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
Simon finds Beth at school and gives her back her notebook. He tells her that he didn't read the notebook and has no idea what's in it. Then he tries to take off, but Beth calls him back and asks him why he's acting so nervous. Simon says that he isn't nervous, and he won't tell anyone about Beth's notebook, and he especially won't tell anyone that there may or may not be someone's name written in it. Simon's an idiot, but he's still not as stupid as Matt. "You must have the biggest ego in the world," Beth says, adding that Simon obviously looked through her notebook and saw his name, and assumed Beth was writing about him. She points out that while Simon's first name is in the book, his last name isn't. She tells Simon that she won't tell anyone the embarrassing story of how Simon assumed she liked him.
Matt is back in Timmy's room, getting valuable career advice. Timmy tells Matt that if he hates his job so much, he should just go to Human Resources and "demand" a job "better suited" to his abilities. Unless there's a position that requires not washing one's hair, I think Matt's out of luck there. Matt says he's not very assertive, because this storyline has to parallel the one with RevCam not wanting to ask the deacons about his raise. Timmy asks Matt what his goals in life are, and if his current job will help him accomplish them. It turns out that Matt doesn't have any goals. He wants to help people, and that's about it. Timmy says he likes to help people, too, and they should call themselves Batman and Robin and help people together. For some reason, Matt finds this hilarious, and the two engage in forced laughter for a while. It kills about five minutes. As the Flute of Helpful Disadvantaged People plays, Matt says that every time he talks to Timmy, he feels like he's talking to a "Zen Master." Timmy says that the Zen Master demands that Matt climb a tree. This makes them both laugh and laugh. Wow, this is like the most boring inspirational person storyline this show has ever aired. And that's saying a lot.
RevCam packs up his office for the day, promising Ruthie that they'll soon be car shopping. Lou stops by and asks if RevCam needs anything. "Aren't you going to ask him about your raise?" Ruthie asks her father. Instead of throwing Ruthie into his desk drawer and locking it shut, RevCam proceeds to make his case by saying that the Camdens have had some "big expenses" this year, like hospital bills and individual pints of gourmet ice cream. Instead of looking completely embarrassed for RevCam, who kind of just begged for money in front of his daughter, Lou says that the raise is automatic and there shouldn't be any problem. The church has plenty of money from its smart property investments. I'll bet they had a lot more money before Lou embezzled it.