This episode marks the first of two straight episodes where a character faces their problem with greed; as a genie (played by Adolfo “Shabba Doo” Quinones {credited as Shabba Doo}, best known for his role as Orlando “Ozone” in 1984’s “Breakin” and “Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo”) helps set the Kid straight once he acquires a magic lamp and seeks to use his wishes for selfish purposes.
It all begins when Kid is late for the band’s performance; forcing Riley to stall until he and the rest of the band appear, setting up “Trapped”. In the break room; we then see what led to Kid’s delay: at some point he had bought a lamp akin to the lamps in 1001 Nights from a garage sale for the price of 3 weeks’ allowance, to Ryan’s bewilderment. The kids then return to the stage (with Ryan asking Kid not to be late this time and later begging him to hurry); leading to “Magic”.
As if on cue, during “Magic” a genie emerges from the lamp and checks the P*lace out and who greets Kid upon his return to the break room (apparently Kid is clueless about the practice of a genie being the slave of whoever freed him). Naturally, Kid wants to know what’s in it for him: The answer - Three Wishes which he, and only he, can make; providing a demonstration before the episode goes to commercial.
When we return, Kid - complaining no one could hear him over the othersnote - wishes for a singing voice so powerful it drowned everyone else out. The wish is granted, and Kid’s new, more powerful voice - as demonstrated in “Leave a Tender Moment Alone” - also can topple trash cans, break glass, cause mannequins to tumble, lights to fall and fire hydrants to steam up. We then move on to the next wish; where Kid wants fortune and fame (the genie, after commenting about Kid not reading much, reluctantly grants the wish); with the result being Kid overtaken by greed (“They say money isn’t everything, but look at all the things it is”); leading to “Bit by Bit”.
However, much like King Midas, the Kid is hungry - and money isn’t edible; causing the genie to note that money isn’t important but what you ‘’do’’ with the money that mattersnote . As it is, Kid has one wish remaining and he wishes the genie could come back in 20 years when he would be mature enough to handle the responsibilities (that wish is not granted as per regulations; all wishes had to be made in the same day); leaving Kid with buyer’s remorse over purchasing the lamp even with all the wishes granted “no strings attached” - resulting in Kid having an epiphany that ‘’that’’ was the problem (the genie notes this was a sign of maturity) as he learns the only way one values anything is by hard work; resulting in Kid’s final wish being to effectively reset everything to where it was before the lamp was purchased, wiping the existence of the lamp itself away; setting up a quick snack and closing song “We’ve Got Chemistry”.
Songs performed in this episode:
- “Trapped” (Jimmy Cliff cover; lead vocals by Stacy)
- “Magic” (Olivia Newton-John cover; lead vocals by Renee, Gloria and Stacy)note
- “Leave a Tender Moment Alone” (Billy Joel cover; lead vocals by Kid)
- “Bit by Bit (Theme from Fletch)” (Stephanie Mills cover; lead vocals by Kid)note
- “We’ve Got Chemistry” (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Gloria and Kid)
Tropes associated with this episode:
- An Aesop: In this case, a two-for-one aesop concerning both the dangers of greed and how what one does with money being what matters and also about how the only way one values anything is getting it by hard work.
- Benevolent Genie: What this genie serves as.
- Book Dumb: The genie lampshades this by noting Kid didn’t read much before reluctantly granting Kid’s wish for fortune and fame.
- Deadpan Snarker: The genie
- Genie in a Bottle: The genie in this episode.
- Glass-Shattering Sound: Kid’s first wish is for a voice powerful enough to overpower the other band members; and in “Leave a Tender Moment Alone” we get trash cans tumbling, glass breaking, mannequins and lights falling and fire hydrants steaming.
- Greed: The first of two consecutive episodes dealing with a character facing this vice.
- Imagine Spot: “Leave a Tender Moment Alone” takes place in one.
- Make a Wish: As per usual stories involving genies.
- Reset Button: What Kid’s final wish effectively serves as.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Kid’s motivation behind wishing for a voice that could drown the others out.
- Three Wishes: As per standard procedure for a genie
- Wasteful Wishing: Kid’s first two wishes
