I was fooled the entire time (until the Frankie Teardrop faded in as a gutting coda.) I was paying attention to election coverage (sigh) at the same time, so I missed the subtle clues that this was a simulation of an old episode.
I looked up Best Show Gems later, and there is one for that date, but with a different Newbridge character, so that's how I confirmed it.
Great episode, OBVIOUSLY, because I didn't think it was simulated until the day after.