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OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: This one is well above average. Brent decides upon laser surgery but chickens out, the DRPD adopts a slogan ("No Crime Too Small") for the department after spending quite some time trying to come up with one, and Oscar makes a huge pain in the ass out of himself trying to hold the DRPD to the wording of the slogan. Some jokes fall flat (the "Let's blow this popsicle stand" one, for instance), but overall this is a solid effort in which most characters get a roughly equal amount of chances to be funny (Davis doesn't get many, everyone else does) and the peaks are as high as you'd expect for this show.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Any moment in the episode in which Brent freaks out at the thought of actually having to touch his eyeball (while putting contacts in his eyes). My sister is the same way, so I made a copy of this episode and sent it to her. She knew nothing of the show before receiving the tape, but after reading my instructions ("watch the first episode on the tape"), she was quick to pick up on why I sent it to her. She gives as good as she gets: she didn't call or e-mail me after watching the episode, she simply took a postcard, slapped a stamp and my address on it, and filled in the left side with nothing more than a common two-word obscenity (the first word predictably beginning with the sixth letter of the alphabet and the second beginning with the 25th). No return address, of course, but as you might guess I had no problem recognizing her handwriting. I still can't believe it was delivered, especially since she used a yellow highlighting marker to make sure I didn't miss the point.
After I called her to thank her for her friendly greeting and tidings of sisterly love, we both had a laugh and she said "That show is pretty good - got any more of it?" Being a responsible brother, I sent her the first three seasons on DVD. As I write this, she's close to halfway through the third season and just loves the show. Another American fan of Canada's finest comedy has been discovered. You're welcome, Mr. Butt. Best of all: she'll understand most if not all of the references to hockey in "The Good Old Table Hockey Game" when I send her the fourth season. My sister, thankfully, is a hardcore Islanders fan.
MEMORABLE LINE: When Hank refers to the idea of needing good vision to fix one's glasses as "ironic." One of my many pet peeves is hearing people misuse the word, and I had that peeve long before Alanis Morissette made it big.
KUDOS TO GABRIELLE: She had me completely fooled when she had Lacey ask Brent for the Shake-N-Bake. I, like Wanda, thought Brent was overreacting to an innocent remark. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but if you think about it most jokes like this fail because you know what's coming. Gabrielle hid the joke like a pro. Another great performance was Lacey's skepticism towards Brent's claim that he actually had the laser surgery. This was done perfectly, so as to let you know that Lacey isn't fooled but was either too polite or too amused to press the issue.
FUNNIEST LINE IN THIS EPISODE: We have a rare tie here, folks. Despite watching the episode several times, I can't decide between Oscar's "Book this dirtbag" in response to Fitzy's innocent suggestion that raisins might be an appropriate addition to muffins (personally, I like the idea), and Karen's "Ah, get over yourself" to old lady Jensen.
FUNNIEST SCENES IN THIS EPISODE:
1.) When Wanda wishes Brent good luck at the science fair.
2.) When Emma says to Oscar "Gee, I wonder if you'll overreact to this."
3.) When Lacey asks for Shake-N-Bake, Brent erupts and storms out.
4.) Lacey explaining to Wanda that she was indeed taunting Brent, along with Wanda's reaction.
5.) The revelation that Brent forced Wanda to come with him to laser surgery, and Brent taking pride in it.
6.) Brent's reaction after his joke to the receptionist (which I thought was funny) falls flat.
7.) Wanda predicting that Brent would be leaving in four seconds, and being absolutely correct.
8.) Wanda laughing and saying that she hopes the facade of Brent having undergone the laser surgery goes on for years.
9.) Oscar's citizen arrest.
10.) Oscar giving Fitzy instructions as to how to make banana muffins.
11.) Hank's lame attempt to get a slogan for Corner Gas out of Emma. This was funny mostly because of the realistic expectation that Emma might slap the snot out of him.
12.) Lacey telling Brent that he shouldn't trick people, Brent agreeing and then saying that he has to trick Wanda, and Lacey offering to help.
13.) Brent and Lacey's laughably transparent attempt to make Wanda believe that Brent was wearing contacts.
14.) Brent trying to move his car.
15.) Lacey quickly discovering the appeal of "schemey fingers."
16.) When a couple of customers complain to Lacey about her slogan and Lacey swats Hank upside the head.
17.) Wanda and Lacey grilling Brent. This was especially funny when we learn Lacey's new slogan on the bottom of her restaurant checks.
18.) Lacey incorrectly using "schemey fingers" and Wanda promptly correcting her.