"Alberta's Podcast" is the second episode of Season 2 in the American sitcom Ghosts and its 20th episode overall. It premiered on October 6, 2022.
Synopsis[]
Sam decides to host a podcast exploring the mystery surrounding Alberta's death. Also, Hetty develops an unusual relationship with a broken washing machine.
Plot[]
The episode begins with a flashback to the 1920s. We see Alberta as a backup singer, filling in for a performer named Clara, who never showed. Back in present day, Sam is listening to a true crime podcast. Pete mentions that Sam should do a podcast on Alberta's murder. Alberta thinks its a great idea and so do Sam and Jay. Sam says she will pitch the idea to the Ulster County Review because they produce podcasts. Alberta is extremely excited.
Hetty complains about the broken washing machine and Sam says that Jay says he called about it. Thor says that Jay did not call anyone but spent the morning playing video games. Alberta tells him "don't be a rat" and says that was the code she lived by in her life.
The editor at the Ulster County Review loves the idea for the podcast but insists she hires an expert to do the podcast with her. He suggests Todd Pearlman, the man who wants to clone Alberta with her toenail clippings. Sam warns him that Todd is a little bit strange. The editor says that its not strange to stalk a dead person and that they wont sponsor the podcast without Todd as an expert.
Flower walks in on Hetty yelling at the washing machine. Hetty is very upset that the rocking noise it is making is stopping her from getting peaceful sleep. They think Jay is coming in to turn the machine off, but to Hetty's dismay, he reloads it and starts it again. Flower tells Hetty there is one upside to a broken washing machine. Flower tells her to sit on it. When Hetty does so Flower leaves her be.
Sam breaks the news about Todd's involvement in the podcast, which upsets Alberta. Todd then arrives at the door with a copy of his biography of Alberta's life. Alberta is extremely opposed to Todd being involved in any way. Hetty tells Alberta that she just needs to calm down and that "it's all good." Everyone is confused by her relaxed demeanor and she proudly proclaims that it's because she had a "magical encounter with the washing machine," Pete, more confused asks her what happened with the washing machine and she says she does not know and that it must just be one of the wonders of the universe. Flower, concerned, asks her if she really doesn't know what was happening to the washing machine. Hetty says no and Flower explains it was making her aroused. This embarrasses Hetty and she says she will not be doing that ever again.
Sam and Jay help Todd bring in some "artifacts" from Alberta's life and Sam finds baby pictures. She asks Todd if they are pictures of Alberta as a baby and Todd explains that they are computer generated images of what he and Alberta's children would look like. Jay finds a false bottom in a table that used to belong to Alberta. Alberta doesn't want them looking around in it and become increasingly uncomfortable. They find her old diary in the table and decide to read it despite Alberta's protests. Se tells Sam that there is something in there that cannot get out and that she has to get it back.
While Hetty struggles to resist the temptation of the washing machine, Sass, Trevor, and Isaac are reading Alberta's diary over Todd's shoulder. Sam convinces an extremely upset Alberta to explain what happened in her own words, because Todd was going go tell them either way. She explains that when she filled in for Clara, she was the one who ratted Clara out and got her arrested. The idea of being a "rat" is very upsetting to Alberta. Thor points out the irony of her giving him trouble about being a rat earlier. Alberta says that Sam should have never brought back Todd. She deflects to pete for having the podcast idea. She thinks that everyone will think she is a fraud. Sam says she doesn't think it will be so scandalous in modern times. Right after she says that Todd walks in and says that she was a fraud and she broke the code she lived by.
Hetty finds flower and tells her she feels as if she must confess that she succumbed to the washing machine. Flower tells her that there is nothing wrong with it and that she was in charge of her own body. She says that shame around female pleasure is something men invented to control women and that she shouldn't be ashamed and she doesn't need a mans permission.
Alberta is worried that everyone will react the same way Todd did to the news. Sass asks why she turned in Clara and she explains that it was very difficult to be taken seriously as a singer when you weren't conventionally attractive and thin. She worked as Clara's backup singer despite being a more talented vocalist for two years before deciding she couldn't take it anymore and turning Clara in for bootlegging. They ask why she didn't just explain that and she says that she has to be defensive and self-centered because there were always so many critics. While discussing the story for the podcast, Todd shows a photo of Clara from the diary and Isaac and Sass recognize her as being present the night Alberta died. They also recall her wearing a very large hat.
Jay replaces the washing machine, upsetting Hetty a great deal.
Quotes[]
Sam: A podcast is like a... like a TV show but without the pictures.
Alberta: Baby, that's called radio. What you're describing is radio.
Alberta: It's not easy for me to be...vulnerable. I mean, people see me as this super-confident diva. But the truth is, that's an armor I wear. I struggle like everyone else. But I don't let that show. I need to be my loudest fan. 'Cause God knows there's always been plenty of folks trying to tear me down.
Alberta: Your one true god is now relatable.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Rose McIver as Samantha Arondekar
- Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay Arondekar
- Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac
- Danielle Pinnock as Alberta
- Richie Moriarty as Pete
- Asher Grodman as Trevor
- Sheila Carrasco as Flower
- Devan Chandler Long as Thorfinn
- Rebecca Wisocky as Hetty
- Román Zaragoza as Sasappis
Guest cast[]
Co-starring[]
- Daniel Brochu as Club Owner
- Madeleine Eddy as Sally
- Andrew Searles as Stage Manager
- Justin Johnson as Stagehand
- Guido Grasso as Mobster #1
- RJ Copan as Mobster #2
- Josh Johnston as Delivery Man
Historical notes[]
- Alberta uses the expression "drop a dime" to mean to rat out her competition. The expression was first recorded in 1966 and comes from using a dime in a payphone to call in an anonymous tip. While there were payphones in existence in the early 1900s, the cost of a phone call in the late 1920s was 2 cents. It's possible that Alberta heard the phrase after her death and adopted it herself.
Trivia[]
- Sam's publisher, Lewis, and Alberta's fan, Todd Pearlman, make their second appearances in the series. They previously appeared in, respectively, "Flower's Article" and "Alberta's Fan."
- Besides the return of Todd, another Season 1 reference is Daisy's Coffee Shop, the coffeehouse Sam and Lewis have their meeting.
- We see a flashback to Alberta's life, specifically to Harlem 1926, when she was alive and this is the first time we see her in a different costume.
- This is the first time we see a different location then Woodstone Mansion and it's property in Season 2.
- There is a flashback to the episode Alberta's Fan when the audience met Todd.
- Some pop culture references include: Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Ark of the Covenant, the Hulk, Jason Momoa
- Alberta talks about Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, two artists that Alberta likes to listen to.
Gallery[]
Stills[]
Screenshots[]
