Directed by Creator/JaceAlexander

Written by Creator/RJStewart & Creator/StevenLSears

When Gabrielle decides to audition for a coveted spot at the Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards, she helps another young hopeful regain confidence in his extraordinary talents as a storyteller.

!Tropes

* ADayInTheLimelight: Gabrielle takes center stage, while Xena spends most of the episode away fighting a cyclops.
* ClipShow: Of course. They at least try to mix it up by showing clips of old movies and Xena's appearances on ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys''.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Subverted. Gabrielle getting accepted into the academy would, of course, put the kibosh on traveling with Xena. Except she won the contest. It was her decision not to stay.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Orion revealing his real name is actually [[spoiler:Homer]].
* MostWritersAreWriters: Taken to an obvious extreme here.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: One of the would-be bards is named [[Creator/SylvesterStallone Stallonus]]. You can guess how he behaves.
* ShrinkingViolet: Twickenham repeatedly stutters out of nervousness.
* ShoutOut: Stallonus's material comes from ''Film/Hercules1958'', while Orion's story is ''Film/{{Spartacus}}''.
* SoProudOfYou: Orion's father in response to his son's final story and getting into the academy.
* SpecialThanks: The usual NoAnimalsWereHarmed gag disclaimer during the end credits was replaced with this:
-->"The producers would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas and all those who were involved with the making of the film classic 'SPARTACUS.' Additional thanks to Steve Reeves."
* WellDoneSonGuy: Orion spends much the father struggling to tell stories the way his father told him to. He ultimately stands up to him and does things his way.
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->'''Disclaimer:''' ''[[NoAnimalsWereHarmed The producers would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to]] Creator/StanleyKubrick, Creator/KirkDouglas [[Film/{{Spartacus}} and all those who were involved with the making of the film classic "SPARTACUS".]] [[ShoutOut Additional thanks to Steve Reeves.]]''