A delivery man comes into Sharkey's to deliver flowers to Tiffani. He keeps sneezing all over them. I don't think it's normal to get deliveries while you're out to eat, but then again, these kids are always there, so it's basically their second home.
The delivery guy keeps sneezing, and Matt asks him if he's okay. He explains that whenever he delivers flowers, he can't stop sneezing. Jenny's like "Maybe you're allergic to flowers, idiot" She didn't say the "idiot" part. I embellished a bit. Anyway, the sneezing flower delivery guy ponders this for a moment, then runs off. (Presumably to reconsider his current career path)
The note with the flowers reveals that Tiffani has a secret admirer. Tony, Jenny and Matt: "oooh" Tiffani wonders aloud who it could have been. Sly runs over and announces "Guys, I did it!" Tiffani was like "aw hell, no!" Sly: Why would I send you flowers? You're not dead!"
Sly reveals that the "I did it!" refers to him convincing Sharkey to let them play at the restaurant. He's even going to pay them $150. Everyone is excited. Tony runs off to tell his dad the good news.
Next scene: Locker room. Tony's father is writing on a blackboard. Tony comes in. He compliments his dad on the football team's recent win. Wait, wasn't it still summer vacation in the last episode? Did we skip over the school year starting? Oh well. 90s sitcoms aren't exactly known for their continuity. One of the football players comes in to talk to Tony's dad about football stuff. Aw, poor Tony. I think we can all guess where this is going. Mr. Wicks sends the football player to do 20 laps. If their track is the same size at the track of the high school I went to, that's a good 5 miles right there. Running 5 miles seems a bit rough, but hey, I never played football in high school, so what do I know?
Tony tells his dad about the upcoming gig, and mentions that he has a solo. Mr. Wicks tells him it's great, but he's not convincing me. Tony invites him to come, and his dad basically tells him that football is more important than his son. "Your rock and roll fantasy is not important" Tony tries to explain that it's not a fantasy. Dad: "Do something more practical, like playing football"
In the next scene, Matt and Tiffani are in the garage and Dennis is playing the drums. Tiffani, always diplomatic, tells him that with some more practice he could be really good. Dennis thanks her, and asks her if she'd be in his band. She sweetly tells him that she's already pretty busy with the California Dreams. Matt's like "what about your totally rad older brother" Dennis tells him that he's not blonde and beautiful. Aw.
Another delivery arrives for Tiffani. This time it's a box of chocolates. Wait, why is she getting deliveries at Matt's house? It's the same delivery guy from before. He explains that he quit the flower delivery job and got this one instead. He tells her that she'll love the chocolate. "You can't eat just one!" She offers Matt and Jenny each a piece, and they open the box. Turns out, the delivery guy couldn't eat just one either. The box is empty. There's another note from the secret admirer, but still no clues about who it is.
Tony walks in and tries to act excited. Tiffani can see right through him and asks him what's wrong. He explains that his father wants him to play football. Tony is bummed because he loves music but wants his parents to be proud. Matt and Jenny tell him that at their age, no parents are proud of their kids. Right on cue, Mr. Garrison comes into the garage and tells them how happy he is about their upcoming gig. Side note. I really need to start calling Matt and Jenny's parents by their first names, because whenever I type Mr. Garrison, I think of this:
 |
| worstprofessorever.com |
He tells Tony and Tiffani that he's sure their families are proud of them too. Everyone shifts uncomfortably. Tony says that his dad will be proud as soon as he joins the football team. He quits the band and leaves. Jenny glares at her dad, and he's like "Did I do that?"
Next day: Jenny, Matt, Sly and Tiffani are sitting around a table at Sharkey's (where else?) lamenting the loss of Tony. Sly's like "I can't believe he quit. He loves playing the drums!" Tiffany is impressed that Sly is thinking of his friend's feelings. Sly says that it's not Tony's feelings he's worried about. He's blaming Tony for "ruining" the gig.
Tony comes in from football practice and did not have a good time. Here's what I find weird. I know his dad is the coach, but can he really just join the team after the season has already started?
They suggest that Tony come back to the band, but he says that his dad won't have it. Sly says that being in the band is better because of "gorgeous groupies" and football is just "rolling around in the mud with Butch, Bruno and Bubba. Tony said that it doesn't matter if he hates football. It made his dad happy and that's what's important to him. Mr. Wicks comes in to Sharkey's and Tony leaves the gang to go join his dad for "a couple of protein shakes" If that's not a metaphor for "cruising for chicks" then I don't know what is.
Oh, so they really ARE having protein shakes. Mr. Wicks compliments his son on a great practice, and tells him that he really impressed Butch, Bruno and Bubba.
Back at the Garrison's, Mr. Garrison and Dennis are sitting at the kitchen table. Mr. Garrison is looking over his credit card bill. Matt, Jenny, Tiffani and Sly come into the kitchen. He asks Matt and Jenny (and then Sly too) if any of them have used his credit card. They all say that they haven't. Dennis leaves the kitchen. Apparently there were some credit card charges for flowers and candy. Matt and Jenny eye each other knowingly. Mr. Garrison suggests that Sly take a lie detector test. Sly, by the way, is wearing another wacky vest.
Mr. Garrison leaves the kitchen, and everyone realizes that Dennis is Tiffani's Secret Admirer. Jenny suggests that she let him down gently so he doesn't get turned off on relationships forever. Tiffani relates this to a Sports Illustrated article about the Cleveland Indians being the "losingest team in baseball." When Jenny asks what that has to do with Dennis, Tiffani says, "He's never going to get to first base!" HA! Jenny's reaction is priceless:
 |
| "What's it like in there?" |
I forgot that they made Tiffani seem kind of ditzy in the first season.
Tony shows up and asks how the search for a new drummer is going. They all beg him to come back. Tony says that he can't because he's finally getting along with his dad. Matt tells him that he should be honest with his dad about what he really wants.
In the next scene, Tony's dad leads him into the locker room after an injury. Every time he moves, he shrieks. He says that his arm hurts. His dad looks at it for like, three seconds and goes "eh, it's just a sprain!" (I sprained my wrist playing soccer once. I wasn't the goalie.) His dad pulls a sling out of nowhere, and sticks it on Tony's arm. He tells him he'll have to miss the next game. Tony's like "Well, darn!" His dad leaves. Tony takes off the sling and throws his helmet across the room.
In the next scene, the search for a new drummer continues. So far THIS is all they've come up with:
 |
| this will not end well. |
They talk about why he's not a good fit for the band, and Tiffani suggests that they save their comments, since the dude is sitting right there. Sly says it doesn't matter because he's pretty spaced out from playing drums with his head. "Right, Sheldon?" The kid asks why Sly called him Sheldon. Sly tells him that it's his name. Drummer dude is like "I'm such a burnout I don't even know who I am."
Jenny comes into the garage and reminds Tiffani to tell Dennis that he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting with her. Sly suggests that Matt write a "break up ditty" because "things always sound nicer with music!" Jenny thinks Sly wasn't hugged enough as a baby.
Tony joins everyone in the garage, wearing the sling again, and complains some more about football. Sly introduces him to Sheldon. Upon hearing that Tony was the drummer, he thinks he's off the hook, and gets up to leave. Sly explains that Tony used to be the drummer. They still need a new drummer. Sheldon pretty much says "oh, okay!" to everything anyone says. Tony refuses to let them replace him with Sheldon, calling him a "ratty-haired, heavy metal oatmeal brain" (I love Tony's long-winded ways of explaining things)
Matt's like "You snooze, you lose, Tony" and they start practicing. Matt tells Sheldon to start with the drum intro, and he basically just starts pounding on the cymbals and ends with a crazy drum solo. Tony jumps up and starts flipping out. Then he slowly walks over to Sheldon and takes his drum sticks back. He sits at the drums and begins to play. Sheldon is impressed.
Matt realizes that there's nothing wrong with Tony's arm. Jenny tells him to stop lying. Back at Tony's house, he's in his room drumming on... something. There's a knock at his door. Tony's dad comes in and greets his "no pain, no gain, give it all you got guy" (Oh, so THAT'S where Tony gets it) Tony tells his dad that he wants to talk. Mr. Wicks is worried that Tony wants to have the birds and the bees chat. Tony's like "no, I know all I need to know about that" He tells his dad that he wants to quit the football team and admits that the injury was fake. Then Mr. Wicks tells Tony that he's benching him. Tony's like "you can't bench me, I quit!" He tries to explain again that he doesn't like football. He wants to be a musician! His father tells him that his band is "a bunch of kids wasting time in a garage." Then he says it's stupid. I kid you not. He actually says that. Tony says that it's his choice to make. His dad tells him to go do it in his room. Tony leaves, then realizes he was already in his room.
In the next scene, the gang is at Sharkey's getting ready for the gig. They all welcome Tony back. One of the cymbals on Tony's drum set is dented, thanks to Sheldon. Mr. Garrison and Dennis walk in cheering. Jenny tells him to go away because he's embarrassing them. Hey, after what Tony went through, at least her dad cares!
Jenny asks Tiffani if she's ready to talk to Dennis. She is, thanks to an article in Psychology Today about crushes and positive reinforcement. Tiffani goes to talk to him, and he doesn't understand a word of what she's trying to tell him. He finally gets it, and asks her for a kiss. She obliges, and kisses him on the cheek. It's actually pretty cute.
The second favor he asks for is for $50 to pay his dad back for the credit card charges. Mr. Garrison looks up and is like "WTF?" Tiffani just laughs and goes to join the band. Sly introduces them, and they play. Everybody cheers, and then Mr. Wicks walks in! He greets Mr. Garrison, and we cut back to the band. This song, "Rain" is set to a music video. I wonder how long they kept up having videos along with the performances. I'll have to investigate this as I go along. Anyway, this video involves Tony and a ventriloquist dummy. What?
The band finishes the song, and everyone cheers. Even Mr. Wicks is cheering! Mr. Garrison tells Mr. Wicks (whose name is apparently Darren) that he has a very talented son. Darren is like "huh, I guess I do" Mr. Garrison is like "you're damn right, dumbass" Tony goes over to talk to his dad, who actually apologizes to his son. I noticed the random extra in the background wearing a Red Sox hat, so that's why I'm including this last screencap.
Tony and Darren hug, and Darren says that he's proud of his son. Aw.
No comments:
Post a Comment