?
Russ: It could be any dude, as long as you really want to fuck him. It could be a a twink, a bear, an otter, a circuit queen, a chub, a pup, a gipster, a daddy chaser, a leather man, a ladyboy, a Donald Duck.
Richard: (stammers)
Russ: Donald Duck's a gay guy who's been kicked out of the Navy.
Richard: H-How do you know so many gay things?
Russ: My grandfather just came out of the closet. Beautiful. Very inspiring.

Dinesh: Gilfoyle, can I please be CEO of Pied Piper?
Gilfoyle: Spoken like a true leader. But since your failure as a leader is a virtual certainty, tolerating your short reign as CEO in exchange for a front-row seat to the disaster seems fair. Plus, if I'm wrong, which I'm not, I get rich. So I'm down with it, Dinesh.

Monica: There's another men's room on the fourth floor.
Richard: Right. 'Cause then you would've seen mine twice.

Richard: These guys, they're gonna need you, so if you want to support me, you support them. Think you can do that?
Jared: I've always been very adept at taking the shape of whatever shoe is pressed down upon me so I can try to make it work.

Gavin: So, what have you got?
Hoover: Well, sir, I did as you asked. I flew the company plane to Shanghai, then Moffett, then Jackson Hole. Then I flew back to Shanghai, then to Jackson Hole, then to Moffett, which is where I just landed.
Gavin: And?
Hoover: Moffett is 28.3 minutes closer.
Gavin: I fucking knew it!
Hoover: Barker should've dropped you off first, sir.
Gavin: Wait. What about headwinds or storm activity? I don't want to give him any room to wriggle out of this. Here's what I'm gonna need you to do. Fly each leg five more times and average them. It's the only way to be sure.
Hoover: And we're not concerned with the expense of 20 more private transcontinental flights?
Gavin: Of course we are. Jack Barker is costing the shareholders of this company a fortune, and he must be stopped.

Gilfoyle: There is someone else. Someone who has zero strikes against him. Someone who has held high-level positions at one of the biggest tech companies in the Valley. Someone who's been on the cover of one of the most prestigious tech publications in the world.
Bighead: He sounds awesome. Could we get him?

Music

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

"Last Resort" by Papa Roach (Playing in Russ Hanneman's orange McLaren as he peeled out in front of the elementary school. )

"Systematic" by DJ Shadow & NAS (End credits music.)

Notes and Trivia

Although Jimmy O. Yang (Jian Yang) and Suzanne Cryer (Laurie Bream) are credited for this episode, they did not appear.

In the opening sequence, where Erlich, Jared, Gilfoyle and Dinesh are on video chat, Dinesh drops his phone revealing that he was in the washroom on the toilet.

Coincidentally, the very first scene of "Season 4" featured a "Four Seasons" hotel.

The round pizza boxes Erlich carries away to "continue the party outside" are from a Silicon Valley startup "Zume Pizza" which features robot-made pizzas delivered in specially designed round boxes.

Jack Barker's new office is Aisle 15, Office 429, in Sub-Basement D.

Goofs

In the scene where Gilfoyle and Dinesh are talking in the kitchen, the coffee pot goes from empty to not-empty and then empty again.

Locations

The scene where Richard met Russ in front of his kid's private school was shot at Yavneh Hebrew Academy, 5353 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020. (Google)

The building doubling as "Hooli" headquarters is located in the "Silicon Beach" area of Los Angeles at 12025 Waterfront Drive, Los Angeles, CA. (Google Street View)

Cast

Starring	Thomas Middleditch	Richard Hendricks
Starring	T.J. Miller	Erlich Bachman
Starring	Josh Brener	Nelson 'Big Head' Bighetti
Starring	Martin Starr	Bertram Gilfoyle
Starring	Kumail Nanjiani	Dinesh Chugtai
Starring	Amanda Crew	Monica Hall
Starring	Zach Woods	Jared Dunn
Starring	Matt Ross	Gavin Belson
Starring	Suzanne Cryer	Laurie Bream
Starring	Jimmy O. Yang	Jian Yang
Starring	Stephen Tobolowsky	Jack Barker
Starring	Chris Diamantopoulos	Russ Hanneman
Guest Starring	Scott Prendergast	Scott
Guest Starring	Rogelio Ramos	Executive
Guest Starring	Patrick O'Conner	Mr. Bighetti
Guest Starring	Chris Williams	Hoover
Co-Starring	Amberia Allen	Carol
Co-Starring	Tim Chiou	Ed Chen
Co-Starring	Caitlin Gallogly	Flight Attendant
Co-Starring	Sigrid Owen	Elisabet
Co-Starring	Henry Philips	John
Co-Starring	A.J. Tannen	Jim