- Release Date: November 14, 1998
Kenan wants to know why he didn't receive an invitation to Marc's birthday party. Meanwhile, everyone (including Kel) believes Kenan had an ear reduction.
- An Aesop: If someone keeps demanding answers, they deserve to know the truth, even if it's embarrassing.
- A Birthday, Not a Break: Marc is left humiliated when he opens Kenan's "gift" that sprays motor oil all over him.Kenan: (trying to cheer up Marc) Why don't you open this one next, man? It's from Diane.
- Dramatic Irony: Kenan doesn't realize that everyone thinks he's having his ears reduced, as they are worried telling him would upset him.
- Failed a Spot Check: Kel believes Marc's story about Kenan and his ears, forgetting that he was with Kenan when the latter told Sharla to make up an excuse for him to miss Marc's party. Though given that Kel is already completely stupid, this is not at all surprising.
- Gossip Evolution: Sharla convinces Marc that Kenan is having his ears reduced, which Marc proceeds to tell everyone about. Because they refuse to tell Kenan about it, this only escalates into disaster.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Kenan infiltrates Marc's birthday party disguised as a ninja, which works well as it was a costume party. Not that it fools Sharla.
- Honor Before Reason: To avoid telling Kenan about his "ear surgery" to spare his feelings, Kel convinces him the reason Marc won't invite him to his party is that he doesn't like him, leaving Kenan offended and swearing vengeance on Marc until he finds out the truth.Kenan: Kel, you said that Marc didn't invite me because he didn't like me.
Kel: I only said that because I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
Kenan: Well, that makes perfect sense. - Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: Kenan tries to force Kel to tell the truth behind what's going on... by dumping orange soda on the floor. Kel refuses to tell him anyway.
- Line-of-Sight Name: When talking to Marc, Sharla comes up with the lie of Kenan having ear surgery after seeing an "ear of corn" bin.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Everyone is convinced Kenan is having ear surgery, but they refuse to tell Kenan (or the Rockmores) about this, in which he starts demanding answers. It's only when Kenan actually shows up at the party that Marc finally decides to tell him.
- Running Gag: People gawking at Kenan and commenting on his ears, leaving the latter confused.
