Ep 27. The Bad Old Days

Rob Petrie, a comedy writer, is getting ready to go home after a long day at the office. As he is leaving, he runs into Larry Matthews, another writer for the same show, who is just arriving. Larry tells Rob that he had been up all night working on a new sketch for the show. He thinks it's hilarious and can't wait for Rob to read it. Rob looks at the sketch and realizes it's about the bad old days when men were men and women were women, and everyone knew their place.

Rob is taken aback by the sketch and tells Larry that he can't use it on the show. Larry is confused and asks why. Rob tries to explain that times have changed and they can't make fun of women and minorities like they used to. Larry argues that it's just a joke and that people will laugh. Rob insists that they need to be more responsible and sensitive in their comedy.

The next day, Rob and his wife Laura are having breakfast and discussing the sketch. Laura agrees with Rob that it's offensive and outdated. Rob is worried that if Larry keeps writing material like that, they will lose their audience. Laura suggests that they try to talk to Larry and explain why it's not appropriate.

Later that day, Rob and Laura go to Larry's apartment to have a chat. They try to explain to him why the sketch is offensive and why they can't use it on the show. Larry is defensive and insists that they are being too sensitive. He tells them that he has written comedy like this before and no one has ever had a problem with it. Rob and Laura explain that times have changed and they have a responsibility to be more progressive in their humor.

Larry is still unconvinced and tells them that he will pitch the sketch to their boss, Alan Brady, regardless of their objections. Rob and Laura are worried that this could cause a rift between them and Larry, as well as jeopardizing their jobs.

That night, Rob and Laura can't sleep, they're worried about the situation with Larry. Rob realizes that Larry is just clinging to old ideas out of fear and a lack of new material. He decides to try and show Larry that you can still be funny without being offensive. He writes a new sketch that is both funny and sensitive to different groups of people.

The next day, Rob pitches the new sketch to Larry, hoping to change his mind. Larry is skeptical at first, but as Rob performs the sketch for him, he can see that it's both funny and appropriate. Larry realizes that he had been wrong about his old material and agrees to make the changes.

At the writers' meeting, Larry pitches the new sketch to the group and everyone loves it. They all agree that it's a step in the right direction and that they need to be more careful with their comedy in the future.

In the end, Rob realizes that comedy is a powerful tool and that it can have a positive impact on people's lives. He learns that it's not just about making people laugh, it's about making them think and feel. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with the writers learning to be more aware of the impact their words can have, and striving to create comedy that is both entertaining and responsible.