After being prepped for a “puff piece” interview at the VP residence, Selina is thrown by Janet Ryland’s “gotcha” questions.
Crisis management chaos yields 66 jokes but settles below Veep's seasonal average.
Directed by Armando Iannucci · Written by Roger Drew
WAR
60.7
Wins Above Replacement
“First Response” ranks #42 of 65 Veep episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 78.9 — Elite. The episode packs 66 scored jokes at 1.7 per minute, averaging 7.0 on craft and 6.9 on impact, with Selina landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
You swallowed chicken your entire life. You're gonna do it again today. I swallowed your bullshit my entire life.
When I invited you here to the residence to fuck me, I didn't mean this.
Selina Wordplay/Pun Escalation ★ Rewatch Well, I took my ex down to the river and I tried to smash his head in with a rock and then drown--
Selina Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch I hate this house, to tell you the truth. It's like living in a doll's jail.
Selina Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch How easy is it for the Vice President of the United States of America to get some casual sex, hmm? I'm convenient.
Selina Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 66 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ She's kind of a lightweight now... She's a dud.
You're a fraud and a liar, ma'am. Wow. What? What are you doing? I'm hitting you.
It's conservative and desperate at the same time.
Dan Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch There's the bluff puff which we're gonna start out with... Then we switch right over to rough puff. Nobody does rough puff like you. Rrr. Give me that rough puff.
He is moving a legless horse.
Unknown Visual Gag Absurdist ★ Rewatch I'm taking this really cool class where we sort of debate current issues through movement.
Looks like I'm masturbating if I got my hands in my pockets.
Selina Cringe/Discomfort Observational Put the blanket over it, or is that too FDR?
Unknown Dark/Subversive Observational ★ Rewatch 'Cause I feel like I fell into a well or something and it's hurting my neck.
Selina Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Well, I took my ex down to the river and I tried to smash his head in with a rock and then drown--
Selina Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch I'm sorry, am I interrupting a team prayer meeting?
We're just doing a height thing. It was nothing.
Gary Cringe/Discomfort Reaction Beat she's wearing a bluish dress like she vomited flowers all over herself
Dan Observational Visual Gag ★ Rewatch She's kind of a frumpy librarian.
Unknown Character Comedy Observational Just drag her in with the kindness, then turn great white and start taking chunks out of her. She's not much of a meal.
That's right. I think you've grown since then. Either that or you've gotten shorter.
No, it's me. I've got heels on. Well, anyway, I'm so happy you're here.
Janet Reaction Beat Cringe/Discomfort So you found the joint okay.
Selina Character Comedy Observational The three of them were excellent, so no pressure.
Janet Irony/Sarcasm Setup/Punchline We're talking about the building, right? Because I'm original.
Selina Misdirection Character Comedy Many of the objay-ects-- objects
Selina Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort To see spies. If only, right?
Selina Irony/Sarcasm Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch This is a bell.
Selina Deadpan/Understatement Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch This is some old shit by somebody, I don't know who it is.
Selina Character Comedy Escalation I hate this house, to tell you the truth. It's like living in a doll's jail.
Selina Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch But that looks like I have a stomachache.
Selina Observational Cringe/Discomfort Yeah, let me just pull that out of my ass. It's DC. You can find someone willing to open their ass on a Sunday.
It's DC. You can find someone willing to open their ass on a Sunday.
Sadly, I don't have a lot of time to read fiction.
Selina Irony/Sarcasm Setup/Punchline No, I am hoping to get the box set for Christmas, though.
Selina Deadpan/Understatement Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Jesus, you might as well cut out eyeholes and peer through a fucking newspaper. What the fuck are you doing? It's 'Apocalypse Now.'
Amy Visual Gag Escalation ★ Rewatch Andrew's fucking us again. He's screwed us in all known dimensions.
Dan Escalation Observational He's political poison. He's political--
Dan Escalation Reaction Beat And then there's one of those winking emoticons at the bottom there.
Janet Observational Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch We're not telepathically linked. He can't read my mind.
Ow! Whoa! Okay, my ears are my livelihood. You don't need to--
Janet Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm When I invited you here to the residence to fuck me, I didn't mean this.
Selina Wordplay/Pun Escalation ★ Rewatch How easy is it for the Vice President of the United States of America to get some casual sex, hmm? I'm convenient.
Selina Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch That's right, I am the Vice President of the United States and I choose now not to fuck you anymore.
Selina Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Oh, Andrew's been veep-fucking? You knew about this?
Mike Wordplay/Pun Reaction Beat ★ Rewatch We don't have a front door in our attic like in some sort of Dr. Seuss book or something.
Amy Observational Visual Gag Okay, this is a category five shit storm. She's over. She's done. I'm gone.
Once a week we get together for a gab and a gobble.
Selina Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Knock, knock, J Rock is in the-- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Jonah Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick I give great talking head.
Jonah Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Janet, it's like when you loosen a pickle jar and somebody comes by and they just open it. This is the shutdown lid loosener. The pickle jar loosener.
Selina Absurdist Escalation ★ Rewatch I don't need a peeler. Thank you. Yeah, you need a peeler. Actually, I don't.
Well, you probably have so much staff in and out of here-- No, no, no. I know this kitchen like the back of my hand. Oh, that's not it. Okay, I don't know where-- This is maddening.
I'm not here. Okay, you're not here. I'm so sorry. I'm talking to myself. Where are you, peeler?
Are you working for the vegetable lobby?
Janet Observational Absurdist ★ Rewatch You never told me that you were a vegetarian. I told you three months ago. No, you didn't, Catherine.
You swallowed chicken your entire life. You're gonna do it again today. I swallowed your bullshit my entire life.
With all due respect, this is not news. This is the fucking Food Channel you got here. Okay, well, with all due respect, fuck you.
Although not a great parent, admittedly. Well, actually, he did okay with his own kids. It's when other kids got involved that it got real dicey. But, no, then he did dangle that one from a great height.
If you'd just let someone get close enough to fuck some sunshine into you, you'd shut your mouth!
Janet Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Look, I've graphed her performance, okay? Look at this. Look at this nice little graphic. Here's time, here's her fucking career.
Dan Visual Gag Character Comedy Amy, when my memaw used to find herself getting snappy, she would sing her favorite song. ♪ Oh, I wish I were in the land of cotton ♪
Mike Dark/Subversive Absurdist ★ Rewatch White water rafting. - Italy. - Disneyland. - Which is it? - No, honey, we didn't ever go to Disneyland. - Oh, no, you didn't take me. Rosa took me with her family. - Who's Rosa? - She was a... - She was... - housekeeper.
Who's Rosa? She was a... She was... housekeeper. Housekeeper, that's right. You spent a lot of time with your housekeeper?
How about this? How about I lift up my dress, give everyone a big fat shot of my cooch?
Selina Escalation Cringe/Discomfort Like a medley from 'Okla'-fucking-'homa'?
No, no, no. This way, I get a Christmas and a birthday present off of each of them.
Calling Tel Aviv now.
Unknown Dark/Subversive Observational ★ Rewatch Because in politics, a backbone and a heart are only as good as your ears. And my ears are my livelihood.
Selina Callback Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback I spewed out so much bullshit, I'm gonna need a mint. A fucking mint.
Selina Character Comedy Observational it's like a victory fuck? He better come down.