Ep 5. Sal Maldanado

In the fifth episode of season one of the Showtime series Dice, titled "Sal Maldanado," we continue to follow the life of comedian Andrew Dice Clay as he tries to revive his career in Las Vegas.

The episode opens with Dice performing at a local comedy club, where he receives a standing ovation from the audience. But his success is short-lived when he runs into Sal Maldanado (played by Michael Rappaport), a former rival who is now a successful comedian and talk show host. Sal rubs his success in Dice's face and makes him question his own abilities as a performer.

Feeling defeated, Dice starts to lose his confidence and his desire to perform. He turns to Carmen (Natasha Leggero) for comfort, but she is too preoccupied with her own issues to listen to him. Meanwhile, Dice's agent, Milkshake (Kevin Corrigan), tries to boost his client's spirits by setting up a meeting with a big-time producer.

At the meeting, Dice is surprised to find Sal there as well. The producer, played by Adrien Brody, is interested in a project that the two comedians can collaborate on. But things quickly turn sour when Sal starts to mock Dice's career and implies that he is only there for a handout. The tension escalates and the meeting ends in a physical altercation between the two comedians.

Later, Dice and Carmen attend a fancy dinner party hosted by Brody's character. Sal is also there, and the two men start to argue once again. But this time, Dice stands up for himself and puts Sal in his place with a powerful speech about the importance of comedy and the struggle of trying to make people laugh. The episode ends on a high note as Dice finally gains back his confidence and realizes that he is a talented performer despite what anyone else thinks.

Overall, "Sal Maldanado" is a dramatic episode that highlights the harsh reality of the entertainment industry and the toll it can take on performers. It is a thrilling watch that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.