Episode 108: Method of Acting

Cast:
Brendon Small – Brendon Small
Jason Penopolis/Coach Jon McGuirk – H. Jon Benjamin
Melissa Robbins – Melissa Bardin Galsky
Paula Small – Janine Ditullo
Josie Small – Loren Bouchard
Acting Teacher – Bill Braudis

Synopsis: Brendon takes acting lessons and has to keep it a secret when he gets kicked out, Paula meets a new friend in her Creative Writing class and doesn't want to tell Brendon, McGuirk has a secret plan to win a hovercraft. Nothing really works out.

History:
· This is the first time we see Paula in her Creative Writing Class.

Lawn Gnomes: (Click for picture)
· Brendon holds a Lawn Gnome during the second “I’m a Pretty Lady” video

Brendon’s Filmography:
· *“Brendon’s Acting Movie” – Brendon speaks in a made-up language to convey an emotion to Melissa. Directed by Jason.
· *“I Left My Heart In Watertown” – Brendon does a video version of a dramatic scene apparently from the play (if this was from a real play, I didn't get it).

The Movie-Episode Connection:
· Brendon makes a video version to impress the Acting Teacher. What’s interesting is that this is one of the few times we get to see serious acting by Brendon, Jason or Melissa, just like this is one of the few times Brendon has ever taken serious steps towards his movie abilities.

The Plotline Connection: (TheJazzFighter)
· Well, as noted in the Synopsis, Brendon takes acting lessons, Paula meets a new friend in her Creative Writing class and McGuirk is trying to win a hovercraft. Nothing really works out.

Random Observations & Facts:
· The theater is called the “Rosie Cheque’s Community Theater”
· The name of the play Brendon auditions for is called “I Left My Heart In Watertown”. Watertown is where Soup2Nuts productions is based.
· A tumbleweed goes by when the makeout guy walks into the room for the first time.
· McGuirk’s contest sheet for the hovercraft says “The Hover-2000 – Wow!”
· One of the people working at the theater has a black shirt that says “Gaffer”.
· On Paula’s chalkboard: “Use Verbs”.
· On Paula’s chalkboard:
Poetry
It’s called
I’m gonna
Rhyme this _____
With this _____
· Market World has gotten slightly better animated since the last time we saw it in Episode 107 – It Was Supposed To Be Funny.
· McGuirk goes to “Bob’s Store”.
· At Bob’s Store, there is a sign that says “Nips 50 cents”
· The guy who wins the hovercraft is Stephen from Paula’s class (I think).

End Credits: “Season One Theme"

Reviews: WARNING: Spoilers

Condiment King: There's not much that I really disliked about this episode, but as a whole, it just fell flat. Its like they could have done more with it. The plot is pretty basic with Brendon trying to hone his acting skills, while Coach McGuirk tries to swindle a hovercraft. The best lines of the episode are once again McGuirk's with "Why pay the piper when there's free piping down the street?" and "I don't lend money to 8-year-olds...anymore."

This is also another Paula-focus episode so maybe that had something to do with it. On the one hand, it seemed like that plot really went nowhere, while we did get a great scene with Brendon and Paula at the dinner table, each trying to cover up what happened that day.

It also seemed like when he was on stage at the community theatre acting, Brendon was a little bit out of character. He was a little more obnoxious than he usually is, but maybe this is just boyish exuberance or the need to act out when you aren't in control, since he is a director. A mediocre episode. ***

StrangerAtaru: This episode is perhaps one of the highlight episodes for all things Brendon. For starters was the whole "acting school" experience, which shows that Brendon is just an attention hog here as well as in his movies (well those we expect because they are his movies) And is it just me seeing Brendon running that gets a giggle from me all the time? (I guess I have seen "Dark Side of the Law" too many times) Another character who had a good episode was Jason, who seemed to know a little more than his share about both acting (the lunchroom scene) and directing (well, not really, but it was funny to see him on the power rush during that sequence) Paula had a great episode as well, but a tad awkward because of the whole sequence at the school with that guy. I mean, she was funny and had great lines (the conversation between her and Brendon at the dinner table with all those subliminal messages is one of the great conversations of the series), but the whole thing with that guy did get somewhat stupid. As for McGuirk, you knew that the moment he started making a big deal out of that hovercraft contest that it was going to be hilarious. (it was almost like slave labor what he did, but this is McGuirk for you) And one more note: "I'm a pretty lady. PRETTY LADY!!!"

The Landstander: This episode seemed like it should've been better than it was. An episode about Brendon taking acting class was kind of inevitable to begin with. Paula has a conflict with a student that results in the most awkward makeout scene ever animated. And a fun McGuirk plotline. But I think this episode had too much going on, and didn't focus enough on any of it.

First, there's Brendon's acting. We only seem to get one scene of the actual class before he's kicked out; I would've liked to have seen more. His "made-up language" movie with Jason directing was a good sequence, in which Jason shows his darker side for the first time and Melissa holds her own against it. The Paula storyline didn't add up to much, and kind of lacked a resolution. And the McGuirk plotline had some chuckles but played out as it was obviously going to.

There's a few really good scenes here, though. Paula and Brendon's awkward dinner, both trying not to mention what's actually going on, was done very well. The actual acting scene is oddly touching. And, of course, "I'm a Pretty Lady" always gets a laugh. Overall, though, this felt like it could've been better. A mediocre episode.