I Hate My Job, Episode 3: Your Challenge, Should You Choose To Accept It

This week, the guys meet up with Reverend Al Sharpton and his eagle-eyed sidekick and life coach Stephanie Raye. The Reverend tells them that, from now on, every week he’ll give them a challenge related to their dream job. If they do well in the challenge, they’ll get a prize; if they don’t, they’ll get a penalty. Two penalties and you’re out. (That’s tough! In California, you at least get three strikes.)

Jim is up first. His challenge (and he’s got no choice but to accept it) is to write some material, perform it for passers-by on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, and get paid. He has to make at least $25 in order to be successful.

Frank’s challenge is to earn headshots. He has to work as a professional photographer’s assistant, doing whatever the photographer asks of him. The amount of money he earns will determine the type of headshots he’ll be able to afford.

As for Art the “Chop Shop Guy Wannabe,” Rev. Sharpton tells him, “There’ll be no ‘chop’ until you learn the inner workings of the ‘shop’.” So, his assignment is to be a shop hand and to do whatever the shopkeeper tells him to do. As with most things in life, his ability will determine his success.

Josh’s challenge is to bar back at a local club. This basically makes him the bartender’s gofer, and means he has to do all the menial stuff that the bartender is too busy to do. Josh’s ability to execute these duties will determine his success.

Stephanie tells us that having a mentor is crucial when you’re trying to embark on a new career. That said, we are introduced to each contestant’s mentor. Josh’s mentor is a club promoter named, well, Josh — Josh Richman to be precise. Richman’s credits includes planning parties at two of Los Angeles’ most happening night clubs, the Roxy and The Viper Room. Richman tells Josh that he can’t always expect the work to be glamorous, and that he has to prove he’s willing to do anything. Josh the Wannabe takes an immediate liking to Josh the Promoter.

Next up is Art’s mentor, Jerry Farmer, who is full of art himself. With a bald head, one earring, tattoos covering every inch of his arms and chest, and a bushy goatee, this guy looks like the kind of loan shark you wouldn’t want to meet in a back alley of Hell’s Kitchen. Thankfully, he seems a lot nicer than he looks. He worked for Harley-Davidson for 12 years (big surprise!) before opening his chop shop in Santa Barbara called (what else?) Chop Shop. He’s hoping to impart some of his customer service knowledge to Art.

Jim’s mentor is Barry Katz. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he was an executive producer on NBC’s now-defunct Last Comic Standing. Katz tells Jim that he has to get the audience involved in his performances. In an interview, Katz says that Jim is in the top 10 percent of everyone he’s seen who has confidence and intelligence. Katz advises Jim to give a hat to a kid in the audience to go collect money, because “nobody will turn down a kid and a hat.”

Finally, there’s Frank’s mentor, who is not only a model, but also a female model named Tomiko Fraser. She’s the first African-American to land a contract with Maybelline. When Tomiko wants to show Frank her portfolio, his first, gutter-mind reaction is, “Oh man, naked photos.” Tomiko shows him her portfolio and presents him with his own now-empty portfolio.

Jim gathers people on the Boardwalk to listen to him, and starts doing the kind of shtick that wouldn’t even get him past a second audition on Last Comic Standing. Frank’s photographer turns out to be Surf Illustrated photographer Adeeb Howrani. Howrani shows Frank the ropes and going a mile a minute, but Frank has no choice but to keep up.

Art finds Jerry’s Chop Shop in Santa Barbara (is there a shortage of them in Los Angeles?) and receives a warm welcome from Jerry. Art tells Jerry, “You point; I do.” First up, Art needs to take the dirty rags down the street to the local laundromat.

Josh starts bar backing at the Alibi Room and immediately runs into problems. He doesn’t know where anything is, he drops a beer bottle, and with wet hands he tries to grab a phone and drops it. All in all not a good start.

Back to Frank, who is carrying around a camera in its bag everywhere he goes. He was also told he needs to learn to hurry up and wait. After two hours of waiting, he needs the restroom and is not sure what to do. He ends up abandoning his post for a Porta-Potty. At least he took the camera bag with him.

Meanwhile, Art is taking out the trash and polishing bikes, while Jim continues his quest to be paid for his comedy. Remembering what Katz said, Jim gives a little kid a box to use to go around so the audience can give him money. There’s only one problem — the kid wants no part of it. Even the kid’s dad can’t persuade him. Eventually a teenager takes the box and goes around with it, but most people in the crowd aren’t forthcoming with the cash. Jim then does a second show for a smaller audience and rakes in even less.