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OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: The main plot, in which Oscar trains Oscar to pass a police physical, has very few laughs - and Oscar is responsible for just about all of them. The side plot, however, which features Brent and Lacey trying to see who's the better confidant with their plan to coax a secret out of Karen, would have carried the episode all by itself, and yet it didn't have to - there was also a killer plot about Hank getting a credit card while Wanda got turned down. In the end, this turned out to be a well above-average episode even though the main plot was clearly subpar, a true testimony to the quality of the show.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Okay, this is yet another personal moment of mine (pointing out what I really remember about episodes is pretty much the purpose of this category), but I can't resist including this one. First, let me quote part of the memorable moment I pointed out from my review of "Merry Gasmas"�
"When the Calgary ticket agent explained to Lacey that 'YYZ' is the three-letter airport code for Toronto, my better half turned to me and excitedly said 'So THAT'S why that Rush song is called 'YYZ'!' (She was referring to an instrumental which is the third song on Rush's 1981 'Moving Pictures' album). I started laughing and got a lighthearted smack in the back of the head for doing so�"
�so in this episode, after Brent and Lacey make their bet, Lacey suggests that the two of them keep it on the Q.T. When Brent doesn't understand that, Lacey tries "Entre nous?" I knew this would come back to bite me, but my inner daredevil and inner smartass won out, so I turned to my better half and said - as if I had just discovered North America - "so THAT'S why that Rush song is called 'Entre Nous'!" (I'm referring to the fourth song on Rush's 1980 "Permanent Waves" album.) She took the joke well and couldn't resist a little snicker, but the smack upside the head I got this time was certainly harder than the 'YYZ' one. She then called me a couple of things which, were I to repeat them here, would probably violate Geocities' terms of service.
MEMORABLE LINE: "Keeping a secret is not your strong suit" from Lacey to Brent. She may have a point, but after "Harvest Dance" we already know Lacey's pretty bad at it, too.
KUDOS TO GABRIELLE: She really excelled in both of Lacey's attempts to get Karen to open up in the booth at the Ruby. Also, although it's a small moment, I really loved the way she says "I'm good" after Hank offers to show her his credit card.
FUNNIEST LINE IN THIS EPISODE: When Wanda, stinging from the fact that she got turned down for a credit card, asks Hank if he got one, he says "Yeah, it was no big thing, it was pre-approved." The reason this was so funny is because just a few moments before, Hank called "pre-approved" the "oldest trick in the book."
FUNNIEST SCENES IN THIS EPISODE:
1.) Wanda saying that production values aren't important, and then what happens immediately afterwards.
2.) Lacey lecturing Brent on confidant etiquette and then using Frank as an example.
3.) The flashback supporting Davis' contention that shopping is exercise.
4.) Lacey's ill-advised attempt at making Wanda feel better about getting turned down for a credit card.
5.) Davis accusing Karen of accusing the ending of the book he was reading after she asks the most predictable question possible about the book.
6.) Oscar describing the Canadian Fitness Test as "the last great thing this country ever achieved."
7.) After Oscar tells Davis "Don't just think about it - do it!", we see a musical motivational clip, and then when Oscar repeats "do it!", Davis says "I don't wanna do it."
8.) Brent's lame attempt inside the gas station to get Karen to confide in him.
9.) Lacey feeling Hank's credit card and saying "Wow, that is a bumpy name you got there."
10.) Lacey trying to get Karen to open up and then not letting Karen talk.
11.) Oscar calling Ken Read "useless."
12.) Brent's lame attempt outside the gas station to get Karen to confide in him.
13.) Lacey using the "gravy on the pie" story from "All My Exes are from Toronto" as an attempt to get Karen to open up - and then Karen's response.
14.) Wanda chasing after Hank for a minor "infraction" after ignoring a major one.
15.) Davis and squaring off after Oscar takes Davis' Hardy Boys books, especially the way Oscar ends the standoff.
16.) Brent telling Emma about Wanda's credit problems
17.) The culmination of Emma's plans to make asses out of Lacey and Brent.
NITPICK: In "Grad 68," we see that stopping traffic is something Davis excels at, so why should he have to do a shuttle run to save his Hardy Boys books from an oncoming vehicle?
NOTE: For my American readers, Ken Read - the "Crazy Canuck" - is an alpine skiing legend.