Directed by Alex Graves
Written by Bill Wrubel & Aaron Sorkin
The show prepares to cover the light-heavyweight boxing championship fight, but the fight turns into a disaster.
This episode contains examples of:
- The Alcoholic: The Cut Man!
- And I'm the Queen of Sheba: When Jeremy says Chuck "Cut Man" Kimmel claims to have trained Rocky Marciano, Casey replies, "Yeah, and I made sweet love to Ava Gardner in Paris."
- Continuity Nod: Dana tells Casey she had looked for him at Anthony's, but he had already left with Pixley.
- Also, Dan had (reluctantly) alluded to his difficulties with his father in his sessions with Abby.
- Didn't See That Coming: The point of the episode as no one considered the possibility this fight wouldn't last ten seconds and leave them with a score of time to fill.
- Epic Fail: The fight lasts seven seconds.
- Hypocritical Humor:Casey: We are game-day players, like gladiators of old.Dan: Okay.Casey: Ow!Dan: What?Casey: Ah, paper cut.
- Know-Nothing Know-It-All: The Cut Man:Casey: What did he throw, Cut Man?Cut Man: It was a right hook with a bit of a jab.Casey: A jabbing right hook.Cut Man: That's right, Casey.Casey: And he did it with his left hand.Cut Man: This fighter's got remarkable skills. He's not to be trifled with, Casey.
- Literary Allusion Title: The episode title refers to the play The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": The entire crew when the highly hyped boxing match ends in literally one punch and they now have an hour and fifty minutes of scheduled air time to fill.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: When Natalie talks to Casey about the dating plan:Casey: I don't know what you're talking about, Natalie. I honestly don't. I never went out with her, not once, and hardly for lack of trying, so I don't think I do need to break up with her. And I don't think I need either one of you telling me what's good for me anymore.Natalie: So you're breaking up with me now.Casey: Look, we've all behaved ridiculously, and I'm moving on.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Kimmel only responds to "Cut Man", to Casey and Dan's annoyance.
- Pop-Cultural Osmosis Failure: After Casey's line about Ava Gardner (see And I'm the Queen of Sheba above):Natalie: While she was doing Green Acres?Jeremy: That's Eva Gabor.Natalie: I thought they were twins.Jeremy: That's Zsa Zsa Gabor.
- Self-Deprecation:Dan: We've got Chuck "The Cut Man" Kimmel in Atlantic City, and for those of you still watching at home, please give us a call and tell us why.
- Shout-Out: When Dan talks about watching boxing with his father, he claims it wasn't like All in the Family.
- Dana is upset because Casey is acting like he's on Letterman during the coverage.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Dan's relationship with his father.
