"Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends" is the seventh episode of Season 3 of One Tree Hill and originally aired November 16th, 2005. The episode was written by Mark Schwahn, and directed by cast member Paul Johansson.
As the Fantasy Boy Draft dates take place, Lucas finds himself on an unexpected date with Rachel, whilst Brooke goes on the double date from hell with the estranged Nathan and Haley - and the singer who nearly destroyed their marriage. Peyton bonds with Mouth, whilst Karen and Deb step up their efforts to undermine Dan’s campaign for mayor.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Call-Back: Haley shows Nathan the tin of predictions that she and Lucas have written.
- Celebrity Paradox: Bevin and Skills watch The Notebook on their date; Paul Johansson, who plays Dan Scott, has a minor role in the film.
- Continuity Nod: Rachel asks Lucas if he really believes Brooke is the one, and when he asserts that he does, points out that people say he used to say the same thing about Peyton.
- Double Date: Nathan and Haley’s date is effectively crashed by Brooke and Chris Keller, if only because Haley’s forcing Brooke to go on her date with Keller so Nathan can’t use Brooke backing out as an excuse to back out himself.
- Fanservice: Lucas winds up shirtless during his date with Rachel.
- Hope Spot: After their date is effectively ruined by Brooke and Chris, and after seeing that the site of their wedding has become a construction site for new houses, Nathan lifts Haley’s spirits by revealing he saved a handful of the flowers from the site and reassures her that the flowers (and their relationship) can be saved with care and time.
- Hypocrite: Nathan lampshades the hypocrisy in Brooke telling him to forgive Haley for abandoning their marriage to go on tour, when she’s making Lucas jump through hoops to regain her trust after he cheated on her with Peyton.
- Improbable Aiming Skills: Lucas makes a shot from the edge of the River Court, whilst blindfolded and after being spun around by Rachel.
- Interrupted Intimacy: Lucas walks in on Brooke and Chris Keller, post sex.
- Kick the Dog: As Peyton and Mouth return Mel to his retirement home, he turns to look at Peyton and says the exact same thing he said when they first met, revealing that he’d already forgotten the events of the evening.
- Mustache Vandalism: Deb and Karen attempt this to the "Dan Scott for Mayor" billboard outside Tree Hill, even painting "is an ass" over his appeal for votes. The two eventually decide to tear down the "is an ass" portion of the sign, unwittingly amending the sign to read "Dan Scott for Erectile Dysfunction" in the process.
- Never My Fault: Brooke tries to claim that it’s not her fault that she didn’t draft Lucas, but he clearly doesn’t believe her because he already knew that Brooke was the second pick.
- Pet the Dog: Mouth acknowledges that Peyton only chose him out of pity and tells her that she doesn’t need to go on the date with him, but Peyton quickly asserts that she intends to stick to her word.
- Scatterbrained Senior: Mouth’s grandpa, Mel. Mouth explains to Peyton that he suffers from Alzheimer’s, and frequently confuses Mouth for his father.
- Schmuck Bait: Bevin’s plan to get Skills to open up to her by having him watch The Notebook. Confirmed when Skills enthusiastically asks Junk and Fergie if they’d ever heard of the film, and they realise what Bevin did.
- Ship Tease: Rachel teases Lucas about how he can be sure about Brooke now being the one for him, considering that, until recently, it’s always been Peyton.
- Shout-Out: Bevin has Skills watch The Notebook on their date.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends" by Fall Out Boy.
- The Unreveal: Nathan adds a prediction to Haley and Lucas’ tin, but he doesn’t say what it was he predicted.
- Wham Shot: Lucas heads to Brooke’s apartment, only to find her naked in bed with Chris Keller.
