Directed by Thomas Schlamme
Written by Aaron Sorkin
Dan gives an interview to Esquire where he criticizes the war on drugs. The network isn't happy, and forces Dan to give an apology. Dan ends up doing one, but in his own way; he apologizes to his younger brother for not being a better role model, since his brother, a computer genius, was following Dan's footsteps in being constantly stoned and drunk, which ended up getting him killed in a car accident.
Elsewhere, Casey is obsessed with the fact the article in question makes him seem like he isn't cool anymore, and he also edits Jeremy's first news segment.
This episode contains examples of:
- Ask a Stupid Question...: After Isaac orders Dan to the meeting (see Right Behind Me below), Casey has a question:Casey: You think I'm cool, don't you?Isaac: Do I look like I'm in the mood to do this now?Casey: Not really.Isaac: Then let's assume that I'm not.
- Comically Missing the Point:Dana: There's a lawyer over here, with a guy from Standards and Practices...Casey: We have standards and practices?Dana: It's a whole wing of the-Casey: No, I mean, we have *actual* standards and practices?
- Deadpan Snarker: Lampshaded by Casey:Dana: Hey look, everybody. It's two sports anchors and that's a good break for us because we're about to do a sports show.Casey: Sarcasm, thy name is Dana.
- It's All About Me: Casey.Casey: Look, don't get me wrong. Dan's my closest friend and I like to think of our relationship as selfless, but at the moment I'm not as concerned about him as I am about... how should I say...Elliot: You?Casey: Me, yes.
- And a little later:
Casey: He (Dan) belongs to a fly-by-night organization that supports the legalization of marijuana and he said so in a magazine. Is the network gonna be happy about it? No. Is Sachs going to order someone to order someone to slap him in the knuckles? Probably. In the scheme of things—a much larger issue is that I am cool. I'm completely cool, huh?
- Pun: Apparently, Howard Stern covered the Esquire article on his radio show, and said Dan gave new meaning to the word "highlights".
- The Reveal: When Dan finally makes his on-air "apology", we finally learn why Dan knew the exact date he had last partaken in recreational drugs: His little brother emulated him and died at a very young age as a result.
- Right Behind Me:Casey: Go to your meeting.Dan: I told you, I'm making them wait.Casey: No, you're making them mad.Dan: No, I am making them anxious.Casey: (sees Isaac entering the office behind Dan) I think you're just making them mad. I think Isaac specifically is mad.Dan: No, Isaac's on my team. Isaac understands me. Isaac has a highly developed sense of right and wrong and he is hip to my battle plan.Casey: Danny, he's standing right behind you.Dan: (turns around) How you doing? Casey and I were just talking about your highly developed sense of right and wrong and I was just saying-Isaac: Go sit your sorry ass down at that meeting.
- Running Gag: Casey obsessing over the fact he's not considered cool. Also, his musical taste, or lack thereof.Natalie: Casey listens to the Starland Vocal Band, so I wouldn't take any stock-Casey: Go away from me now!
- Becomes a Brick Joke at the end, when "Afternoon Delight" plays over the final scene.
- Shipper on Deck: Natalie begins her season-long quest to get Casey and Dana together.
- Shout-Out: According to Dan, Jack Nicholson, J. D. Salinger, and The Muppets are still cool, but Barney the Dinosaur isn't.
- Stealth Insult:Casey: I'm completely cool, huh?Dana: And you dress cool.Casey: That's right! (Beat) Wait, that was a dig, wasn't it?
- And a little later:
Casey: How can I be cool again? I'm a newly divorced man, I'm young, I used to be cool. I need to be cool again. Help me be cool again.Dan: Well, first I'd have to disabuse you of the notion that you were ever cool before. - Take That!:Casey: 1978, they win the Grammy for Best New Artist. Know who they beat? Elvis Costello. Now is it your belief that Elvis Costello isn't cool?Dan: No, it's my belief that the Grammy voters aren't cool.
- Those Two Guys: Chris and Will, who have a running argument over whether the set color scheme is the fault of the gels or the monitors.
- Too Much Information:Natalie: I may have certain feelings for Jeremy.Casey: Ah.Natalie: ... I think these feelings could interfere with my judgment as far as his work is concerned.Casey: I admire your professionalism.Natalie: These feelings have been growing inside of me like a rush or surge-Casey: I think this is a little more than I need to know about this.
- What the Hell, Hero?: After Dan compares not apologizing for the interview with a certain civil rights activist, Isaac has this to say:Issac: You know I love you, don't you?Dan: Yeah.
