Recap / Sports Night S 01 E 16 Sally

Jeremy: (after explaining why he's nervous about meeting Natalie's family at Easter) Isaac, what do you think?

Isaac: Oh my God, were you talking to me all that whole time?

Jeremy: You want me to start again?

Isaac: Yeah, but first, could you just hit me over the head with that blunt instrument over there?

Directed by Robert Berlinger

Written by Rachel Sweet, Aaron Sorkin, & Joan Binder Weiss (uncredited)

While Chris, Dave, Elliot, Kim and Will all complain about how slow a news day it is, Dan finds out Casey spent the night with Sally, Dana tries to figure out why Gordon stood her up the night before, and Jeremy worries about meeting Natalie's parents.

This episode contains examples of:

• By "No", I Mean "Yes":
  Dan: You went to a woman's apartment, and there you had wine. And there you had sex.
  Casey: You are way off base. That is not what happened. Except, yes, that's what happened.
  • Inverted here:
  Natalie: Here's my theory...
  Dana: Yes?
  Natalie: You don't like Gordon.
  Dana: That's an interesting theory, and you'd be completely right except for the fact that you're totally wrong.

• Did You Just Have Sex?: Dan is able to figure out Casey had sex just from the way Casey describes how he mislaid his shirt.
• The Easy Way or the Hard Way:
  Dan: We can do this the hard way or we can do this the easy way.
  Casey: What's the hard way?
  Dan: I don't know, but the easy way is you telling me her name.
• Get a Room!: Casey jokingly (or maybe not) says this to Dana and Gordon when he sees them together.
• Get Out!:
  Jeremy: Can I ask a question?
  Isaac: Sure.
  Jeremy: Jesus said, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."
  Isaac: What's your question?
  Jeremy: This relates to the bunny rabbit how?
  Isaac: Get out.
• Greek Chorus: Chris, Dave, Elliot, Kim and Will all serve as this. Jeremy serves as this to those five:
  Jeremy: Dana's having second thoughts about Gordon. Dana thinks it's because Gordon stood her up last night under suspicious circumstances, but Natalie thinks it's because Dana really likes Casey. Casey's a little out of sorts because sometime last week he spent the night with someone. Casey thinks it's because it was too soon after his marriage broke up, but Dan thinks it's because Casey's in love with Dana. That's pretty much it.
• Hypocritical Humor:
  • Dana criticizes Jeremy for boring Isaac with his personal problems, and then she turns around and talks to Isaac about *her* personal problems.
  • This memorable exchange:
    Natalie: I have to say, this is one of those moments I'm compelled to tell you how wonderful you are. Every once in a while I'm reminded how lucky I am that I'm dating a solid, mature man. (Jeremy gives a forced smile, but doesn't say anything) Jeremy, swallow the egg nog.
    Jeremy: (opens his mouth, egg nog runs down his shirt) I just can't.
  • Dan says he hasn't asked who Casey slept with because "it's not what men do." Naturally, after he declares this, he starts asking.
• I Need a Freaking Drink: Isaac, after enduring Jeremy, Dana and then Casey coming to his office to bore him with their personal problems, says, "Keep talking. I'm just going to start drinking now."
• Seinfeldian Conversation: Lampshaded:
  Isaac: When I was eleven, I had a pet fish that died.
  Dana: And, what does that have to do with Gordon standing me up?
  Isaac: Nothing. I thought we were finished.
• Shout-Out: Jeremy compares his visiting Natalie's family for the first time to Michael visiting Apollonia's family.
• Shout-Out to Shakespeare: Kim brings up Salanio and Salerio.