As the second episode of American Auto begins, Katherine Hastings (Ana Gasteyer) reads the negative publicity about her and Ponderosa in the papers. Elliot (Humphrey Ker) calls it lazy reporting while Kath doesn’t understand why they’re not focusing on the civil war in Syria. Sadie (Harriet Dyer) reminds her it is an automobile magazine so there is no reason for them to write about Syria. Elliot says they sell a lot of vehicles in Syria and Bashar al-Assad has a 1976 Payne Condor. Katherine is under the impression that Sadie will be able to get the article taken down somehow, but Sadie says otherwise. She believes it is best to wait since there will be another news story around the corner. Then, we see serial killer Johnny Turner (Travis Walck) driving a Payne van with a male prisoner tied up in the back.

As Sadie walks through the office, she overhears Jack (Tye White) telling someone on the phone to fax him a contract. He follows her into another room before asking what he is supposed to be doing. He admits he has been walking around, photocopying blank paper, and talking to his grandma’s voice mail message. She knows about the call since they don’t fax contracts anymore. They jump up immediately when Katherine enters the room to tell Sadie the media has published another negative story about Payne Motors. Sadie still believes it is best to wait although Katherine doesn’t. She holds a meeting five minutes later and Wesley (Jon Barinholtz) reveals they’re calling her the pharma-ho now. Katherine set up an interview with Point On Detroit in hopes of changing the story. Sadie seems sad that she arranged the interview without consulting with her first.

Kath and the others try to come up with positive stories to mention during the interview. Dori (X Mayo) mentions her 90-year-old grandma and the fact they were waiting for a round number to unplug the cord on her. Then, Wesley suggests mentioning the new truck plant in Joplin they’re opening that will create 7,000 new jobs. He goes on to say it’ll be the first carbon-neutral large-scale manufacturing site in North America. Katherine likes the idea until she learns Wesley was discussing a plant that doesn’t exist. Cyrus (Michael Benjamin Washington) recommends Elliot comes up with an idea. Elliot says he is an attorney and they only deal with bad news. He reveals the company has been subpoenaed by the FBI which wants location data on a serial killer who has been driving a Payne Magellan.

Cyrus tells them about the four main types of serial killers while Sadie tells them how they can track the Payne automobiles. Regardless, Katherine believes it would be a good idea to mention that they’re helping the FBI catch a serial killer during the upcoming interview. After that, Wesley finds Jack copying blank papers. He tells Jack he is impressed by him moving from the factory to the office with all the sharks. He suggests Jack can go far with the right guidance if that is something that interests him. Jack loves the idea and immediately thanks Wesley for offering to help. Cyrus finds Sadie getting ready to watch Katherine’s interview. When Sadie says she won’t trust anything she says, he recommends going along with some of her ideas and kissing her butt. As the interview begins, Kath is asked about her skills translating to the automobile industry.

She admits there is a learning curve so it is going to take time to figure things out. Kath starts telling them about the serial killer who drives a Magellan and has killed at least 12 people. The interviewers believe handing over the information would be an invasion of privacy. Katherine quickly changes her tune by claiming they’re going to fight the FBI’s subpoena for the people. The television host tells the audience that Payne Motors is fighting the government to protect serial killer Johnny Turner. During the next segment, they’ll delve into the crimes of Turner who is described as the Michigan Monster. When the interview ends, Kath says she wants to talk to a producer to make a few cuts. Next, Elliot says nobody is talking about the Ponderosa anymore. Instead, CNN is saying they’re protecting a mass murderer.

Cyrus quickly corrects that since he is technically a serial killer and not a mass murderer. Sadie reminds her that she didn’t want her to do the interview. Dori reveals a few people have called to ask Kath’s stance on murder. She told them she’d check and get back with them. Elliot points out that the guy hasn’t been convicted of anything, but Sadie says they found a bunch of skins in his shed. Cyrus wonders if Johnny was only killing people who deserve it. Sadie doesn’t like that either since it might be considered victim blaming. Once Elliot asks if they’re going to comply with the subpoena, Sadie says yes and Kath says no. Kath doesn’t want to look indecisive. They wonder if there is a way to give over the location data while making it look like they’re fighting the FBI. Once that ends, Sadie learns that Wesley has taken Jack under his wing.

Sadie reveals he does that sometimes with new people. Wesley gets an assistant and Jack gets the opportunity to help an idiot. Jack believes Wesley is big around here, but he isn’t and doesn’t even have his own office. As Sadie laughs about it, Katherine enters and encourages them not to do whatever they’re going to do in Jin’s office. Cyrus and Elliot sit down with two FBI agents to talk about the subpoena. As they say they refuse to hand over the information, they make sure the FBI agents can see it through the mirror above them. The FBI agents call and arrange for the suspect to be tracked down and thank them for the information. Wesley asks Jack if he can set up a doctor’s appointment for him. As Jack calls and talks to the receptionist, Wesley gives him instructions. Eventually, Jack talks to the doctor and Wesley tells him that nothing is coming out when he is masturbating.

Sadie tracks down Katherine and tries to get on her level. Kath learns about a massive storm that is overtaking the news cycle. She wonders if it would’ve been better to do nothing like Sadie recommended. Then, they notice a police chase on television with the serial killer trying to allude the authorities. After Sadie and the others watch the pursuit, Katherine complains how the TV announcers keep saying Payne Magellan repeatedly. At first, Cyrus says they’re not responsible since they just sold him the van. Elliot agrees and compares Payne Motors to gun manufacturers after a shooting. Cyrus quickly changes his mind and confesses it is bad press. Katherine lays out the idea to produce a serial killer free van although Cyrus doesn’t know how that would be possible.

Sadie suggests getting the families on record saying they don’t blame them for the murders. Katherine agrees and welcomes her to the team. Sadie begins calling the victims’ families members in hopes of finding someone to cooperate. Next, Wesley tries to get Jack to pick something up for him, but Jack tries to get out of it this time. Jack pretends he is helping Elliot right now. Wesley says that is fine before going over to Elliot, knocking his papers out of his hands, cursing him, and stealing his pen. He warns Elliot to never give Jack another task. Katherine takes a look at the murder free van Cyrus designed. Sadie interrupts to tell them about Fay (Carol Mansell) who pastor husband was killed by Johnny Turner. She recommends inviting the media to Fay’s house and conducting a joint press conference.

Cyrus wonders if that would be a good publicity stunt since the woman’s husband was just killed and skinned alive. Katherine believes they can make it better by giving the woman a free car. Katherine and Cyrus visit Fay at home. She starts by showing them pictures of Clive and saying she’d like to donate her husband’s skin. Katherine steps away while Fay tells Cyrus her husband was hefty so his skin may fit a 6-foot 2-inch fireman. Sadie checks her phone while Katherine tells her she can’t keep talking to Fay much longer. Sadie says the media is setting up right now and consumer interest in the Magellan van has climbed 18%. They agree to take advantage of it.

Back at the office, Wesley stops Jack to give him a gift. Jack opens the box and pulls out a gold chain with Wesley’s name on it. Wesley doesn’t think Jack will get any assignments from anyone else when he is wearing the chain. They’ll know Jack is his. Jack laughs, says no, and walks away. Dori offers to take the chain if Jack doesn’t want it so Wesley lets her have it. During the press conference, Katherine speaks about Clive being a hero before giving Fay a 2022 Payne Magellan. Cyrus and Sadie are disgusted by the whole thing. When Fay speaks, she says Clive was a pastor who preached core values. Katherine agrees she shares those values until Fay says he preached the sin of homosexuality. Fay goes on to say Clive spent his life fighting the homosexual agenda in all forms.

Sadie tries to end the press conference while Fay says she’ll use the free vehicle to continue Clive’s crusade against homosexuality. Later that night, Cyrus, Sadie, and Katherine watch the press conference of Fay complaining about the sodomites. Sadie learns the police caught Johnny Turner and the guy he kidnapped is still alive. When she asks if they should put out a statement, Kath asks her what they should do since she trusts her instincts. Sadie and Kath agree they don’t need to respond.

 

American Auto Review

While this episode of American Auto had an interesting story, it was never able to fully capitalize on the serial killer angle. There are too many characters with most of them being unfunny, unlikable, and intolerable. The timing and delivery of the humorous lines are seriously flawed. It feels like the writers were trying to shock viewers into mistakenly believing the show is somehow original and edgy.

Some of the characters are near replicas of characters from The Office yet they lack personality and charm. Although there are tons of noticeable flaws, American Auto likely shot itself in the foot by deciding to be an edgy, shocking satire on modern American politics instead of taking itself even marginally seriously.

The intro video gives one hope that American Auto is going to offer an interesting look into the innerworkings of a Detroit vehicle manufacturer. Once the intro ends and the actors and actresses begin the painful humiliating portrayal of their respective characters, it is all downhill. The only interesting thing about American Auto has nothing to do with the story, characters, or jokes.

Instead, it would be absolutely enthralling to get into the minds of the NBC bigshots who thought American Auto was funny and successful enough to air on national television. It is beyond me how anyone could’ve been involved in this with a straight face and watched it back while believing it is even remotely satisfying. The episode scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of American Auto can be found on Reel Mockery here.