C.J. Smooths Jay Leno, Then Returns to Business
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
C.J. approaches Jay Leno on the patio, acknowledging his restraint in mocking Leo McGarry, and offers a favor in return.
Jay jokes about needing the President to crash his bike again for monologue material, showcasing their lighthearted rapport.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Warmly professional with a veneer of levity; protective toward Leo and quietly alert—uses humor to mask managerial purpose.
C.J. approaches Jay and Veronica, politely thanks Jay for not lampooning Leo, offers an open favor in half-joke tone, laughs at Jay's quip, then abruptly spots Sam and shifts from social to professional, taking Sam's arm and leading him away.
- • Defuse potential negative media narratives about Leo McGarry through personal thanks and reciprocity
- • Maintain and shore up access with a valuable media personality
- • Signal the administration's gratitude while avoiding public policy discussion
- • Transition smoothly back to staff business without appearing brusque
- • Personal relationships with entertainers can be leveraged to manage media tone
- • A light, humanizing exchange reduces political heat more effectively than public statements
- • Maintaining access to influential cultural figures has practical payoff
- • Social moments must be quickly converted back into work when necessary
Relaxed and amused; enjoying the party atmosphere and the banter between C.J. and Jay.
Veronica is mid-conversation with Jay when C.J. arrives; she listens, offers a playful line about Jay's cars, and steps back as C.J. and Jay walk and talk—present as social lubrication rather than an active conversational partner in this beat.
- • Maintain convivial social atmosphere at the fundraiser
- • Facilitate light celebrity conversation without intruding on staff duties
- • Easy, glamorous banter smooths political gatherings
- • Celebrities and staff coexist best when each keeps exchanges friendly and short
Amused and teasing; professionally opportunistic but friendly—treats the exchange as both social and source material.
Jay receives C.J.'s thanks with an easy comic shrug, frames presidential mishaps as his material, and delivers a jocular, slightly opportunistic line about the President driving his bike into a tree—keeping tone breezy and affectionate.
- • Preserve friendly access to the President and his staff
- • Signal that he will continue to mine the administration for comedic material
- • Keep the atmosphere light and non-confrontational
- • Reinforce his role as a benign cultural commentator rather than a political attacker
- • Comedic material often comes from real political missteps
- • Maintaining a cordial relationship with officials yields better jokes and access
- • A little teasing keeps relationships alive and entertaining
- • The audience values punchlines that humanize public figures
Amused and cooperative; ready to re-engage with staff tasks while enjoying the brief levity.
Sam arrives just as C.J. ends her exchange, is taken by the arm and led away by C.J., offers a playful line about using code names—present as the pivot back into work and camaraderie.
- • Reconnect with C.J. and re-enter the work conversation
- • Maintain team camaraderie through light banter
- • Support the swift transition from social to strategic discussion
- • Playful interpersonal cover can ease transitions into work topics
- • Personal rapport among staff aids operational effectiveness
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
C.J.'s offhand claim of a "three-picture deal" appears immediately after the patio exchange and functions as a verbal prop: a conversational flourish that signals her ease in celebrity circles and serves as a social pivot to move from banter back toward staffing and insider chatter.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The mansion patio/poolside serves as the social stage for this exchange: an informal public space where celebrity banter and White House staff intersect. It provides cover for light-hearted jokes while exposing staff to casual scrutiny, allowing C.J. to perform damage control in plain sight before returning to private work.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Al Kiefer's aggressive pitch about the flag-burning amendment is later countered by Joey Lucas's analysis revealing the issue lacks voter priority."
"Al Kiefer's aggressive pitch about the flag-burning amendment is later countered by Joey Lucas's analysis revealing the issue lacks voter priority."
Key Dialogue
"C.J.: Uh, Jay, the President appreciates your laying off Leo McGarry the past few months. It hasn't gone unnoticed."
"JAY: Hey, you guys give me monologue material every night, you know."
"JAY: You know what would be great? If you could get the President to drive his bike into a tree again. See, that's my bread and butter. That's what I live on."