Does anyone still wear a hat?

Elaine Stritch vis a vis Stephen Sondheim

This is practically what is uttered as episode 6 of “Capote vs. the Swans” begins. The hat shop beloved by CZ and the swans is going out of business, and Truman is starting to think his relevance is going out with them.

This is evidenced time and again in this episode as Truman tries to regain his edge to no avail. He styles Kate for a photo shoot by Dick Avedon and dresses her like a mini Babe Paley. Even Dick, a man of his own age, is taken aback. “It’s 1978 Truman!” He exclaims. He tries to dance himself back into relevance with CZ at Studio 54 but CZ is appalled by the press photos that are published in The Post. “The secret,” he says, “Is to never admit defeat” over being passe. CZ’s response is that his secret is to write, which is something Truman isn’t doing very much of these days.

He’s drinking more than ever. Kate is appalled at this, she cries that he’s no better than her father. He says he needs the vodka to go on talk shows as that’s all his career is now. His feuds fuel his notoriety. He goes on Carson and tells an unsavory story about Gore Vidal getting drunk and mishandling Jackie Kennedy. As a result Vidal sues him and Lee, being the source of the story, is left to decide whether she’ll stick up for Truman. She says she won’t at lunch at La Cote, saying how silly it is to get involved in “two f*gs fighting.” In actuality the story was told to Playgirl magazine and Lee’s unsavory quip was told privately to Liz Smith, not at lunch at La Cote. Liz told Truman which ended what up until then had been still a rather good friendship between Lee and Truman.

CZ is appalled at what Lee says and does what any swan would do to get out the aggression: take Babe for some retail therapy. The pair try to get gloves from a department store but find that the department no longer exists, not being modern enough. Truman is not the only one feeling obsolete.

Truman hides away to “dry out” in Palm Springs but he seems to be doing anything but that. He’s eating candy canes and vodka (which I still am not sure if it sounds good or not) and seducing the young straight(ish) handyman. The two begin a romance of sorts. He brings the man to New York and it’s another awkward lunch at La Cote. The romance eventually sizzles and Truman comes to the realization that his time has truly passed.

I wish this season of Feud had a bit less introspective and more camp. I wonder if it’s the source material that isn’t camp, these women after all were sought after taste makers after all. Or if it’s the direction that is lowering the camp level. I keep hoping there’s some redeeming hope at the end of this show but I’m dubious.