Basketball Blues
Introducing: --
There’s a lot of basketball played on this show. There are also a lot of gender
issues going around. Put ‘em together and what do you get? Well, not the origin of
the WNBA, that’s for sure…
The boys are vastly outnumbered. Therefore, when they are hanging out in the storeroom
planning a basketball team, they realize they’re in need of a fifth player. What they
didn’t count on was Renee. She innocently suggests that she could play with them, and
they can’t refuse fast enough. No way is a girl going to take part in a man’s
sport.
(Luckily, guys can’t have a cute little hissy fit when they don’t get their way)
This lights a fire under Renee, and after the next number, she abruptly announces her own
team – of girls. The boys refuse to let them use the school court to practice, so
Renee challenges them to a game. The winning team will bake the losing team a cake.
Sexism, sexism, rah rah rah! But the boys begin to regret their decision as they see how
good Renee is.
It’s actually looking better for the girls until a stranger shows up – a very
talented stranger. His name’s Ronnie, and the boys waste no time grabbing him.
Uh oh. Now the girls are beginning to get discouraged. But Renee still dreams of actually
accomplishing something for Women’s Lib.
Game Day arrives, and despite being the underdogs, the girls do very well. It’s not
good enough, however, and Ronnie brings the boys a victory – a small victory, sure
– but a victory nonetheless.
The girls bake their cake as promised, and the boys actually bake a cake as well, since
they were impressed by everyone’s good sportsmanship. But where’s Ronnie?
Ronnie was a bit late…because she had to find a dress.
Surprise! Yes, Ronnie is a girl, a fact that Renee can’t let go by unnoticed. But a
bigger surprise is in store for Ronnie as she enjoys a slice of delicious cake...baked
exclusively by boys. The episode ends with a poster announcing a co-ed b-ball team.
4 mics because it's a Renee episode, and it's got a good moral that isn't too sappy. In
case you’re wondering, there’s plenty that kept this ep from getting that last
microphone.
According to this episode, nobody thinks a boy can bake a cake. Yet, in episode 16, No
Jockos, Kid is clearly seen holding two cakes he just made. Or did he just
decorate them?
Okay, Renee just dribbled the ball between her legs. Aside from the fact that I don't
think that's regulation, if you just saw a girl do that, and another person came up and
did the same exact thing...wouldn't you assume it was a girl? None of the boys are seen
dribbling like that.
Speaking of Ronnie…she failed to both notice that the teams were divided by sex, and
to comment on it? I guess the teams didn’t change into their uniforms together.
It’s also interesting to note that you hardly see Renee herself playing basketball
ever again after this.
Guest star: Moya Kordick as Ronnie
Invention count: 0
0 in total
Vocab:
I heard that! (2)
Continuity, gags and themes:
See above for cake miscalculation
Playing basketball
Gender issues
What appears to be a guy is actually a girl
More “cutting-edge” video tricks (4)
New Locations: --
Pop culture references: --
This episode is like all freaking Solos:
Mickey (1) = 19
Gloria (2) = 19
Renee (1) = 5
Stacy (1) = 2
Episode Total: 5
Total: 63
Performance outfits:
Denim w/green/orange striped shirts
Red sequined
- There were instant cake mixes in the 80's. Why is everyone acting like making a cake is
such an undertaking?
- Stacy would later say that she took "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" to her 6th
grade talent show. Whether she won or not is anybody's guess - she left that part out.
- Mickey also sang “I’ve Done Everything for You” in The Beginning.
- They really only lost by 2 points, and at one point, are in the lead. Not bad for a
bunch of girls, huh?
Songs:
I’ve Done Everything for You –
Head over Heels –
I Can Do It –
Hit Me With Your Best Shot –
Every Little Thing (he) Does is Magic –