Veep 1.4 - Chung

Danny Chung (Randall Park), the Governor of Minnesota, has just released a new book. Dan and Amy attend the book launch where Senator Doyle (Phil Reeves) hints that he's withdrawing his support from the Veep's filibuster reform. The Veep, meanwhile, is prepping for an interview on Meet the Press. Amy brings back a signed copy of Chung's book for the Veep, prompting her to wonder whether Chung thinks he has a serious chance of replacing her on the ticket. Mike dismisses Chung's war record and Amy is told to put together a file on him. The Veep is about to leave when Jonah arrives to tell the Veep not to push filibuster reform too hard on Meet the Press but to talk about immigration instead.

The next morning, Amy and Gary pick up the Veep and accidentally see her canoodling with Ted (Andy Buckley). On the way to the studio, Amy gives the Veep good news - Chung was born in China before his father got US citizenship, meaning he cannot be VP. On Meet the Press, the Veep talks immigration and successfully back flips from the pro-amnesty position she held during the campaign. Unfortunately, when the interview ends she tries to dismiss talk of Chung running for President but accidentally says that he's "not American". Gary is sent to see if the sound guy got the quote but he messes it up. Panicking that the quote will be released, Jonah spares them when he tells them that a crane has collapsed at the harbour in Portsmouth, Virginia, killing two and injuring many more. Trying to cover their relief, the Veep is sent to the hospital to meet the survivors and grieving families.

The Veep goes to the hospital, meeting the survivors and families and getting a good photo op when a doctor tells a family that their son will be OK. Thanking the medical staff, she gives a speech, telling the families and assembled media that if the investigation into the tragedy reveals it was caused by incompetence, the White House will intervene. The sound bite of the Veep questioning Chung's nationality breaks on the TV behind her as the crowd praise her for talking tough on Chinese immigration. News of Senator Doyle's withdrawal from the Veep's filibuster reform then breaks. Sensing an opportunity to pick up more support for her filibuster reforms and win support from the immigration reform caucus, the Veep sends Dan and Amy to meet with Arizona Senator Bill O'Brien (Brad Leland). Chung then goes on TV to announce that both of his parents were U.S. citizens before he was born, meaning that he is eligible to be President. Amy blames a researcher and he is promptly fired. The Veep flirts with Ted over the phone, which Mike accidentally overhears. At the meeting with Senator O'Brien, Amy and Dan propose that the Veep opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants in return for O'Brien's support for filibuster reform, which he gives them.

Not a bad episode but no a brilliant one either. The best line comes in the first scene when Dan says that the only people who use "withdraw" as a verb are Catholics, butlers and the Israeli army. Other than that, it's not overly amusing. An episode where the Veep questions a Chinese-American's citizenship should have been funnier and more satirical but it really isn't. Disappointing.

6 out of 10.