Pepper’s personal anger during a live interview lands her on the couch of the company shrink, who forces her to confront her issues with Charlie. Meanwhile, Kathy’s desire to please people leads Pepper to discover dangerous hazing rituals at a college fraternity, leading one of the pledges to hold everyone in the frat house, including Pepper, hostage at gunpoint.

Pepper tries to change her image after testing as too harsh and intense with viewers, but her attempts to soften up go horribly wrong and sink her ratings even lower. Babcock offers to help, but Pepper finds his advice difficult to follow.

Pepper is close to breaking a celebrity-murder-trial story when she is forced to take a vacation by the new station manager. Already upset at losing the story, she is further startled to learn the boss wants to change to a “news-a-tainment” format instead of the hard-hitting journalism she practices.

After finding dirt on a popular politician just to win a bet with Babcock, Pepper feels guilty when the candidate's numbers drop in the polls. Determined to correct her mistake, she digs even deeper and finds herself getting close to the man. Meanwhile, Kathy schemes to get her job back when the nasty former receptionist returns after maternity leave.

Just as Pepper's dating life hits a dry spell, in walks Grady Harper, Chicago's incredibly famous, and available, quarterback. Pepper and Grady are enjoying a romantic dinner when Charlie, Grady's biggest fan, unexpectedly crashes the meal, but Charlie soon notices he is receiving all of Grady's attention. Pepper confronts Grady about his sexual orientation and, along with Charlie, encourages the famous football star to make a big public announcement. Meanwhile, Pepper attends Chick's high school reunion, where music superstar Liz Phair performs.