Episode Report Card Strega: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Status Quo Vadis
By Strega | Season 4 | Episode 13 | Aired on 03.26.2002
The next day, Meghan brightly suggests that she and Sean go out that night. Sean says he can't, finishes pulling a black plastic cover over a tennis shoe, and calls her over to admire it. Meghan grumpily approaches and is underwhelmed. Sean explains, "It looks like you're wearing a dress shoe, but you're not!" Well, it looks like you're wearing a black plastic tennis shoe. Meghan wonders why someone would bother with the shoe covers, and Sean says that dress shoes are really uncomfortable. Meghan proclaims this "the dumbest idea ever." She adds, "If people's shoes are uncomfortable, they buy different shoes." She should add that this is yet another invention that already exists, and that adding laces to shoe covers doesn't make them look like dress shoes. Sean asks if it would kill Meghan to support him just once, and Megan responds by asking if it would kill him to go out. He asks what her problem is, and she says, "You! You are my problem." Sean replies, "Well, right back at you." I like both of these characters, but couldn't their bickering at least be more entertaining?
Mr. Norman, the guidance counselor, is chatting with Ben and Trevor. Trevor looks exactly how I pictured him from reading Kim's recaps. I mean, exactly. That's amazing. And I have the impression that this is the Chris Elliott-ish counselor who quit and gave Noel his job, so I'm confused. But apparently so is everyone in the forums. When Noel started his new business, did this guy come back? And should he be talking to two students at the same time? It seems like there are privacy issues here. Anyway, the counselor looks over Ben's records and notes that he got an A in Organic Chemistry. Trevor announces that he got a B. Mr. Norman looks at Trevor and slowly explains, "An A is better." Heh. Ben says that they just want to make sure they're on track for med school. Mr. Norman munches on a sandwich -- sandwiches are a motif in this episode -- and says that he doesn't see any volunteer work. Huh? If the students did volunteer work, why would it be on their transcripts? Trevor is also confused, and Mr. Norman explains that volunteer work means "helping people for no pay." Hee again. He implies that when they're applying to medical schools, it's really going to matter that they did volunteer work somewhere, and I am just a little skeptical about that. Getting into college? Yeah, it's helpful. Although I managed okay without doing any. Getting into graduate school? You need good grades. And lots and lots of money. Plus, wouldn't Ben's EMT stuff qualify as volunteer work? Those guys are usually volunteers. Well, it doesn't really matter because this is all just a plot device to make Ben feel conflicted. My own theory is that Mr. Norman is screwing with the kids. Which would be funny. Maybe the next kid who comes in asking about requirements will be told, "Oh, and you need to go bungee-jumping if you want to become a lawyer." The boys ask what they can do, and Mr. Norman suggests joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Ben speaks in a normal tone of voice for once as he agrees that he and Trevor will become Big Brothers. Those poor kids.