Episode Report Card Sara M: C- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Electric Van-Aid Acid Test
By Sara M | Season 4 | Episode 4 | Aired on 10.10.1999
Lou and the Deacons leave a very productive meeting. You know this because Lou says, "That was a very productive meeting." Then, "We can certainly be proud of ourselves for the restraint and fiscal responsibility we've shown." Yeah, Lou, you showed real restraint and fiscal responsibility WHEN YOU EMBEZZLED FROM THE CHURCH FUND IN THE SECOND SEASON. Suddenly RevCam speeds by in the convertible, and a particularly sharp-eyed deacon sees him. He asks Lou when RevCam bought a hot new car. Lou says the deacon must be mistaken, but then RevCam drives by again. "Very nice car, Eric," Lou says to the Piano of Impending Commercial Break.
Ruthie talks to Simon about cars. She has yet to find a car for the family that "speaks" to her. Well, there's only one KITT, Ruthie, and it already has a driver. It had a twin, but it exploded. So you'll just have to settle for something else. Ruthie explains that she wants a car that's economical, good-looking, and will take her everywhere in style. "Are you sure you're not looking for a husband?" Simon asks. "Not for another three years!" Ruthie says. Simon tells Ruthie that Annie probably didn't expect Ruthie to pick out a good car for the family, which earns him a bop on the head with the rolled-up magazine. Ruthie's abusive.
The next morning, Lou comes to visit. He tells Eric he needs to talk to him before the board meeting about what RevCam's been driving around in lately. This isn't really made clear, but RevCam thinks Lou is talking about how his family has been stealing the church's Meals on Wheels van, while Lou thinks that RevCam just bought a fancy red convertible. Signals are mixed all over the place, and Lou promises to do whatever he can to "smooth things over" with the board at the meeting. RevCam is confused, but not enough to ask Lou what needs to be smoothed over. RevCam takes off to tend to the crying twins, and Lou sees himself out of the house. He runs into some delivery men, who are bringing the new bathroom supplies. "A new car and remodeling?" Lou says to himself. Lou is a lonely man.
Ruthie, still clutching her precious car magazine, and Mary, still sporting her stupid bandanna do-rag, talk about needing support in their various endeavors. Mary leaves to bring some surprise iced tea to Annie and Lucy. She's glad that she's finally found a way to contribute to the bathroom construction process.
Annie and Lucy talk about Annie's high school boyfriends. Lucy loves it, but I certainly wouldn't like to hear about my mother's old boyfriends. As far as I'm concerned, if they came before my father, they aren't real people. So, sorry, Samuel Himmelfarbensteinowitzberg, but you're just a figment of my grandmother's kooky imagination. Lucy asks Annie if she's ever told RevCam about her ex-boyfriends. Annie says that her boyfriends are "ancient history." I'll bet. When Annie's boyfriends weren't hunting for the tribe's food, they were painting on the walls of their cave or using rudimentary stone tools to make clothing out of animal skins. Mary silently comes up with the iced teas, only to hear Annie and Lucy say that they don't need her around. Mary turns around and leaves with the iced teas, which really isn't fair because no one said they didn't need any iced teas.