Rating:
5/10 by 1 users
Easy to Assemble (2008)
Easy to Assemble is a Webseries created by and starring Illeana Douglas, and sponsored by furniture store IKEA. Douglas plays a fictional version of herself trying to quit acting and work a "real job" at the IKEA in Burbank, CA. She soon finds she cannot leave Hollywood behind when fellow actress Justine Bateman starts an internet talk show called "40 and Bitter" on the floor of IKEA. The series has had several notable guest stars, including Jeff Goldblum, Keanu Reeves, Jane Lynch, Justine Bateman, Tim Meadows, Cheri Oteri, Tom Arnold, Ed Begley, Jr., Kevin Pollak, Fred Willard, Daryl Sabara, Ricki Lake, David Henrie, Patricia Heaton, and Eric Lange.
Writing:
Release Date:
Mon, Sep 22, 2008
Country: US
Language: En
Runtime: 5
Country: US
Language: En
Runtime: 5
Season 4:
Returning from Sweden, and determined to get past the her breakup with Paul, Illeana prepares for her first day back at work. She is bursting with optimism and can't wait to begin her newest project: replacing Justine Bateman as host of IKEA's in-house talk show. Skeptical neighbor (Laraine Newman) is not at all impressed. As she rides her bike to work, Illeana gets an inspirational pep-talk from her ghost/mentor S. Erland Hussen (Ed Begley, Jr.). Little does Illeana know that a new corporate manager named Grover, sent from IKEA HQ, is determined to stop her new show.
Illeana's first day back to work is turned upside down when she finds out she's going to have to work with a "professional" producer to help run her new talk show, now called, "This Side Up." As Manager Erik (Eric Lange) prepares for his forced paternity leave he hires "professional" producer Howard Friske to help out Illeana. Illeana meets the enthusiastic Manager Marcus (Wayne Federman), a show-biz trivia buff who was recently transferred from the Carson store. Marcus loves the "sparkle" in Burbank and is thrilled to meet Illeana. Marcus volunteers to help run the IKEA'S GOT TALENT show.
Illeana's new talk show seems doomed after meeting her new producer, Howard Friske (Roger Bart). The two have nothing in common except an instant dislike for each other. Howard tries to convince Illeana that working together could be a great opportunity. He pleads for a chance to prove his worth. Illeana is shocked to learn of Manager Grover's scathing secret report entitled, "The Effects of Illeana Douglas on IKEA." Grover cannot understand how in-store romances, talk-shows, and Tom Arnold videos will help sell IKEA furniture. He remains determined to shut down Illeana's dreams.
A broken-hearted Illeana, still wounded from her breakup with Paul, learns that she and her "producer" Howard Friske have more in common than either would care to admit. Grover reveals some devastating background information about Howard Friske's past. But the embarrassing disclosures have the opposite effect on Manager Marcus when he realizes that Howard produced his favorite failed reality rodeo show. Faced with replacing her house band Illeana reaches out to the Rascal Flatts... and gets a surprising answer.
Desperate to keep this job, Howard Friske pleads with Illeana to trust him. She relents and the two begin to build a fragile working relationship... and maybe a touch of romance. Howard's first idea is to bring in two IKEA copywriters- Yolanda (Kate Micucci) and Kianoosh (Paiman Kalayeh) to punch up her jokes for "This Side Up". Illeana is not sure how writing unforgettable furniture gags for the IKEA catalogue will help her show.... but she has no choice.
Manager Erik, on forced paternity leave, writes a very popular Daddy Blog. He gets so distracted by his new internet success that he may have forgotten to do something very important with the baby. Howard and Illeana struggle to find the right tone for "this Side Up." One of the writers Kianoosh, the self proclaimed "Persian Don Draper," is not sure he has the skills to update Illeana's stuck-in-the-90's image.
Howard and Illeana are going to have to pull an all-nighter to complete the "This Side Up" monologue forcing a showdown between Lance and Illeana. Illeana must choose between her friendship with Lance over her future relationship with Howard. Grover keeps a more than watchful eye over Illeana and Howard as they work into the night, and a fateful phone call from Sweden and a ghost named Erland may play a role in Illeana's fate. Lance oversees IKEA game night for the missing Illeana and Lance's pretty sister Reece catches the eye of Manager Grover.
Illeana gets the "Friske Touch". An unlikely partnership between Howard and Illeana is forged that could be romantic but Howard's past may be keeping him from the true love he doesn't feel he deserves. Illeana is cut from the same cloth as Howard and her own fear of commitment stands in her way Over an unconventional but romantic dinner they share their stories and their bond deepens. These two have never been good at "co-anything" and they know it, but that never stood in their way before. The clock ticks into the wee hours of the night as Howard and Illeana realize the show may be finished but they are just getting started
Illeana begins to see a real future with Howard , both in work and in love may be possible. Judging by the winking and knowing looks, coworkers John and Karin see it too.Time stands still as Illeana and Howard imagine a shared past they may have had together. In a musical sequence Illeana fantasizes about the kind of women she wishes she could be. Game night for the coworkers brings up unexpected feelings for Manager Grover when he meets Lance's sister Reece for the first time. Lance is happy he has his best friend back, and now needs to concentrate on getting his sister Reece a job on Illeana's show. Manager Marcus wants all this talk of work to stop so they can go back to having fun.
Illeana starts her talk show "This Side Up" live from IKEA and gets some unexpected career advise from her first guest. Howard Friske has a show stopper of his own, and although Illeana knows that "love doesn't come with instructions" she may have finally put it all together here at IKEA. The audience is not the only one loving "This Side Up". Illeana's agent Ben Rand is back and ready to negotiate. Manager Grover decides it may be a good "IKEA" to stay in Burbank and produce "This Side Up" especially if Lance's pretty sister Reece is involved.
Tom Arnold begins his judging duties on IKEA'S GOT TALENT much to the delight of Illeana and fellow judges Manager Marcus and Illeana's agent Ben Rand. IKEA coworkers strut their stuff proving that IKEA Burbank really is, "The home of the show biz sparkle" and as we wrap this season Yolanda reminds us that she's simply " A Girl Who Works at IKEA"
