The Industry

- Season 2

(1999)

Punished for dipping his pen in the company ink at the end of season one, Richard craftily maneuvers his way back to Pyramid by duping Prodigy, the competition, which is led by the penny-pinching CEO Dennis Weston. Blackmail and deceit lead to a powerful merger between the two that results in a new powerhouse entertainment company, Pyramid/Prodigy.

With Alan leading the newly formed Pyramid/Prodigy, any concerns about merging these two distinct corporate cultures are dealt with quickly. Meanwhile, Richard and Victor play good cop/bad cop with the sole Prodigy television executive. Little do they know that this exec has yet to reveal his ace in the hole. He's Kiefer Sutherland's brother-in-law and Kiefer wants to do TV.

The star of "Sword of Damacles" wants to direct. Unfortunately, walking and talking at the same time is a Herculean task for the steroid-enhanced actor. Complicating things is Alan's daughter, Siobhan, who guest stars in the episode. Meanwhile, Richard is sent to the set with simple instructions - babysit Damacles and the voices in his head.

Alan and Richard jump into a bidding war for a hot literary property. Alan will do anything to stop his major competitor from getting the rights to the prestigious book. Alan and Richard don artsy sweaters and head to the hippest literary event of the season hosted by Evan Solomon.

Victor's plans to cash in on the children's merchandising game are thwarted when Pyramid's children's TV icon, Captain McGee, is caught in a tabloid scandal. Meanwhile, Alan is about to land a major sale for "Beaver Creek." A delusional German buyer is under the impression that "Beaver Creek" is like "Dawson's Creek," only edgier.

A flaky New Age religion brainwashes and blackmails the gang at Pyramid when a former writer claims he created the profitable "Sword of Damacles" series. Alan refuses to settle, fearing that every writer that he has ripped off in the past will come out of the woodwork with their hands out. Victor infiltrates the cult, only to fall under the spell of its enchanting and charismatic leader.

It's Sweeps Week and Pyramid lures fading diva Dian Del Largo to the set of "Beaver Creek." Redefining the phrase "high maintenance," Dian serves tantrums and abuse as appetizers, with hallucinations and a complete mental breakdown as the main course. When ratings are at stake, Richard has no choice but to make a last-resort call. Master diva wrangler Gino Empry is brought in to save the day.

Alan takes on the role of management guru and corporate buzz words pollute the Pyramid offices. Through the "Success Through Failure" management philosophy, Richard is expected to merge "Kung Fu" with "Beaver Creek."

Alan wreaks havoc on the set of "Beaver Creek" while in hot pursuit of investment money from Harold Putman at a charity golf tournament hosted by Peter Gzowski.

Corporate Christmas has become too expensive to swallow. In a Grinch-like fit of cost cutting, Alan announces a new policy effectively canceling Christmas.

Ignoring Veronica's pleas for a meeting, the staff is dismissed for the afternoon as Wanda and Lisa are taken out for an extended liquid lunch.

A new temp mistakenly puts a call through to Alan from Diane Summers, one of the country's most successful investigative journalists. Convinced they're the target of an exposé, they plan to beat her at her own game.

The National Association of Television Executives (NATPE) assembles each year to sell their wares. Pyramid goes head-to-head with "the King of all Media" Moses Znaimer.