Episode 110: School Nurse

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
Jennifer Kirkman – Nurse Kirkman
Mr. Lynch – Ron Lynch

Synopsis: The school gets a new nurse. Jason thinks he’s in love with her, Brendon doesn’t like the fact she can tell when he’s faking sick and McGuirk goes on a (bad) date with her.

History:
· Brendon Small (the real one, not the character) once did an article for girlcomic.net, which Jennifer Kirkman (who plays Nurse Kirkman) is the co-editor of. I’m not sure if the article came before or after the episode, but you can read Small’s article here.
· This episode introduces us to Nurse Kirkman, who has appeared in several episodes since this one.
· We find out that Black Hole Brew is McGuirk’s favorite beer in this episode.
· This is the first time we see McGuirk drunk.
· This is the first time we see the area where McGuirk lives (Between Lonely Ave. and Brew Street)

Lawn Gnomes:
· Bed Shot (Brendon when he really gets sick)

Brendon’s Filmography:
· “Doctors” – Watch a thrilling operation by two doctors who may or may not know what they’re doing.

The Movie-Episode Connection:
· The episode is about a nurse and the movie is about doctors.

Random Observations & Facts:
· In the gymnasium during the lice check, there are signs saying: “Please stay in line! Por favor quedasil en linea!” “Walk! Don’t run”
· Nurse Kirkman does in fact look like the real Jennifer Kirkman. Here is Jen Kirkman.
· In the nurse’s office a sign says “Lice Prevention Week” and has a lice crossed out.
· Jason wipes his sneeze on his pants.
· Jason (playing a doctor) reads “Surgery for Nimrods”.
· Brendon (playing a doctor) has wire cutters.
· The syringe in “Doctors” is probably a turkey baster. It is filled with milk.
· On the wall at the bar: “Joey + Helga 4ever” “Stop carving up my booths“ “Twinky (Heart) Brandy”
· McGuirk drinks: “Black Hole Brew” “David’s Hart Limonade” and another drink I can’t see the name off.
· Arabica
· McGuirk keeps hitting Lynch with water when he talks. Then he just dumps it on him.
· Scurvy is a disease that comes from a lack of Vitamin C. A lot of pirates ended up getting this disease.
· Nurse Kirkman did all the stuff Melissa said to Jason: called him a cute name, laughed at his jokes and touched his arm.
· Paula says she is going to call some of her old friends. 2 episodes later, in 112 – Law and Boarder, one of them shows up.’
· At the end assembly, there are signs on the door: “Soccer Rally Today”, “All Must Attend”, “Faculty Members Are *Not* exempt!!!!!”
· Inside the soccer rally assembly, a sign on the ceiling says: “Girls Pee Wee Rugby Champs”

Past Episode References:
· The guy Paula made out with in 108 – Method of Acting is in the bar.

Movie & Other References:
· The movie Brendon makes is kind of reminiscent of “ER”.

End Credits: McGuirk’s begging to go out countdown (he got up to 20) > “Season One Theme”

Reviews:

StrangerAtaru: Now while McGuirk seemed somewhat useless in the previous episode, here we see him go more all-out in this one. His interactions with the school nurse (who also reappears later) involve perhaps one of the first "drunken" sequences we see him in the whole series. When I first saw this episode, I didn't like the date scene as much, but now that I know McGuirk better I see this is one of his better moments. (and the intro to his "Black Hole Brew" obsession) Another great and fun character in this episode I thought was Lynch: although he was only in a few scenes, he almost stole the spotlight in every sequence he was in. Jason was OK.... but his obsession with the nurse did get a tad disturbing to me. I know it was supposed to be cute, but it just got on my nerves to see love at such a young age. (but then, I did like the last line about when Jason can date her) Finally, I like to note that unlike many people, I did like the whole "Brendon wants to get sick" subplot, but only up to a point. I've discovered that when Brendon over obsesses with doing something (like getting sick, or in previous episodes things like the fish-eye lens or "Louie Louie"), he can be at his funniest. Sure I liked the dramatic irony of what really happens when Brendon got a stress-related illness, but it just wasn't as funny as Brendon's overdramatic. One last note: I finally figured out that the doctor movie had this funny reference to the adrenaline scene in "Pulp Fiction", but luckily Melissa got up before it was administered.

DrWeird: Good. This episode introduces a good new character, has some great Jason, and we finally get to see a drunk McGuirk.

I like Nurse Kirkman character. She was good in this one, getting some good lines during the McGuirk scene, and she was also good in the other episodes she appeared in ("Bad Influences" from season 3, for example). Jason was the best in this one. His crush on Kirkman led to some classic Jason and a really good dialogue between Melissa & Jason (there are ways to tell if a woman likes you). Not to mention the picture he drew "Me & the nurse".

McGuirk was just plain funny in this one. "You want it clean? YOU CLEAN IT! CLEAN IT YOURSELF! And I have not seen my mother since..." I heard someone say in another thread that he was a little too much towards the end...I might agree to a point, but, well, that’s McGuirk. Though everybody loves McGuirk, his character is pretty much a pathetic man. McGuirk was also good the day after the date at school, with some good Lynch scenes.

Paula had one scene in this episode, but it was a good one (You compare your life to theirs and see who won.) Melissa was good whenever she had some lines ("Lice are disgusting", the Melissa-Jason dialogue I was talking about).

The weakest link in this one: Brendon. His storyline...actually, he never really had a solid storyline. First he was faking (mildly funny), then he makes the movie(one of my least favorite movies he's made), then he thinks he's sick(had a good line here: "Yeah, pirates & me. Wait, write that down, that's a good movie title"), then he is sick (meh)...it never really went anywhere. He just seemed there this episode, nothing great really happened. Still, this one gets an B+.

Positives: Jason & Nurse Kirkman plot, McGuirk drunk, Lynch/Kirkman/McGuirk triangle
Negatives: Brendon didn't really do anything good in this one