With this episode, we now cross the halfway point of Season 2; with Renee returning to center stage.
We open up with a performance of “Freeway of Love” (complete with Kid standing on several tables used as risers) before we go backstage; where Renee rapidly thumbs through a large book - being enthused to the extent of ignoring things such as watching TV; much to the shock of Stacy and Kid. Ryan’s suggestion of asking if anything was wrong, according to Stacy, was met with a “No, no, no; nothing’s wrong! I’m fine!” (which he gets when he asks Renee); before Stacy mentions in passing Renee having eaten 5 boxes of corn flakesnote a day earlier, and kept the boxes along with spending a year’s allowance on magazine subscriptions. As Renee writes away, “Dr. Ryan” diagnoses her with “contest mania”, with Ryan intervening in the sisterly spat following Kid and Stacy dismissing the effort as a waste of time., suggesting they go back on stage before they drove everyone else bananas (using Renee’s banana pen as a visual aid); setting up “One Fine Day”.
Renee then continues writing her essay on “Why I Can’t Start My Day Without Chocolate Corn Flake Critters (in 25 words or less)”; having also entered a poetry contest; having entered — after being pressed by Kid — 147 contests up to then. Unfortunately, so far Renee is 0 for 147. Meanwhile, Kid and Stacy are playing checkers when Renee shows up holding an envelope she was in the process of sealing; which not surprisingly piques Kid’s curiosity before Gloria reminds him of the Constitutional right to privacy to get him to back off. However, Stacy then blurts out that Renee was sending in a poem about world peace. Renee then begins reading only for the two youngest band members to continue their mockery until Renee — clearly hurt by her sister and said sister’s best friend’s mockery — storms off vowing never to tell either of them anything again (“My Special Friend”). By the time rehearsal starts; Renee is late (very unusual for her; something Riley is quick to notice) before Stacy explains Renee was waiting for the mail and the postman ran late.
Renee shows up randomly asking what Ryan and Gloria’s lunch plans were (Ryan: burger and malt; Gloria: fresh fruit {citing a diet she’s on}) before revealing she ordered lunch — pheasant under glass, French pastries and chocolate cake; all from Cafe Paris…who deliver — much to Stacy’s bewilderment given the restaurant’s expense. It’s then that we learn that same poem Stacy and Kid were giving Renee a hard time over resulted in Renee winning $300 in the poetry contest…and Stacy and Kid aren’t invited (“It’s My Party”). Fortunately (after a scene where Stacy tries the guilt-trip approach and Kid claims he just snickered), Renee then reveals she ordered for 5; leaving the youngest members relieved that Renee had forgiven them. Renee then suggests a new contest: trying out Riley’s raisin prune ice cream. Not surprisingly, the kids find that much less appetizing than the gourmet lunch they just finished; setting up closing song “Uptown Girl”.
Songs performed in this episode:
- “Freeway of Love” (Aretha Franklin cover; lead vocals by Kid)
- “One Fine Day” (The Chiffons cover; lead vocals by Renee)note
- “My Special Friend” (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Renee)
- “It’s My Party” (Helen Shapiro cover {also
recorded by Lesley Gore}; lead vocals by Renee)note - “Uptown Girl” (Billy Joel cover; lead vocals by Kid and Ryan)
Tropes associated with this episode:
- Chocolate-Frosted Sugar Bombs: The cereal that Renee enters an essay contest for: Chocolate Corn Flake Critters.
- Determinator: Renee mentions having entered 147 contests with no victories. Victory came in presumably, contest 148.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Two examples involving Renee:
- Renee apparently likes watching television enough that Stacy and Kid start getting concerned when she begins ignoring watching TV.
- Later, Riley expresses his concern after noting Renee is atypically late for rehearsal.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Kid and Stacy’s taunting of Renee goes well past any acceptable boundaries, and it nearly comes back to bite them when Renee wins a gourmet lunch following her poem winning 1st prize.
