Episode Report Card Niki: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Disoriented
By Niki | Season 3 | Episode 14 | Aired on 03.10.2002
Creepitri scrawls "John Donne" on the blackboard and holds up a soft-covered book. He's hoping they'll realize that the squiggly and straight lines he made on the board are the same as the ones on the covers of their books. It doesn't look good. He mentions that they're to read all the poems he listed on the board, as well as one that he forgot to write: "To His Mistress, Going to Bed." The stupidheads laugh on cue. I can't believe I ever considered teaching high-school English. The bell rings. Creepitri holds up his hands for calm, and shouts over the din that he's been "blackmailed" into serving as the faculty advisor for the Gay/Straight Alliance. "They still have that?" Tad guffaws. Creepitri zings, "Yes, apparently the need for tolerance and understanding has not yet been eradicated." Grace stares adoringly, and then smiles at her desktop as if enjoying a private joke. Creepitri announces that the first meeting will be the next night, but he doesn't know where.
Everyone starts shuffling out of the classroom, but Grace hovers at Creepitri's desk, purring that it's "cool" he's "doing that." She asks what he meant by "blackmailed," imagining sweaty, compromising photographs and trying to remain calm. Creepitri breaks it to her that it was a joke. He touches her shoulder, and Grace nearly wets herself. Creepitri turns away, and Grace manages to take in enough air to force out a laugh. Tad calls out to Creepitri that he's definitely joining. Katie wearily tells him to shut up, shoving his shoulder. "Bisexual girls," Tad announces, looking around him for support. "Need I say more?" he asks. No. And, sorry to disappoint you, Tad, but bi girls have just as much taste and good sense as the straight ones. Tad tells Katie that she should come with him. She says that it's too stupid and boring to bother with. "What is?" Jessie asks, overhearing Katie from the doorway. Katie says they were just talking about "those stupid clubs, like the Gay/Straight Alliance." Jessie asks if Katie has change for the pop machine. Katie earnestly asks when she's ever denied Jessie change. Her eyes convey that she'd never deny Jessie anything. They laughingly head off, just before Tad declares, "Dude! I just realized something -- Creepitri totally outed himself!" The gorillas around him grunt an approximation of laughter. Grace rushes to her love's defense. "You're going to join, Tad. Does that mean you're gay?" she asks pointedly, arching her eyebrows. The primates squawk and oooh and wave their bananas. Grace grabs her backpack and sails toward the door, triumphant. Tad stops her by saying that it's obvious why he's joining (more than he realizes, actually), and lays out his evidence against Creepitri: the man's a drama teacher, he's involved with the Gay/Straight Alliance, he's not married, and he's obsessed with Joni Mitchell. Well, there's just no arguing with such clear and unbiased facts. Grace looks deflated. She watches them leave, slapping one another on the back and victoriously crowing, "Dude!" Does anyone else get chills knowing that's our future?