When the Arlen Bystander newspaper gets a new editor, Peggy gets a job writing a household hints column. Trouble is, she doesn't know any household hints. Meanwhile, Bobby gets a job as a paper boy.
Tropes:
- Artistic License: Combining ammonia and bleach doesn't make mustard gas. However, it does produce chloramine gas, which is still toxic and can cause death if in high concentrations, which is why it's a bad idea to mix cleaning products.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: Before Peggy convinces the newspaper people to help her collect the papers with her botched article, Bobby tries to tell them they deserve the job more than he does, though...Bobby: Sirs, the last few days of delivering papers, I've seen things I've never seen before: the sunrise, morning dew, snails on sidewalks; things... I never want to see again. Please... come back.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: Peggy says Hank's trademark "Bwah!" upon realizing she's doomed all of Arlen to death by inadvertently giving them the recipe for mustard gas.
- My God, What Have I Done?: After realizing how her made-up info nearly killed the entire town, Peggy returns to the Arlen Bystander to resign and come clean to Roddy.
- Noodle Incident: Hank knows the recipe for mustard gas because his dad makes batches of it for V-J Day.
- Not Me This Time: Inverted.Hank: Not now, Bobby. Don't worry, your mom screwed up this time, not you.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: Mihn's mother-in-law, who's bad attitude causes Mihn to hurl abuse at her and also causes her to cut off household tips that Peggy needs for her column.
- Oh, Crap!: Peggy gives one of these when she finds out from Hank that, by mixing ammonia and bleach, she just gave hundreds of people the recipe for mustard gas.
- A Simple Plan: Bobby and Dale's plan to make the latter deliver the newspapers so that the former doesn't have to fall off the rails on account of Dale using his truck to deliver the papers instead of a bike makes the deliveries a mess.
- Skewed Priorities: Peggy is more concerned that she'll be a laughing stock for writing the mustard gas recipe instead of the fact people might die because of it.Peggy: Oh, God. If that article gets out I am going be a laughing stock.Hank: Peggy, there may not be anyone left to laugh.Peggy: (hopeful) You really think so? (Hank gives her a look) Oh, I see. (looks down) That's bad.
- Special Guest: Henry Gibson as Bob Jenkins and Phil Hendrie as Burl Arlington, Roddy Rae Biffel and Harv.
- Would Hurt a Child: The former adult newspaper delivery crew briefly chase down Bobby after realizing he's one of the kids that took their jobs.
