Casey: Look, can we be men for a second?
Dan: All right, but just a second.
Directed by Thoams Schlamme
Written by Paul Redford, Aaron Sorkin, & Joan Binder Weiss (uncredited)
Dana and Gordon go out on a double date with Casey and a woman named Leesa. Both Casey and Dana are reluctant to do so, partly because they're worried about the show, but partly because of the tension between them. Meanwhile, Natalie's producing that night's broadcast, and while she didn't think it would happen, she stays on top of a story about a major baseball trade that happens before the trade deadline. Also, Dan has to co-anchor the show with Bobbi Bernstein, with whom he has a strange past.
This episode contains episodes of:
- Big "SHUT UP!": Isaac insists Natalie needs footage of a particular block, while Natalie insists she doesn't because they blew it off in the rundown meeting; when Isaac asks if he can ask why, Natalie, who's been asking politely up till this time, bluntly tells Isaac he can't ask why right now, and says he can either fire her or stay quiet.
- Buffy Speak: Before meeting her, Dana refers to Leesa as "blind date lawyer woman".
- By "No", I Mean "Yes":Dan: You know I'd never question your choice of substitute anchor, right?Natalie: Right.Dan: I mean it's your first time stepping in for Dana, these are your decisions tonight, I would never second-guess you, and I would certainly never question your choice of substitute anchor.Natalie: So what's on your mind?Dan: I question your choice of substitute anchor.
- Call-Back: To Casey's divorce.
- Department of Redundancy Department: Lampshaded by Casey when he makes fun of the fact the restaurant they've all gone to is named "Tony Anthony's"; "In Cuba, Ricky Ricardo would have been Ricardo Ricardo."
- Felony Misdemeanor. The reason why Dan doesn't like telling the story of how Bobbi claims he slept with her and then never called her is whoever he tells it to wants to know why he didn't call, even though he insists he never slept with her (however, this gets subverted later in the season in "Eli's Coming").
- Foreshadowing: Gordon's concern that Dana is Married to the Job will play out more in upcoming episodes.
- Hypocritical Humor: Dana and Casey both try to convince Isaac (Casey also tries to convince Dan) they don't have to take their appointed day off so they can get out of the double date; as soon as Isaac leaves them both in the hallway, they call each other on trying to get out of the date. Also:Casey: You see, Leesa, unlike Dana, I'm able to enjoy a relaxing night out. What time do you have?Leesa: It's about-Casey: I mean the exact time! Don't gimme about.
- Pronouncing My Name for You: Casey's blind date is "Leesa", which everyone thinks is pronounced with a "z", not an "s", and she has to correct them.
- Running Gag: In addition to Leesa's name, no one on the date except Dana remembers the correct name of the modern dance company they all go to see (the Holly Dixon Dance Company).
- Side Bet: Jeremy and Natalie make one about the trade.
- The Triple: Casey telling Dan why he doesn't want to go on a date with Leesa:Casey: I really don't want to go out on a date, and there's no question that there's a way to look at this that makes it appear a lot like a date.
Dan: Yes.
Casey: Plus it's a double-date, and it's a blind date, on top of which, let's not forget, it's a date, - Throw It In!: Once again, In-Universe; when Dana tells Dan he needs to fill for 15 seconds, he basically tells the audience Dana asked him to say something.
