Episode Report Card Jessica: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Lose The Boss?
By Jessica | Season 1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 11.22.2006
At the office, Betty flips through Daniel's Rolodex, which includes a listing for "Joseph Hardman, accountant." I have to give a shout-out here to my friend Joe, for that is he. He and I have a mutual friend on the Ugly Betty staff, who hooked him up. I requested a shout-out in which Super-Accountant Henry wears a shirt that reads JESSICA I LOVE YOU FOREVER, but I don't know if that's going to happen. Bradford comes in and asks Betty if Daniel got his message regarding "Baby Chutney." It seems that Tom and Katie -- er, "Tim and Chloe" have given Mode a three-hour window in which to shoot Baby Chutney. Her picture, I mean. Betty is predictably stoked, and lapses into Elaine Benes as she tends to do: "Shut up!" she squeaks, and then notes that it's all very exciting. Bradford agrees that it will be...if Daniel can pull it off: "He is here, isn't he?" Betty sort of shrugs, and Bradford explains that Wil is calling in staffers to help, and going out to meet the plane herself. Betty is trying to come up with a plausible lie to explain Daniel's absence when Salma comes in and suggests that they go at the story from "the family angle," because, as she says, "the firstborn changes everything." Bradford tells Betty that Salma's going to be writing the copy; he thinks Salma and Daniel will make a great team. Betty looks moderately stricken.
In Queens, Daniel lies on the sofa, covered in a bright Mexican blanket and speaking around a thermometer. He tells Betty that he can't come in to the office: he's a total mess. He hands Ignacio the phone, mumbling, "Tell Betty I'm a mess." Ignacio reiterates that Daniel is a mess. He can't hold down huevos, and he's got a fever. Wow. I've never got a fever from a hangover. He must have had A LOT to drink. "Baby who?" Ignacio asks Betty. "Baby CHUTNEY?!" Daniel moans, in disbelief. "Baby CHUTNEY?" Justin squeaks from the other room, as Betty recaps the whole Baby Chutney Three-Hour Photoshoot story for Daniel, who still can't believe that Tim is "settling down." (I have to say that this whole Tim/Chloe/Chutney thing is totally cracking me up.) Betty asks if Daniel's still drunk, but Daniel is focused on the fact that Salma is working on the piece. "My [Salma]? What, is Hunter The Chin there, too?" He is still drunk. Betty tells Daniel he HAS to come in, but he moans that he can't face Salma and, besides, he knows nothing about shooting a family spread: "Just cover for me." Dude. You're the EDITOR IN CHIEF. Maybe Salma would be hotter for you if you GREW A PAIR and DID YOUR JOB instead of asking a recent college graduate with no experience to speak of to handle a HUGE ASSIGMENT. I understand the power of the all-encompassing hangover, but sometimes you have to force down a cheeseburger, take two Emergen-Cs with something carbonated, take three Advils, and do your best. Betty rightly squeaks that she can't, and asks what's going on over there, as yelling commences in the Suarez foyer. Daniel groans that the tree he ordered for them just arrived, adding, "I threw up in four rooms of your house. It's the least I could do, huh?" He hangs up.