Big Time Fans
Yay, episode discussion post time! I have no gif wizardry at my disposal, so I bring you lots of caps and flailing instead. Deal?
"Big Time Fans" episode opens with the boys getting their first batch of fanmail, and Gustavo and Kelly laying down some ground rules:
Gustavo tells the boys in no uncertain terms not to give out their personal information, "otherwise some crazed fan will show up on your front doorstep and ask you to make them famous." Um, yeah, or trying to marry them? Jeez, Gustavo, what are you, new?
Hey, isn't that Jenny Tinkler from homeroom?
It turns out that Carlos, being the sweetheart he is, promised Jenny that if she came to LA they'd help her become famous. Two problems with that: one, she can't sing, and two, she's incredibly clumsy.
The boys are not happy, but Carlos reminds them that they've known Jenny since pre-K (well, except Logan, I guess) and that they love her, and the others grudgingly agree to help.
P.S. Can I just say how much I love that the boys are friends with so many girls? It's a great message. Girls and boys can be friends, Nickelodeon-watching youth of the world!
After Jenny breaks the thermostat panel thingy at Rocque Records with her trombone, the boys take her to the Palm Woods.
These are basically the faces the boys make the whole episode. It's pretty great.
Logan: "She's a lot less clumsy than I remember."
Me: LOOOOOOL
Back at Rocque Records, the broken thermostat is causing the fans to emit a piercing whistling noise. Deathsmash, "the world's most destructive band," have rented the studio for the day, and they tell Gustavo to stop the whistling noise - or else.
Meanwhile James, who has been injured and baldified by Jenny before, decides to blow this popsicle stand. While tanning by the pool, he's approached by a little boy who claims to be his biggest fan. After giving the kid an autograph and the secret to awesomeness ("Awesomeness is 15% tan, 40% good attitude, 20% bad attitude, and 50% imported hair care products." "That's 125%." "You bet it is."), James takes his little fan under his wing, despite Katie's warning that the kid is probably crazycakes.
The other three try to figure out how to place Jenny in a band, despite the fact that she can't sing. "Do you remember freshman choir?"
LOOK AT THEIR TERRIBLE FRESHMAN HAIR. <3 <3 <3 Hey, is that Buddy Simmons next to Carlos?
Back with James, we learn that he always works out in front of his heroes:
We also learn that 12-year-old Katie likes to go to the gym and box. Child, you are ridiculous.
Katie warns James about his fan again, but James insists she's just jealous because she has a crush on him. So Katie punches him. Good girl, Katie.
Meanwhile, Kelly and Gustavo's efforts to fix the whistle just turn the studio into a wind tunnel, further aggravating Deathsmash.
"CALL LOGAN!"
Jenny demonstrates her new and improved singing chops for Kendall and Carlos, who are so ecstatic they allow her to hug them, which is a terrible idea:
The boys find Jenny a gig - a Canadian tour with none other than Guitar Dude!
Of course, Guitar Dude's prized van immediately crashes, but I'm not sure that one's on Jenny. No one that habitually stoned should be driving.
Fed up with Jenny's swath of destruction, Bitters tells the boys that either she goes or they go. "I've hired a lawyer to break your lease, and a thug to throw you out."
"Ironically, the huge guy is the lawyer." Ahahaha.
Regretfully, the boys tell Jenny they can't help her anymore. Everyone is very sad.
Camille to the rescue! She suggest that they try some international agents, who love American talent, "because we are such an entertaining people."
Meanwhile, James' fan (I wish this kid had a name) locks James in a dog cage so that he can take over his life. He's even got a letter with James' signature saying he's gone to Antarctica to save the caribou.
"They haven't built a dog cage that can hold James Diamond! Ooh, biscuits."
Luckily, Katie's on the job.
(Theme song shot!)
She frees James and tricks him into signing a contract making her his manager once he goes solo, and also swearing that she does not now, nor has she ever, had a crush on him. Katie wins again! Katie for president!
Back aboveground, Jenny causes an explosion at her audition, and Bitters throws them all out. Meanwhile, at Rocque Records, Logan's efforts to fix the whistle cause the lead singer of Deathsmash to get sucked through the vents and out of the building. The rest of Deathsmash doesn't particularly care, except that now they're in need of an amazing lead singer who's super destructive.
Hooray!
P.S. "Come on, Jenny! Let's go get permission from your mum!" is my favorite line from this episode.
Anyway, Kendall breaks the fourth wall ("Looks like this story's wrapping up quite nicely!") and Carlos promises never to overpromise again. But then:
"Hey guys! Carlos promised me you'd help with my dream of becoming a famous jazz tuba player!"
OH OH OH-OH OHHHHHHH.
Discussion Questions:
1. One of Logan's fans sends him a meatloaf (which Carlos steals). Would you eat mail meatloaf? Show your work.
2. When this episode first aired I could not believe they'd actually brought back Jenny Tinkler from the pilot. What's your favorite example of this show's crazy-good continuity?
3. Do you think Katie really has a crush on James? (Personally, my money's on Carlos, if any of them.)
4. What would the boys do without Camille to explain things to them? Seriously, though.
5. The show seems to assume that James will eventually go solo. Do you agree? If he does, do you think the others will stay in the business or go off to be doctors/hockey players/superheroes?
"Big Time Fans" episode opens with the boys getting their first batch of fanmail, and Gustavo and Kelly laying down some ground rules:
Gustavo tells the boys in no uncertain terms not to give out their personal information, "otherwise some crazed fan will show up on your front doorstep and ask you to make them famous." Um, yeah, or trying to marry them? Jeez, Gustavo, what are you, new?
Hey, isn't that Jenny Tinkler from homeroom?
It turns out that Carlos, being the sweetheart he is, promised Jenny that if she came to LA they'd help her become famous. Two problems with that: one, she can't sing, and two, she's incredibly clumsy.
The boys are not happy, but Carlos reminds them that they've known Jenny since pre-K (well, except Logan, I guess) and that they love her, and the others grudgingly agree to help.
P.S. Can I just say how much I love that the boys are friends with so many girls? It's a great message. Girls and boys can be friends, Nickelodeon-watching youth of the world!
After Jenny breaks the thermostat panel thingy at Rocque Records with her trombone, the boys take her to the Palm Woods.
These are basically the faces the boys make the whole episode. It's pretty great.
Logan: "She's a lot less clumsy than I remember."
Me: LOOOOOOL
Back at Rocque Records, the broken thermostat is causing the fans to emit a piercing whistling noise. Deathsmash, "the world's most destructive band," have rented the studio for the day, and they tell Gustavo to stop the whistling noise - or else.
Meanwhile James, who has been injured and baldified by Jenny before, decides to blow this popsicle stand. While tanning by the pool, he's approached by a little boy who claims to be his biggest fan. After giving the kid an autograph and the secret to awesomeness ("Awesomeness is 15% tan, 40% good attitude, 20% bad attitude, and 50% imported hair care products." "That's 125%." "You bet it is."), James takes his little fan under his wing, despite Katie's warning that the kid is probably crazycakes.
The other three try to figure out how to place Jenny in a band, despite the fact that she can't sing. "Do you remember freshman choir?"
LOOK AT THEIR TERRIBLE FRESHMAN HAIR. <3 <3 <3 Hey, is that Buddy Simmons next to Carlos?
Back with James, we learn that he always works out in front of his heroes:
We also learn that 12-year-old Katie likes to go to the gym and box. Child, you are ridiculous.
Katie warns James about his fan again, but James insists she's just jealous because she has a crush on him. So Katie punches him. Good girl, Katie.
Meanwhile, Kelly and Gustavo's efforts to fix the whistle just turn the studio into a wind tunnel, further aggravating Deathsmash.
"CALL LOGAN!"
Jenny demonstrates her new and improved singing chops for Kendall and Carlos, who are so ecstatic they allow her to hug them, which is a terrible idea:
The boys find Jenny a gig - a Canadian tour with none other than Guitar Dude!
Of course, Guitar Dude's prized van immediately crashes, but I'm not sure that one's on Jenny. No one that habitually stoned should be driving.
Fed up with Jenny's swath of destruction, Bitters tells the boys that either she goes or they go. "I've hired a lawyer to break your lease, and a thug to throw you out."
"Ironically, the huge guy is the lawyer." Ahahaha.
Regretfully, the boys tell Jenny they can't help her anymore. Everyone is very sad.
Camille to the rescue! She suggest that they try some international agents, who love American talent, "because we are such an entertaining people."
Meanwhile, James' fan (I wish this kid had a name) locks James in a dog cage so that he can take over his life. He's even got a letter with James' signature saying he's gone to Antarctica to save the caribou.
"They haven't built a dog cage that can hold James Diamond! Ooh, biscuits."
Luckily, Katie's on the job.
(Theme song shot!)
She frees James and tricks him into signing a contract making her his manager once he goes solo, and also swearing that she does not now, nor has she ever, had a crush on him. Katie wins again! Katie for president!
Back aboveground, Jenny causes an explosion at her audition, and Bitters throws them all out. Meanwhile, at Rocque Records, Logan's efforts to fix the whistle cause the lead singer of Deathsmash to get sucked through the vents and out of the building. The rest of Deathsmash doesn't particularly care, except that now they're in need of an amazing lead singer who's super destructive.
Hooray!
P.S. "Come on, Jenny! Let's go get permission from your mum!" is my favorite line from this episode.
Anyway, Kendall breaks the fourth wall ("Looks like this story's wrapping up quite nicely!") and Carlos promises never to overpromise again. But then:
"Hey guys! Carlos promised me you'd help with my dream of becoming a famous jazz tuba player!"
OH OH OH-OH OHHHHHHH.
Discussion Questions:
1. One of Logan's fans sends him a meatloaf (which Carlos steals). Would you eat mail meatloaf? Show your work.
2. When this episode first aired I could not believe they'd actually brought back Jenny Tinkler from the pilot. What's your favorite example of this show's crazy-good continuity?
3. Do you think Katie really has a crush on James? (Personally, my money's on Carlos, if any of them.)
4. What would the boys do without Camille to explain things to them? Seriously, though.
5. The show seems to assume that James will eventually go solo. Do you agree? If he does, do you think the others will stay in the business or go off to be doctors/hockey players/superheroes?