A Plot: Upon learning that R. D. Robb, a boy Adam knows from the area, appeared in A Christmas Story, Adam decides it's time for him to also become famous. He meets up with an agent Beverly knows and the agent definitely sees potential in Adam. As Beverly later finds out, the agent sees Adam filling a role as a nerd in Meatballs Part II, but Beverly will have none of it, insisting Adam is leading man material, a la Tom Cruise or Patrick Swayze. Beverly dumps the agent and proposes to represent Adam herself, with disastrous results. Adam later learns Beverly nixed a chance for him to be in Meatballs Part II and gets mad at her. Beverly soon grudgingly admits Adam could play a nerd, albeit a lovable one.
B Plot: At school, Barry decides to take on a punk persona after Lainey says she thinks the punk look is hot. Barry gets tips from a punkster named Matt Bradley, even letting Matt join the JTP after the other members have no interest in going punk. But it soon becomes clear that Barry can't pull off the punk look or attitude and he ends up dressing up like a pirate.
C Plot: Murray tries to get involved in Erica's love life after seeing her down in the dumps. He knows she likes one of her brothers' friends, but clearly doesn't know the details and sets her up with Dave Kim. Thrilled, Dave sings an embarrassing love song for Erica in the cafeteria the next day, humiliating her. Knowing her dad interfered, Erica confronts him at home. Pops is there and scolds Murray for knowing nothing about his daughter, and he blurts out that she likes Geoff Schwartz. As it happens, Geoff is there with Barry and overhears the whole thing. Geoff later confides in Erica that he's flattered she likes him, but says he's with Evey now and things are going well. After a few seconds of silence, Erica and Geoff embrace and kiss.
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Murray, who first tells the wrong boy that Erica likes him, and later uses flash cards from Pops to talk about Erica's crush on Geoff...while Geoff is in the room. However, since the latter blunder actually helps Erica and Geoff hook up, Erica forgives her father.
- Amusing Injuries: In trying to become "punk", Barry's hair gets so messed up that Lainey gives him a bandana to wear, he gets hair dye in his eyes and needs an eyepatch, and he bangs his leg into a table so hard he makes a very pirate-y "Yaaargh" sound.
- Big Damn Kiss: Erica and Geoff have one at the end.
- The Cameo: R.D. Robb, in addition to appearing in a clip from A Christmas Story, plays a professional cameraman that Beverly pays to take headshots of Adam for a portfolio.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: In this, his debut episode, Matt Bradley is a punkster. However, watching Barry embarrass and injure himself while trying to act punk convinces him that he should be more laid-back, so he decides to get into The Grateful Dead and adopts the laid-back persona he maintains for the rest of the show's run.
- Stage Mom: Beverly, yet again. This time she takes over as Adam's talent agent, with disastrous results.
