Writer: Stephen Godchaux
Director: Andy Cadiff

Episode Length: 21:44

Guest Stars:

Rating: n/a

Rating:  TV-PG-L

First Broadcast: October 22, 1997

Storyline #1: I'm Not Fat, I'm Just Black
The Mayor frets over a report that NYC schoolkids are out of shape, so he tries to do a push-up at a press conference.  Unfortunately, he doesn't make it, and there is pressure for a Staff member to go on the school plan in solidarity.  Carter ends up with the honor (punishment.)  Not only can he not eat like he's used to, he must go out exercising.  On one of his jogs, he's stopped by a police officer who's looking for an area mugger.  When he stops Carter, Carter feels he's being unjustly picked on and lets his activist side step up and cry racism.  Mike bails him out of jail and tries to calm Carter down, but he's already gone.  He appears on Good Morning America against the express order of Mike to point out what happened.  That night, at the local bar, Mike finds Carter has opened up a bar tab on the Mayor's office, figuring he was already fired.  But Mike forgives him and apologizes for not being as sensitive as he should be and informs Carter he still has his job at City Hall.

Storyline #2: Lassiter, the Great Discriminator
Paul has his own problems with racism in the episode.  While trying to pick a restaurant to eat lunch at, he rails against Mexican restaurants.  However, he throws in the phrase "dirty Mexicans" just as Councilman Rodriguez (Jesus from The Rivals?) walks by.  Paul starts to worry that now he might be viewed as a racist because of the mis-understanding.  His next test is while walking by a black Council member.  He tries overly hard not to offend and ends up coming up with "Hello black man."  Having hit bottom, he calls up Claudia.   While she thinks it's an attempt to get back together, he just wants to know whether he's a racist.  After talking with Carter and Jannelle trying to clear himself, the final shot of the episode is Paul and a Gospel Choir singing Praise songs.

Storyline #3: Bright Lights, Big Date
It seems James has found himself a girlfriend, Katie, and he wants to make sure he doesn't mess anything up, but still "gets something" out of the relationship.   Both Nikki and Stacey offer Mike advice on what to do on a date.  Nikki advises going slow and soft, while Stacey tells James to move fast and decisively.   They even show James some moves by demonstrating on themselves, which Stuart found fascinating.  That night, on the date, James gets confused and ends up confusing the advice and blows the date.

Review: In the Heat of the Day

Overall, a dramatic episode.  This sitcom wasn't built solely on laughs, and this one stands up just as well.  We finally see the Carter of old.  By being arrested, he shows his righteously indignant side and becomes his old abrasive self which breathes new life into a character that was in danger of merely sinking into the rest of the staff.  While not the funniest episode of the year, this will be in the running as one of the best.

James trying to pick up date tips was the weakest plot line.  The only winning part of the story was when Stuart caught Nikki and Stacey in a mid-example kiss.  We all know James is a little naive when it comes to New York.  This was just another run-of-the-mill example and was less than impressive.

Seeing Paul worry over his racist tendencies will go down as one of the funniest sub-plots of the show ever.  Yes, I complained recently that Paul tends to get too many of the high-profile plots, but Paul would have been the only one to pull off trying to figure out whether or not he discriminates.  Singing in the gospel choir at the end was absolutely hysterical and the plot played off perfectly with Carter's woes of the day.

Not only does Paul fret over racism, the episode also reintroduces Claudia.   Through Paul's dialogue, we've learned that Claudia was less than amused at Paul's trip to Miami and kicked Paul out.  But when she appears this week, she seemed willing to take Paul back.  Paul, oblivious to anyone but him, doesn't see it but also mentions he'd like for a reunion to happen.  With both of them looking to get back together, I would expect Paul and Claudia to reunite soon.

Yes Carter did jump to conclusions and did not let the officers explain themselves.   But when the character was first conceived last year, that's exactly how you'd expect him to act.  A lot was made of Mike abandoning Carter's idealism in order to cover his behind, but after all, that's Mike's job.  As Deputy Mayor, Mike's job is to make to keep the Mayor's best interests in mind.  That means quieting the storm, then working to fix the problem.  I'm glad to see that Mike and Carter ended the show on good terms, but the show reminded just how much Carter can be a loose cannon and how enjoyable that can be when done in this form.  I just hope that this is not made out to an isolated event.  Carter is much better when he still has that outisder part to him that makes him just a little hungrier and just a little more real.

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 5.o

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