T.J. learns that Señor Fusion has his own movie now. Unfortunately, the movie is premiering at 11 am on Friday, a school day, and Lawson claims he's going to be the first in line. Therefore, T.J. schemes to be the first in line, by persuading the entire school to let the student body go to the movie theater.
Tropes:
- Bait-and-Switch: After the Wham Line, it seems as if T.J. is in a pickle. However, T.J. goes on a glorious spiel of the background of the answer and even gives it... but Principal Prickly fails it because of the pronunciation. Subverted when he takes it back.
- Big Damn Movie: In-Universe example: Señor Fusion's first movie is the main focus of the episode.
- Blatant Lies: Early in the episode, Lawson mentions that he's written an excuse to allow himself to see the Señor Fusion movie. In the end, however, it is revealed that Lawson's excuse claimed that he was going to a family reunion, which turns out to be a complete lie. Upon being confronted by Miss Finster for this at the theater, Lawson tries to claim that his family got sick and needed popcorn. However, Miss Finster refuses to buy this and escorts Lawson out from the theater before having him sentenced to detention for the rest of the school year as punishment for playing hooky.
- Closet Geek: T.J. realizes that Principal Prickly is himself a Señor Fusion fan.
- Clue, Evidence, and a Smoking Gun: TJ knows Principal Prickly is a Señor Fusion fan because he calls the hero by his shortened name of Fusion (like so many fans), he has a stack of comics in his office (which Prickly tries to claim were confiscated), and he has a fan card club with his name on it.
- Combat Pragmatist: Attempted by Prickly at the end of the 10-questions duel. When T.J. gives the correct answer for all ten questions, Prickly fails him on account of mispronouncing "Femme Fatale." This gets T.J. to point out that such a tactic is more characteristic of Señor Fusion's enemies than Señor Fusion himself.
- Everyone Has Standards: As much as T.J. desires to see the Señor Fusion movie during its premiere, he knows better not to commit truancy and instead forms a fair deal with Principal Prickly that would benefit both parties.
- Graceful Loser: Double Subverted with Principal Prickly. He attempts to weasel his way out of defeat by beating T.J. on a technicality, but after T.J.'s "The Reason You Suck" Speech, Prickly does some soul-searching and declares T.J. the winner. Even Finster counts on a minor note as she attends the movie premiere without any objections only punishing Lawson when finding out he tried to play hooky.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Lawson created a false excuse about attending a family reunion so that he can play hooky and see the Señor Fusion movie. However, T.J. knows better not to commit truancy as he appealed to Prickly's heart with a fair deal, thus allowing the school to attend the movie with any repercussions. As Lawson enters the theater, he is shocked to see everyone attending before Miss Finster confronts him for playing hooky and takes him out for his punishment.
- It's the Principle of the Thing: Lawson merely wants the bragging rights to be the first to see Señor Fusion. As Gretchen points out, the movie will still be out on the weekend. T.J., however, wants to be there for the premiere as a matter of principle.
- Manchild: When Principal Prickly is watching the movie his demeanor turns into that of an excited child, he even bonds with T.J.
- Off on a Technicality: Prickly attempts to declare T.J.'s answer of who Señor Fusion's sidekick wrong because he had mispronounced her codename Femme Fatale as "Femmy Fatalie" when everything else about T.J.'s answer was correct.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: T.J. to Principal Prickly:T.J.: You know, Principal Prickly? This is about the most un-Fusion-like thing I ever saw a Fusion fan do. The great Señor doesn't stand for tricking guys and being sneaky and winning on technicalities; that's what the bad guys do! Fusion stands for honesty and truth and fair-play, stuff that's important to kids like me... and it used to be important to you, too.
- Wham Line:Principal Prickly: What was the name of Señor Fusion's one and only sidekick?
Spinelli: SIDEKICK!?!? I didn't know he had a sidekick!!
T.J.: Uh... that's from the Golden Age, isn't it?
