IN THE new comedy series Optics, Greta Goldman (Vic Zerbst) and Nicole Kidman (Jenna Owen) strategise a way to spin the antics of manchild AFL player Bundy Gribbons (Will McNeill), as the two young women sharply feel their exclusion from PR firm Fritz & Randell’s board meeting.
It’s older men only. Ian Randell (Charles Firth), son of the original Randell, desperately seeks the attention of ancient CEO Frank Fritz (Peter Carroll), while his pitiable performance amuses Bobby Bahl (Claude Jabbour), who owns the firm, and his bodyguard and personal assistant, Dod (Aaron Collins).
When Fritz dies suddenly at his desk, Ian assumes he will automatically take the reins. But Bobby pushes for Greta and Nicole to step up, claiming the company needs a makeover.
More accurately, Fritz had some skeletons which could soon be exposed – and installing the duo is all about optics. The move sets off a power struggle. Greta and Nicole desperately try to formalise their appointment, as Ian tries to prove his relevance and staying power against his younger opponents, all the while trying to service their high-maintenance clients.
The three are aided by, Cody (Bali Padda), Ian’s loyal research assistant, and Meredith (Belinda Giblin), Fritz’s long serving and suffering EA and the only individual who cared about his demise.
Greta and Nicole are scattered but inventive with their strategies – they manage to convince the world that a powerful female entrepreneur and outright bully, Hannah Halston (special guest star Kate Walsh), suffers from “PMDD”, Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder, which “the misogynistic medical profession struggles to diagnose”, and they secure a laughably low fine for a case of fraud by exploiting the weaknesses of an airline regulator.
To save one client, a young Hollywood star (Josh Helman) with an unusual kink, they must sacrifice another – a kids’ toy company exec (Stephen Hunter) who sells exploding hoverboards.
As Greta and Nicole battle the internal power challenges from Ian, they slowly come to realise that their firm might have a scandal of its own brewing, and start to wonder: have they been set up to fail?
Premieres Wednesday, January 29, 8.30pm on ABC TV.
