That jazz song turns up all the time and I have no idea who/what it is. Probably something I know or should know. Help me out?
Can’t help you with the song identification but I will say this was an excellent episode.
During the gala, you mean? That was “Take Five,” originally recorded by the Dave Brubeck Trio.
D’oh! Grampa had that on vinyl! I knew I knew that. Thanks. 
This is the best episode I’ve seen in a long time.
Take Five is classic big band jazz. Play it for anyone who claims they don’t like it.
Except it was the Dave Brubeck Quartet at that time.
It’s not big band jazz. It’s a quartet playing jazz in an unfamiliar meter. It’s only a classic now because it was so famous at the time. It was unusual in its day (1960).
Woo hoo, putting that “Pass” grade in Jazz Appreciation to work!
I guess the question has been asked and answered, but since this is CS and not GQ, I will chime in with agreement that this was a very fine episode indeed, the best one in quite a while.
A couple years ago, I went to a friend’s wedding. To save money, they used CDs instead of a live organist for “The Bridal March” and other wedding music. The sound guy accidnetally slipped in “Take Five” for the end processional, and all I coulds think was “This is by far the coolest wedding ever!”
Perhaps you are thinking of “Take the A Train?” That is classic big band jazz.
Does anyone else wonder if the subject of Margaret’s unnoticed pregnancy was inspired by the producers having had to conceal at least two other pregnancies during the show?
Who else besides Mary Louise Parker?
Mary McCormack
Ahh, that’s correct. But that character has never resonated with me. Unless they were trying to foreshadow a relationship between her and Will Bailey. Which wouldn’t make a lot of sense since Will won’t be around much.
I was pretty surprised when I saw that Mel Harris was playing the mysterious Senator Rafferty. I don’t think she was a good choice because, and this sounds horribly sexist, but she’s too pretty to be a senator. I don’t think the American people would accept a female politician who looks like that. Just wouldn’t fly. And it appears that she’s single and has some sort of relationship with Toby.
Yeah, that would make for some good presidential campaign fodder.
I’m not saying that America’s female politicians are unattractive. They’re not. They’re just not that attractive.
I think the only relationship they have is that of a politician and political operative. Early in the episode, she says something like “Do you think we should have done what we did” and since they’re obviously in a bar and there’s no explanation for their relationship, it sounds like they did something naughty and sweaty. But in reality, all they did was sneak around behind the White House’s back in order to get the health policy agenda moving.
I agree. A story telling device like the cut on Toby’s face.
OK, that makes sense.
I was worried about the children! And Toby’s ex-wife who doesn’t want him around!