Directed by Robert Berlinger
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Without telling any of the staff, Isaac hires Sam Donovan (William H. Macy), a ratings expert, to help bring the ratings up. Dan goes to a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, but is convinced he made a colossal mistake with her. Also, Dana thinks Casey should see other women for six months before they start going out.
This episode contains example of:
- Call-Back: Casey brings up his double date with Dana and Gordon as proof he's gone out with other women, as well as Sally, and he also brings up his and Dana's first kiss.
- Captain Obvious:Natalie: We come in third each and every week.Jeremy: The only way we could possibly do better is if we came in first or second.
- Department of Redundancy Department:Jeremy: The rumors are undeniable, Dana.Dana: No, they're not undeniable. I'm denying them.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Dana has one at the bachelorette party, when she hears a friend say about the bride-to-be, "It's (the marriage) never gonna last", because the bride only ever dated the guy she's marrying, and no one else. This is what leads her to come up with the dating plan for her and Casey.
- Literary Allusion Title: The episode title is a play on a line from Macbeth.
- My Eyes Are Up Here: When Jeremy and Natalie see Dana in her biker gear (she's going to a biker chick-themed bachelorette party):Natalie: Sweetie, Dana can tell when you're staring at her breasts.Jeremy: I wasn't.Natalie: It's okay.Jeremy: I mean, my eyes naturally went there, but now I'm fine.
- Self-Plagiarism: After Sam basically tells everyone what to do and that he doesn't care whether they like him or not, Dana asks, "I'm not gonna like you very much, am I?", to which he replies, "Don't be ridiculous, Dana. Everybody likes me." Sorkin used a similar exchange (under similar circumstances) in Malice.
- Shout-Out: Despondent over his mix-up with Hillary Clinton, Dan quotes Mark Twain.
- Waxing Lyrical: When Dan talks about how much Hillary Clinton will be impressed with him, Casey cracks, "Well, then, here's to you, Mrs. Robinson."
