One day at Littlest Pet Shop, Dick von Pat, a TV executive, walks in looking for something for a VP's pet pet-belly pig. As Blythe introduces herself, Von Pat shouts never to say that to him again, confusing Blythe. He is actually both talking to her and someone else on his earpiece, resulting in a confusing back and forth conversation. Russell suddenly interrupts to ask Blythe to settle a dispute between him and Vinnie about who's taller. Blythe says not now because she is with a customer. Von Pat overhears her talking to the pets, and Blythe tries to pretend she's on the phone, but the idea of someone talking to the pets gives von Pat a great idea for a TV show where a girl in a pet shop can talk to and understand the pets in it, calling it The Tiniest Animal Store.
In the day camp area, von Pat discusses how the show would be, saying he wants to base the characters on Blythe and the pets. This makes Blythe uncomfortable, believing people will think it's based on her, but the pets are excited to be on TV, especially Zoe. Von Pat says not to worry, he'll change all the names. he asks if Blythe wants to be on TV, but she says she is more of a fashion designer, to which von Pat says she could be the costume designer for the show. On the mouthpiece, von Pat talks about the idea to make a TV show based on the pet shop, to which Mrs. Twombly overhears and believe they're making a show and they have cameras at the shop already.
In Blythe's room, Blythe gets a phone call from von Pat, and she says she is designing the costumes for the pets. However, von Pat says that they changed it; instead of pets, there will be human actors in pet costumes. In addition, they have signed Lola Falanagaga to be the star of the show. Zoe is heartbroken at this, but Penny suggests they will get someone good to play Zoe. She imagines the awards ceremony with her and Lola. Meanwhile, a customer walks into the pet shop, but Mrs. Twombly, in an outfit, believing she is on camera, recites lines awkwardly. The customer leaves.
Von Pat walks into the day camp area and tells Blythe good news, that the network has given the green light for the show. Reading the script, Blythe finds that it explicitly states the show is based on her, angering Blythe. Von Pat says it can be taken out, and he crosses it out. He says he will bring the actors into the day came to mirror the pets, follow them around, and study them. He also says they're only going with three pets, the monkey, the hedgehog, and the gecko. Zoe is upset at this and wants to know who Lola is playing. Blythe asks, and von Pat says she is playing Blythe. Meanwhile, Mrs. Twombly is dusting, and asks van Pat, who is bringing in the actors, how much longer she has to keep this up the acting for.
The actors come into the day camp area to get a good sense of what the pets and Blythe are like. Upset that they weren't included, Zoe, Pepper, Penny Ling, and Sunil are talking, as Russell compliments his casting. But as Russell approaches the actor, the actor gets scared of him and hides from him. Vinnie's actor makes notes about Vinnie, who is trying to come off as thoughtful and smart, but instead, the actor writes that geckos are boring. Trying to change this, Vinnie starts dancing, but lands on Sunil, with Vinnie's mouth in his tail. The actor writes that geckos are clumsy and like to eat mongooses. Minka's actress starts imitating Minka, but falls and hurts herself.
Lola arrives through the dumbwaiter to Blythe's room, saying she has to enter that way so she can experience what the character does. She comments that Blythe is an artist, and starts asking her personal questions. Once Blythe says she can't go to clubs because she is a kid, this takes Lola back, but appreciates it because means that she still looks so young.
The pets arrive in the dumbwaiter, upset at their castings, to which Blythe says they'll talk about later. Lola comments that it's like Blythe really is talking to the pets. Lola comments about how she could win awards for playing Blythe Baxter, Pet Whisperer. Von Pat enters Blythe's room talking about costumes, and Blythe shows her designs, but he doesn't even look at them. He shows Blythe the final draft of the script, but it says it's based on Blythe Baxter, who works at Littlest Pet Shop, angering her, but von Pat says the network believes more people will tune in if they believe it's based on a real person and place. He invites Blythe to the dress rehearsal tomorrow, and if it's good, they will shoot the pilot.
- Roger: [terrified] What did he just say?!
At the recording, Blythe tells von Pat that she doesn't think the actress captured the spirit of her or the pets, and that he promised to change the names and not say it's based on her. Although when she comments about her costumes, von Pat says that the network went with another costume designer. Once the intro plays, the announcer explicitly mentions it's based on Blythe, upsetting her. During the show, Vinnie is portrayed as someone who eats mongooses, Russell is portrayed as a security guard, and Minka is portrayed as injury prone. Lola as Blythe says she really wants to become an actress, but she blew the audition she went to that day. Russell says she will nail that audition, prompting the remark that he isn't very smart, which upsets the real Russell. Vinnie says they built her a time machine. As cut is called, Blythe looks embarrassed, and Zoe is thrilled that she isn't being portrayed in this ridiculous show. Russell says they need to protect Blythe's secret and their reputations, so they decide the show needs a rewrite.
Once the show starts shooting again, Russell edits the text in the teleprompter to make his character seem smarter. Sunil and the real Vinnie take a selfie portraying themselves as best friends and send it to Vinnie's actor, making him realize that geckos and mongooses are BFFs. Minka's actress, back from the hospital in an upper body cast, when the real Minka jumps in and swings on the actress. Minka steals Lola's wig and takes off. Penny Ling runs to Russell's actor, who is hiding, and opens her arms for a hug, which scares him. With Penny Ling chasing Russell's actor and Minka being chased by Vinnie's actor and Lola, they crash into Minka's actor. As they're the floor, Pepper sprays them with skunk spray. Von Pat asks Blythe and the pets to leave, but she refuses and chews him out for talking to someone on his handsfree phone when she thought he was talking to her. Lola apologizes to Blythe that the show didn't work out and says she took Blythe's designs to their costume designer and she loved them. She even wants Blythe to intern with them, Blythe accepts.
Back at the pet shop, Mrs. Twombly can't stand the pressure of being on television and being interesting 24 hours a day, confusing Blythe. Von Pat walks in, both to buy the toy for the pot-bellied pig, and to say that the show was cancelled. Mrs. Twombly is relieved. Von Pat says the network thought the premise was too outrageous, wondering who would believe that there's a girl who can talk with pets. Blythe replies, "Not us."
Tropes:
- Actor Allusion: One scene at the beginning has Zoe thinking that Lola Falanagaga, the in show actress that plays Blythe, will play her. Lola's voice actress is Nicole Oliver, who voices Zoe.
- Backhanded Apology: Blythe gives one to Von Pat during her "Reason You Suck" Speech.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: Zoe gives one while watching the show.Zoe: Well, I for one am thrilled... that I'm not being portrayed in this ridiculous show!
- Karma Houdini: The only comeuppance Dick gets is a "Reason You Suck" Speech from Blythe, tripping over Penny and his show being cancelled.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Though Lola Falanagaga's name is a mashup between Lady Gaga and South American soubrette Lola Falana, she resembles more Tara Strong.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Blythe gives one to Von Pat when he scolds her for ruining his show, letting him know that she's had enough with how he's behaved the entire episode and that she's mad at him talking on his handsfree phone.Dick: What is going on here?! These pets are ruining my entire show!
Blythe: I'm sorry, Mr. Pat. I don't know what got into them!
Dick: Well, this cannot stand! You need to leave and take all these pets with you too!
[Blythe doesn't move]
Dick: WELL? What are you waiting for?!
Blythe: Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know if you were talking to me, or someone on your phone. Because I never know if you're talking to me OR SOMEONE ON YOUR PHONE! - Self-Parody: Oh yes.
- Villainy-Free Villain: Von Pat. He isn't exactly doing anything evil. His show is terrible, but he never actually intended to humiliate Blythe or the pets. Still, Blythe strongly dislikes him by the end of the episode.
- Who Would Want to Watch Us?: Invoked in the episode's last lines.
