Sam: I've looked over the notes you've been giving over the last year or so, and I have to say they exhibit an almost total lack of understanding of how to get the best from talented people.
Billie: Excuse me, but-
Sam: You said before that for whatever reason, I seem to be able to exert some authority around here. I assure you, it's not 'cause they like me. It's 'cause they knew two minutes after I walked in the door, I'm someone who knows how to do something. I can help. I can make glass tubes. That's what they need. One last thing, the first and last decision-making authority on this show will rest with Isaac Jaffee until Isaac Jaffee says otherwise, and if you disrespect him in my presence again, I will rededicate the rest of my life to ruining the rest of yours. And if you think I'm just mouthing at you, you should ask around about me. I have absolutely no conscience about these things.
J.J.: Sam, why did you bring us out here?
Sam: Because there's the exit. That's it. The meeting's over.
Directed by Robert Berlinger
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Everyone's been walking on eggshells ever since Sam Donovan showed up. To make matters worse, J.J. and two others from the network have come to give notes to the staff, over Isaac's objection. However, it's Sam who ends up saving the day, as he basically tells J.J. and the others to get lost, and he knows how to get results from the show while they don't.
This episode contains examples of:
- Apology Gift: After Dan calls Dana a secretary (see Nice Job Breaking It, Hero below), he comes to her office to apologize and to give her a gift. He meant to get her wine she liked and cheese to go with it, but a hardware store had replaced the cheese store, so he got her spackle instead. She's touched by the gift nevertheless.
- Author Appeal: Cliff's speech about Philo Farnsworth and Cliff Gardner. Aaron Sorkin would later write a play about them called The Farnsworth Invention.
- Call-Back: In addition to Sam Donovan and the previous run-ins Isaac has had with the network, we also hear about Dana's dating plan again.
- Department of Redundancy Department:Dana: We're still in third place.Natalie: Every show on this network's in third place. It's a third-place network.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The struggles the show is having with its network executives are quite obviously a stand-in for the struggles Sorkin was having with ABC about the show.
- Hidden Depths: In addition to the quote on the top of the page:Sam: I don't have to like you, you don't have to like me. I have two priorities. The first is getting from the beginning of the day to the end of the day without having a drink. The second is raising this show's ratings to the point where it's no longer in danger of what almost happened here today. Trust me. I won't make fools out of you.
- Hypocritical Humor:Dana: I've seen brighter performances by inmates. You mind telling me what the hell's going on?Dan: We're just-Dana: I don't want to hear about it. This show's supposed to be fun. You guys sound like you're giving stock quotes. Is there a reason I'm not aware of?Casey: We think we should be-Dana: Don't give me your excuses. We've got 18 minutes of show left. What I'd like is you guys to start earning your money. Do you have anything you'd like to say?Casey: Yeah-Dana: Good. (storms off)
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: After Dan hears about J.J. and the other network executives coming to their rundown meeting, Dan calls Dana a secretary. Dana pauses and then dismisses everybody. As Casey leaves, he says to Dan, "That's nice, man."
- Screw Your Ultimatum!: A rare case of this being done to the hero:Dana: J.J., I was hoping this meeting would go differently. I was prepared to eat whatever I had to for Isaac's sake and I asked the senior staff to do the same which, by the way, is the only reason why Dan, Casey, Jeremy, Elliott, Chris, Will and Dave haven't beaten the crap out of you guys by now. I've changed my mind. At this point, you have two choices: fire me or shut the hell up!J.J.: Dana, sad to say that your attitude over these past three years combined with these totally unacceptable ratings make that a very easy choice.
- Averted, however, in the fact Dana doesn't get fired, thanks in part to Sam.
- Shout-Out: Jeremy tries to compare the way Sam's got into everyone's head with having an electrode planted in your head by something from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
- When giving his speech about Philo Farnsworth (see Author Appeal above), Sam brings up Milton Berle, and also says the idea of television was at one time as crazy as him wanting to beam aboard the Enterprise.
- Tension-Cutting Laughter: Everyone is tense at the noon rundown until Elliot reads a memo from building maintenance that one of the legs on the craft-service table is wobbly, so the staff should be careful in getting food from it. After making sure she's heard right, Dana starts cracking up, and everyone else joins in.Casey: (mock serious) Hey! The show's important, but first things first - there are bagels on that table. (everyone laughs again)
- True Companions: Discussed; when Dana says she's going to have to look for another job, Natalie points out she'd have to come along, and so would Casey, Dan and Jeremy.
