Well, in the last episode of 2006, Aaron Sorkin finally acts on his impulses and goes for unabashed sentimentality. Professions of love, beautiful (and socially conscious) trumpet music...even mean old Jack and Creepy Boss (Ed Asner's character) share a cute little moment. It was hard not to get sucked into the show's Christmas spirit. Odd, for a show (as well as its show-within-a-show) that's prided itself on bashing fundamentalist Christians. But I won't get into that this time.

The not-quite-a-bombshell that Jordan dropped last episode -- she's pregnant -- was followed up rather quickly, with her claiming that the father is the ex-boyfriend she mentioned in the pilot -- you know, the one who tipped her off to Danny's drug test. It's a strangely low-key resolution to a burning question, so I still think the answer may be in doubt -- but from the look of it, the father definitely doesn't seem to be Danny. That leaves, as my roommate presupposed, Jack. I agree with him that were that the case, it would be awesome.

Speaking of Jack, who I've warmed to ever since he was one of the few bright spots in the "Nevada Day" arc: he suddenly found his nerve. Sort of. During a live interview with a combat soldier overseas, an RPG went off nearby and the soldier dropped the F-bomb. Now the FCC is ready to smack down millions of dollars -- and maybe more -- in fines unless Jack agrees to time-delay the news to allow for censorship. (Would people outside of the television industry really think a five-second delay was that big of a deal? I know, I know, it's the principle and everything.) Jack, who's decided he doesn't want to be the FCC's pansy boy, can't let it happen, so he offers his resignation to studio owner Ed Asner. Say what? Ah, but never fear: Asner is on his side, and says he's not scared of the FCC -- "this is the fight I've been waiting for," he proclaims. It was an odd switch since previously Asner has been portrayed as the power-hungry future owner of the world, what with his dealings in China and everything. But once again Sorkin lets himself speak through his characters a little too much -- no doubt HE would love a network to stand up to the FCC, but I doubt Asner's character would give two craps about it.

In other news...Matt finally kisses Harriet, a move which is immediately upstaged by the much cooler budding relationship of Danny and Jordan, the former of whom professes his love to the latter. All this goes on during a very cool trumpet ensemble featuring trumpeters from New Orleans, who stand in front of a background flashing images of their rebuilding city. It was hard not to be touched.