Paint Your Office

When Norm runs his bar bill up to over 800 dollars, Rebecca cuts him off. Of course, it angers everyone but no one is willing to pay his bill. So Rebecca shows pity and allows him to do some painting to earn some money. The two have a meeting of the minds when Norm consoles her. Of course, Sam uses this painting thing to work his way into her apartment and put the moves on her. He really is disgusting at times but she is his equal.

At this point Norm has pretty much given up on getting work as an accountant. He still likes his beer, however, so he's got to do something. So now we see Norm starting his second career as a painter. For better or worse this will define his character for the rest of the series.

This isn't terrible, just not very good. (The truly terrible is to come later) There's a nice moment when Norm (the ultimate slacker) bonds with Rebecca (still in Boss Lady mode, although the cracks are starting to show). But it's still not much.

As bad as Norm's character devolution is, Sam's is worse. The writers are starting to lean into the idea that Diane leaving has caused Sam to revert to his horndog ways. Whatever their romantic situation, Sam and Diane always traded banter at a Tracy/Hepburn level. Here, Sam acts like the Neanderthal Diane always claimed he was. It's yet another sign of the show's decline.