Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B | 6 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT We're Not Gonna Take It
By Couch Baron | Season 6 | Episode 3 | Aired on 04.14.2013
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...
...unlike Roger, who uttered not a word in the meeting, but now comes into Don's office: "That was the deftest self-immolation I've ever seen." Don denies knowledge of what he means, but then Pete comes in and blasts Don. "I still have [Herb's] spit in my hair!" There are only a few minutes left, so I really don't want to pause to make a joke that will make both you and me ill. Pete asks why Don can't follow the rules, and Roger mildly backs him up in pointing out that Herb's a client, but Don wants to make sure We Get It: "And so we just keep saying yes, no matter what, because we didn't say no to begin with? You know what this is - it's Munich." Pete is unimpressed by this textual theme and storms out, which is just as well, since there's precedent for these three discussing war ending in punches being thrown. This leaves Roger to turn to Don and lightly note that his mother would have pointed out that Don's options were dishonor or war. "You chose dishonor; you might still get war." Don: "That was Churchill." Hee. Unfazed by Don's historical knowledge, Roger bails...