Rarer still: The gambit worked. The notes, which included embarrassing tidbits about Ms. Perry psyching herself up for a gynecology appointment and tailored jabs at Gosling and Day, wouldn’t have been funny enough on their own. But the performers’ sincere shock sold the concept—particularly at the sketch’s climax, when Day read a note that prompted Padilla to cross the room and open a desk drawer. After seeing the contents, she snickered and then revealed a massive Ziploc bag of spaghetti and meatballs emblazoned with the label Lunch #2. Her fight to get out the words “You think I care about this?” violated all sorts of comedic rules—about committing to a character, about not letting the audience see that she found the sketch as funny as they did. But her infectious energy turned “Passing Notes” into the highlight of the episode.