Episode Report Card Cate: F | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Bowling For Eric
By Cate | Season 7 | Episode 4 | Aired on 10.06.2002
Sure enough, he does, as he strides into the living room and plants his ass on a loveseat. Everyone is there for RevCam's family meeting except RevCam himself. Ruthie informs them that Eric is talking to himself in the backyard. There's some seriously unfunny shtick as each Camden (and quasi-Camden) leaves the room to go spy on RevCam. Simon and Ruthie are the last to leave, except for the twins. Unexpectedly let out from behind the couch, the twins have no idea what to do with their new freedom, so they just stand there in confusion until Simon and Ruthie return to lead them out to the backyard.
Annie is trying to get RevCam to talk to her first before he holds the big meeting, but he insists he wants to tell everyone his news at once. I can't blame Annie for being miffed about that. Ruthie asks if the family is out of money, using this opportunity to regale us with a dull anecdote about her friend Samantha, whose father ran out of money and had to move the family to Wisconsin. Ruthie wrinkles up her forehead as she says "Wisconsin," probably since it's not a state that's recognized in the CamUnion. RevCam assures her they're not out of money, so we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Hey, let's celebrate by swigging some milk directly from the one-quart containers in the CamFridge. Then maybe we can wash it all down with an expensive-bottled-water chaser! Ruthie natters on some more about her boring little school "friends" until RevCam cuts her off to make his grand announcement. He gets halfway through it but then chickens out. Unfortunately, all he can come up with as a reason for this family meeting is that he wants to take the family bowling. That's right, bowling. Thanks a lot, Eric. Now the family is stuck going bowling. More to the point, we're stuck watching it.
RevCam gets on the phone to Doc, looking for some encouragement. And we know what a super-duper big help Doc has always been in the past, don't we? This conversation goes on at great length, but I miss most of it, because all I can think of is how much Doc sounds like Snagglepuss. Go on, Doc -- exit stage left now. Please? But nobody cares what I want, and this stupid phone conversation continues, with Eric whining, "I want time to remind people how much they mean to me without their knowing that I have to have this surgery." This is his justification for going bowling and not telling his family he's scheduled to go under the knife. Whatever. That's not the very worst idea for a plot ever, but it's definitely near the top of the list. RevCam gets the ball rolling by telling Doc he loves him. Doc smarms back that he loves Eric too, but he makes sure to check out some chicks while he's saying it. No way is anyone gonna mistake him for being gay, man!