The forty-first episode of the first season of Dennis the Menace (1986).
Baseball's Best Ballplayer
After he scores the winning run in his baseball game, Dennis dreams of being the world's best professional ballplayer, doing so by playing against a team of all Mr. Wilsons.
Mr. Wilson's Diet
Mrs. Wilson puts herself and Mr. Wilson on a diet in an effort to lose weight. But Mr. Wilson schemes to break it as his appetite gets the better of him. Mrs. Wilson relents and even bakes him some cookies to celebrate. But then the doctor calls, she learns he has high blood pressure and must go on a diet for sure. Mrs. Wilson gives the cookies to Dennis and his friends when they visit.
The Backyard Band
Dennis, Gina, Tommy, and Jay form a music band and are scheduled to perform in a talent show. At first, Mr. Wilson takes offense by their poor playing, but is really offended when a snobbish upperclassman insults them believing his son, Timmy, is much better. Mr. Wilson helps them to practice and the results are greatly improved, but the judge gives first place to his nephews. The gang get second place, though and give their trophy to Mr. Wilson for being a great help to them.
"Baseball's Best Ballplayer" provides examples of:
- Alliterative Title: Baseball's Best Ballplayer.
- Baseball Episode: Dennis dreams of being a professional baseball player after he scores the winning run in his baseball game.
- Broken Glass Penalty: Discussed; before Dennis falls asleep, he thinks he can be a professional baseball player, as Mr. Wilson always tells him that he throws baseballs through his window like a pro. Also, in Dennis' dream, one of the Mr. Wilson clones says that he's going to hit the ball so hard, it'll go through Dennis' window for a change.
- Clone Army: In Dennis' dream, the team Dennis plays against is an army of Mr. Wilson clones.
- Dream Episode: Much of this episode's events are a dream of Dennis'.
- Ship Tease: In Dennis' dream, Dennis gives Gina a rose, and she blushes.
"Mr. Wilson's Diet" provides examples of:
- Acrofatic: Mr. Wilson is able to run at an incredible speed despite his weight. When Mrs. Wilson tells Dennis that she's trying to tell Mr. Wilson that she's decided to cancel the diet, Dennis says that Mr. Wilson doesn't need the diet, what with all the running he's doing.
- Dagwood Sandwich: Mr. Wilson makes one when he wakes up hungry in the middle of the night. Just before he can eat it, Dennis arrives, having thought a burglar was in his house. Ruff comes in with him, resulting in Ruff eating the sandwich.
- Diet Episode: Mrs. Wilson puts herself and Mr. Wilson on a diet when they get too big for their clothes, despite Mr. Wilson's objections. Mr. Wilson tries multiple occasions to cheat on it until Mrs. Wilson gives up and decides to go out and buy some bigger clothes. By the end of the episode, however, their doctor informs them that Mr. Wilson has high blood pressure, and so the diet is back on.
- Doomed Supermarket Display: When Mr. Wilson goes to the supermarket to get food, Dennis follows and asks him why he's getting it, since he and Mrs. Wilson are supposed to be on a diet. Mr. Wilson lies that the food is for Dennis' next birthday party, and an excited Dennis tries to help out. When he takes some candy bars and watermelons from the bottom of their pyramids, it results in the rest falling onto the floor.
- Eating Pet Food: Mr. Wilson becomes so desperate for food, he runs up to a bowl that Alice lays out when she says, "Supper's ready!". He takes the bowl and runs back to his house to eat it, but Dennis follows him and asks him if he's seen Ruff's dog food.
- Follow Your Nose: Mr. Wilson runs into the kitchen when the scent of freshly-baked cookies lingers in the air. Unfortunately for him, Mrs. Wilson made those cookies for Dennis and Joey, who have come to visit.
- Here We Go Again!: At the end of the episode, just after Mrs. Wilson cancels the diet, she gets a phone call from her doctor, who informs her that Mr. Wilson has high blood pressure. Thus, the diet is back on.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Late one night, Dennis comes to Mr. Wilson's house, having thought a burglar had broken in. Mr. Wilson tells Dennis to call the police whenever he sees a burglar. This backfires immensely, as when Mrs. Wilson locks the door to her bedroom to keep Mr. Wilson from leaving it, Mr. Wilson tries to sneak out the window. Dennis mistakes Mr. Wilson for a burglar and calls the police under his advice, resulting in Mr. Wilson being arrested.
- Iris Out: This episode ends with one on Mr. Wilson when he cries hysterically upon finding out that Mrs. Wilson is going to give the cookies she baked for him to Dennis and his friends after putting him back on the diet.
- Meat-O-Vision: After having nothing to eat for several hours, Mr. Wilson hallucinates a truck as a hoagie, a flying bird as a roast chicken, and Henry's boss, Simon Gordo, whom Henry calls "The Big Cheese", as a sentient wedge of cheese.
- Stock "Yuck!": Mr. Wilson is revealed to dislike rutabagas, and finds it unfair that he has to eat them when the Mitchells (including Ruff) all get to have steaks instead.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: At the end of the episode, Mrs. Wilson decides to cancel the diet and make a batch of cookies for Mr. Wilson. However, she then gets a call from her doctor, who informs her that Mr. Wilson has high blood pressure, and thus, she has to put him back on the diet. To make matters worse for Mr. Wilson, she gives the cookies to Dennis and his friends when they come to visit.
"The Backyard Band" provides examples of:
- Band Episode: In this episode, Dennis, Gina, Tommy and Jay form their own band for a talent show, and Mr. Wilson helps them practice so they can beat Timmy in it.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Dennis asks Mr. Wilson how his band sounded, Mr. Wilson tells him, "Dennis, there are no words to describe your sound!". Dennis merely thanks Mr. Wilson.
- Dark Horse Victory: Neither Mr. Wilson and his band nor Timmy win first place, as that honor goes to the juggling twins, due to being the nephews of the judge.
- Hollywood Tone-Deaf: Timmy, the young son of the snobby entrepreneur, sings a very off-key rendition of "O My Darling", which annoys everyone in the audience, except for his father.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Mr. Wilson. At first, he is annoyed by Dennis' band, but when an upperclassman insults it, Mr. Wilson tells him off, saying that with practice, it could win first place. He becomes the band's coach, encouraging them to keep practicing so they can win the trophy. When the band doesn't win first place, Dennis apologizes to Mr. Wilson for letting him down, but Mr. Wilson tells him that he's proud of him and his friends for giving it their all.
- Only One Finds It Fun: The snobby entrepreneur is the only one who applauds Timmy's dreadful singing, due to Timmy being his son.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Even though Dennis' band doesn't win first place, they still win the second place trophy, and give it to Mr. Wilson to thank him for being such a great coach.
