- Liz frequents a local boutique because she thinks she's helping the environment--and their jeans make her butt look good. Meanwhile, Jack helps an enemy's political rival, and Jenna helps Tracy aim for a Golden Globe nomination.
- Jack tries to influence a Congressional election in favor of a particular candidate for the benefit of the network. Meanwhile, Liz has newfound confidence when Jenna helps her find the perfect pair of jeans. Later, Jenna helps Tracy plan a Golden Globe event.—NBC Publicity
- Open with Liz and Jenna shopping for clothes at a trendy boutique. Liz ends up finding a pair of jeans that make her butt look fantastic. "I'll take ten more pairs," said Liz, who instructs the clerk to burn the pants she wore there.
Jack sees a news report that Congresswoman Regina Bookman (Queen Latifah) is again criticizing the merger between NBC and Kabletown, despite having promised to give Jack three months to improve diversity. He and Jonathan realize that she is in a tight race for her seat with "out-of-nowhere opponent" Steve Austin. Jack tells Jonathan to bring Austin in for a meeting.
Liz shows off her jeans at the office. Beyond the way they look, Liz is very proud that the manufacturer, Brooklyn Without Limits, has a label that says "Handmade in USA."
Tracy takes Jenna aside and tells that he continues to get buzz regarding his indie film. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is sending a contingent to meet with him and he asks for her advice. Given that the HFPA's Golden Globe award can help with getting Oscar buzz, she thinks he should hold a private screening, and then afterwards try to bribe them.
Jack meets with Austin (John Slattery). Austin is independent, and initially says things Jack likes to hear about less government. But the more he talks, the more it is clear Austin is pretty out there. He does commercials wearing a diaper and believes government should be incredibly small, as in run by midgets. Jack offers to put together a fundraiser for Austin and ends the meeting holding one of his campaign rattles and says "goo goo, ga ga."
When Liz is shocked that the eternally jealous Jenna is helping Tracy win an award for acting, she admits having bribed the HFPA in the past and that it completely blew up in her face. She is actually trying to sabotage Tracy's chances.
Jack is blown away by Liz' new pants: "Those jeans make you look like a Mexican sports reporter." She is introduced to Austin and Jack asks Liz to produce a biographical video for the fundraiser. After Austin makes a comment about cell phones actually being CIA tracking devices, Liz asks Jack what he's doing with such a whack job. He tells her that Austin is pro-business and the Kabletown merger depends on his election. She says she feels far superior to Jack.
Jenna runs Tracy's Q & A with the reporters, starting by asking some questions designed to make him sound silly. She begins Tracy's move: "Hard to Watch,' which is based on the book "Stone Cold Bummer" by Manipulate.
Austin films the bio video for the fundraiser. He says he thinks the founders had it right and favors a return to unpaved roads and legalized slavery. Jonathan brings Jack word that Bookman is courting the youth vote, a sign she's clearly desperate. Jack thinks if he can get Austin into shape the merger will be good to go.
Liz shows up and resumes criticizing Jack about working for Austin. Jack shocks Liz by telling there the store where she bought her jeans is owned by Halliburton and that her jeans are "made" by the Vietnamese slave tribe "Hand" on their prison island "Usa." Liz thinks the liberal media would have warned her and Jack tells her the New York Times is also owned by Halliburton.
Liz goes online and finds out Jack was right about the connection to Hallburton and BWL.
When Austin looks like he's going to embarrass himself at the fundraiser, Jack shuffles him into an office.
"Hard to Watch" is clearly a masterpiece tear-jerker and Tracy is terrific. Jenna is so impressed by Tracy's performance she takes him aside.
Liz tells Jack he was right about Halliburton but still can't bring herself to give back the jeans. She lies and says she believes in Halliburton and he lies and says he believes in Austin.
Jenna thinks Tracy is great in "Hart to Watch" and she thinks he is going to win. It makes her "waking up next to Rob Schneider" furious but she doesn't care. Sometimes you have to do the right thing, she tells him. Liz is furious to learn Jenna and Tracy have decided to do the right thing and leaves to return her jeans.
Austin's crazy rant is edited to make him sound quasi-sane. Liz arrives in an atrocious pair of overalls and tells Jack about her decision to do the right thing. She leaves and Jack goes to find Austin, who he finds hiding in a fort made of sofa cushions.
Austin takes to the podium and immediately starts sounding crazy.
Cut to Jack showing Liz video of the speech on TV. Austin was roundly mocked and Bookman will certainly be re-elected.
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