Ellie Bartlet is thrust into the media spotlight when a family-values group investigates her research programme, Abbey Bartlet is attempting to define her public image by appearing on Sesame Street and Josh looks into the lack of appointments to the federal courts.
Tropes:
- Continuity Nod: When Josh hears that a Supreme Court Judge has just passed away he assumes it's Chief Justice Ashland who had previously been established as having health problems.
- Muppet Cameo: Big Bird, Elmo, Zoey, and an unnamed Muppet Doctor all appear to film Abbey's guest spot. The show follows the kayfabe of treating the muppets as individuals and not showing the puppeteers on screen.
- Never Heard That One Before: News that Big Bird will be visiting the White House leads to a lot of jokes at C.J.'s expense.C.J.: Because nobody's ever made a joke about me and Big Bird before.
- No Indoor Voice: After Ellie ends up on the news Jed can be heard ranting about it from outside the Oval Office. It's probably a good thing because Angry Jed is
Nightmare Fuel. - "Sesame Street" Cred: C.J. convinces Abbey not to take hard-hitting interviews but instead build up her profile by appearing on Sesame Street. She ends up filming a segment where she gives Elmo a vaccination.
- Shrinking Violet: Ellie's reluctance to speak in public makes the investigation into her work that much harder for her. Jed tries to persuade her to make an official statement but it takes seeing her mother filming her Sesame Street skit to convince Ellie of the power of defending scientific research.
- Visual Pun: Big Bird takes a seat next to C.J. playing off the many, many jokes about how tall they both are.
- Wham Line: Two in rapid succession when Leo reveals that a Supreme Court Justice has died, and that it's not Chief Justice Ashland.
