Episode 108: Method of Acting

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

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.

History:
· This is the first time we see Paula in her Creative Writing Class.
· This is the first time we see a power-struggle between Melissa and Jason.

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.

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 (A weird connection, but think about it)

Random Observations & Facts:
· This is the shortest of all the Home Movies episodes timewise.
· 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.
· Tumbleweed goes by when the hunk guy walks into the room for the first time.
· Jason eats the olive that was in his nose.
· 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”.
· Paula has a hickey she hides from Brendon during dinner.
· Brendon’s tape says “Greatest Hits”.
· 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

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!!!"

DrWeird: Hmm...I never cared for this one that much. It wasn't bad (Home Movies has never had a bad episode, IMO), but it just didn't offer all that much.

Well, I'll start with the positives. Jason's power trip with the camera was probably the best bit in this episode. I loved this exchange:

Melissa: You know how Jason gets, give him a little bit of power and he goes nuts!
Jason: You're fired, Melissa.

Also when Jason calls Melissa fat it is funny in a weird way. The other good dialogue in this episode (even if it was a bit overdone) was dinner with Brendon and Paula, both of them trying to keep a secret from the other. "We’re kicked out of peas?" "I forgot to kiss them." Out of the smaller jokes, I liked "I’m a pretty lady".

McGuirk was pretty good as well. The storyline in and of itself was alright, but he did have a lot of good one-liners ("I don't lend kids money, anymore. And if you see David, tell him I'm looking for him.") And some good conversations ("Who wants to volunteer?")

As for the negatives: the two main storylines weren't that good. Brendon’s acting teacher/acting class weren't that funny. i really don't know what else to say. also, although Paula’s class (which we see for the first time in this episode) was good, her storyline was really uninteresting. I might add that Squigglevision and Make out Sequences don't mix.

Overall, this was one of the weaker Home Movies. However, i thought the last 5 episodes of season one were all REALLY good. And you won't be seeing a rating in this area until season two. C

Positives: Jason with the camera, Dinner, McGuirk
Negatives: The acting classes, Paula's storyline