When Laura is picked as a contestant for Pay as You Go, she initially does well...until the host, Johnny Patrick, gets her talking too much and she spills a dark secret — Alan Brady wears a wig. Despite the Petries' hopes, the knowledge quickly spreads all over. What will Alan do now that he can't pull the hair over his public's eyes?
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Absurd Phobia: According to Buddy, Patrick got a pilot so flustered he admitted he hated flying.
- Baldness Angst: Alan, being the world's vainest man, is furious when Laura accidentally admits he wears a toupee on national television. However, after putting her and Rob through the wringer for some time, he admits that multiple people have said they like him better natural and that he knew he was pushing credibility. He's still not entirely happy. However, he agrees to let it slide.
- Delayed Reaction: It takes Rob a moment to absorb what Laura accidentally told the TV audience.
- George Jetson Job Security: Laura handles the tricky questions the host asks her pretty well for the first part of the show, and Alan quips that Rob should be happy that even if she wins no prizes, she didn't lose his job.
- Hypocritical Humor: Rob fumes when Laura tells him that she spilled the secret, and he says he's surprised she didn't tell the host that Alan had his nose fixed. Laura says she didn't know that. Rob had been keeping it a secret from her up to that point. She uses it to point out how easily someone can tell a secret if they're excited.
- I'm Standing Right Here: When Laura accidentally reveals that Alan is bald on live television, she goes to his office to apologize. Rob soon arrives and they start discussing who should take responsibility in the middle of Alan's office:Alan: Hi there! Remember me?
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: Rob tells Laura that they were proud of the way she managed the sneaky host, which makes her even more anxious because he did get her to admit something very embarrassing.
- One of the Boys: While explaining what's going on to Ritchie, Rob says he's having a meeting with his uncles, including "uncle Sally." Sally does a Double Take.
- Opinion Flip Flop: While talking through the script with Alan, Rob says he thinks a dance number should be moved. Sally is dubious...until Alan announces he approves. Everyone approves afterwards.
- Show Within a Show: Pay as You Go is an in-universe game show.
- Sadistic Game Show: While the show itself isn't very problematic, the host, Johnny Patrick, seems to revel in asking difficult questions and getting the contestants flustered enough to answer embarrassingly. The staff of The Alan Brady Show mention two former contestants who Patrick raked over the coals.
- Slave to PR: Another reason Alan lets Rob and Laura off the hook is how he's been getting sympathy points for how this all came out, and he's certainly not going to pass up an opportunity like that.
- The Unfair Sex: Rob talks about how he yelled at Laura for spilling the big secret, only to apologize for doing so out of guilt. He asks Buddy why the husband always has to apologize, even on those occasions when the wife admits to screwing up. Even Alan comments on this to Rob later on.Alan: They're perfect. Y'see, not only do we have to forgive them about their destruction, but we have to be happy about it.
