TVSquad

(S01E23) This is one of my favorite episodes of the show. It has so many great lines and exchanges that I really can't put all of them down here. It's the first season finale, and the way it ends, it almost seems like they weren't sure if the show was coming back and they wanted to end it in a very definite manner, with many plots tied up and the return of a beloved character.

Casey's son Charlie is coming to the studio, and he seems to have an odd relationship with his father. Meanwhile, Dana bought that camera she talked about endlessly in the last episode and wants to take a picture of the staff in their nice clothes to break in the camera, and Dan is still wondering if Rebecca will change her mind and come back to him.

Dana explains to the staff about the camera and how to pose for the picture she wants to take. But when she tries to take the picture, it doesn't work. There are supposed to be a pause and three beeps, but she can't get it to work on time. She says she'll work on it and take the picture later.

Casey's son Charlie shows up with the nanny, but they have to wait in the conference room because Casey is out interviewing Michelle Kwan (Danny was going to do it but Michelle Kwan hates him for some reason). Charlie seems like a nervous kid, worrying about being late to meet his mom.

Gordon shows up to talk to Dana. He's called off the engagement! He explains that she's too hung up on Casey. Dana flips out, but Gordon says that she's more upset that Casey slept with Sally than he did. And he's right. And Dana knows it. They break up.

Dan comes in to talk to Charlie and asks the nanny to leave. He said he heard about his incredible stats at the baseball game the other night, 3 for 3 with two stolen bases! Dan asks him what a stolen base is, and he doesn't know. Dan puts in a tape of a Sports Night show from the other night, and it's the same exact stats Griffey had in a game. Charlie admits he lied because he sucks at baseball and doesn't want to disappoint his dad. Casey shows up and Dan calls him into the hallway to tell him. At first, Casey is made, then calms down and understands why he did it. He pulls Charlie aside and tells him that he's his father, and he'll never disappoint him. They hug.

This is a really great scene, and the two actors do a really superb job.

Casey asks Dana where her ring is, and Dana says it's at an overnight ring cleaner. She gathers everyone around to take the picture, and the camera practically esplodes. While she's frazzled, Dan asks her where the ring is, and Casey says it's at the ring cleaner. Dana freaks a bit and says there's no such thing as an overnight ring cleaner! She and Gordon broke up! And she's freaked out about everything that has happened lately, and she really really wants something good to happen.

Just then, Isaac comes in! The entire gang poses for the picture.

(Note: "What Kind Of Day Has It Been?" is also the title of The West Wing's first season finale, and in one scene in this episode, Jeremy uses a line from another West Wing ep, that Toby said to Bartlet, about "when the fall's all that's left it matters a great deal.")

Quotes:

"I'm not kidding. There's nothing he can learn in 4th grade that he can't learn in a really good minor league farm system...You should be his agent, because that usually works out too." - Dan, to Casey, who is bragging about his son's baseball skills.

"You're going to take a picture of our clothes?" - Elliott

"Is this part of her psychotic episode? Then sign me up! - Dan, about Dana wanting to take a picture of the entire staff to break in her camera.

"How come we don't use semi-colons anymore?" - Dana

"Charlie, are you selling me an insurance policy?" - Casey, to his son, who's holding his hand out to shake.