Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Liar, Liar
By Cate | Season 4 | Episode 20 | Aired on 05.07.2000
I fast-forward through the horrible opening credits and the commercial for that Disney Dinosaur film, which reminds me of the time I went to see Jurassic Park with my parents, and I was sitting next to my mom, who has virtually no capacity for suspension of disbelief. Near the end of the movie, where the kids are being chased through the kitchen by the dinosaurs, my mom couldn't take it anymore, and she started laughing. She was trying to be polite and not laugh out loud, but that set me off too, which made her laugh even harder, until we were both doubled over in our seats with people all around staring at us, because that scene in the movie really isn't very funny. I haven't been able to watch any dinosaur movies since then, and I doubt I'll ever be able to watch them. Thanks, Mom. Anyway, that has nothing to do with 7th Heaven. I'm really sorry. It's just that I have to think of other things occasionally while I'm recapping or I'll lose my mind.
There's a really long establishing shot of the Camdens' humongous house. I've been pricing Toronto real estate lately, and I can tell you that around here, a house that big and attractive would run well over half a mil. Where does RevCam get the money for a house like that, especially when he's got seven kids to feed? What I really want to see is the episode where Eric gets arrested for embezzling church funds. ["Yeah, me too. Alas, I think that most churches 'own' a rectory or parsonage where the minister lives with his family. At least, mine did. But I still think we should see a RevCam check-kiting ep." -- Sars] Unfortunately, all we see tonight is RevCam walking into the foyer, closing the front door and catching his jacket in it. He shrugs out of the jacket, then attempts to pull it out of the door, a perplexed look on his face. Okaaay. I believe this is what some might call "physical comedy," but it's just making me think RevCam's not all that bright. Honestly, I think the door has a higher IQ than he does. After about twelve or thirteen years of this jacket-pulling, finally it's SuperMom to the rescue. She opens the door, thus freeing the recalcitrant jacket. RevCam's super-excited because a newspaper reporter named Sam Robbins wants to feature the CamFam in the "Family" section of the Glenoak paper. If a story like that appeared in one of our local papers, I'd be glad, because that would make it real easy to decide which section of the paper to use for lining the rabbit cage. RevCam says, "Sam wants to take it from the angle of what it's like to be part of a minister's family, and he wants to show that we're just regular family folks, just like anyone else." Aw, man, for real? And here I'd always thought the families of clergy were like celebrities and ate off nifty solid gold plates and had special superpowers or something. How sad to have my illusions shattered. Actually, most of the ministers' families I've known have been pretty normal, with the exception of our ex-neighbours, whose son used to relieve himself on our flowerbeds and ride his bike down the street while wearing a bucket on his head.
So anyway, RevCam is totally psyched about this interview. Annie looks a little worried, but she feigns excitement for Eric's sake. Dopey calls, and RevCam breathlessly shares the news. Why is he so excited about this, anyway? He claims it's because the article will draw more people to the church, but personally I suspect that since none of his children have had dates he could stalk them on during the past few episodes, the good reverend is just a little bored. Even Matt is skeptical of the article plan, and he's, well, dopey. He's sharper than usual, though, when he says the newspaper guy probably wants to dig up family dirt. RevCam asks, "What family dirt?" Annie smirks and shakes her head, but really, I want to know too: What family dirt?