When TJ accidentally breaks Principal Prickly's window, Miss Finster suggests to the principal that, by rigging the ballots for the Principal For A Day contest, they can permanently change TJ's personality for the "better." As they expect, TJ wins, but... will their plan work?
Tropes:
- Assumed Win: Randall thinks he's going to be Principal for a Day due to the sheer number of ballots he filled out. Even Menlo, the one in charge of putting them in the raffle drum, thought Randall would easily win.
- Benevolent Boss: Upon becoming Principal for a Day, TJ starts as this (allowing gum-chewing [as long as it's your own] and all-day recess) before becoming stricter and stricter at Prickly's instigations.
- Be Yourself: Which is the Aesop of the episode.Prickly: You could have been one of the greatest, kid.
TJ: Yeah, maybe. But then, I would have been something I'm not: a power-hungry grown-up. Thank goodness I figured out who I am before it was too late. - Broken Glass Penalty: At the beginning, TJ accidentally breaks the window to Principal Prickly's office after kicking a kickball too hard, and thus is sent to the office to write up his offense for the Prickly Files.
- Former Kid Rebel: Menlo, of all people. Shortly before the events of the series, he was so out of control that Principal Prickly himself had to intervene. After being principal for a day, Menlo became the guy he is now.
- Heel Realization: Towards the end, TJ makes a kid write his offense for the Prickly Files. Upon seeing this, he sees himself in the kid and realizes that he's been going too far.
- Hidden Heart of Gold: After his Heel Realization, TJ claims that his discipline isn't strict enough. He calls up his friends and asks Prickly to leave so he can deal with them alone. After he does so, T.J. announces an assembly on the playground one hour before school is let out, which gives Finster the impression that TJ is going to punish everybody. However, TJ turns out to have a counter-plan, throwing a party for everyone.
- Office Golf: Principal Prickly has a golf course in his office, and lets TJ play it when he is made the temporary principal. TJ's concentration is wrecked by the Ashleys.
- Swivel-Chair Antics: The first thing TJ does on the day he becomes Principal:TJ: Wow, this is one big chair.
Prickly: Yes it is. And it takes a big man to fill it.
TJ: (immediately takes it for a spin) WOOHOOOOOO! - Took a Level in Jerkass: TJ, thanks to Prickly making him do what he wants him to do, rather than letting him do what TJ himself wants. Thankfully, TJ sees the error of his ways before it's too late.
- What Have I Become?: TJ during his Heel Realization.
