The Painter
Episode 2
Season 1, 1984



Introducing: dancer Andrea Paige Wilson (although she was in the first episode, she speaks in this one)

 

    Those of you with sharp eyes will remember that in the first episode, there was a dancer who looked as if she was wearing a wig.  She was.  Andrea Paige Wilson in her natural hair joins the cast as the titular character for this episode.

Despite The Kid claiming to be a competent breakdancer, Gloria is more interested in the massive amount of graffiti that has shown up in the neighborhood.  

Look! Andrea's psychic!  She knows what song will be first! Apparently this is the first time this inner city has had graffiti on this scale (which is surprising).  Even though it's not vulgar or offensive in its content, some of the kids are instantly repulsed by it for some reason.  Kid likes it, Gloria gets over her initial shock and comes around to it, Renee’s out for blood, and Stacy…well, Stacy needs to stop watching so much TV.  

You'll have to excuse her...

Eventually, we find out that the community is nice enough to conveniently donate enough reward money for the kids to buy a synthesizer.  But that can wait.   Right now, it’s time for a dance number inspired by the evil graffiti.

 Intense! 

            That evening, dressed in their snazzy coordinated overalls, Kids Inc. stakes out the basketball court in the hopes that “the guy” will come back if they paint over all the graffiti.  Stacy has another too-cute soliloquy, and Gloria is inspired to sing as they rhythmically paint.Gloria is The Warrior  

After a few random strokes, they declare the neighborhood repainted, and run to hide on the street.  Oh, and in case you thought she was too cute, Stacy comes out wearing a monster mask for some reason.

 Boo!

            Well, the show wouldn’t work unless the graffiti artist didn’t make another appearance, and although they have no clue who it is and how dangerous this person is, the kids bravely take “him” on.  Suddenly, “he” is revealed to be a “she” – for Mickey, a very attractive she.I...I...I...

    At first, the kids are willing to turn her in and get the reward money. But as they wait for Mickey to get back from his solo, they begin to have a change of heart.  Mickey proposes instead that they rehabilitate her, and have her decorate the neighborhood instead of defile it – courtesy of the $100 they just received, much to Kid’s dismay. (Ever notice how everything seems to cost $100 here?)

I gave this episode a rating of 3 microphones because the continuity was good. The characters stick to their types.

Gloria: “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Mickey: “I am."

Renee: “Oh, forget him, will ya?  He’s forgotten how to talk!”

However, the dance numbers lack complete choreography because the little kids are hardly ever used – Renee is literally just standing there through most of “Dynamite”.  Stage numbers (of which there is only one here) usually have even worse choreography as some kids seem to be dancing as instructed, and others are just bopping along.  The story works because it’s pretty standard sitcom stuff.



Guest star: I wouldn't call Andrea a guest, because she was already there.

Invention count: 0 still

Vocab: --

Continuity, gags and themes:
Everything seems to cost $100
What appears to be a guy is actually a girl

New Locations:
basketball court
the main street with steps leading up to The Magic Shoppe
the police station

Pop culture references:
The People’s Court

Solos:
Gloria (1)
Mickey (1) =2
Episode total=2
Total: 5

Performance outfits:
Coordinating overalls and hats
Red and purple sequined

- The graffiti references the song “Dynamite”, which is the first number
- The episode starts with dialogue first
- Mario has a speaking part
- The frame over the stage reads “Asbestos”. Asbestos used to be used to put out fires and was frequently used in the construction of older buildings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos
- “Sunglasses at Night” is playing while the kids wait for their reward money, although they have yet to perform it.

Songs:

Dynamite – Photobucket

The Warrior –

I Can Dream About You – Photobucket 

Jump (For My Love) –  

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