Fic: Symbiosis
Title: Symbiosis
Characters: Matt, Danny, Harriet, gen
Rating: G
Spoilers: Through the Christmas Show
Disclaimer: Not mine, never were, never will be. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Matt, Danny, and Harriet need each other, just not in the way that everyone thinks.
It's Danny that discovers Harriet; people forget that part most of the time.
Harriet hasn't been in LA that long, just long enough that at first she thinks it's a come on. Whatever the outcome, she considers the possibilities for a moment; he is kind of cute. But the acrid smoke from the ashes of Danny's second marriage is still ripe in his nostrils; besides, Harriet is a little too girlish, a little too good to be true. Women like that are heartbreak. He learned that with his first marriage. Matt, however, doesn't know these things.
Harriet Hayes is the first (and only) cast member to be promoted from featured player to full cast member during their first season.
Only Danny can see why it happened so fast for her.
Matt Albie goes from having almost nothing on the air to beating out Ricky and Ron for head writer.
Only Danny can see why Matt's career is suddenly taking off.
That summer they make a movie based on a recurring sketch that Matt wrote for Harriet, Danny directs.
It's not Citizen Kane but it's not My mother the Car either. The three of them walk the press line at the premier drunk on their newfound fame; knowing this is how it's supposed to be.
Harriet becomes one of the most recognizable cast members and takes over News 60; Matt and Danny take over the number two spot.
Now there are back stage jealousies and rumors about what's really going on between Harriet and Matt (and Danny and Matt, too).
9/11 and Bill Maher happens. Matt and Danny leave, Harriet stays.
"They won't let me out of my contract," even she hears the relief in her voice.
Matt and Danny's first movie on their own gets rave reviews and makes a modest profit - it was better than they hoped for.
Harriet feels oddly left out but becomes more famous by association. The press can't seem to mention the movie without the standard tag that Matt's dating Harriet. So maybe it's her that's helping them. It's all symbiotic…
Harriet gets great reviews for her supporting role in a film that makes it to Sundance - she begins to hope for a career beyond Studio 60 and Matt's writing. If only more people had seen it.
Matt and Danny want her for the lead in Removing All Doubt; Harriet wants something of her own.
Performance wise, Harriet pretty much owns the show. Most people only watch for News 60, anyway.
Even if none of the sketches work and the ones that did work were always cut at least she had this oasis. And if some of the jokes that made it on the air were really comments that her, Matt, and Danny had bounced off each other - well, no one had to know about that.
Removing All Doubt is a success - Matt and Danny plan to get back to work immediately to capitalize on the buzz.
Harriet supports Matt with the media juggernaut, until she has a CD to promote in fifty-two markets in fifteen days. Maybe she didn't use the best judgement, she can admit that; now it's cold without Matt, and colder with him.
Matt and Danny return to Studio 60 and people start watching the whole show again.
Matt writes, Harriet performs, and Danny directs. Things are how they should have been all along.
Anita Pallenberg was the role of a lifetime - now Harriet knows she has to follow up right away, to capitalize on the buzz.
Though sometimes she thinks that she would be content on Studio 60 forever - or as long as Matt and Danny are there.
Matt and Danny leave Studio 60 after their two years are up, bruised and brokenhearted. Harriet leaves the next year when her contract is up. Things aren't as fun or funny without Matt and Danny around, besides she's an actress; she can't be on Studio 60 forever.
For the first time Harriet gets offered the lead in the romantic comedy.
There are ups and downs and Hollywood is brutal so they're mostly downs - writer's block is rough, and yeah you've got talent but they're looking for someone just a bit younger.
Work is scarce and it's hard to be known as a former Funny Girl (when you're so obviously a woman now) and the Ex-Wonderboys (when there is nothing boyish about you two now). In this town you're only as good as your last movie - which as of late hasn't been very good at all.
It's ten years later that they reunite for a sitcom. Matt's married, Harriet's married, Danny's married - again. They all dare to call it a comeback.
Jordan McDeere pushes it through as a nod to old friends and for three more years - and the end of three marriages - all is just as it should have been all along.
Characters: Matt, Danny, Harriet, gen
Rating: G
Spoilers: Through the Christmas Show
Disclaimer: Not mine, never were, never will be. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Matt, Danny, and Harriet need each other, just not in the way that everyone thinks.
It's Danny that discovers Harriet; people forget that part most of the time.
Harriet hasn't been in LA that long, just long enough that at first she thinks it's a come on. Whatever the outcome, she considers the possibilities for a moment; he is kind of cute. But the acrid smoke from the ashes of Danny's second marriage is still ripe in his nostrils; besides, Harriet is a little too girlish, a little too good to be true. Women like that are heartbreak. He learned that with his first marriage. Matt, however, doesn't know these things.
Harriet Hayes is the first (and only) cast member to be promoted from featured player to full cast member during their first season.
Only Danny can see why it happened so fast for her.
Matt Albie goes from having almost nothing on the air to beating out Ricky and Ron for head writer.
Only Danny can see why Matt's career is suddenly taking off.
That summer they make a movie based on a recurring sketch that Matt wrote for Harriet, Danny directs.
It's not Citizen Kane but it's not My mother the Car either. The three of them walk the press line at the premier drunk on their newfound fame; knowing this is how it's supposed to be.
Harriet becomes one of the most recognizable cast members and takes over News 60; Matt and Danny take over the number two spot.
Now there are back stage jealousies and rumors about what's really going on between Harriet and Matt (and Danny and Matt, too).
9/11 and Bill Maher happens. Matt and Danny leave, Harriet stays.
"They won't let me out of my contract," even she hears the relief in her voice.
Matt and Danny's first movie on their own gets rave reviews and makes a modest profit - it was better than they hoped for.
Harriet feels oddly left out but becomes more famous by association. The press can't seem to mention the movie without the standard tag that Matt's dating Harriet. So maybe it's her that's helping them. It's all symbiotic…
Harriet gets great reviews for her supporting role in a film that makes it to Sundance - she begins to hope for a career beyond Studio 60 and Matt's writing. If only more people had seen it.
Matt and Danny want her for the lead in Removing All Doubt; Harriet wants something of her own.
Performance wise, Harriet pretty much owns the show. Most people only watch for News 60, anyway.
Even if none of the sketches work and the ones that did work were always cut at least she had this oasis. And if some of the jokes that made it on the air were really comments that her, Matt, and Danny had bounced off each other - well, no one had to know about that.
Removing All Doubt is a success - Matt and Danny plan to get back to work immediately to capitalize on the buzz.
Harriet supports Matt with the media juggernaut, until she has a CD to promote in fifty-two markets in fifteen days. Maybe she didn't use the best judgement, she can admit that; now it's cold without Matt, and colder with him.
Matt and Danny return to Studio 60 and people start watching the whole show again.
Matt writes, Harriet performs, and Danny directs. Things are how they should have been all along.
Anita Pallenberg was the role of a lifetime - now Harriet knows she has to follow up right away, to capitalize on the buzz.
Though sometimes she thinks that she would be content on Studio 60 forever - or as long as Matt and Danny are there.
Matt and Danny leave Studio 60 after their two years are up, bruised and brokenhearted. Harriet leaves the next year when her contract is up. Things aren't as fun or funny without Matt and Danny around, besides she's an actress; she can't be on Studio 60 forever.
For the first time Harriet gets offered the lead in the romantic comedy.
There are ups and downs and Hollywood is brutal so they're mostly downs - writer's block is rough, and yeah you've got talent but they're looking for someone just a bit younger.
Work is scarce and it's hard to be known as a former Funny Girl (when you're so obviously a woman now) and the Ex-Wonderboys (when there is nothing boyish about you two now). In this town you're only as good as your last movie - which as of late hasn't been very good at all.
It's ten years later that they reunite for a sitcom. Matt's married, Harriet's married, Danny's married - again. They all dare to call it a comeback.
Jordan McDeere pushes it through as a nod to old friends and for three more years - and the end of three marriages - all is just as it should have been all along.