Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking

Plot

• He gives Shirley a CD purportedly containing a recording of the group talking behind her back. She becomes incredibly insecure although the group dismisses it, and later says that she "forgives" the group for the presumably nasty things they said about her. Britta eventually forces her to listen to the recording, which reveals an incident where the group defends her when Pierce talks behind her back, and Britta pointedly "apologizes" for being supportive of Shirley. She realizes that she often uses guilt as a weapon, then makes Abed feel guilty for recording her statement.
• He gives "sourface" Britta a check with the payee line blank for $10,000 to give to the charity of her choice since she considers herself the most selfless one in the group. Due to her own poorly managed finances, she considers cashing in the check herself and begins making excuses not to donate it. She eventually gives the money to the Red Cross, though she admits she only did so because she was in front of the camera, which makes her feel guilty. During a conversation with LeVar Burton, he tells her that she is generous but stupid with her money, making her feel better.
• He tells Jeff that his estranged father is on the way to the hospital to meet him. Jeff is unconvinced but becomes emotional at the thought of speaking to his father. He constantly freaks out while being interviewed and filmed by Abed. He then threatens to assault Pierce if he finds out that Pierce lied about his father coming, which causes Pierce to panic. A sedan pulls up outside the hospital, and Jeff receives a call purportedly from his father inside the sedan, but it is obvious the person speaking is Pierce. He chases the car down, pulls Pierce out of it and beats him up. By the end of it, he accepts that he needs to confront his father one day instead of avoiding the issue. Pierce thinks that he managed to take the role of Jeff's father on the day, and while Jeff says Pierce did not do that, Jeff is later shown looking very pensive.
• He manages to get LeVar Burton to come to the hospital and meet Troy, who becomes stunned and speechless. Troy had previously told Pierce that he never wanted to meet Burton in person and only wanted a picture of him, because "you can't disappoint a picture." He is unable to speak to Burton for fear of disappointing his idol. At the persuasion of Britta, Burton cancels an appointment and spends the rest of the day with Troy trying to communicate with him. They end up having dinner together in the library, during which Troy runs outside screaming in panic, to which Burton happily notes "More fish for Kunta!".
• He gives Annie a very valuable tiara, since she's his "favorite". This gesture makes her realize the dangers of her being too tough on herself which causes pain to people around her. She returns the gift to Pierce, who unwittingly praises her catharsis even though he remarks later in a talking head that "she actually is favorite."

Continuity

• Jeff's relationship with his father is further explored in Season 4. He reconnects with him in the episode "Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations".
• In Season 5, after Pierce has died, Annie receives the tiara again as a gift.
• LeVar Burton appears as himself again in Season 5, episode 5. He and Troy reconcile and travel the world together.

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