Directed by Danny Leiner
Written by Aaron Sorkin & Kevin Falls
First round draft coverage continues, with Casey and Dan commenting on an offensive tackle just taken by Tampa Bay.
Jeremy goes to Isaac's office, and tells a puzzled Isaac to fire him:
Jeremy tells Isaac how he told Jenny to come at 3, thinking the show would be over and that she wouldn't run into Natalie, except the show won't end at 3; plus, he lied and said Jenny was a choreo-animator. He pleads once again for Isaac to fire him, but Isaac refuses.
In the studio, Casey says they'll be taking a break before coming back to Pittsburgh. During the break, Casey tries to complement Dan on a joke he made, but Dan doesn't want to hear it; he wants an apology. Casey doesn't want to apologize at all, and they take the argument backstage. Casey thinks Dan needs to get in the spirit of things, but Dan doesn't care, and also wonders why Casey gets paid more for doing essentially the same thing. They go back to their desk, still griping at each other, until the coverage starts. They predict Pittsburgh will draft a wide receiver out of LSU:
In the control room, Dana talks up her T-shirt and the others she made. Eventually, the others decide they want one as well, and Dana goes to her office to get them. Natalie decides to join her. As they walk, Natalie gripes about Jeremy's new girlfriend. Dana thinks this is just a rebound girlfriend, but Natalie thinks it's a symbol of Jeremy playing it safe with the world, like he always does. She asks again about Dana's face, and Dana says again she just fell. They talk about the draft a bit and start to head back, before realizing they forgot the T-shirts.
Casey and Jeremy are in the elevator lobby. Casey says he should just tell Jenny these are special circumstances, but Jeremy points out that would make him even more of a hypocrite than he already is. A staffer comes up and tells Casey he has to get back and he leaves. Jenny gets off the elevator, and Jeremy nervously compliments her on how's she's dressed; Jenny points out she's just wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Jeremy eventually admits what he did, and Jenny wants to leave, but Jeremy tries to point out the special circumstances. Resigned, Jenny comes along with him.
Casey and Dan continue the coverage, Elliot asks Dana about her face, everyone comments on when Ryan O'Brian will get picked, and Dana tells Natalie to write something for Casey and Dan.
Jeremy shows Jenny the newsroom, and Natalie greets them. She tells Jeremy to work on material about Ryan O'Brian. Natalie asks Jenny how she became a choreo-animator, and Jenny is able to bluff her way through. Jeremy hears the line about how her family needed money, and asks to see Jenny privately. Natalie reminds Jeremy about the copy he's doing, and leaves. In Casey and Dan's office, Jeremy asks why Jenny never told him about needing the money, and Jenny points out she never asks. Dana comes in and asks for the copy on Ryan O'Brian; Jeremy says he'll have it. He introduces Jenny to Dana, and is finally able to admit she's a porn star. When Dana leaves, Jeremy swears he'll get to the point where he's at peace with what Jenny does, and he'll keep trying until he is. Jenny tells him that's not good enough, and leaves.
Dana is in her office, taking medicine and holding her head in pain. Casey joins her. Dana admits he's going to win the bet, but Casey points out the second round's far from over. He also says Dana doesn't just fall down, and Dana admits her skin breaks out when she has a nervous condition, but she doesn't know why it's happening now. Casey tells Dana not to worry about him and Dan (Dana says she wants to kill him), pointing out he stayed. Dana says he'll have stuff on Ryan O'Brian when he gets back, and they leave.
Natalie tells Dan from the control room the questions he'll be asking Casey, and Dan wants to know when Casey became the one who knew everything, and Dan was the one who had to ask questions. Natalie points out her assignments are always even-handed and fair, and she's pissed at him. Casey comes into the studio, and they pick up the broadcast:
Dan throws it to an announcer at Madison Square Garden. Once that happens, Casey asks Dan what the hell he thinks he's doing. Dan apologizes, and says they'll get it back. They reluctantly continue the broadcast.
This episode contains examples of:
- Armor-Piercing Question:Casey: What are you nervous about?Dana: I don't know.Casey: Is it the show?Dana: I...really don't know.
- By "No", I Mean "Yes":Jeremy: I believe you are worthy of nothing less than total honesty. There is nothing about your life that anyone need snicker at and anybody who does, I certainly have no use for. Nor is there anything about your life that I feel ashamed of. So, I have told everybody the absolute truth.Jenny: Really?Jeremy: Yes. Except no.
- Comically Missing the Point:Natalie: We broke up fundamentally cause I wanted to experience more of the world and he was happy with what he had. Now he can spend the rest of his life with the cartoon characters that graced the walls of his boyhood bedroom during what I'm sure was a very safe and happy childhood.Dana: Cartoon characters graced the walls of his boyhood bedroom?Natalie: How the hell do I know, Dana? I'm speaking metaphorically.
- I Have This Friend: A variation:Kim: Dana?Dana: Yeah?Kim: Elliot has something he'd like to say.Elliot: No I don't.Kim: Yes, you do.Dana: Guys?Dave: You're driving him nutsy with the T-shirts.Dana: Really?Dave: I, on the other hand, would like one (Chris and Will also ask for one)Kim: Suck-ups.
- Noodle Incident: When Dana admits her skin breaks out, Casey brings up "that time in L.A.", and when they were in college together.
- Right Behind Me:Jenny: Doesn't Natalie work in the newsroom?Jeremy: Oh, not during show time. During show time that girl is glued to her seat in the control room.Natalie: Hey, Jeremy.Jeremy: And there's no civilization to be found on the planet.
- Shout-Out:
- When they hear what a "choreo-animator" does, both Dana and Isaac immediately think of the hippos in Fantasia, while Natalie thinks of The Little Mermaid.
- Also, Jeremy says Ryan O'Brian couldn't read Dr. Seuss, much less a nickel zone defense.
- Title Drop: "We'll be bringing you more on the fall of Ryan O'Brian"
- Two-Part Episode
