The honeymoon is over for Tom James. After a few weeks of looking like an invincible knight in shining armor, Selina’s running mate reveals a few of his flaws. However, that’s the least of Selina’s problems in “Mommy Meyer.” After all, her life is threatened by an intruder!
“Mommy Meyer” actually starts off with Mike having breakfast with his wife Wendy (Kathy Najimy) and bemoaning about how awful work is. He reveals that the Families First bill has been renamed the “Meyer Bill,” which leads the press to call it the “Mommy Meyer Bill.” Mike then remembers that it’s Wendy’s birthday, but still leaves her to pick up the check.
Back in the Oval Office, we learn that Selina has won her first debate and she’s ready to celebrate by hosting a gathering of her old lawyer buddies that night. However, Sue comes in with news of a shooting in Pittsburgh, which kills the mood. The shooter was an ex-Marine, which makes the situation more contentious.
Meanwhile, Families First is getting crucified on Capitol Hill. (“Just like that Jesus guy,” as Ben points out.) But just as the team is about to talk about it, an intruder comes in, which Kent didn’t anticipate. Bill is also disappointed to learn that there’s no secret bunker. Gary runs frantically to take a clock as a weapon, which puzzles Sue. “What are you going to do with a clock? Make him wait?”
After Secret Service gets the situation under control, Selina is told that the man wanted to “kill Tom James and that bitch.” Now Selina is jealous that the intruder knew Tom’s name, but couldn’t remember hers.
Next, Jonah and Richard are getting Tom’s Q&A session prepared. The Q&A doesn’t go quite as planned as Tom is quickly asked about the Pittsburgh shooting. He actually says that the shooter was a victim too since he suffered from PTSD. Well, that’s a big no-no and Jonah and Richard botch an attempt to get Tom to stop talking.
Selina was scheduled to have a press conference and goes through with it anyway. After a few jokes about the intruder, she realizes that Ben and Kent are trying to get her to stop talking. Mike takes over and stumbles over his own words, saying that Selina doesn’t support Tom’s view.
Later, Mike has a confrontation with Selina, Ben and Kent. When is he going to realize that “sh*t shoveling” is in his job description? Plus, Selina is angry about the “Mommy Meyer Bill” name. It’s like they took “brain tumor” and changed it to “Selina’s Cyst,” as Selina points out.
They do get a statement prepared for Tom, but Tom decides not to read it. Instead, he says he’s “truly, truly sorry” for the victims. That turns out to be a great idea, one that goes down like vodka and cereal.
But after Tom gives his statement, he runs into Jonah and Richard. Jonah is star-struck and he accidentally hints that there might have been a bigger data breach than what Tom has already been told. They wind up becoming Tom’s entourage and follow him to a drinking meeting with Bill, Ben and Mike. There, Mike comes clean about what the data breach involved (if you forget, Selina’s team took leaked data about dying children to send campaign emails to bereaved parents). Tom decides to also tell the truth about his beliefs, telling them that he wants to legalize drugs to help his son. Of course, they can’t let the public know about that.
Also during the episode, Amy and Dan are getting comfortable in their roles as lobbyists at the American Concrete Federation Convention. Dan is particularly enjoying teaching young women how to be “sale-bait.” As he tells one girl who asks if they will have to sleep with anyone, “This is lobbying. It’s a respectable profession.” Dan, we’re happy that you finally found a home.
Selina’s dinner with her friends doesn’t go that well, especially since one of her friends is against Families First. And during the credits, another intruder shows up and Mike continues to feel bad about himself. In the Emperor’s New Clothes story, he’s not the emperor - he’s the clothes.
Lastly, Jonah and Richard make for a great bumbling team of idiots. I only wish they were paired together sooner. Their inability to get Tom to leave the stage was hilarious.
You can check out my recap of last week’s episode right here.
image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com