This episode has the Kids sub for a clown named Jocko that was hired for a carnival they held breaks his leg.
We open with “On the Dark Side”; following which we see preparations for a street carnival Kids Incorporated was hosting as a benefit for homeless animals, to be headlined by the world’s most famous clown, Jocko (Renee and Gloria count tickets while Renee notes that only 20 people showed up for the previous year’s benefit, headlined by Gloria’s 6-year-old cousin Sidney playing electric ukelele; Kid bringing chocolate and vanilla cakes; Stacy stuffing the piñata with taffy instead of jawbreakers, leading to Riley having difficulty opening his mouth), and with the event having sold out, the kids go off to rehearse “Magic”
Meanwhile, Riley’s mouth is unstuck, but unfortunately he had to break some bad news to the band. Jocko had broken his leg. We then see Mario pick up a couple of tickets before Gloria begins freaking out over the possibility of having to cancel the benefit (with Renee bringing a dog in that would have been adopted at the carnival) before Riley suggests a song to cheer them up (“A Million Miles Away”), during which Riley was trying — unsuccessfully — to call every clown he could find in the phone book; all of whom happen to be booked for the day of the carnival, which is in grave danger of being canceled.
That is, until the kids get an idea — and apparently the same idea — before they one by one depart using an assortment of flimsy excuses (Stacy — whose light bulb was originally crossed out — is the last to leave after getting the same idea); leaving Riley alone at the P*lace before he too gets said idea. And what was that idea? The band members (Mickey, Renee, Stacy, Kid and Gloria) stop by the Magic Shoppe nearby to pick up clown costume supplies, with Gloria (the last to arrive) lingering the longest, setting up; appropriately enough, “Be A Clown”.
The carnival goes as planned (with Aaron as the ringmaster) and introducing their new headliner: Kiddo the Clown…make that 6 clowns, as all five singers plus Riley show up in clown costumes. With the carnival a success, the episode closes with “Dancing in the Street”.
Another episode focusing on a clown took place two seasons later in “Stacy and the Clown”; a Very Special Episode where this time we actually got to see the clown.
Songs performed in this episode:
- “On the Dark Side“ (John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band cover; lead vocals by Mickey and Kid)
- “Magic” (The Cars cover; lead vocals by Mickey)
- “A Million Miles Away“ (The Plimsouls cover; lead vocals by Renee and Stacy)
- “Be a Clown” (Gene Kelly covernote ; lead vocals by Gloria)
- “Dancing in the Street“ (Martha and the Vandellas cover; lead vocals by Gloria)note
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Bearer of Bad News: Riley tells the kids about Jocko’s broken leg
- Circus Episode: First of two that are variants of the trope
- The Ditz: Stacy based on the fact she rationalized stuffing the piñata with taffy instead of jawbreakers by stating the taffy would be easier on the kid’s teeth
- He Who Must Not Be Seen: Jocko himself
- Idea Bulb: Each of the kids get an idea bulb (with Stacy’s initially crossed out) before departing with an excuse to exit in order to pick up supplies to substitute for the injured Jocko; with Stacy later getting her idea to join the others and finally Riley coming up separately with the idea of playing a clown himself.
- Non-Ironic Clown: Jocko
- Noodle Incident: Sidney’s electric ukulele and its role in the disastrous turnout for the band’s previous year’s benefit
- The Power of Friendship: Shows here in each band member (plus Riley) separately coming up with the idea of playing a clown to fill in for Jocko.
