Selina and the staff prep for her debate with George Maddox, Danny Chung, congressman Owen Pierce and Joe Thornhill, a major-league baseball manager who recently entered the race. Dan returns with a rosier outlook. Wendy, Mike's wife, arrives to do a style piece on Selina, but eyes a bigger story involving Ray.
Debate episode underperforms Season 3 average despite 75 jokes in 37 minutes.
Directed by Armando Iannucci · Written by David Quantick, Tony Roche
WAR
49.1
Wins Above Replacement
“Debate” ranks #58 of 65 Veep episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 73.5 — Solid. The episode packs 75 scored jokes at 2.0 per minute, averaging 6.7 on craft and 6.6 on impact, with Ben landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
It's the worst use of scissors since my failed vasectomy.
Mike Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Go fuck yourself, 'Jack and the Giant Freakstalk.' Your team lost, and you should be fitted with a leper bell, you sinking shit.
Dan Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch If there's any dirty trick that I cannot stand, it is honesty.
Ben Irony/Sarcasm Observational ★ Rewatch I do. He's a less talented ugly version of me. He's basically a human comfort blanket.
Dan Character Comedy Escalation I think I've endorsed a Nazi. That would explain the Hitler haircut.
Ben Escalation Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Callback All Jokes — 75 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Gets me aroused. Sorry, I meant roused. No, did I-- I meant aroused. Aroused.
Just me and my iPad, which I like to call the 'Zinger Sewing Machine.'
So you threw away Dan and you kept the voodoo doll, huh?
Amy Character Comedy Observational Look at my muscly chest. Vote for me.
Furlong Character Comedy Observational Well, I'm a baby-faced, know-nothing congressman from 'Shit Stain,' Nevada
Ben Character Comedy Observational I've only ever used this voice, even as a young child.
Kent Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch They've got more flip-flops than the cast of 'Baywatch.'
You should only talk if someone pulls your string, okay? And even then, you just say, 'Tickle me.'
Amy Character Comedy Escalation I think Gary's about to come. Don't do it. It's too much buildup.
I never knew you had so much neck.
Gary Observational Cringe/Discomfort Just imagine, that's what you'll look like when you become a boy.
Catherine Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch People are gonna start to think we're sisters now or-- or siblings.
Short hair for the long haul.
It's like-- it's like flirting, but sexless.
Amy Observational Deadpan/Understatement Well, look, it's 'George Looney.'
I diagnosed myself with an acute case of 'everything's fine.'
Dan Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Milk and two heaping spoonfuls of whatever the fuck you're on.
Amy Character Comedy Escalation But don't ever go schizo-titzo on me again.
Selina Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Yeah, is there a smoking condom?
Kent Wordplay/Pun Deadpan/Understatement It could have been anyone. Could have been Ben. Yeah, I poked everything that moved back then.
we can make it an affair to remember. Bam!
Amy Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy I got a whole new rush of blood to my new head.
Selina Character Comedy Observational Call me naive, but isn't that unethical? You're naive. Welcome to politics.
I just can't seem to get him out of my hair. Did you notice?
Selina Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy It's the worst use of scissors since my failed vasectomy.
Mike Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch People don't elect elves, okay? They put them to work in grottos or they get them drunk at frat parties so they can toss them.
Mike Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch 'Strap-on Selina,' 'Selina Navratilova,' 'fingering the dyke.'
Mike Character Comedy Escalation A blind woman? Oh, Wendy. I'll text her.
Mike Misdirection Character Comedy What, are you laughing at us, 'Pee-wee Sperman'?
Amy Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Well, I could add the word 'cookie' on the end for no reason.
Sue Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch It's like being dropped into enemy territory unarmed.
Chung Observational Character Comedy You'd fit right in in the military.
You don't have the facial gravitas for a beard. It's so smooth, it's amazing. It's like touching a child's face. Here, try it. I don't enjoy touching children's faces. And neither should you.
Hey, 'Dan Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.' How's it going, buddy? You gonna self-harm? Can I live stream it?
Mike Character Comedy Escalation Well, I don't just manage, ma'am, I coach. And I'm gonna coach America.
That's cute, little mind games. I happen to know all about sanctuary states, ladies.
She looks like Peter Falk.
Ben Observational Character Comedy Fuck Broadway. This is real acting.
Ben Observational Deadpan/Understatement Nice air kiss. I think he actually missed the air.
Ben Observational Escalation ★ Rewatch I swear, this kid is literally gonna shit himself.
Ben Observational Character Comedy Very good. Now compare yourself to Lincoln and Buddha.
Ben Observational Irony/Sarcasm We could lose to the whale from 'Free Willy.'
Kent Observational Absurdist ★ Rewatch He should have been there when the tank was on fire. God, how does this kid feed himself?
Mike Character Comedy Escalation She's got a problem with an anal gland. I'm talking about the dog.
Mike Misdirection Cringe/Discomfort 'Oh, I love your tie.' See? Basically brain-dead. Don't worry.
Wendy Character Comedy Observational World's worst boy-band member ever right there.
Ben Observational Character Comedy He looks like he just came out of the bathroom and then decided that he hadn't finished yet.
Ben Observational Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch He looks like he just came out of the bathroom and then decided that he hadn't finished yet.
She does not say nay to Ray. You know what I'm sayin'?
Gary Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Call every whore and mistress in America until you find the right one.
Amy Escalation Character Comedy We need to find the 'smoking hon'.' As in 'honey.' That doesn't work.
Amy Wordplay/Pun Meta/Self-Referential To... plug up the plug hole. Why a plug? To... plug up the plug hole.
Pierce Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch We should put this guy in Vegas. I mean, anywhere but here.
Ben Escalation Character Comedy This feels better than actually having sex yourself.
Amy Character Comedy Escalation If there's any dirty trick that I cannot stand, it is honesty.
Ben Irony/Sarcasm Observational ★ Rewatch I hate confessions, unless they've been beaten out of someone.
Ben Dark/Subversive Character Comedy I can't tell you about FLOTUS. FLOTUS is a no-go-tus.
Mike Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy But that's what marriage is-- a conflict of interests. No. Marriage is being able to tell each other everything
She forgot the third R. The third R is-- actually, in fact, let me go back to 'reaffirm,' which was number two.
Selina Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch Do we have any snipers? Can we take her out? You got a gun? I'll do it.
Amy Ben Escalation Dark/Subversive 'Repel'? Why did she say 'repel'? What is it, 'Talk Like A Pirate Day'?
Ben Observational Escalation I think I've endorsed a Nazi. That would explain the Hitler haircut.
Ben Escalation Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Callback Hey, I got three Fs for ya-- you're fucked, you fuckin' fucker.
Ben Wordplay/Pun Escalation Callback Holy crapcakes! They're loving her. I know. It seems every time she says 'repel,' she attracts more voters.
Kent Irony/Sarcasm Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Don't look at the twitch. Focus on the 'dead dad lady.'
Amy Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort What the hell is a legitimate hole? Well, don't get me started.
What the hell is a legitimate hole? Well, don't get me started.
He's gonna disappear up his own 'hole' hole.
Ben Escalation Wordplay/Pun 'Daddy, you fuckin' blew it!' 'Daddy, I've never been less proud of you.'
Ben Character Comedy Escalation Well, thank God for Twitchy. He really saved us. I love that little guy.
Ben Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Go fuck yourself, 'Jack and the Giant Freakstalk.' Your team lost, and you should be fitted with a leper bell, you sinking shit.
Dan Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch I do. He's a less talented ugly version of me. He's basically a human comfort blanket.
Dan Character Comedy Escalation And if you can't stand the heat, buy asbestos panties.
Ben Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Because if they're in the hole, how are you gonna get out?
Maddox Cringe/Discomfort Escalation Callback 