Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B | 214 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT We're Not Gonna Take It
By Couch Baron | Season 6 | Episode 3 | Aired on 2013.04.14
Speaking of collaborators, Pete, prompted by a disingenuously prodding Herb, is telling the assembled group about the plan to gut the national ad campaign, and if you look down the table you can see one shot of Harry staring open-mouthed at what that would mean for his television budget. The elder of the two UK Jaguar guys asks Don if he's really in favor of this migration to radio, and Don replies that it's hard to argue with a more direct appeal to customers. He goes on that it's an "exciting new angle" to use direct sales on a luxury vehicle, and it may be fairly clear to us that he's playing a rather sarcastic devil's advocate here, but the next bit drives the point home: "I mean, forget about radio. How about a mailer? Or a circular in the Sunday paper?" Pete tries to tell Don that that's not what they had in mind in a "stick to the script" tone of voice, but Pete should know it's not his day to get people to toe the line, as Don lets the dripping sarcasm spread to his facial expression as he goes on he's sure there are people in New Jersey who will listen to their car radio and jump and the chance to buy a Jaguar "at a low, low price." Hee. He goes on that there's no reason to limit themselves when they could be selling to truckers and housewives, but the head Jaguar guy, playing it straight, points out that the original creative approach was to target customers that could afford luxury vehicles. Don, though, has to get one more good one off about how this approach moves cars, even used ones, and it's hilarious that he's drawing on his own past as a used-car salesman and even more so when he's like, Herb, amirite? Herb weakly tries to agree that yes, this approach moves cars, but Don, in pretending to go along with Herb's plan while making it seem more déclassé than bologna on white bread, has effectively killed Herb's offensive without having to fire a single shot. Herb and Pete flail around a bit more, but the Brits' minds are made up - they're sticking with the original plan. Everyone files out (Don hilariously shaking Herb's hand on the way, which Pete berated him for not doing earlier) except Herb, who stays behind to harangue Pete for letting Don talk: "The guy's not a salesman." Of all the things I love about this scene, Herb equating Pete with himself is certainly up there, not least because Herb has not a clue what really just happened...