Ep 3. Claude the Liar

Claude the Liar is the third episode of the first season of the comedy series Less Than Perfect. The episode originally aired on October 16, 2002.

In this episode, we see Claude, played by Zachary Levi, as he tries to impress a girl he likes by lying about his occupation. He tells her that he works in finance, but in reality, he works as a temp at the TV network where the show takes place. The girl, of course, is impressed, and he manages to get a date with her.

Meanwhile, the rest of the office is dealing with a crisis. One of the anchors of the network, Kipp, played by Zachary Knighton, has come down with laryngitis, threatening to prevent him from doing the news. The show's producer, Will, played by Eric Roberts, is desperate to find a replacement on short notice. He initially considers hiring Roger, a new hire in the mail department, but he proves to be too inexperienced.

Claude sees an opportunity to impress his boss and offers to step in as the news anchor. Despite not having any experience in broadcasting, he manages to convince Will and the rest of the staff that he's the right man for the job. Will is reluctant at first, but ultimately decides to give him a chance.

Claude's first broadcast is a disaster. He misreads the teleprompter, makes numerous mistakes, and even forgets to wear pants. The entire office is watching in horror, and the girl he's trying to impress is also watching.

To make matters worse, the show's regular news anchor, Lydia, played by Andrea Parker, returns from vacation halfway through the broadcast and is appalled by what she sees. She immediately takes over, and Claude is once again relegated to his temp job.

The episode ends with Claude confronting the girl he likes and admitting that he lied to her. She's disappointed, but ultimately forgives him, and the two decide to go out again.

Overall, Claude the Liar is a classic sitcom episode, full of wacky hijinks and misunderstandings. Zachary Levi is particularly good, bringing a lot of charm and humor to his role as Claude. The episode also touches on some themes that are still relevant today, such as the pressure to present a certain image on social media.